Tools

• Comprehensive overview of ACF-PI-10-11
  This powerpoint presentation is a comprehensive overview of PI-10-11. ACF-PI-10-11 provides title IV-E agencies comprehensive information on the provisions of titles IV-B and IV-E as a result of the amendments made by the Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act of 2008, P.L. 110-351. In addition to providing new guidance on the option for a title IV-E agency to extend assistance for the foster care maintenance, adoption assistance, and/or kinship guardianship programs to an eligible youth age 18 and older up to age 21, this instruction provides additional guidance on the other provisions of P.L. 110-351 and the flexibilities afforded to a title IV-E agency in complying with the law. This instruction also provides instruction on changes to the titles IV-B/IV-E plan requirements as a result of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (P.L. 111-148).
• WEBINAR: Fostering Connections Through Adoptions
  A powerpoint presentation from the April 15, 2010 webinar on the Adoption Provision of the Act hosted by the Fostering Connections Resource Center in conjunction with the North American Council on Adoptable Children.
• National Resource Center for Adoption
  This National Child Welfare Resource Center is funded by the Children's Bureau and is part of the Training and Technical Assistance Network administered by the Children's Bureau.
• Implementing the Adoption Assistance Provisions of the Fostering Connections Act
  This tool provides states with guidelines for implementation planning, including key questions to consider to determine cost-savings and reinvestment amounts from the provision. Also includes state-by-state data from AFCARS (2007) on characteristics of waiting children and adopted children regarding Title IV-E status, length of time in care, and age.
• IV-E Delink Cost Savings Worksheets
  A spreadsheet with embedded formulas designed to help states estimate the cost implications of the Adoption Assistance de-link provision. The tool estimates costs and/or savings for the state resulting from the implementation of the provision for FY 2010 and FY2011 (and, thus, the amount states must reinvest in Titles IV-B or IV-E services).
• De-Linking Provision Will Result in New Child Welfare Funds
  A summary of the Adoption Assistance de-linking provision of the Fostering Connections Act; questions for states to consider when projecting their potential cost-savings and the reinvestment of these dollars, per the Fostering Connections' Maintenance of Effort requirement. Data on states with the highest percentage of children impacted by the law in its initial phase: non-IV-E waiting children; non-IV-E waiting children who have been in care for at least 60 months; and non-IV-E waiting children who are at least 16 years old.
• Claiming the Federal Adoption Tax Credit for Special Needs Adoptions
  Summary of the federal adoption tax credit for families who adopt a child with special needs from foster care, including frequently asked questions on eligibility, claiming the credit, and timing of adoption finalization.
• In Focus: The Adoption Tax Credit
  This brief provides an overview of the legislative history of the adoption tax credit, and includes a summary of the changes affecting 2010 adoptions from the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010.
• IRS Topic 607-Adoption Credit
  IRS's summary of the adoption tax credit, which includes links to the relevant tax form, Form 8839 (Qualified Adoption Expenses)
• IRS: Adoption Benefits Increased
  Links to information on the 2008 and 2009 adoption tax credit provisions on the IRS website.
• Title IV-E Plan Pre-print
  The attached pre-print from the Children's Bureau incorporates the statutory provisions of P.L. 110-351 that are effective through FY 2010

