Since federal fiscal year (FFY) 2010, the title IV-E Adoption Assistance program has provided expanded eligibility provisions for any child who meets the criteria for an “applicable child” as defined in section 473(e) of the Social Security Act (the Act). Use of the applicable-child eligibility provisions (section 473(a)(2)(A)(ii) of the Act) tends to result in more children being determined as eligible for title IV-E since it delinks eligibility for the title IV-E Adoption Assistance program from the requirements of the Aid to Families with Dependent Children program, among other changes. (See Program Instruction [PI] ACYF-CB-PI-09-10, dated August 26, 2009, for more details on the applicable-child eligibility criteria.) The increased eligibility allows states to receive additional federal funding for adoption, thereby allowing them to reduce the level of nonfederal funds they use for these services. The reduction in nonfederal spending is referred to as “adoption savings.” Federal law (section 473(a)(8) of the Act) requires title IV-E agencies to spend an amount equal to any savings they achieve as a result of applying the differing program eligibility criteria to applicable children for other child welfare service activities permitted under titles IV-B or IV-E of the Act. The amount of adoption savings is calculated based on the title IV-E Adoption Assistance program claims made on behalf of those children who, absent the applicable-child eligibility criteria, would not have been determined eligible for title IV-E Adoption Assistance. The savings are generally equal to the federal share of these claims since, in most instances, that amount would otherwise have been paid from nonfederal title IV-E agency funds. A portion of the expenditures of adoption savings funds must be used for specified services. To implement the adoption savings requirements, the Children’s Bureau (CB) issued PIs providing detailed guidance on the calculation, expenditure, and reporting of adoption savings and developed a new annual reporting form (CB-496 Part 4) to collect the information. See PIs ACYF-CB-PI-15-06 and ACYF-CB-PI-21-08 for details on these instructions. Title IV-E agencies—as of FFY 2015—are required to calculate and report annually their adoption savings, the methodology used to calculate the savings, how savings are spent, and on what services. In calculating adoption savings, title IV-E agencies must use a methodology specified by CB or may propose an alternative for approval. The methodology developed and issued by CB is referred to as “the CB Method.” This method can be applied either to a sample of cases or to the full universe of cases if the agency was able to access actual figures for needed information without conducting a special review. The statute also requires that the annual adoption savings information reported by state and tribal title IV-E agencies be posted on the CB website. Metadata-only record linking to the original dataset. Open original dataset below.

The purpose of this Information Memorandum (IM) is to remind title IV-E agencies that for all adoption assistance agreements entered into on or after July 1, 2024, eligibility for title IV-E adoption assistance must be determined using the “applicable child” eligibility criteria described in section 473(a)(2)(A)(ii) of the Act. Metadata-only record linking to the original dataset. Open original dataset below.

This Information Memorandum (IM) informs title IV-E agencies that for adoption assistance agreements entered into on or after October 1, 2017, eligibility for title IV-E adoption assistance must be determined using the “applicable child” eligibility criteria described in section 473(a)(2)(C)(ii) of the Social Security Act. Metadata-only record linking to the original dataset. Open original dataset below.

Title IV-E agencies—as of FFY 2015—are required to calculate and report annually their adoption savings, the methodology used to calculate the savings, how savings are spent, and on what services. In calculating adoption savings, title IV-E agencies must use a methodology specified by CB or may propose an alternative for approval. The methodology developed and issued by CB is referred to as “the CB Method.” This method can be applied either to a sample of cases or to the full universe of cases if the agency was able to access actual figures for needed information without conducting a special review. The statute also requires that the annual adoption savings information reported by state and tribal title IV-E agencies be posted on the CB website. Units of Response: State, Tribe Type of Data: Administrative Tribal Data: Yes COVID-19 Data: No Periodicity: Annual SORN: Not Applicable Data Use Agreement: Not Applicable Data Use Agreement Location: Not Applicable Equity Indicators: Unavailable Granularity: State;Tribe Spatial: United States Geocoding: State;Tribe

This Program Regulation (PR) provides notice of proposed rulemaking -- title IV-E adoption assistance program; nonrecurring expenses. Metadata-only record linking to the original dataset. Open original dataset below.

This Program Regulation (PR) provides notice of proposed rulemaking -- title IV-E adoption assistance program; nonrecurring expenses. Metadata-only record linking to the original dataset. Open original dataset below.

This Information Memorandum (IM) provides new legistation - Creation of an Adoption Tax Credit and Changes in Title IV-E State Plan Requirements. Metadata-only record linking to the original dataset. Open original dataset below.

The Adoption Assistance Program provides funds to states and participating territories and tribes to facilitate the timely placement of children, whose special needs or circumstances would otherwise make them difficult to place with adoptive families. The program is annually appropriated and funding is awarded as an open-ended entitlement grant. Funding is contingent upon an approved title IV-E plan to administer or supervise the administration of the program. The program operates in 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and federally recognized Tribes with approved title IV-E plans. Matching funds are provided based on the expenditures made on behalf of children determined eligible for the program. Funds are available for a one-time payment to assist with the costs of adopting a child as well as for monthly subsidies to adoptive families who enter into an adoption assistance agreement to assist with the care of the eligible child. The program provides federal matching funds at the Federal Medical Assistance Percentage, ranging from 50 to 83 percent, for adoption assistance payments, depending on the per capita income of the state or Tribe. Additionally, funds are available for: administrative costs to manage the program; training staff and adoptive parents; adoptive parent recruitment; and other related expenses. Allowable administrative activities are matched at 50 percent and allowable training costs at 75 percent. The Title IV-E agency must submit quarterly reports of estimated and actual program expenditures and the average monthly number of children served. FY 2024: $4.7 billion Metadata-only record linking to the original dataset. Open original dataset below.

This Information Memorandum (IM) announces an amendment to Title IV-E Adoption Assistance for Children who are Voluntarily Relinquished to Private, Nonprofit Agencies (Amends Policy on Children who are Voluntarily Relinquished to a Private, Nonprofit Agency set forth in ACYF-CB-PA-01-01). Metadata-only record linking to the original dataset. Open original dataset below.

This Information Memorandum (IM) provides information on Title IV-E Adoption Assistance statutory changes - non-recurring expenses. Metadata-only record linking to the original dataset. Open original dataset below.