subpart 2—promoting safe and stable families

Subpart Referred to in Other Sections

This subpart is referred to in sections 622, 653, 1320a–9 of this title.

§629. Purposes; limitations on authorizations of appropriations; reservation of certain amounts

(a) Purposes; limitations on authorization of appropriations

For the purpose of encouraging and enabling each State to develop and establish, or expand, and to operate a program of family preservation services, community-based family support services, time-limited family reunification services, and adoption promotion and support services, there are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary the amounts described in subsection (b) of this section for the fiscal years specified in subsection (b) of this section.

(b) Description of amounts

The amount described in this subsection is—

(1) for fiscal year 1994, $60,000,000;

(2) for fiscal year 1995, $150,000,000;

(3) for fiscal year 1996, $225,000,000;

(4) for fiscal year 1997, $240,000,000;

(5) for fiscal year 1998, the greater of—

(A) $255,000,000; or

(B) the amount described in this subsection for fiscal year 1997, increased by the inflation percentage applicable to fiscal year 1998;

(6) for fiscal year 1999, $275,000,000;

(7) for fiscal year 2000, $295,000,000; and

(8) for fiscal year 2001, $305,000,000.

(c) Inflation percentage

For purposes of subsection (b)(5)(B) of this section, the inflation percentage applicable to any fiscal year is the percentage (if any) by which—

(1) the average of the Consumer Price Index (as defined in section 1(f)(5) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986) for the 12-month period ending on December 31 of the immediately preceding fiscal year; exceeds

(2) the average of the Consumer Price Index (as so defined) for the 12-month period ending on December 31 of the 2nd preceding fiscal year.

(d) Reservation of certain amounts

(1) Evaluation, research, training, and technical assistance

The Secretary shall reserve $2,000,000 of the amount described in subsection (b) of this section for fiscal year 1994, and $6,000,000 of the amounts so described for each of fiscal years 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, and 2001, for expenditure by the Secretary—

(A) for research, training, and technical assistance related to the program under this subpart; and

(B) for evaluation of State programs funded under this subpart and any other Federal, State, or local program, regardless of whether federally assisted, that is designed to achieve the same purposes as the program under this subpart.

(2) State court assessments

The Secretary shall reserve $5,000,000 of the amount described in subsection (b) of this section for fiscal year 1995, and $10,000,000 of the amounts so described for each of fiscal years 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, and 2001, for grants under section 13712 of the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1993.

(3) Indian tribes

The Secretary shall reserve 1 percent of the amounts described in subsection (b) of this section for each fiscal year, for allotment to Indian tribes in accordance with section 629c(a) of this title.

(Aug. 14, 1935, ch. 531, title IV, §430, as added Pub. L. 103–66, title XIII, §13711(a)(2), Aug. 10, 1993, 107 Stat. 649; amended Pub. L. 105–89, title III, §305(a)(1), (2), (b)(3)(A), Nov. 19, 1997, 111 Stat. 2130, 2131.)

References in Text

The Internal Revenue Code, referred to in subsec. (c)(1), is classified generally to Title 26, Internal Revenue Code.

Section 13712 of the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1993, referred to in subsec. (d)(2), is section 13712 of Pub. L. 103–66, which is set out as a note under section 670 of this title.

Prior Provisions

A prior section 430 of act Aug. 14, 1935, was classified to section 630 of this title prior to repeal by Pub. L. 100–485, title II, §202(a), Oct. 13, 1988, 102 Stat. 2377.

Amendments

1997—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 105–89, §305(b)(3)(A), substituted ", community-based family support services, time-limited family reunification services, and adoption promotion and support services" for "and community-based family support services".

Subsec. (b)(6) to (8). Pub. L. 105–89, §305(a)(1), added pars. (6) to (8).

Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 105–89, §305(a)(2), substituted "1998, 1999, 2000, and 2001" for "and 1998" in pars. (1) and (2).

Effective Date of 1997 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 105–89 effective Nov. 19, 1997, except as otherwise provided, with delay permitted if State legislation is required, see section 501 of Pub. L. 105–89, set out as a note under section 622 of this title.

Effective Date

Subpart effective with respect to calendar quarters beginning on or after Oct. 1, 1993, see section 13711(c) of Pub. L. 103–66, set out as an Effective Date of 1993 Amendment note under section 622 of this title.

