[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
