[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 163 (Wednesday, August 21, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Page 43250]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-21270]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Administration for Children and Families


Request for Public Comments Concerning the Implementation and 
Management of Child Welfare Training for Which Federal Financial 
Participation Is Available Under Title IV-E of the Social Security Act

AGENCY: Administration on Children, Youth and Families, Administration 
for Children and families, Department of Health and Human Services.

ACTION: Notice of request for public comment.

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SUMMARY: The Children's Bureau, in the Administration on Children, 
Youth and Families administers the title IV-E training program which 
provides funds to States to assist with the training of public agency 
staff, foster and adoptive parents, and private agency staff. Federal 
financial participation (FFP) is available for a portion of the costs 
States incur in the delivery of appropriate and approved child welfare 
training. The Children's Bureau plans to issue guidance clarifying 
current policy and regulations with respect to title IV-E training. The 
relevant regulations are at 45 CFR 235.63-.66(a), and 45 CFR 1356.60 
(b) and (c). This notice invites public comment on issues and concerns 
which have been identified in the course of implementing and managing 
title IV-E training. These comments will help to inform the Children's 
Bureau in clarifying the existing policy and regulatory framework 
within which title IV-E operates and is administered.

DATES: Written comments must be submitted to the office listed in the 
ADDRESSES section below on or before October 21, 1996.

ADDRESSES: Mail written comments (preferably in duplicate) to Daniel H. 
Lewis, Deputy Associate Commissioner, Children's Bureau, P.O. Box 1182, 
Washington, DC 20013.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Daniel H. Lewis, Deputy Associated Commissioner, Children's Bureau, 
P.O. Box 1182, Washington, DC 20013; 202-205-8618.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: With the enactment of Public Law 96-272, the 
Adoption Assistance and Child Welfare Act of 1980, the provisions for 
claiming Federal financial participation (FFP) in the costs of training 
under title IV-E were established. Over the past six years two policy 
documents have been developed by the Department to provide guidance on 
a number of title IV-E training issues. The issues which have been 
dealt with in these documents include: (1) clarification of the 
availability of Federal financial participation (FFP) for different 
types of training, certain categories of training recipients, and 
specific cost items based on interpretations of existing statutes and 
regulations; (2) differential treatment of direct and indirect costs 
for purposes of obtaining different levels of FFP; and (3) a 
restatement of the requirement for cost allocation in order to secure 
FFP.
    Policy Announcement (PA) ACYF-90-01, dated June 14, 1990, explained 
the availability of 75 percent Federal financial participation (FFP), 
to the extent costs are allocable to title IV-E, for several types of 
training.
    Information Memorandum ACF-IM-91-15, dated July 24, 1991, provided 
a background on the statutory and regulatory provisions providing for a 
75 percent title IV-E training matching rate. It also reiterated the 
requirement to allocate training costs among all benefitting programs.
    In addition to these policy documents, the DHHS Departmental 
Appeals Board (DAB) has dealt with several title IV-E training issues 
relating to the applicable rate of FFP and the requirement for cost 
allocation in its Decisions 1214, 1422, and 1530.
    Numerous issues have arisen in response to policy interpretations 
contained in the policy documents and DAB decisions cited above. As a 
result, the Children's Bureau plans to issue guidance clarifying 
current policy and regulations for the benefit of all parties who deal 
with the benefit from title IV-E training. This notice invites public 
comment on issues and concerns that have arisen in the course of 
implementing and managing title IV-E training. The Children's Bureau 
will address all relevant comments in clarifying the current policy and 
regulatory framework within which title IV-E operates and is 
administered.

    Dated: August 8, 1996.
Olivia A. Golden,
Commissioner, Administration on Children, Youth and Families.
[FR Doc. 96-21270 Filed 8-20-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4184-01-M