Resource Library

Too many people are experiencing suicidal crisis or mental health-related distress without the support and care they need, and this is particularly true for children, youth, and families.

This letter discusses several recent announcements from our partners at the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) that impact care for AI/AN populations, including updates related to flexibility to cover traditional health care practices through Medicaid as well as new guidance regarding coverage requirements for eligible children and youth enrolled in Medicaid and CHIP.

This dear colleague letter (DCL) addresses an urgent public health concern regarding increasing rates of syphilis and congenital syphilis. Human services programs can play an important role in addressing the syphilis epidemic by raising awareness and helping to facilitate access to early testing and treatment. The letter provides suggested actions to reduce syphilis and congenital syphilis for improved maternal and infant health.

Nearly 80 million individuals are enrolled in Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), including nearly half of all children and youth in the United States. The Center for Medicaid and CHIP Services released guidance to support states as they work to strengthen their implementation of Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnostic, and Treatment (EPSDT) benefit requirements for children and youth enrolled in Medicaid and CHIP. Many of the services that states can elect to include as part of the EPSDT benefit address risk factors for adverse experiences such as housing instability and involvement in the child welfare system. These risk factors often directly intersect with the work of the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) grantees and their partners.

This Dear Colleague Letter highlights these intersections and encourages ACF grantees and their partners to work closely with state Medicaid and CHIP agencies to strengthen access to care for children and youth.

Populations served by Administration for Children and Families (ACF)-funded programs — including victims of trafficking or violence, those who are unhoused, and young people and families involved in the child welfare system — are often at particularly high risk for substance use and overdose.  This document highlights actions ACF grant recipients and partners can take to help reduce overdose deaths. 

The HHS Grants Policy Statement (HHS GPS) makes the general terms and conditions of HHS discretionary grant and cooperative agreement awards available in a single document. These general terms and conditions are common across all HHS OPDIVs and apply unless there are statutory, regulatory, or award-specific requirements to the contrary (as specified in individual Notices of Award).

The Language Access Plan (LAP) ensures that programs receiving ACF funding implement approaches responsive to the language access needs of communities served. 

The Administration for Children and Families (ACF) is committed to creating a respectful, inclusive, and safe environment where all employees can thrive, develop their potential, and contribute to the success of their workplace.  Harassment or retaliation in any form is inappropriate and unacceptable and will not be tolerated.  ACF will take immediate and appropriate corrective action if harassment occurs, regardless of whether the conduct violated the law.

ACF promotes the well-being of families and children to be resilient, safe, healthy, and economically secure. As we collectively work to advance this critical mission, we recognize that our workforce must reflect the communities that we serve. Accordingly, we renew our commitment to advance Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility in the agency’s workforce policies, practices, and culture.

This Dear Colleague Letter highlights recent ACF efforts to strengthen strategic partnerships with people with lived experience, including a new resource that overviews how ACF has engaged and utilized insight from parents and caregivers to improve programs, resources, and services for children and families.