In general
Eligibility
Removal and foster care placement requirements
AFDC eligibility requirement
In general
Resources determination
section 602 of this titlesection 602(a)(7)(B) of this titlesection 602(a)(7)(B) of this titleFor purposes of subparagraph (A), in determining whether a child would have received aid under a State plan approved under (as in effect on ), a child whose resources (determined pursuant to , as so in effect) have a combined value of not more than $10,000 shall be considered a child whose resources have a combined value of not more than $1,000 (or such lower amount as the State may determine for purposes of ).
Eligibility of certain alien children
8 U.S.C. 1601section 602 of this titleSubject to title IV of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 [ et seq.], if the child is an alien disqualified under section 1255a(h) or 1160(f) of title 8 from receiving aid under the State plan approved under in or for the month in which the agreement described in paragraph (2)(A)(i) was entered into or court proceedings leading to the determination described in paragraph (2)(A)(ii) were initiated, the child shall be considered to satisfy the requirements of paragraph (3), with respect to the month, if the child would have satisfied the requirements but for the disqualification.
Additional qualifications
Definitions
Foster family home
In general
State flexibility
Rule of construction
Subparagraph (A) shall not be construed as prohibiting a foster parent from renting the home in which the parent cares for a foster child placed in the parent’s care.
Child-care institution
In general
The term “child-care institution” means a private child-care institution, or a public child-care institution which accommodates no more than 25 children, which is licensed by the State in which it is situated or has been approved by the agency of the State responsible for licensing or approval of institutions of this type as meeting the standards established for the licensing.
Supervised settings
In the case of a child who has attained 18 years of age, the term shall include a supervised setting in which the individual is living independently, in accordance with such conditions as the Secretary shall establish in regulations.
Exclusions
The term shall not include detention facilities, forestry camps, training schools, or any other facility operated primarily for the detention of children who are determined to be delinquent.
Children removed from their homes pursuant to voluntary placement agreements
section 622(b)(8) of this titleNotwithstanding any other provision of this subchapter, Federal payments may be made under this part with respect to amounts expended by any State as foster care maintenance payments under this section, in the case of children removed from their homes pursuant to voluntary placement agreements as described in subsection (a), only if (at the time such amounts were expended) the State has fulfilled all of the requirements of .
Placements in best interest of child
No Federal payment may be made under this part with respect to amounts expended by any State as foster care maintenance payments under this section, in the case of any child who was removed from his or her home pursuant to a voluntary placement agreement as described in subsection (a) and has remained in voluntary placement for a period in excess of 180 days, unless there has been a judicial determination by a court of competent jurisdiction (within the first 180 days of such placement) to the effect that such placement is in the best interests of the child.
“Voluntary placement” and “voluntary placement agreement” defined
For the purposes of this part and part B of this subchapter, (1) the term “voluntary placement” means an out-of-home placement of a minor, by or with participation of a State agency, after the parents or guardians of the minor have requested the assistance of the agency and signed a voluntary placement agreement; and (2) the term “voluntary placement agreement” means a written agreement, binding on the parties to the agreement, between the State agency, any other agency acting on its behalf, and the parents or guardians of a minor child which specifies, at a minimum, the legal status of the child and the rights and obligations of the parents or guardians, the child, and the agency while the child is in placement.
Revocation of voluntary placement agreement
Aid for dependent children; assistance for minor children in needy families
Administrative costs associated with otherwise eligible children not in licensed foster care settings
Children placed with a parent residing in a licensed residential family-based treatment facility for substance abuse
In general
Application
section 673(b)(3)(B) of this titleWith respect to children for whom foster care maintenance payments are made under paragraph (1), only the children who satisfy the requirements of paragraphs (1)(B) and (3) of subsection (a) shall be considered to be children with respect to whom foster care maintenance payments are made under this section for purposes of subsection (h) or .
