The View From the Children’s Bureau

1. The View From the Children’s Bureau Presenter: Catherine M. Nolan, MSW, ACSW Director Office on Child Abuse and Neglect, Children’s Bureau May 28, 2009

2. Presentation Overview • I. History of the Children’s Bureau • II. Overview of Current Organization of the Bureau • III. Office on Child Abuse and Neglect • IV. Child Welfare Legislative Framework • V. Knowledge Development • VI. Information and Technical Assistance Resources

3. ACF ACF Organizational Chart

4. I. History of the Children’s Bureau • The Children's Bureau was created by President Taft in 1912 to investigate and report on infant mortality, birth rates, orphanages, juvenile courts, and other social issues of that time. • The oldest Federal agency for children. • The Children's Bureau has primary responsibility for administering Federal child welfare programs.

5. Children’s Bureau • Mission • The Children's Bureau seeks to provide for the safety, permanency and well being of children through leadership, support for necessary services, and productive partnerships with States, Tribes, and communities. • Websites:Children’s Bureau and Child Welfare Information Gateway: http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/cb/ http://www.childwelfare.gov/

6. II. Children’s Bureau Organization

7. Children’s Bureau • The Children's Bureau (CB) • One of two bureaus within the Administration on Children, Youth and Families, Administration for Children and Families, of the Department of Health and Human Services. • Annual budget of over $7 billion, the Children's Bureau works with State and local agencies to develop programs that focus on preventing the abuse of children in troubled families, protecting children from abuse, and finding permanent placements for those who cannot safely return to their homes.

8. Scope of the Problem In 2007, 749,000 substantiated cases of child abuse and neglect Nearly 500,000 children in foster care • Some 130,000 children waiting to be adopted from the foster care system 9

9. III. Office on Child Abuse and Neglect • Leadership and Direction on Child Abuse & Neglect Prevention and Treatment • Focal Point for Intra/InterAgency Collaboration • Lead National Conferences and Special Initiatives • Coordinate Prevention Activities/Support Community Based Prevention Networks • Support Systems Improvement Through Children’s Justice Act (CJA)

10. Children’s Bureau • The Spectrum of Child Welfare • Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect • Child protective services • Family preservation and support • Foster Care and kinship care • Adoption • Independent living/transition services for youth • Work with the Courts • Interagency collaboration

11. State and Federal Response • Child Welfare is Primarily a State Responsibility • Federal Role: • Enact legislation –Congress • Implement legislation- Children’s Bureau • Monitoring and oversight • States establish programs and may enact corresponding State legislation

12. IV: Major Federal Legislation • Concerned With Child Protection, Child Welfare, and Adoption: http://www.childwelfare.gov/pubs/otherpubs/majorfedlegis.pdf • 1970s • P.L. 95-608 - Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) of 1978P.L. 95-266 - Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment and Adoption Reform Act of 1978P.L. 93-247 - Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA) of 1974 • 1980s • P.L. 100-294 - Child Abuse Prevention, Adoption, and Family Services Act of 1988P.L. 98-457 - Child Abuse Amendments of 1984P.L. 96-272 - Adoption Assistance and Child Welfare Act of 1980

13. Major Federal Legislation: Cont’D • 1990s • P.L. 106-169 - Foster Care Independence Act of 1999P.L. 105-89 - Adoption and Safe Families Act of 1997P.L. 104-235 - Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Amendments of 1996P.L. 104-188 - The Interethnic Provisions of 1996P.L. 103-382 - Multiethnic Placement Act of 1994P.L. 103-66 - Family Preservation and Support Services Program Act of 1993P.L. 102-295 - Child Abuse, Domestic Violence, Adoption, and Family Services Act of 1992

14. Major Federal Legislation: Cont’D • 2000 to Present: • P.L. 110-351 - Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act of 2008P.L. 109-432 - Tax Relief and Health Care Act of 2006P.L. 109-288 - Child and Family Services Improvement Act of 2006P.L. 109-248 - Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act of 2006P.L. 109-239 - Safe and Timely Interstate Placement of Foster Children Act of 2006P.L. 109-171 - Deficit Reduction Act of 2005P.L. 109-113 - Fair Access Foster Care Act of 2005P.L. 108-145 - Adoption Promotion Act of 2003P.L. 108-36 - Keeping Children and Families Safe Act of 2003P.L. 107-133 - Promoting Safe and Stable Families Amendments of 2001P.L. 106-279 - Intercountry Adoption Act of 2000P.L. 106-177 - Child Abuse Prevention and Enforcement Act of 2000

