ACF News

Today, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation (ASPE) published a groundbreaking report, The Fiscal Impact of Refugees and Asylees at The Federal, State and Local Levels From 2005-2019 [link to the report]. This in-depth analysis examines the fiscal impact of refugees and asylees on the U.S. government and economy.

Today, the Biden-Harris Administration’s U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), through the Administration for Children and Families (ACF), announced a final rule to eliminate a burdensome cost sharing requirement for Tribal child support programs. The new rule is consistent with President Biden’s recent executive order on Reforming Federal Funding and Support for Tribal Nations to Better Embrace Our Trust Responsibilities and Promote the Next Era of Tribal Self-Determination and part of a Biden Administration push to more effectively support Tribal governments. The rule cuts red tape and improves the flexibility and accessibility of federal funding so that Tribes can grow their economies and provide their citizens with vital and innovative services.

Today, the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services released its annual child maltreatment report. The report reveals, that of the nationally estimated 3,096,101 children who were the subject of a child protective services response in fiscal year (FY) 2022, 558,899 children were determined to be victims of maltreatment, the lowest number of children identified as victims of maltreatment in the last five years. Conversely, the national estimated number and rate of fatalities have increased during the past five years. Most recently, an estimated 1,990 children died from abuse and neglect in FY 2022 compared to an estimated 1,930 children whose deaths were determined as due to maltreatment during FY 2021. The Child Maltreatment report includes updated state data and population data from the U.S. Census Bureau for the most recent 5 years.

Report shows program served over one million households in its first year of implementation.

Today, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), through the Administration for Children and Families (ACF), released new guidance to grant recipients regarding the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) Foster Youth to Independence (FYI) program.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and U.S. Department of Education (the Departments) today announced the release of an updated joint-policy statement on supporting the inclusion of children with disabilities in early childhood programs.

Today, the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services released new resources highlighting its latest efforts to advance equity across the agency. The resources, which include a video featuring ACF leadership and staff and an accompanying fact sheet, spotlight high-impact activities each ACF program office has completed to strengthen equity in their programs, policies and processes.

Today, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) through the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) announced a new proposed rule to strengthen Head Start’s ability to recruit and retain qualified staff, raise teacher wages, and provide consistent quality programming for the children and families they serve. The new proposed rule follows President Biden’s April 2023 Executive Order, which directed HHS to develop strategies to encourage comparability of compensation and benefits between staff employed by Head Start grant recipients and elementary school teachers and make child care and Head Start more accessible for those families most in need. If finalized, the new proposed rule would raise Head Start teacher annual wages by more than $10,000 on average. And it will put Head Start teachers on a path to parity with public school teachers by ensuring that their salaries are at least equivalent to preschool teachers in public school settings without impacting children currently enrolled in Head Start.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), through the Administration for Children and Families’ (ACF) Administration on Children, Youth, and Families’ (ACYF) Children’s Bureau, announced the release of $4 million in community-initiated funding to support innovative, community-supported approaches to addressing racial bias and inequity in child welfare systems. This new funding aligns directly with the Biden-Harris Administration’s priority of advancing racial equity and support for underserved communities through the Federal Government.

The Administration for Children and Families (ACF) at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services today announced the 2023 recipients of the annual adoption excellence awards. Held annually in November, in celebration of National Adoption Month, the Children’s Bureau at ACF recognizes individuals, families and organizations who have demonstrated excellence in making contributions to providing permanency for children in foster care through these awards. This year’s awardees were honored at an event in the HHS Great Hall this afternoon, led by ACF Acting Assistant Secretary Jeff Hild, and Children’s Bureau Associate Commissioner Aysha E. Schomburg.