Limitation on Federal financial participation
In general
Specified settings for placement
Assessment to determine appropriateness of placement in a qualified residential treatment program
Deadline for assessment
section 675a(c)(1) of this titlesection 674(a)(1) of this titleIn the case of a child who is placed in a qualified residential treatment program, if the assessment required under is not completed within 30 days after the placement is made, no Federal payment shall be made to the State under for any amounts expended for foster care maintenance payments on behalf of the child during the placement.
Deadline for transition out of placement
section 675a(c)(1) of this titlesection 675a(c)(2) of this titlesection 674(a)(1) of this titlesection 674(a)(1) of this titleIf the assessment required under determines that the placement of a child in a qualified residential treatment program is not appropriate, a court disapproves such a placement under , or a child who has been in an approved placement in a qualified residential treatment program is going to return home or be placed with a fit and willing relative, a legal guardian, or an adoptive parent, or in a foster family home, Federal payments shall be made to the State under for amounts expended for foster care maintenance payments on behalf of the child while the child remains in the qualified residential treatment program only during the period necessary for the child to transition home or to such a placement. In no event shall a State receive Federal payments under for amounts expended for foster care maintenance payments on behalf of a child who remains placed in a qualified residential treatment program after the end of the 30-day period that begins on the date a determination is made that the placement is no longer the recommended or approved placement for the child.
Qualified residential treatment program
Administrative costs
section 674(a)(1) of this titlesection 674(a)(3) of this titleThe prohibition in paragraph (1) on Federal payments under shall not be construed as prohibiting Federal payments for administrative expenditures incurred on behalf of a child placed in a child-care institution and for which payment is available under .
Rule of construction
The requirements in paragraph (4)(B) shall not be construed as requiring a qualified residential treatment program to acquire nursing and behavioral health staff solely through means of a direct employer to employee relationship.
Aug. 14, 1935, ch. 531Pub. L. 96–272, title I94 Stat. 503Pub. L. 99–603, title II, § 201(b)(2)(A)100 Stat. 3403Pub. L. 100–203, title IX101 Stat. 1330–314Pub. L. 103–432, title II, § 202(d)(3)108 Stat. 4454Pub. L. 104–193, title I, § 108(d)(3)110 Stat. 2166Pub. L. 105–33, title V111 Stat. 620Pub. L. 105–89, title I, § 101(c)111 Stat. 2117Pub. L. 106–169, title I, § 111113 Stat. 1829Pub. L. 109–113, § 2119 Stat. 2371Pub. L. 109–171, title VII120 Stat. 151Pub. L. 109–288, § 6(f)(6)120 Stat. 1247Pub. L. 110–351, title II, § 201(b)122 Stat. 3958Pub. L. 111–148, title VI, § 6703(d)(2)(B)124 Stat. 803Pub. L. 115–123, div. E, title VII132 Stat. 244(, title IV, § 472, as added and amended , §§ 101(a)(1), 102(a)(1), (2), , , 513, 514; , title III, §§ 302(b)(2), 303(e)(2), , , 3422, 3431; , §§ 9133(b)(2), 9139(a), , , 1330–321; , , ; , (4), title V, § 501, , , 2277; , §§ 5513(b)(1), (2), 5592(b), , , 644; , , ; , , ; , , ; , §§ 7403(a), 7404(a), , ; , , ; , title III, § 301(a)(2), , , 3967; , , ; , §§ 50712(a), 50741(a)(1), (b), , , 253, 255.)
Editorial Notes
References in Text
Pub. L. 104–193110 Stat. 2105The Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996, referred to in subsec. (a)(4), is , , . Title IV of the Act is classified principally to chapter 14 (§ 1601 et seq.) of Title 8, Aliens and Nationality. For complete classification of title IV to the Code, see Tables.
Division A of subchapter XX, referred to in subsec. (h)(1), was in the original a reference to subtitle 1 of title XX, which was translated as if referring to subtitle A of title XX of the Social Security Act, to reflect the probable intent of Congress. Title XX of the Act, enacting subchapter XX of this chapter, does not contain a subtitle 1.
