Better Federal Program Administration Can Contribute to Improving State Foster Care Programs
HRD-84-2
Published: Aug 10, 1984. Publicly Released: Sep 10, 1984.
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Highlights
In response to a congressional request, GAO reviewed the implementation, by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and selected states, of the Adoption Assistance and Child Welfare Act to determine the guidance which HHS has given to the states and how HHS has determined whether states have complied with the act's requirements.
Recommendations
Recommendations for Executive Action
| Agency Affected | Recommendation | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Department of Health and Human Services | The Secretary of Health and Human Services should revise the program regulations to provide additional guidance to states as to what is required to implement section 427 of the act. At a minimum, the regulations should require that: (1) the appropriateness of and necessity for a child's current placement be recorded on the inventory; (2) the data in the statewide information systems be readily available at the state level; (3) case plans, periodic reviews, and dispositional hearings contain all the elements and make all the determinations specified by the act; (4) a dispositional hearing be other than court proceedings dealing with the custody or other issues related to the child's initial placement; and (5) subsequent dispositional hearings be held within a time period established by HHS. |
Closed – Not Implemented
The report contains the GAO legal interpretation of what the Adoption Assistance and Child Welfare Act requires. HHS disagreed with the interpretation of the act and refuses to issue regulations implementing the act in accordance with this recommendation.
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| Department of Health and Human Services | The Secretary of Health and Human Services should direct that: (1) compliance review guidelines conform to the provisions in the revised regulations and contain specific criteria that HHS can use to ensure that each state has fully implemented section 427; and (2) states wishing to receive section 427 incentive funds, including those that have previously certified, be required to certify their compliance under the HHS revised regulations. |
Closed – Not Implemented
HHS does not intend to revise its regulations in accordance with this recommendation. As a result, this recommendation is not applicable.
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Topics
Child care programsEligibility criteriaEligibility determinationsFederal aid to statesFederal fundsFederal regulationsstate relationsProgram managementState-administered programsHearings