Child Welfare
Funding for Tribes under Title IV-B Subparts 1 and 2 of the Social Security Act

What is it?

Title IV-B provides funding to Tribes (and States) for child welfare services and prevention activities. This flexible funding may be used to provide services to children and families to prevent the need for removal, stabilize families to allow children to return home, and to improve outcomes for safety, permanency and well-being of children in care or at risk of coming into care.

Title IV-B Subpart 1 (Child Welfare Services) provides funding to establish, expand, enhance and strengthen child welfare services. The goals are protecting and promoting the welfare and safety of all children; preventing or remedying problems which may result in child abuse or neglect; preventing the unnecessary separation of children from their families; provision of services to families to allow children who have been removed to return safely; assuring adequate care of children away from their homes; and placing children in suitable adoptive homes, when necessary.

Title IV-B Subpart 2 (Promoting Safe and Stable Families) provides funding to develop, expand and operate a program of family preservation, family support services, time-limited family reunification services, and adoption promotion and support services. The emphasis is on the use of a family-centered, comprehensive, flexible, responsive and holistic approach to child welfare.

Who is eligible?

All Federally-recognized Tribes are eligible for Title IV-B Subpart 1; only larger tribes eligible for $10,000 or above may apply for Subpart 2.

Title IV-B 1 funding is a per-capita formula based on Tribal population under 21. Tribal allotments are deducted from the State's total IV-B 1 allotment for that fiscal year.

Title IV-B 2 funding is a 2% set-aside of the total Title IV-B 2 budget. The formula is based on a ratio of the number of children (under age 21) in the Tribe to the total number of children in all Tribes with approved plans.

Note: A Tribe is eligible to apply and receive funds, whether or not they take legal custody of Tribal children.

Why apply?

Title IV-B funds are very flexible and may be used to meet the unique child welfare needs of your community. Tribes determine their own priorities in developing goals and strategies.

How to apply?

Tribes must develop a five-year "Comprehensive Child and Family Services Plan" (CFSP) for a system of coordinated, culturally relevant, and family focused services. The plan will consist of measurable goals and objectives, developed through joint planning and consultation with a range of appropriate partners (local community agencies and governments, local courts, private organizations, parents, foster parents, other interested parties, as well as ACF staff). In developing the plan, Tribes will assess the current strategy for meeting the needs of their children and families and identify service gaps and barriers to coordination of services.

When to apply?

The CFSP was due June 30, 2004. However, new Tribal applicants may submit a CFSP by June 30, 2005.