Amendments
Pub. L. 115–123, § 50741(a)(1)(A)2018—Subsec. (a)(2)(C). , inserted “, but only to the extent permitted under subsection (k)” after “institution”.
Pub. L. 115–123, § 50712(a)(1), substituted “, with a parent residing in a licensed residential family-based treatment facility, but only to the extent permitted under subsection (j), or in a” for “or”.
Pub. L. 115–123, § 50741(b)Subsec. (c). , amended subsec. (c) generally. Prior to amendment, text read as follows: “For the purposes of this part, (1) the term ‘foster family home’ means a foster family home for children which is licensed by the State in which it is situated or has been approved, by the agency of such State having responsibility for licensing homes of this type, as meeting the standards established for such licensing; and (2) the term ‘child-care institution’ means a private child-care institution, or a public child-care institution which accommodates no more than twenty-five children, which is licensed by the State in which it is situated or has been approved, by the agency of such State responsible for licensing or approval of institutions of this type, as meeting the standards established for such licensing, except, in the case of a child who has attained 18 years of age, the term shall include a supervised setting in which the individual is living independently, in accordance with such conditions as the Secretary shall establish in regulations, but the term shall not include detention facilities, forestry camps, training schools, or any other facility operated primarily for the detention of children who are determined to be delinquent.”
Pub. L. 115–123, § 50712(a)(2)Subsec. (j). , added subsec. (j).
Pub. L. 115–123, § 50741(a)(1)(B)Subsec. (k). , added subsec. (k).
Pub. L. 111–1482010—Subsec. (h)(1). inserted “division A of” before “subchapter XX”.
Pub. L. 110–351, § 301(a)(2)2008—Subsec. (a)(2)(B)(iii). , added cl. (iii).
Pub. L. 110–351, § 201(b)Subsec. (c)(2). , inserted “except, in the case of a child who has attained 18 years of age, the term shall include a supervised setting in which the individual is living independently, in accordance with such conditions as the Secretary shall establish in regulations,” before “but the term”.
Pub. L. 109–171, § 7404(a)2006—Subsec. (a). , amended subsec. (a) generally. Prior to amendment, subsec. (a) related to qualifying children for foster care maintenance payments.
Pub. L. 109–288Subsec. (d). substituted “622(b)(8)” for “622(b)(10)”.
Pub. L. 109–171, § 7403(a)Subsec. (i). , added subsec. (i).
Pub. L. 109–1132005—Subsec. (b). struck out “nonprofit” before “private” in pars. (1) and (2).
Pub. L. 106–169section 602 of this titlesection 602(a)(7)(B) of this titlesection 602(a)(7)(B) of this title1999—Subsec. (a). inserted at end “In determining whether a child would have received aid under a State plan approved under (as in effect on ), a child whose resources (determined pursuant to , as so in effect) have a combined value of not more than $10,000 shall be considered to be a child whose resources have a combined value of not more than $1,000 (or such lower amount as the State may determine for purposes of such ).
Pub. L. 105–33, § 5513(b)(1)1997—Subsec. (a). , substituted “” for “” in introductory provisions.
Pub. L. 105–89Subsec. (a)(1). inserted “for a child” before “have been made;”.
Pub. L. 105–33, § 5513(b)(1)Subsec. (a)(4). , substituted “” for “” in subpars. (A) and (B).
Pub. L. 105–33, § 5592(b)Subsec. (d). , substituted “section 622(b)(10)” for “section 622(b)(9)”.
Pub. L. 105–33, § 5513(b)(2)Subsec. (h)(1). , substituted “” for “”.
Pub. L. 104–193, § 108(d)(3)(A)section 607 of this titlesection 606(a) of this title1996—Subsec. (a). , in introductory provisions, substituted “would have met the requirements” for “would meet the requirements” and inserted “(as such sections were in effect on )” after “” and “(as so in effect)” after “”.
