• Child and Family Services Improvement and Innovation Act
  Full Text

Resources from the Children’s Bureau

Information Memorandums

• Information Memorandum: Promoting Social and Emotional Well-Being for Children and Youth Receiving Child Welfare Services (ACYF-CB-IM-12-04)
  The purpose of this Information Memorandum is to explain the Administration on Children, Youth and Families priority to promote social and emotional well-being for children and youth receiving child welfare services, and to encourage child welfare agencies to focus on improving the behavioral and social-emotional outcomes for children who have experienced abuse and/or neglect. (Issuance Date: 4-17-12)

• Information Memorandum: Extended Deadline to Implement and Submit a Title IV-E Plan Amendment – Annual Credit Report Required by the Child and Family Services Improvement and Innovation Act (ACYF-CB-IM-12-02)
  The purpose of this Information Memorandum (IM), issued by the Children’s Bureau, is to extend the deadline to implement annual credit report requirements and re-submit section 2.D.6 of the title IV-E plan amendment. (Issuance Date: 2-13-2012)
  
  
• Administration for Children and Families Information Memorandum
  The purpose of this Information Memorandum (ACYF-CB-IM-11-06) is to inform State, Tribal and Territorial Titles IV-B and IV-E agencies of the enactment of the Child and Family Services Improvement and Innovation Act (Pub. L. 112-34), which reauthorizes programs funded under title IV-B and to provide basic information about the provisions of this law. (Issuance Date: 10-6-2011)

Program Instructions

• Program Instruction: Annual Credit Report Required by the Child and Family Services Improvement and Innovation Act (Public Law (P.L.) 112-34)
  The purpose of this Program Instruction, issued by the Children’s Bureau, is to provide additional guidance on the implementation of the annual credit report requirements and the submission, or re-submission, of section 2.D.6 of the title IV-E plan amendment. (Issuance Date: 5-8-2012)
  Attachments:
  A – CB Regional Office Program Managers
  B – Information From Equifax
  C – Information From Experian
  D – Information From TranUnion
  E – How to Clear A Youth in Foster Care’s Credit Report
  

• Program Instruction: Data Requirements for States Related to Reporting Monthly Caseworker Visits Under Title IV-B of the Social Security Act as revised by the Child and Family Services Improvement Act (ACYF-CB-PI-12-01)
  The purpose of this Program Instruction, issued by the Children’s Bureau, is to provide guidance to States regarding revisions to data collection and reporting requirements on monthly caseworker visits to children in foster care. (Issuance Date: 1-6-2012)
  
  
• Program Instruction on Title IV-E Plan Amendment – The Child and Family Services Improvement and Innovation Act (Public Law (Pub. L.) 112-34)
  The purpose of this Program Instruction (ACYF-CB-PI-11-09) is to provide instruction on changes to the title IV-E plan requirements as a result of Pub. L. 112-34. (Issuance Date: 12-9-2011)

Additional Resources

• Agency Plan Amendment for Title IV-E of the Social Security Act
  This title IV-E plan amendment (form) incorporates the new statutory requirements as a result of H.R. 2883, the Child and Family Services Improvement and Innovation Act
  
  
• P.L. 112-34: The Child and Family Services Improvement and Innovation Act
  A Children’s Bureau / Policy Division Summary. This PowerPoint was presented by Elizabeth Sharp, Program Specialist, Division of Policy, Children’s Bureau at the 2011 Policy to Practice Dialogue. (October 2011)

Resources on Obtaining Credit Reports for Youth in Foster Care

• Obtaining Credit Reports for Youth in Care
  This PowerPoint presentation from the National Resource Center for Youth Development was from the first webinar is a series on obtaining credit reports for youth in foster care. This webinar focused on “knowing the facts” about credit reports including information and resources on obtaining credit reports for youth in foster care beginning at age 16, information on strategies for remediation of negative credit items, and a discussion of participant identified concerns/barriers to implementing the law. This webinar was for Independent Living Coordinators, Foster Care Managers, and ACF Regional Office staff. (March 2012)
  
  
• Safeguarding Your Child’s Future
  This resource for parents from the Federal Trade Commission addresses the issue of child identity theft. It discusses ways to protect a child’s identity, and how to check for a child’s credit report. It also covers steps to take if a child’s identity has been stolen. This information may be useful to caregivers and child welfare professionals working with children and youth in the child welfare system.