History

The 1994 Amendments to the Social Security Act (SSA) authorize the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) to review State child and family service programs to ensure conformance with the requirements in Titles IV-B and IV-E of the SSA. Traditionally, reviews have focused primarily on assessing state agencies' compliance with procedural requirements rather than on the results of services and states' capacity to create positive outcomes for children and families.

On January 25, 2000, the DHHS published a final rule in the Federal Register to establish a new approach to monitoring state child welfare programs. Under the rule, which became effective March 25, 2000, states will be assessed for substantial conformity with certain federal requirements for child protective, foster care, adoption, family preservation and family support, and independent living services. The Children's Bureau, part of DHHS, is administering the review system.

Purpose

The goal of the reviews is to help states to improve child welfare services and achieve the following outcomes for families and children who receive services:

Safety

• Children are, first and foremost, protected from abuse and neglect.
• Children are safely maintained in their homes whenever possible and appropriate

Permanency

• Children have permanency and stability in their living situations.
• The continuity of family relationships and connections is preserved for children

Family and Child Well-Being

• Families have enhanced capacity to provide for their children's needs
• Children receive appropriate services to meet their educational needs
• Children receive adequate services to meet their physical and mental health needs

The federal government will conduct the reviews in partnership with state child welfare agency staff. The reviews are structured to help states identify strengths and areas for improvement within their agencies and programs.

The Review Process

Each child and family services review is a two-stage process that comprises a Statewide Assessment and an onsite review of child and family service outcomes and program systems. For the Statewide Assessment, the Children's Bureau prepares and transmits to the state the data profiles that contain aggregate data on the state's foster care and in-home service populations. The data profiles allow each state to compare certain safety and permanency data indicators with national standards determined by the Children's Bureau. After the Statewide Assessment, a joint Federal-State team conducts an onsite review of the state child welfare program. The on-site portion of the review includes the following: (1) case record reviews; (2) interviews with children and families engaged in services; and (3) interviews with community stakeholders, such as the courts and community agencies, foster families, and caseworkers and service providers. At the end of the on-site review, states determined not to have achieved substantial conformity in all the areas assessed will be required to develop and implement Program Improvement Plans addressing the areas of nonconformity. The DHHS Children's Bureau will support the states with technical assistance and monitor implementation of their plans.