Regulatory Actions

Current as of:

Executive branch agencies, such as the Children's Bureau, may develop regulations to provide more specific guidance on how a piece of legislation will be interpreted and implemented. Regulations are published in the Federal Register , and the public often is given the opportunity to comment on them. This page contains both regulations and notices for public comment from the Children’s Bureau.

Code of Federal Regulations - The Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) is the official legal print publication containing the codification of the general and permanent rules published in the Federal Register by the departments and agencies of the Federal Government. It is maintained by the Government Printing Office and the Office of the Federal Register.  The regulatory sections governing child welfare programs are below.

Title 45 - Public Welfare, Subtitle B, Chapter XIII - Administration for Children and Families, Department of Health and Human Services, Subchapter G

2024 AFCARS NPRM — ACF published a proposed rule in the Federal Register on February 23, 2024 (89 FR 13652 ) that proposes to amend the Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System (AFCARS) regulations to require state title IV-E agencies to collect and report data elements related to the procedural protections of the Indian Child Welfare Act of 1978 (ICWA). 

NPRM on Foster Care Legal Representation - ACF published a proposed rule in the Federal Register on September 28, 2023 (88 FR 66769 ) that proposes to allow a title IV—E agency to claim Federal financial participation (FFP) for the administrative cost of an attorney providing legal representation in certain proceedings. Here is a link to a summary “Tribal Consultation on the NPRM for Legal Representation in Foster Care and on the NPRM for Safe and Appropriate Placements and Services”, which was held on October 30, 2023

NPRM on Safe and Appropriate Foster Care Placement Requirements - ACF published a proposed rule in the Federal Register on September 28, 2023 (88 FR 66752 ) that proposes to specify the steps title IV-B/IV-E agencies must take when implementing the case plan and case review requirements for children in foster care who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer or questioning, intersex, as well as children who are non-binary, or have non-conforming gender identity or expression. “Tribal Consultation on the NPRM for Legal Representation in Foster Care and on the NPRM for Safe and Appropriate Placements and Services”, which was held on October 30, 2023.

Separate Licensing Standards for Relative or Kinship Foster Family Homes - The final rule published in the Federal Register on September 28, 2023 (88 FR 66700 ) allows title IV-E agencies to adopt foster family home licensing or approval standards for foster family homes of relatives or kin that differ from nonrelative foster family homes standards. It also requires that during the title IV-E agency’s periodic review of licensing standards and the amount of foster care maintenance payments, the agency ensures that eligible children receive the same amount of foster care maintenance payments regardless of whether they are placed in a licensed or approved relative, kinship, or unrelated foster family home. The NPRM was published on February 14, 2023 (88 FR 9411 )

Notice of biennial publication of allotment percentages for States under the Title IV-B, subpart 1 Stephanie Tubbs Jones Child Welfare Services Program — Published in the Federal Register on November 24, 2020 (85 FR 75021).  This notice announces the allotment percentages for fiscal years 2022 and 2023 for each state under the title IV-B, subpart 1 program.

AFCARS 2020 Final Rule — A final rule on the Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System (AFCARS) was published in the Federal Register on May 12, 2020. It finalizes a proposal to streamline the information required to be reported by title IV-E agencies from the 2016 AFCARS final rule.

AFCARS 2019 Notice of Proposed Rulemaking — Proposes to streamline the information required to be reported in the Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System (AFCARS) December 2016 final rule. 

Notice of biennial publication of allotment percentages for States under the Title IV—B subpart 1, Stephanie Tubbs Jones Child Welfare Services Program - Published in the Federal Register on November 29, 2018 (Volume 83, Number 230). This notice from the Federal Register announces the allotment percentage for fiscal years 2020 and 2021 for each state under the Stephanie Tubbs Jones Child Welfare Services Program authorized by title IV-B, subpart 1 of the Social Security Act (the Act).