Pub. L. 104–193, § 108(d)(3)(B)(i)section 602 of this titleSubsec. (a)(4)(A). , substituted “would have received aid” for “received aid” and inserted “(as in effect on )” after “”.
Pub. L. 104–193, § 108(d)(3)(B)(ii)section 606(a) of this titleSubsec. (a)(4)(B)(ii). , inserted “(as in effect on )” after “”.
Pub. L. 104–193, § 501Subsec. (c)(2). , struck out “nonprofit” before “private child-care institution.”
Pub. L. 104–193, § 108(d)(4)section 606 of this titlesection 675(4)(B) of this titleSubsec. (h). , amended subsec. (h) generally. Prior to amendment, subsec. (h) read as follows: “For purposes of subchapters XIX and XX of this chapter, any child with respect to whom foster care maintenance payments are made under this section shall be deemed to be a dependent child as defined in and shall be deemed to be a recipient of aid to families with dependent children under part A of this subchapter. For purposes of the preceding sentence, a child whose costs in a foster family home or child-care institution are covered by the foster care maintenance payments being made with respect to his or her minor parent, as provided in , shall be considered a child with respect to whom foster care maintenance payments are made under this section.”
Pub. L. 103–432section 622(b)(9) of this titlesection 627(b) of this title1994—Subsec. (d). substituted “” for “”.
Pub. L. 100–203, § 9139(a)section 673(a)(2)(B) of this titlesection 673(a)(1)(B) of this title1987—Subsec. (a). , substituted “” for “”.
Pub. L. 100–203, § 9133(b)(2)Subsec. (h). , inserted sentence at end.
Pub. L. 99–603, § 303(e)(2)section 1161(d)(7) of title 81986—Subsec. (a). , inserted in closing provisions reference to cases in which a child is an alien disqualified under .
Pub. L. 99–603, § 302(b)(2)section 1160(f) of title 8, inserted in closing provisions reference to cases in which a child is an alien disqualified under .
Pub. L. 99–603, § 201(b)(2)(A)section 1255a(h) of title 8section 602 of this titlesection 673(a)(1)(B) of this title, inserted closing provisions: “In any case where the child is an alien disqualified under from receiving aid under the State plan approved under in or for the month in which such agreement was entered into or court proceedings leading to the removal of the child from the home were instituted, such child shall be considered to satisfy the requirements of paragraph (4) (and the corresponding requirements of ), with respect to that month, if he or she would have satisfied such requirements but for such disqualification.”
Pub. L. 96–272, § 102(a)(1)1980—Subsec. (a). , inserted provisions relating to voluntary placement agreements entered into by a child’s parent or legal guardian.
Pub. L. 96–272, § 102(a)(2)Subsecs. (d) to (h). , added subsecs. (d) to (g). Former subsec. (d) was redesignated (h).
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date of 2018 Amendment
section 50712(a) of Pub. L. 115–123section 50734 of Pub. L. 115–123section 622 of this titleAmendment by effective , subject to transition rules for required State legislation or tribal action, see , set out as a note under .
Pub. L. 115–123section 50746 of Pub. L. 115–123section 622 of this titleAmendment by section 50741(a)(1), (b) of effective , with State option to delay effective date for not more than 2 years and subject to State waiver provisions, see , set out as a note under .
Effective Date of 2008 Amendment
Pub. L. 110–351, title II, § 201(d)122 Stat. 3959
section 301(a)(2) of Pub. L. 110–351section 301(f) of Pub. L. 110–351section 671 of this titleAmendment by effective , without regard to whether implementing regulations have been promulgated, see , set out as a note under .
Pub. L. 110–351section 601 of Pub. L. 110–351section 671 of this titleAmendment by effective , except as otherwise provided, and applicable to payments under this part and part B of this subchapter for quarters beginning on or after effective date of amendment, with delay permitted if State legislation is required to meet additional requirements, see , set out as a note under .
