Introduction

In order for a State to be eligible to claim Federal financial participation (FFP) for its title IV-E adoption assistance program, it must, in part, have a title IV-E State plan which provides for adoption assistance in accordance with section 473 of the Social Security Act (the Act). The title IV-E State plan must be approved by the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services for FFP to be claimed under the plan. All relevant changes to State law, administrative rule, policy, etc., which impact title IV-E adoption assistance must be submitted to the appropriate Regional Office as an amendment to the State's title IV-E State plan.

The title IV-E adoption assistance program self-assessment tool was developed by the Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families (ACF), Children's Bureau (CB), to provide a process by which State title IV-E agencies may voluntarily review their title IV-E adoption assistance programs. The self-assessment tool is intended only for internal use by State title IV-E agencies. This tool is not a Federal requirement and States are not required to complete it. We do hope, however that States will take advantage of the document and that the self-assessment will serve as a useful tool for the State to identify whether State laws, regulations, policies and procedures should be modified to meet Federal requirements. It should be noted that the self-assessment tool covers the general rules related to title IV-E adoption assistance eligibility and that only the requirements in statute, regulations and the Child Welfare Policy Manual are formal statements of Federal law or policy. Case-specific inquiries should be directed to the State's appropriate Regional Office.

Using the self-assessment tool does not preclude ACF from conducting a partial review in accordance with Federal regulations at 45 CFR 1355.32(d). However, we believe that a State's better understanding of the Federal requirements for the title IV-E adoption assistance program will enable the State to proactively make any necessary changes to assure consistency with the title IV-E adoption assistance program.

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