What are Licensed or Approved CW Agencies?

What are considered "state-licensed or state-approved Child Welfare Agencies" for the purpose of Title IV-E Training?

Why we think this is important:

Federal Title IV-E regulations allow the state title IV-E agency broad discretion to extend federal funding participation in order to train new audiences of people involved with supporting case plans of the public child welfare agency.

Context:

The Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act of 2008 (PL 110-351) provided for the expansion of types of training audiences that were eligible for federal Title IV-E participation for the purpose of Improving Outcomes for Children in Foster Care (Title II of the Act). Under Section 203: Short-term training for child welfare agencies, relative guardians, and court personnel, training is now allowable for:

• relative guardians

• state-licensed or state-approved child welfare agencies providing services,

• members of staff of abuse and neglect courts,

• agency attorneys,

• attorneys representing children or parents,

• guardians ad litem, and

• court appointed special advocates representing children in proceedings of such courts.

also,

The Children's Bureau's Federal Child Welfare Policy Manual, Section 8.1H: Title IV-E, Administrative Functions/Costs, Training, provides the following:

Question 19: Is there a Federal definition of a State-licensed or State approved child welfare agency?

Answer: No. The title IV-E agency has the discretion to determine what kinds of agencies are child welfare agencies and the criteria for licensing or approving such agencies for the purposes of this provision. See Q/A #8 for examples of allowable training topics.

A state-specific Example: Region 9 - California

Enclosed below as a downloadable PDF, is the state of California's All County Letter (ACL) No. 09-80 issued December 28, 2009. This notification of federal law change contains perhaps the most thorough definition and rationale of who may be considered "staff of state-licensed or state-approved child welfare agencies" as well as the rational for how they fit within the context of providing child welfare services.

Excerpt:

The Administration for Children and Families, Department of Health and Human Services, has given states discretion to define which entities constitute "state-licensed or state-approved child welfare agencies providing services." The California Department of Social Services has defined "state-licensed or state approved child welfare agencies" in this context to include all entities and organizations, including county welfare department that engage in the development and/or implementation of the case plan for current foster and adoptive children who receive Title IV-E assistance. "Staff" of these agencies include any individuals who are invited, contracted, or voluntarily participate in support of the child and family so long as they are doing so at the behest of a state-licensed or state-approved child welfare agency.

Consistent with the focus of the Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoption Act of 2008, the recognition of the involvement of non-public child welfare staff in support of Title IV-E eligible children and families are integral to improving outcomes. It is crucial to have increased engagement of family members in identifying individuals, groups, and agencies that are engaged at key decision points and throughout the life of the case plan.

As part of the case plan implementation for Title IV-E eligible children and families these providers may be integrally involved in a variety of team processes such as: Team Decision Making, Family Group Decision Making, and Wraparound Teams. Given the nature of non-public child welfare groups and individuals (listed below) in their ongoing work with Title IV-E eligible children and families, it is critical that joint and cross system training occur to support consistent messaging and improved shared practice.

Below are listed the organizations or individuals that may be considered staff of state-licensed or state-approved child welfare agencies and how the fit within the context of providing child welfare services:

• Parent/Family Support Partner individuals or organizations: Activities of engagement result in reduced resistance by the family/child and increased readiness to engage and make necessary changes as described in their case plan.

• Faith-based community organizations: Provide culturally relevant sources of support, training, re-assessment and capacity building for the family -- providing ready access support at the local/community level.

• Extended family members, caregivers, and non-caregivers: Maintain the continuity of care, connection, and support for children in care. As the child transitions to permanency, sustain and implement the case plan, and support and facilitate visitation.

• Tribal ICWA workers without a Title IV-E plan: Provide essential service and supports for tribal children, youth, and families.

• Licensed child care providers: Support families in the implementation of the case plan and address protective issues.

• Providers of visitation services: Link providers who support visitation with case plan goals and objectives for children and families.

• Providers of domestic violence and child abuse services: Support team members in assessment, case planning, and implementation to address protective issues for children and families.

• Regional Center staff, Licensed medical staff, Providers of Mental Health services, Educational providers and advocates: Assess and assist in meeting the child or youth's developmental, medical, mental health, and educational needs in support of the case plan.

• Licensed counselors: Support the child and family in resolving key issues and make necessary changes as described in their case plan.

• CalWORKSs Linkages staff: Support the family and team members in assessment, case planning, and implementation to address protective issues for children and families.