2018 AFCARS Final Rule regarding Implementation of the Dec. 2016 Final Rule - A final rule was published in the Federal Register on August 21, 2018 to delay implementation of the December 2016 AFCARS final rule until October 1, 2020 (83 FR 42225). This rule finalizes the Notice of Proposed Rule Making (NPRM) that was published on March 15, 2018 (83 FR 11450). 

Federal Register Notice on Proposed National Model Foster Family Home Licensing Standards — This Federal Register notice published August 1, 2018, describes the Children’s Bureau's proposed model standards for foster family home licensing and the 60-day comment period (83 FR 37495). Final model standards were issued via ACYF-CB-IM-19-01 (February 4, 2019).

Decisions Related to the Development of a Clearinghouse of Evidence-Based Practices in Accordance With the Family First Prevention Services Act of 2018 - Published in the Federal Register on June 22, 2018 (83 FR 29122). The Administration for Children and Families, HHS, solicits comments by July 22, 2018 on initial criteria and potential candidate programs and services for review in a Clearinghouse of evidence-based practices in accordance with the Family First Prevention Services Act of 2018 (Public Law 115-123 ).The Clearinghouse will identify promising, supported, and well-supported practices for mental health and substance abuse prevention and treatment programs, in-home parent skill-based programs, and kinship navigator programs appropriate for children who are candidates for foster care pregnant or parenting foster youth, and the parents or kin caregivers of those children and youth.  Revised initial criteria for selecting, reviewing, and rating programs and services, were issued in ACYF-CB-PI-19-09 and the Title IV-E Prevention Services Clearinghouse Handbook of Standards and Procedures . The Clearinghouse website may be found here .

2018 AFCARS Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking and Notice of Proposed Rulemaking regarding Implementation of the Dec. 2016 Final Rule - An Advance Notice of Proposed Rule Making (ANPRM) on the Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System (AFCARS) was published in the Federal Register on March 15, 2018. Additionally, we published in the Federal Register on March 15, 2018 a NPRM proposing to provide an additional two fiscal years to comply with the AFCARS requirements in the December 2016 final rule. 

2016 Final Rule: Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System - Published in the Federal Register on December 14, 2016 (81 FR 90524). The final rule requires title IV-E agencies to collect and report data to ACF on children in out-of-home care, who exit out-of-home care to adoption or legal guardianship, information related to the Indian Child Welfare Act of 1978, and children who have a title IV-E adoption or guardianship assistance agreement.

Comprehensive Child Welfare Information System Final Rule  (PDF) - Published in the Federal Register on June 2, 2016 (Volume 81, Number 106). The CCWIS final rule replaces the Statewide/Tribal Automated Child Welfare Information System (SACWIS/TACWIS) regulations at 45 CFR 1355.50 - 57.

Supplemental Notice of Proposed Rulemaking: Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System - Published in the Federal Register on April 7, 2016 (81 FR 20283). The proposed supplemental rule requires that state title IV-E agencies collect and report additional data elements related to the Indian Child Welfare Act of 1978 (ICWA) in AFCARS.

Notice of Proposed Rulemaking: Comprehensive Child Welfare Information System  (PDF) - Published in the Federal Register on August 11, 2015 (Volume 80, Number 154). The proposed rule amends the Statewide/Tribal Automated Child Welfare Information System (SACWIS/TACWIS) regulations at 45 CFR 1355.50 - 57.

Notice for Public Comment on the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA) - Published in the Federal Register on March 31, 2015 (80 FR 17045). Pursuant to 42 U.S.C. 5106a, the Children's Bureau (CB) announces the opportunity for public comment on the policy interpretation of section 106(b)(2)(B)(x) articulated in question 2.1A.4 #8 of the Child Welfare Policy Manual (CWPM), which concerns the public disclosure of findings or information about a case of child abuse or neglect which results in a child fatality or near fatality.

