APRIL/MAY 2003What are child welfare waivers and how can they enhance local systems of care?

Several sections of the Social Security Act and the passage of welfare reform legislation and the Adoption and Safe Families Act of 1997 give the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services the authority to grant waivers (exemptions) of certain federal program requirements in order to test innovative approaches to service development and delivery. From 1998 through 2002, the Administration for Children and Families (Children's Bureau) was able to approve up to 20 demonstration projects annually. These waivers give states greater flexibility in the use of federal child welfare funds. Each demonstration is granted for 5 years, must have an evaluation component, and must be cost neutral. Over half the states have had demonstrations approved, and a number of states have multiple demonstrations.

As we develop systems of care with an emphasis on filling the system's gaps and providing flexible, individualized, and community-based interventions, this opportunity is especially relevant. The Children's Bureau is especially interested in integrated systems for behavioral health (substance abuse and mental health), early intervention and effective prevention of foster care, adoption and postadoption services, service improvement for children in placement, service improvements for youth, and reunification services for youth. The following states have been awarded grants that are specifically relevant to systems of care.

• Substance Abuse services: Delaware, Illinois, Maryland, New Hampshire, West Virginia
• Permanency efforts (voluntary placement agreements, adoption of children with special needs, postadoption support): California, Maine, Texas
• Intensive service options (wraparound, family group conferencing, support to kin caregivers, respite care, transportation, flexible funds, parent training): California, District of Columbia, Mississippi
• Managed care/capitated payment systems: Colorado, Connecticut, Maryland, Michigan, Texas, Washington
• Capped Title IV - E allocations with flexible spending options (prevention of out of home and out of state placements, reduced stay in out of home care, promotion of adoption, increased quality and flexibility of services, and reduced reentry into care): Oregon, Ohio, North Carolina, New York, Indiana, Florida
• Assisted guardianship/kinship permanence (payment to kin who cannot afford to care for child, assistance with legal guardianship fees, postadoption support): California, Delaware, Illinois, Maryland, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oregon.

Funding for reauthorization of this waiver program is contained in the reauthorization of the Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) program, which should be reauthorized in spring 2003.

Descriptions of the demonstrations above may be viewed at http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/cb/programs_fund/index.htm#child