Section Referred to in Other Sections

This section is referred to in section 629c of this title.

§629a. Definitions

(a) In general

As used in this subpart:

(1) Family preservation services

The term "family preservation services" means services for children and families designed to help families (including adoptive and extended families) at risk or in crisis, including—

(A) service programs designed to help children—

(i) where safe and appropriate, return to families from which they have been removed; or

(ii) be placed for adoption, with a legal guardian, or, if adoption or legal guardianship is determined not to be safe and appropriate for a child, in some other planned, permanent living arrangement;

(B) preplacement preventive services programs, such as intensive family preservation programs, designed to help children at risk of foster care placement remain safely with their families;

(C) service programs designed to provide followup care to families to whom a child has been returned after a foster care placement;

(D) respite care of children to provide temporary relief for parents and other caregivers (including foster parents); and

(E) services designed to improve parenting skills (by reinforcing parents' confidence in their strengths, and helping them to identify where improvement is needed and to obtain assistance in improving those skills) with respect to matters such as child development, family budgeting, coping with stress, health, and nutrition.

(2) Family support services

The term "family support services" means community-based services to promote the safety and well-being of children and families designed to increase the strength and stability of families (including adoptive, foster, and extended families), to increase parents' confidence and competence in their parenting abilities, to afford children a safe, stable, and supportive family environment, and otherwise to enhance child development.

(3) State agency

The term "State agency" means the State agency responsible for administering the program under subpart 1.

(4) State

The term "State" includes an Indian tribe or tribal organization, in addition to the meaning given such term for purposes of subpart 1.

(5) Tribal organization

The term "tribal organization" means the recognized governing body of any Indian tribe.

(6) Indian tribe

The term "Indian tribe" means any Indian tribe (as defined in section 682(i)(5) of this title, as in effect before August 22, 1986) and any Alaska Native organization (as defined in section 682(i)(7)(A) of this title, as so in effect).

(7) Time-limited family reunification services

(A) In general

The term "time-limited family reunification services" means the services and activities described in subparagraph (B) that are provided to a child that is removed from the child's home and placed in a foster family home or a child care institution and to the parents or primary caregiver of such a child, in order to facilitate the reunification of the child safely and appropriately within a timely fashion, but only during the 15-month period that begins on the date that the child, pursuant to section 675(5)(F) of this title, is considered to have entered foster care.

(B) Services and activities described

The services and activities described in this subparagraph are the following:

(i) Individual, group, and family counseling.

(ii) Inpatient, residential, or outpatient substance abuse treatment services.

(iii) Mental health services.

(iv) Assistance to address domestic violence.

(v) Services designed to provide temporary child care and therapeutic services for families, including crisis nurseries.

(vi) Transportation to or from any of the services and activities described in this subparagraph.

(8) Adoption promotion and support services

The term "adoption promotion and support services" means services and activities designed to encourage more adoptions out of the foster care system, when adoptions promote the best interests of children, including such activities as pre- and post-adoptive services and activities designed to expedite the adoption process and support adoptive families.

(9) Non-Federal funds

The term "non-Federal funds" means State funds, or at the option of a State, State and local funds.

(b) Other terms

For other definitions of other terms used in this subpart, see section 675 of this title.

(Aug. 14, 1935, ch. 531, title IV, §431, as added Pub. L. 103–66, title XIII, §13711(a)(2), Aug. 10, 1993, 107 Stat. 650; amended Pub. L. 105–89, title III, §305(b)(2), (c)(2), (d)(1), Nov. 19, 1997, 111 Stat. 2131, 2132; Pub. L. 106–169, title IV, §401(e), Dec. 14, 1999, 113 Stat. 1858.)

References in Text

Section 682 of this title, referred to in subsec. (a)(6), was repealed by Pub. L. 104–193, title I, §108(e), Aug. 22, 1996, 110 Stat. 2167.

Prior Provisions

A prior section 431 of act Aug. 14, 1935, was classified to section 631 of this title prior to repeal by Pub. L. 100–485.

Amendments

1999—Subsec. (a)(6). Pub. L. 106–169 inserted ", as in effect before August 22, 1986" after "682(i)(5) of this title" and ", as so in effect" after "682(i)(7)(A) of this title".

1997—Subsec. (a)(1)(A). Pub. L. 105–89, §305(c)(2)(A)(i), inserted "safe and" before "appropriate" in cls. (i) and (ii).

