Child Welfare Waivers

Current as of:

The Child Welfare Waiver Demonstration authority active, from 1994 through 2019, provides states with an opportunity to use federal funds more flexibly in order to test innovative approaches to child welfare service delivery and financing. Using this option, states can design and demonstrate a wide range of approaches to reforming child welfare and improving outcomes in the areas of safety, permanency, and well-being. This authority expired at the end of federal fiscal year 2019, and all demonstration projects concluded no later than September 30, 2019.

Title IV-E Waiver Demonstrations: History, Findings, and Implications for Child Welfare Policy and Practice - (2021) - This report provides evaluation findings from child welfare demonstration projects implemented from the late 1990s through 2019 that promoted innovations in child welfare programs, services, policies, and financing. Program influences in federal child welfare legislation enacted over the past decade also are explored.

Title IV-E Waiver Demonstration National Study (July 2019) - This report presents the interim findings of the National Study of the Title IV-E Child Welfare Demonstration, which examined jurisdictions’ collective experience implementing their demonstrations and operating with increased fiscal flexibility.

Title IV-E Waiver Demonstration National Study Supplemental Outcomes Report.PDF (March 2021) - This report presents the final evaluation findings of the National Study of the Title IV-E Child Welfare Demonstration, which examined jurisdictions’ collective experience implementing their demonstrations and operating with increased fiscal flexibility.

Special Topic Paper — Child Welfare Waiver Demonstrations and Evidence-Based Programs - This paper explores jurisdictions' efforts to implement and evaluate evidence-based programs (EBPs) as part of a child welfare waiver demonstration from 2012 through the first half of 2019. It addresses the successes and challenges of implementing EBPs; maintaining fidelity to the service models with child welfare populations; and findings related to child and family safety, permanency, and well-being.

Summary of Child Welfare Waiver Demonstrations by Jurisdiction (March 2021) - This document provides a detailed summary of the active Child Welfare Waiver Demonstration projects, including their core interventions, key outcomes, and methods to measure cost neutrality.

Profiles of Child Welfare Waiver Demonstration Projects active between 2012 to 2019 (March 2021) This document provides detailed information about the Child Welfare Waiver Demonstration projects active between federal fiscal years 2012 to 2019 including their evaluation designs and outcome findings.

Profiles of Child Welfare Waiver Demonstration Projects active between 1996- 2012 (June 2013) This document provides detailed information about the Child Welfare Waiver Demonstration projects active between federal fiscal years 1996—2012, including their evaluation designs and outcome findings.

Table of the Title IV-E Child Welfare Waiver Demonstrations Active between 2012 to 2019 (March 2021) - This document provides a summary table of the Child Welfare Waiver Demonstration projects active between 2012 to 2019.

Table of the Title IV-E Child Welfare Waiver Demonstrations Active between 1996- 2012 (April 2013) This document provides a summary table of the Child Welfare Waiver Demonstration projects active between 1996- 2012.

Reports of Waiver Demonstrations