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Using Federal Title IV-E Money To Expand Sanctions and Services for Juvenile Offenders

NCJ Number
210155
Date Published
2004
Length
12 pages
Annotation
This bulletin explains how funding available to juvenile courts under the Federal Title IV-E Foster Care program can enhance the continuum of services for delinquent juveniles.
Abstract
Title IV-E is part of the Social Security Act. It provides financial reimbursement to States, on a matching basis, to support the following efforts: board and care for low-income children who have been placed out of the home, primarily in nonsecure foster care, group homes, and residential treatment facilities; administrative support related to the prevention of their removal from the home in the first place; and administration support for those removed from the home in order to facilitate their return to their families. The program is used primarily for children who are receiving services from a child welfare system due to abuse and neglect; however, with some restrictions, the program also applies to delinquent children, whether or not they are involved in the child welfare system. Title IV-E funding eligibility is determined on a case-by-case basis according to the financial status of the household from which the child was removed; the court's determination that remaining in the home would be "contrary to the welfare of the child" or that placement is "in the best interest" of the child; a certification that "reasonable efforts" were made to prevent the youth's removal from the home; and for youth in placement for 12 months, a permanency hearing and reasonable efforts to finalize the permanency plan. This bulletin explains how juvenile probationers may also be eligible for IV-E funding, since their supervision in the community is preventing removal from their homes. A hypothetical example of such a case is provided. 4 references