FEDERAL AGENCY:

ADMINISTRATION FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

AUTHORIZATION:

Social Security Act, Title IV-E, Section 470 et seq., as amended.

OBJECTIVES:

To provide Federal Financial Participation (FFP) to States in adoption subsidy costs for the adoption of children with special needs and who meet certain eligibility tests.

USES AND USE RESTRICTIONS:

Federal subsidy may be used only in support of the adoption of children who meet the definition of special needs as specified in the Law. All parents adopting special needs children are eligible for the nonrecurring cost of adoption. States may receive Federal financial participation only if State plans have been approved by the Secretary as meeting the requirements of the Law.

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:

Applicant Eligibility:   States,the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico may submit a Sate plan for program participation.

Beneficiary Eligibility:   Beneficiaries are children who: (1) Are AFDC (as in effect July 16, 1996), IV-E-FC, or SSI recipients or are eligible for AFDC (as in effect July 16, 1996), IV-E-FC, and SSI; and (2) have been determined by the State to be special needs, e.g., a special factor or condition which makes it reasonable to conclude that they cannot be adopted without adoption assistance; a State determination that the child cannot or should not be returned home; and a reasonable effort has been made to place the child without providing financial or medical assistance. FFP is available from the time of placement for adoption in accordance with State and local law or final adoption decree to age 18 (21 if the State finds that a disability means aid should continue) as long as the parent supports the child. No child adopted prior to the approval of the State's Title IV-E plan is eligible for FFP. No means test applies to adopting parents, but the amount of subsidy is agreed to by agency and parents and may be readjusted by joint agreement.

Credentials/Documentation:   The State must submit an application for approval by the Secretary of Health and Human Services. Costs will be determined in accordance with 45 CFR, Part 74.

Pre-application Coordination:   Consultation to States is available from Regional Offices of ACF, DHHS. The standard application forms as furnished by DHHS must be used for this program. This program is excluded from coverage under E.O. 12372.

Application Procedure:   Applications (State plans) are submitted to the Regional Office (RO) of ACF.

Award Procedure:   Quarterly awards are made on the basis of estimated of expenditures, which are later revised to include only actual allowable expenditures. Final decisions and awards are made by the Headquarters Office. Letter-of-credit is issued by the HHS Payment Management System (PMS).

Deadlines:   Estimates are due July 30, October 30, January 30, and April 30.

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time:   HHS will approve/disapprove applications (State plans or amendments to them) within 90 days.

Appeals:   Refer to 45 CFR, Part 16.

Renewals:   Not applicable.

ASSISTANCE CONSIDERATIONS:

Formula and Matching Requirements:   FFP for adoption assistance is equal to the Federal medical assistance percentage (as defined in section 1905(b) of the Social Security Act) of the total expended as adoption assistance, plus 75 percent of training and 50 percent of other administrative costs.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance:   Federal financial participation is available to a State operating under an approved application.

POST ASSISTANCE REQUIREMENTS:

Reports:   Expenditure reports are required 30 days after the end of the quarter; other reports as required by the Secretary.

Audits:   Audits are conducted in accordance with the requirements in 45 CFR 74.

Records:   States must maintain records necessary for the proper and efficient operation of the program, including records of applications, determinations of eligibility, allocated and direct administrative and training costs, and the provision of financial assistance.

FINANCIAL INFORMATION:

Account Identification:   75-1545-0-1-506.

Obligations:   (Grants) FY 01 $1,197,600,000; FY 02 est $1,426,600,000; and FY 03 est $1,584,500,000.

Range and Average of Financial Assistance:  
FY 2015: $66,258 to $470,287,195 with an average of $46,521,796.

Adoption subsidy payments are made to eligible children with special needs who are adopted. In fiscal year 2001, this program assisted an average of 179,437 children per month. It is estimated that this program will assist an average of 203,131 children per month in fiscal year 2002 and 207,193 children per month in fiscal year 2003. There were 52 grants made in fiscal year 2001. It is estimated that 52 grants will be made in fiscal year 2002 and 52 grants in fiscal year 2003.

REGULATIONS, GUIDELINES, AND LITERATURE:

Notice of Proposed Rulemaking; 45 CFR 1355 - 1356.

INFORMATION CONTACTS:

Regional or Local Office:   Contact the Regional Administrator, ACF, HHS in the appropriate Regional Office. (See Appendix IV of the Catalog for a list of addresses of the Regional Offices.)

Headquarters Office:  
Eileen West 330 C Street SW, Room 3509B, Washington, District of Columbia 20447 Email: eileen.west@acf.hhs.gov Phone: 202-205-8438

Web Site Address:  
http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/cb

EXAMPLES OF FUNDED PROJECTS:

Not applicable.

CRITERIA FOR SELECTING PROPOSALS:

Criteria are not available.