Subsec. (a)(1)(B). Pub. L. 105–89, §305(c)(2)(A)(ii), inserted "safely" after "remain".

Subsec. (a)(2). Pub. L. 105–89, §305(c)(2)(B), inserted "safety and" before "well-being of children" and substituted "safe, stable, and supportive family" for "stable and supportive family".

Subsec. (a)(7), (8). Pub. L. 105–89, §305(b)(2), added pars. (7) and (8).

Subsec. (a)(9). Pub. L. 105–89, §305(d)(1), added par. (9).

Effective Date of 1999 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 106–169 effective as if included in the enactment of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996, Pub. L. 104–193, see section 401(q) of Pub. L. 106–169, set out as a note under section 602 of this title.

Effective Date of 1997 Amendment

Amendment by section 305(b)(2), (c)(2) of Pub. L. 105–89 effective Nov. 19, 1997, except as otherwise provided, with delay permitted if State legislation is required, see section 501 of Pub. L. 105–89, set out as a note under section 622 of this title.

Section 305(d)(2) of Pub. L. 105–89 provided that: "The amendment made by paragraph (1) [amending this section] takes effect as if included in the enactment of section 13711 of the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1993 (Public Law 103–33 [103–66]; 107 Stat. 649)."

§629b. State plans

(a) Plan requirements

A State plan meets the requirements of this subsection if the plan—

(1) provides that the State agency shall administer, or supervise the administration of, the State program under this subpart;

(2)(A)(i) sets forth the goals intended to be accomplished under the plan by the end of the 5th fiscal year in which the plan is in operation in the State, and (ii) is updated periodically to set forth the goals intended to be accomplished under the plan by the end of each 5th fiscal year thereafter;

(B) describes the methods to be used in measuring progress toward accomplishment of the goals;

(C) contains assurances that the State—

(i) after the end of each of the 1st 4 fiscal years covered by a set of goals, will perform an interim review of progress toward accomplishment of the goals, and on the basis of the interim review will revise the statement of goals in the plan, if necessary, to reflect changed circumstances; and

(ii) after the end of the last fiscal year covered by a set of goals, will perform a final review of progress toward accomplishment of the goals, and on the basis of the final review (I) will prepare, transmit to the Secretary, and make available to the public a final report on progress toward accomplishment of the goals, and (II) will develop (in consultation with the entities required to be consulted pursuant to subsection (b) of this section) and add to the plan a statement of the goals intended to be accomplished by the end of the 5th succeeding fiscal year;

(3) provides for coordination, to the extent feasible and appropriate, of the provision of services under the plan and the provision of services or benefits under other Federal or federally assisted programs serving the same populations;

(4) contains assurances that not more than 10 percent of expenditures under the plan for any fiscal year with respect to which the State is eligible for payment under section 629d of this title for the fiscal year shall be for administrative costs, and that the remaining expenditures shall be for programs of family preservation services, community-based family support services, time-limited family reunification services, and adoption promotion and support services, with significant portions of such expenditures for each such program;

(5) contains assurances that the State will—

(A) annually prepare, furnish to the Secretary, and make available to the public a description (including separate descriptions with respect to family preservation services, community-based family support services, time-limited family reunification services, and adoption promotion and support services) of—

(i) the service programs to be made available under the plan in the immediately succeeding fiscal year;

(ii) the populations which the programs will serve; and

(iii) the geographic areas in the State in which the services will be available; and

(B) perform the activities described in subparagraph (A)—

(i) in the case of the 1st fiscal year under the plan, at the time the State submits its initial plan; and

(ii) in the case of each succeeding fiscal year, by the end of the 3rd quarter of the immediately preceding fiscal year;

(6) provides for such methods of administration as the Secretary finds to be necessary for the proper and efficient operation of the plan;

(7)(A) contains assurances that Federal funds provided to the State under this subpart will not be used to supplant Federal or non-Federal funds for existing services and activities which promote the purposes of this subpart; and

(B) provides that the State will furnish reports to the Secretary, at such times, in such format, and containing such information as the Secretary may require, that demonstrate the State's compliance with the prohibition contained in subparagraph (A);

(8) provides that the State agency will furnish such reports, containing such information, and participate in such evaluations, as the Secretary may require; and

(9) contains assurances that in administering and conducting service programs under the plan, the safety of the children to be served shall be of paramount concern.

