Policy Frequently Asked Question #1

Question:

Where can I find answers about Federal child welfare policies that apply in my State?

Answer:

The Child Welfare Policy Manual, available online via the Children’s Bureau website at http://www.acf.hhs.gov/cwpm/programs/cb/laws_policies/laws/cwpm/index..., may be able to answer your question. The manual includes all relevant policy issuances (Policy Announcements) that have their basis in Federal law and/or program regulations. It also provides interpretations of Federal Statutes and program regulations initiated by inquiries from State Child Welfare agencies or ACF Regional Offices (Policy Interpretation Questions).

Also, occasionally policy is issued in an IM (Information Memorandum) or a PI (Program Instruction) found on the Laws and Policies portion of the Children’s Bureau website at http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/cb/laws_policies/index.htm#policy.  

Answers not found in the Manual should be directed to your Administration for Children and Families (ACF) Regional Administrator or Program Manager. The ACF website at https://www.acf.hhs.gov/about/offices  provides a link to all of the Regional Offices.

And lastly, Child Welfare Information Gateway (http://www.childwelfare.gov), an information and referral service of the Children’s Bureau, provides access to The Online Resources for State Child Welfare Law and Policy at http://www.childwelfare.gov/systemwide/laws_policies/statutes/resourc.... This publication provides web addresses for State statutes accessible online and lists the parts of the code for each State and Territory that contains the laws addressing child protection, adoption, and child welfare. It also provides web addresses for States’ regulation and policy sites, State court rules, and other judicial resources.