15. Primary Legislation of Interest • Child Welfare Services: Title IV-B • Subparts 1 and 2 • CAPTA – Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act • CBCAP • CJA • Basic State Grant • Discretionary Funds

16. V. Knowledge Development Research helps to understand the problem, demonstrations are experiments designed to increase our knowledge about effective practice. Currently use discretionary funds for: • Demonstration Projects such as Quality Improvement Centers, Substance Exposed Newborns project, Evidence Based and Nurse Home Visitation projects, Comprehensive Assessment to Improve Child Welfare Outcomes • National Resource Centers • Child Welfare Information Gateway

17. Child and Family Services Review – CFSR • Assesses State performance related to child welfare outcomes and systemic factors. Assessment is based on: • Statewide assessment • State child welfare data • Case record review and interviews • Interviews with stakeholders

18. Child and Family Services Review – CFSR - Mandated by Congress - Evaluates State conformity with national standards - Data based outcome measures - Safety, permanency and well being for all children - Completed all 50 States, DC, PR by Spring 2005 - Round 2 began Spring 2007

19. CFSR Information • Available on the Children’s Bureau Website • GENERAL FINDINGS FROM THE FEDERAL CHILD AND FAMILY SERVICES REVIEW http://www.acf.dhhs.gov/programs/cb/cwmonitoring/results/genfindings04/genfindings04.pdf • POWERPOINT http://www.acf.dhhs.gov/programs/cb/cwmonitoring/results/statefindings.ppt

20. VI. Information & TTA Resources • CB provides TTA to States and Tribes through a broad Network of more than 25 Network Members • National Child Welfare Resource Centers • Information, Training and Technical Assistance • Quality Improvement Centers • Statutorily Mandated Programs/Services for Grantees • Implementation Centers • Co-Sponsored National Resource Center • Funded by Intra-Agency Agreement

21. Information, Training & TA • Child Welfare Information Gateway • National Data Archive on Child Abuse and Neglect • National TA and Evaluation Center for CW Systems of Care Grantees • TA to State Legislators on the Child and Family Services • Child Welfare Leadership Institute • National Child Welfare Workforce Institute

22. Quality Improvement Centers • National QIC on the Privatization of Child Welfare Services • National QIC on Differential Response in Child Welfare • National QIC on Early Childhood • National QIC on Non-Resident Fathers and the Child Welfare System

23. Statutorily Mandated Programs/Services to Grantees • National Abandoned Infants Assistance Resource Center • National Resource Center for Community-Based Child Abuse Prevention

24. Implementation Centers • Northeast and Caribbean CW Implementation Center • Regions I & II: ME, VT, NH, MA, CT, RI, NY, NJ, Puerto Rico, and Virgin Islands • Atlantic Coast CW Implementation Center • Regions III & IV: PA, WV, MD, DE, District of Columbia, VA, KY, TN, NC, MS, AL, GA, SC, and FL • Midwest CW Implementation Center • Regions V & VII: MN, WI, MI, IL, IN, OH, NE, IA, KS, and MO

25. Implementation Centers • Mountains and Plains CW Implementation Center • Regions VI & VIII: MT, ND, WY, SD, UT, CO, NM, OK, AK, TX, and LA • Western and Pacific CW Implementation Center • Regions IX & X: AK, WA, ID, OR, CA, NV, AZ, HI, and Pacific Territories

26. Other TTA Resources • Co-Sponsored National Resource Center • National Center on Substance and Child Welfare (ACF and SAMHSA/CSAT) • Funded by Intra-Agency Agreement • National TA Center for Children’s Mental Health • TA Partnership for Child and Family Mental Health

27. Child Welfare Information Gateway • Resources include: • Major Federal CW Legislation • State Statutes • User Manual Series on Child Protection • Searchable Database • Information Specialists http://childwelfare.gov; 1-800-FYI-3366RR

28. Children’s Bureau Activities • April 2009 • Child Maltreatment Report • Prevention Packets • http://www.childwelfare.gov/preventing/res_packet_2009/index.cfm • 2009 Version available • Discretionary Grants • Spring 2009 Announcements • Review Applications -Summer 2009 • Awards -September 2009 http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/cb/ • 100th Anniversary of the Children’s Bureau- 2012 • 18th National Conference on Child Abuse and Neglect -2012

29. Questions Catherine M. Nolan (202) 260-5140 catherine.nolan@acf.hhs.gov