Notice for Public Comment on the Title IV-E Adoption Assistance Program's Suspension and Termination Policies - Published in the Federal Register on March 31, 2015 (80 FR 17058) In accordance with title IV-E of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 673), the Children's Bureau (CB) announces the opportunity for public comment on our suspension and termination policies for the title IV-E adoption assistance program, articulated in the Child Welfare Policy Manual. We similarly announce the opportunity to provide public comment about any other policy areas of concern relating to the title IV-E adoption assistance program. On February 14, 2018, a new question and answer was issued in the Child Welfare Policy Manual; see section 8.2D number 3.

Technical Regulation: Removal of Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention and Treatment Act Implementing Regulations - Published in the Federal Register on March 30, 2015 (80 FR 16577) The Administration for Children and Families is removing the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA) regulations in their entirety. These regulations no longer apply to the CAPTA programs they were originally designed to implement because of major legislative changes to CAPTA since the regulations were issued.

Notice of Proposed Rulemaking: Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System  (PDF) - Published in the Federal Register: February 9, 2015 (Volume 80, Number 26) The proposed rule to amends the Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System (AFCARS) regulations at 45 CFR 1355.40 and the appendices to part 1355. It builds on an earlier proposed rule, published January 11, 2008 (73 FR 2082).

Interim Final Rule: Tribal Child Welfare  (PDF) - Published in the Federal Register: January 6, 2012 (Volume 77, Number 4)
This interim final rule implements statutory provisions related to the tribal title IV—E program.  It amends federal regulations at 45 CFR 1355, including Appendices A-E, and 45 CFR 1356.

Title IV-B Tribal Consultation Meetings  (PDF) - Published in the Federal Register: February 21, 2012 (Volume 77, Number 34)
This is a request for public comment from Indian tribes and other interested parties concerning requirements applicable to the title IV-B Child and Family Services Plan.

Request for Public Comment and Consultation Meetings on AFCARS  (PDF) - Published in the Federal Register: July 23, 2010 (Volume 75, Number 141) Due to the enactment of the Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act of 2008 (Pub. L. 110-351) and the substantial changes it introduced in title IV-E, the Children's Bureau intends to issue a new AFCARS Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) to amend the AFCARS regulations at 45 CFR 1355.40 and the appendices to part 1355. This document is a call for comments to inform development of the new NPRM. Parties should provide comments on or before October 21, 2010.

Title IV-E Tribal Consultation Meetings  (PDF) - Published in the Federal Register: March 13, 2009 (Volume 74, Number 48)
This is a request for public comment concerning requirements for transferring children from the placement and care responsibility of a state title IV-E agency to a tribal title IV-E agency. It also addresses the tribal share of title IV-E administration and training expenditures.

Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System (AFCARS); Proposed Rule - Published in the Federal Register: January 11, 2008 (Volume 73, Number 8)
This NPRM proposes numerous improvements to AFCARS data, including changes to the reporting populations, data structure, elements, compliance determination, and penalty provisions. 

Final Rule: National Youth In Transition Database  (PDF) - Published in the Federal Register: February 26, 2008 (Volume 73, Number 38)
This final rule adds new regulations to require states to collect and report data to ACF on youth who are receiving independent living services and on the outcomes of certain youth who are in foster care or who age out of foster care. This final rule implements the data collection requirements of the Foster Care Independence Act, which was enacted in 1999.

Final Rule: Title IV-E Foster Care Eligibility Reviews and Child and Family Services State Plan Reviews - Published in the Federal Register: March 27, 2000 (Volume 65, Number 16).  This final rule amends existing regulations concerning Child and Family Services by adding new requirements governing the review of a State's conformity with its State plan under titles IV-B and IV-E of the Social Security Act (the Act), and implements the provisions of the Social Security Act Amendments of 1994 (Pub. L. 103-432), the Multiethnic Placement Act (MEPA) as amended by Pub. L. 104-188, and certain provisions of the Adoption and Safe Families Act (ASFA) of 1997 (Pub. L. 105-89). In addition, it sets forth regulations that clarify certain eligibility criteria that govern the title IV-E foster care eligibility reviews.  Read the executive summary for more information.