(b) Approval of plans

(1) In general

The Secretary shall approve a plan that meets the requirements of subsection (a) of this section only if the plan was developed jointly by the Secretary and the State, after consultation by the State agency with appropriate public and nonprofit private agencies and community-based organizations with experience in administering programs of services for children and families (including family preservation, family support, time-limited family reunification, and adoption promotion and support services).

(2) Plans of Indian tribes

(A) Exemption from inappropriate requirements

The Secretary may exempt a plan submitted by an Indian tribe from any requirement of this section that the Secretary determines would be inappropriate to apply to the Indian tribe, taking into account the resources, needs, and other circumstances of the Indian tribe.

(B) Special rule

Notwithstanding subparagraph (A) of this paragraph, the Secretary may not approve a plan of an Indian tribe under this subpart to which (but for this subparagraph) an allotment of less than $10,000 would be made under section 629c(a) of this title if allotments were made under section 629c(a) of this title to all Indian tribes with plans approved under this subpart with the same or larger numbers of children.

(Aug. 14, 1935, ch. 531, title IV, §432, as added Pub. L. 103–66, title XIII, §13711(a)(2), Aug. 10, 1993, 107 Stat. 651; amended Pub. L. 105–89, title III, §305(b)(1), (c)(1), Nov. 19, 1997, 111 Stat. 2130, 2131; Pub. L. 105–200, title IV, §410(c), July 16, 1998, 112 Stat. 673.)

Prior Provisions

A prior section 432 of act Aug. 14, 1935, was classified to section 632 of this title prior to repeal by Pub. L. 100–485.

Amendments

1998—Subsec. (a)(8). Pub. L. 105–200 inserted "; and" at end.

1997—Subsec. (a)(4). Pub. L. 105–89, §305(b)(1)(A)(i), substituted ", community-based family support services, time-limited family reunification services, and adoption promotion and support services," for "and community-based family support services".

Subsec. (a)(5)(A). Pub. L. 105–89, §305(b)(1)(A)(ii), substituted ", community-based family support services, time-limited family reunification services, and adoption promotion and support services" for "and community-based family support services".

Subsec. (a)(9). Pub. L. 105–89, §305(c)(1), added par. (9).

Subsec. (b)(1). Pub. L. 105–89, §305(b)(1)(B), substituted ", family support, time-limited family reunification, and adoption promotion and support" for "and family support".

Effective Date of 1997 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 105–89 effective Nov. 19, 1997, except as otherwise provided, with delay permitted if State legislation is required, see section 501 of Pub. L. 105–89, set out as a note under section 622 of this title.

Section Referred to in Other Sections

This section is referred to in section 629d of this title.

§629c. Allotments to States

(a) Indian tribes

From the amount reserved pursuant to section 629(d)(3) of this title for any fiscal year, the Secretary shall allot to each Indian tribe with a plan approved under this subpart an amount that bears the same ratio to such reserved amount as the number of children in the Indian tribe bears to the total number of children in all Indian tribes with State plans so approved, as determined by the Secretary on the basis of the most current and reliable information available to the Secretary.

(b) Territories

From the amount described in section 629(b) of this title for any fiscal year that remains after applying section 629(d) of this title for the fiscal year, the Secretary shall allot to each of the jurisdictions of Puerto Rico, Guam, the Virgin Islands, the Northern Mariana Islands, and American Samoa an amount determined in the same manner as the allotment to each of such jurisdictions is determined under section 621 of this title.

(c) Other States

(1) In general

From the amount described in section 629(b) of this title for any fiscal year that remains after applying section 629(d) of this title and subsection (b) of this section for the fiscal year, the Secretary shall allot to each State (other than an Indian tribe) which is not specified in subsection (b) of this section an amount equal to such remaining amount multiplied by the food stamp percentage of the State for the fiscal year.

(2) "Food stamp percentage" defined

(A) In general

As used in paragraph (1) of this subsection, the term "food stamp percentage" means, with respect to a State and a fiscal year, the average monthly number of children receiving food stamp benefits in the State for months in the 3 fiscal years referred to in subparagraph (B) of this paragraph, as determined from sample surveys made under section 2025(c) of title 7, expressed as a percentage of the average monthly number of children receiving food stamp benefits in the States described in such paragraph (1) for months in such 3 fiscal years, as so determined.

