Home > Systemwide > Laws & Policies > Major Federal Legislation Concerned With Child Protection, Child Welfare, and Adoption

	Rate this Publication Average Rating: 4.43 (out of 5), 7 Raters Printable Version PDF (20 pgs, 302 KB) Email This

Major Federal Legislation Concerned With Child Protection, Child Welfare, and Adoption
Factsheet

Author(s):  Child Welfare Information Gateway

Year Published:  2009

Current Through February 2009

You may wish to review this introductory text to better understand the issues related to Federal legislation. To browse or search the acts included in this publication, visit the Major Federal Legislation Index and Search.

The primary responsibility for child welfare services rests with the States, and each State has its own legal and administrative structures and programs that address the needs of children and families. However, States must comply with specific Federal requirements and guidelines in order to be eligible for Federal funding under certain programs.

Beginning with the passage of the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA) in 1974, the U.S. Congress has implemented a number of laws that have had a significant impact on State child protection and child welfare services.¹ Such legislation frequently requires Federal departments and agencies, such as the Children's Bureau within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, to issue or amend Federal policy and regulation.² New legislation also prompts responses at the State level, including enactment of State legislation, development or revision of State agency policy and regulations, and implementation of new programs.

The largest federally funded programs that support State and Tribal efforts for child welfare, foster care, and adoption activities are authorized under titles IV-B and IV-E of the Social Security Act (the Act). These programs are administered by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and include the title IV-B Child Welfare Services and Promoting Safe and Stable Families (formerly known as Family Preservation) programs, the title IV-E Foster Care Program, the title IV-E Adoption Assistance Program, and the title IV-E Chafee Foster Care Independence Program. The Social Services Block Grant (SSBG) is authorized under title XX of the Act and funds a wide range of programs that support various social policy goals.

To provide a framework for understanding the Federal legislation that has shaped the delivery of child welfare services, this publication presents a summary of Federal legislation since 1974 that has had a significant impact on the field. It provides an overview of each act and its major provisions. To browse or search the acts included in this publication, visit the Major Federal Legislation Index and Search.

Timeline of Major Federal Legislation Concerned With Child Protection, Child Welfare, and Adoption

*Some acts were enacted the year following their introduction in Congress.

D

¹ The Federal Government started providing grants to States for preventive and protective services and foster care payments in 1935 with the Child Welfare Services Program, title IV-B of the Social Security Act. In 1961, legislation provided for foster care maintenance payments under the Aid to Dependent Children Program, title IV-A of the Social Security Act. Both of these programs were amended by the Adoption Assistance and Child Welfare Act of 1980. back
² For information on Children's Bureau policy, visit the website at www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/cb/laws_policies/index.htm back

This material may be freely reproduced and distributed. However, when doing so, please credit Child Welfare Information Gateway.

Updated on May 8, 2009