Effective Date of 2006 Amendment
Pub. L. 109–288Pub. L. 109–288section 621 of this titleAmendment by effective , and applicable to payments under this part and part B of this subchapter for calendar quarters beginning on or after such date, without regard to whether implementing regulations have been promulgated, and with delay permitted if State legislation is required to meet additional requirements, see section 12(a), (b) of , set out as a note under .
Pub. L. 109–171section 7701 of Pub. L. 109–171section 603 of this titleAmendment by effective as if enacted on , except as otherwise provided, see , set out as a note under .
Effective Date of 1997 Amendments
Pub. L. 105–89section 501 of Pub. L. 105–89section 622 of this titleAmendment by effective , except as otherwise provided, with delay permitted if State legislation is required, see , set out as a note under .
Pub. L. 105–33Pub. L. 104–193section 5518(b) of Pub. L. 105–33section 652 of this titleAmendment by section 5513(b)(1), (2) of effective as if included in section 108 of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996, , at the time such section 108 became law, see , set out as a note under .
section 5592(b) of Pub. L. 105–33Pub. L. 104–193section 5593 of Pub. L. 105–33section 622 of this titleAmendment by effective as if included in the enactment of title V of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996, , see , set out as a note under .
Effective Date of 1996 Amendment
Pub. L. 104–193section 116 of Pub. L. 104–193section 601 of this titleAmendment by section 108(d)(3), (4) of effective , with transition rules relating to State options to accelerate such date, rules relating to claims, actions, and proceedings commenced before such date, rules relating to closing out of accounts for terminated or substantially modified programs and continuance in office of Assistant Secretary for Family Support, and provisions relating to termination of entitlement under AFDC program, see , set out as an Effective Date note under .
Effective Date of 1994 Amendment
Pub. L. 103–432section 202(e) of Pub. L. 103–432section 622 of this titleAmendment by effective with respect to fiscal years beginning on or after , see , set out as a note under .
Effective Date of 1987 Amendment
Pub. L. 100–203, title IX, § 9133(c)101 Stat. 1330–315
Effective Date of 1980 Amendment
Pub. L. 96–272, title I, § 102(a)(1)94 Stat. 513Pub. L. 98–118, § 3(a)97 Stat. 803Pub. L. 98–617, § 4(c)(1)98 Stat. 3297Pub. L. 99–272, title XII100 Stat. 294Pub. L. 100–203, title IX, § 9131(a)(1)101 Stat. 1330–313, , , as amended by , , ; , , ; , 12306(c)(1), , ; , , , provided that the amendment made by that section is effective with respect to expenditures made after .
Pub. L. 96–272, title I, § 102(c)94 Stat. 515Pub. L. 98–118, § 3(b)97 Stat. 803Pub. L. 98–617, § 4(c)(2)98 Stat. 3297Pub. L. 99–272, title XII, § 12306(c)(2)100 Stat. 294Pub. L. 100–203, title IX, § 9131(a)(2)101 Stat. 1330–313
Pub. L. 100–203, title IX, § 9131(b)101 Stat. 1330–313
Construction of 2008 Amendment
section 301(a)(2) of Pub. L. 110–351section 301(d) of Pub. L. 110–351section 671 of this titleFor construction of amendment by , see , set out as a note under .
Children Voluntarily Removed From Home of Relative
Pub. L. 96–272, title I, § 102(d)(1)94 Stat. 515
Annual Report to Congress of Number of Children Placed in Foster Care Pursuant to Voluntary Placement Agreements
Pub. L. 96–272, title I, § 102(e)94 Stat. 515Pub. L. 100–203, title IX, § 9131(a)(3)101 Stat. 1330–313section 608 of this titlesection 3003 of Pub. L. 104–66section 1113 of Title 31, , , as amended by , , , which required the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare to submit to Congress a full and complete annual report on the placement of children in foster care pursuant to voluntary placement agreements under this section and , terminated, effective , pursuant to , as amended, set out as a note under , Money and Finance. See, also, item 12 on page 99 of House Document No. 103–7.