Research & Reports

• FY 2010 Adoption Incentive Awards, based on FY 2009 Earning Year
  On September 15, 2010, the Department of Health and Human Services awarded $39 million to 38 states and Puerto Rico for increasing adoptions from foster care. The recipients of these awards completed more adoptions in FY 2009 than in the 2007 baseline year. A list of states who received these funds is available on the Department's website.
• Providing Federal Adoption Assistance to More Children with Special Needs: A Welcome Change
  This issue brief summarizes the following: the problems of the AFDC adoption assistance link; the new provision that removes the AFDC link; and what the child welfare community needs to do to take advantage of the law’s Maintenance of Effort provision (MoE), which requires states to continue their investments in child welfare services.
• Adoption Incentive History 1998-2009
  Table presenting state-by-state receipt of adoption incentive awards from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, for each year from FY1998 through FY2009
• In Focus: The Adoption Tax Credit
  This report provides an overview of the legislative history of the adoption tax credit and a detailed analysis of the tax credit with respect to existing law. The report also outlines key policy considerations and summarizes pending legislation to modify the tax credit.
• Adoption USA: A Chartbook Based on the 2007 National Survey of Adoptive Parents
  Findings from the 2007 National Survey of Adoptive Parents (NSAP), the first-ever representative survey on the characteristics, adoption experiences, and well-being of adopted children and their families in the U.S.
• A Report to Congress on Barriers and Success Factors in Adoptions from Foster Care: Perspectives of Families and Staff
  Results from two adoption studies: (1) surveys/interviews of families seeking to adopt children with special needs from foster care, as well as private and public agency adoption professionals, regarding barriers in the adoption process (the "Barriers" study); and (2) an investigation of factors influencing successful adoptions (the "Success Factors" study)
• Ending the Foster Care Life Sentence: The Critical Need for Adoption Subsidies
  Results of a survey of nearly 250 parents who have adopted (or are considering adopting) children from foster care,on their experiences, including factors influencing their decisions to adopt, the impact of the adoption subsidy on the adoption, and other challenges/barriers with the adoption process.
• Federal Income Tax Benefits for Adoption Use by Taxpayers 1999-2005
  An overview of the use of the federal adoption tax credit between 1999 and 2005.
• Title IV-E Claims and Adoption Assistance Payments
  History of the federal adoption assistance program, national statistics and trends regarding the use of Title IV-E adoption assistance payments, and state-by-state data on adoption assistance claiming and subsidy amounts.
• The Value of Adoption
  Summary of a cost-benefit analysis of foster care adoption, focusing on adoption's private and societal impacts. Explores foster care adoption as an intervention, and its cognitive and educational, health and mental health, behavioral, and economic effects on individuals and society.
• Understanding Adoption Subsidies: An Analysis of AFCARS Data
  Analysis of AFCARS data from 1999-2001, showing national trends and state differences in use of adoption subsidies; the relationship between states' subsidy use and adoption outcomes; and the relationship between child, family, and state characteristics and subsidy levels and usage.
• National Indian Child Welfare Association's Information on Customary Adoption
• A Carrot Among Sticks: The Adoption Incentive Bonus
  This report summarizes interviews with states and DC about what they are doing with their Adoption Incentive dollars, how they have responded/reacted to the Adoption Incentive program, and how they have reinvested these dollars.
• Securing Child Safety, Well-being, and Permanency Through Placement Stability in Foster Care
  Provides an overview of how to achieve successful placement stability within foster care.
• "Green Book"- Child Welfare section
  The U.S. House Ways and Means Committee "Green Book" section on child welfare includes information on federal programs dedicated to child welfare purposes, including program requirements, spending and characteristics of children served.
• Child Welfare Outcomes 2003-2006: Report to Congress
  Child Welfare Outcomes 2003-2006: Report to Congress is a report created by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (the Department) to meet requirements of section 203(a) of the Adoption and Safe Families Act of 1997 (ASFA).1 ASFA amended section 479A of the Social Security Act to require an annual report on State performance. Child Welfare Outcomes 1998 was the first report created in the Child Welfare Outcomes series of reports.

Analysis

• Summary and Section-by-Section Description of the Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act of 2008 (H.R. 6893)
  This memorandum provides a section-by-section overview of major provisions included in the Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act of 2008.
• Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoption Act of 2008: New Opportunities for Children in Foster Care and Beyond.
  This Powerpoint presentation provides an introduction to the new law, background on key provisions, the potential impact on children and families, and an information to guide implementation.
• Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act: Implementation Issues and a Look Ahead at Additional Child Welfare Reforms
  This brief summarizes the Fostering Connections Act and examines implementation issues.
• Summary by ACF/DHHS of the Title IV-E Child Welfare Waiver Demonstrations
  An overview of the Title IV-E Child Welfare Waiver Demonstrations submitted to the Administration for Children and Families.
• New Federal Law Overhauls U.S. Child Welfare Financing
  A summary of all provisions of the Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act
• The Adoption Tax Credit: Is It an Effective Approach to Promote Foster Care Adoption?
  Describes results of analyses of income tax returns filed between 1999 and 2005, regarding the use of the adoption tax credit. Examines who received the adoption tax credit (types of adoptions, characteristics of adopted children, income levels of families claiming the tax credit), and the efficacy of the credits in promoting foster care adoption and adoption more generally.
• Resources from CLASP on policies and programs related to the Fostering Connections Act
  An array of resources by the Center for Law and Social Policy on policies and programs related to the Fostering Connections Act.
• Resources from CWLA on policies and programs related to the Fostering Connections Act
  An array of resources by the Child Welfare League of America on policies and programs related to the Fostering Connections Act.
• Resources from CDF on policies and programs related to Fostering Connections Act
  An array of resources by the Children's Defense Fund on policies and programs related to the Fostering Connections Act.

Training

• Comprehensive overview of ACF-PI-10-11
  This powerpoint presentation is a comprehensive overview of PI-10-11. ACF-PI-10-11 provides title IV-E agencies comprehensive information on the provisions of titles IV-B and IV-E as a result of the amendments made by the Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act of 2008, P.L. 110-351. In addition to providing new guidance on the option for a title IV-E agency to extend assistance for the foster care maintenance, adoption assistance, and/or kinship guardianship programs to an eligible youth age 18 and older up to age 21, this instruction provides additional guidance on the other provisions of P.L. 110-351 and the flexibilities afforded to a title IV-E agency in complying with the law. This instruction also provides instruction on changes to the titles IV-B/IV-E plan requirements as a result of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (P.L. 111-148).
• WEBINAR: Fostering Connections Through Adoptions
  A powerpoint presentation from the April 15, 2010 webinar on the Adoption Provision of the Act hosted by the Fostering Connections Resource Center in conjunction with the North American Council on Adoptable Children.
• Q&As from Adoption Webinar - April 15
  During a webinar on Fostering Connections to Adoptions on April 15, 2010, many participants had questions which were answered during and after the session. They are summarized here.