Yesterday, the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) announced a proposed rule that will make it easier for child welfare agencies to license relatives to foster children whose parents cannot care for them. (Specifically, the rule will allow child welfare agencies to create separate kinship caregiver licensing standards.) This will allow more grandparents and other relative caregivers to access the financial assistance and other resources that are available to licensed foster homes, making it possible for more children to remain with their families during challenging times. ACF is encouraging child welfare agencies to place as few burdens as possible on grandparents and other kin to become licensed, consistent with the safety and well-being of the child.
This rule addresses one of the significant challenges facing grandparents and other relative caregivers, and fulfills a key federal commitment made in the 2022 National Strategy to Support Family Caregivers.
The Children’s Bureau in ACF will hold an information session for title IV-E agencies and the public on Tuesday, February 28 from 3:30 to 4:00 PM ET providing an overview of the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM). No advance registration is required. Attendees can join using this Zoom link.
ACF’s announcement is below, and yesterday’s post on their Family Room blog has more information. The proposed rule and instructions for commenting are published in the Federal Register. Comments must be received by April 17, 2023.