(B) Fiscal years used in calculation

For purposes of the calculation pursuant to subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall use data for the 3 most recent fiscal years, preceding the fiscal year for which the State's allotment is calculated under this subsection, for which such data are available to the Secretary.

(Aug. 14, 1935, ch. 531, title IV, §433, as added Pub. L. 103–66, title XIII, §13711(a)(2), Aug. 10, 1993, 107 Stat. 653.)

Prior Provisions

A prior section 433 of act Aug. 14, 1935, was classified to section 633 of this title prior to repeal by Pub. L. 100–485.

Section Referred to in Other Sections

This section is referred to in sections 629, 629b, 629d of this title.

§629d. Payments to States

(a) Entitlement

(1) General rule

Except as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection, each State which has a plan approved under this subpart shall be entitled to payment of the lesser of—

(A) 75 percent of the total expenditures by the State for activities under the plan during the fiscal year or the immediately succeeding fiscal year; or

(B) the allotment of the State under section 629c of this title for the fiscal year.

(2) Special rule

Upon submission by a State to the Secretary during fiscal year 1994 of an application in such form and containing such information as the Secretary may require (including, if the State is seeking payment of an amount pursuant to subparagraph (B) of this paragraph, a description of the services to be provided with the amount), the State shall be entitled to payment of an amount equal to the sum of—

(A) such amount, not exceeding $1,000,000, from the allotment of the State under section 629c of this title for fiscal year 1994, as the State may require to develop and submit a plan for approval under section 629b of this title; and

(B) an amount equal to the lesser of—

(i) 75 percent of the expenditures by the State for services to children and families in accordance with the application and the expenditure rules of section 629b(a)(4) of this title; or

(ii) the allotment of the State under section 629c of this title for fiscal year 1994, reduced by any amount paid to the State pursuant to subparagraph (A) of this paragraph.

(b) Prohibitions

(1) No use of other Federal funds for State match

Each State receiving an amount paid under paragraph (1) or (2)(B) of subsection (a) of this section may not expend any Federal funds to meet the costs of services described in this subpart not covered by the amount so paid.

(2) Availability of funds

A State may not expend any amount paid under subsection (a)(1) of this section for any fiscal year after the end of the immediately succeeding fiscal year.

(c) Direct payments to tribal organizations of Indian tribes

The Secretary shall pay any amount to which an Indian tribe is entitled under this section directly to the tribal organization of the Indian tribe.

(Aug. 14, 1935, ch. 531, title IV, §434, as added Pub. L. 103–66, title XIII, §13711(a)(2), Aug. 10, 1993, 107 Stat. 653.)

Prior Provisions

A prior section 434 of act Aug. 14, 1935, was classified to section 634 of this title prior to repeal by Pub. L. 100–485.

Section Referred to in Other Sections

This section is referred to in sections 629b, 673b of this title.

§629e. Evaluations

(a) Evaluations

(1) In general

The Secretary shall evaluate the effectiveness of the programs carried out pursuant to this subpart in accomplishing the purposes of this subpart, and may evaluate any other Federal, State, or local program, regardless of whether federally assisted, that is designed to achieve the same purposes as the program under this subpart, in accordance with criteria established in accordance with paragraph (2).

(2) Criteria to be used

In developing the criteria to be used in evaluations under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall consult with appropriate parties, such as—

(A) State agencies administering programs under this part and part E of this subchapter;

(B) persons administering child and family services programs (including family preservation and family support programs) for private, nonprofit organizations with an interest in child welfare; and

(C) other persons with recognized expertise in the evaluation of child and family services programs (including family preservation and family support programs) or other related programs.

(b) Coordination of evaluations

The Secretary shall develop procedures to coordinate evaluations under this section, to the extent feasible, with evaluations by the States of the effectiveness of programs under this subpart.

(Aug. 14, 1935, ch. 531, title IV, §435, as added Pub. L. 103–66, title XIII, §13711(a)(2), Aug. 10, 1993, 107 Stat. 654.)

References in Text

Part E of this subchapter, referred to in subsec. (a)(2)(A), is classified to section 670 et seq. of this title.

Prior Provisions

A prior section 435 of act Aug. 14, 1935, was classified to section 635 of this title prior to repeal by Pub. L. 100–485.