The Department of Health and Human Services, Program Support Center, Administration for Children and Families, Children’s Bureau has a continuing requirement for Child Welfare Reviews Project (CWRP) – Support for the Child and Family Services Reviews and State Team Training.

The 1994 Amendments to the Social Security Act (SSA) authorizes the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) to review State child and family service programs to ensure conformance with the requirements in titles IV-B and IV-E of the SSA. On January 25, 2000, the DHHS published a final rule in the Federal Register to establish a new approach to reviewing and monitoring State child welfare programs and services. Under the rule, which became effective March 27, 2000, States are reviewed for substantial conformity with certain Federal requirements for child protection, foster care, adoption, family preservation/family support, and independent living services. The Children’s Bureau, part of the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) within DHHS, administers the Child and Family Services Reviews.

The overall goal of the CFSRs is to assist States in improving child welfare services and the outcomes for families and children who receive the services by identifying the strengths and needs within State programs and those areas where technical assistance could lead to program improvements. Other purposes of the review strategy include the following:
• Linking the CFSRs to existing Children’s Bureau Regional Office and States joint planning, technical assistance and program improvement processes;

• Assisting States in becoming more self-evaluating over time
• Ensuring that Federal funds are spent in accordance with Federal statute, regulation and policy
• Collecting data that will inform national policy
• Identifying best practices that can be emulated across the country
• Identifying State training and technical assistance needs and providing access to assistance needed to implement a program improvement plan (PIP); and
• Providing timely and specific feedback to States that is directly related to program performance and outcomes

Outcomes are assessed for each State through a Statewide Assessment and an onsite review process. The outcomes and goals are as follows:

• Safety Outcome 1: Children are, first and foremost, protected from abuse and neglect
• Safety Outcome 2: Children are safely maintained in their homes whenever possible and appropriate
• Permanency Outcome 1: Children have permanency and stability in their living situations
• Permanency Outcome 2: The continuity of family relationships and connection is preserved for children
• Well-Being Outcome 1: Families have enhanced capacity to provide for their children’s needs
• Well-Being Outcome 2: Children receive appropriate services to meet their educational needs
• Well-Being Outcome 3: Children receive adequate services to meet their physical and mental/behavioral health needs

• The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), through the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) and its Administration on Children, Youth, and Families (ACYF), administers federal programs designed to promote the safety, permanency, and well-being of children and families. Within ACYF, the Children’s Bureau (CB) provides leadership, funding, and oversight for public child welfare services, primarily through titles IV-B and IV-E of the Social Security Act. While states and tribes administer these programs, CB is responsible for ensuring compliance with federal requirements and appropriate use of federal funds.
• To fulfill these responsibilities, CB conducts two federally mandated review processes. The Child and Family Services Reviews assess the quality of services and outcomes for children and families, while Title IV-E Foster Care Eligibility Reviews ensure compliance with statutory and regulatory requirements for foster care funding. Together, these reviews provide accountability, promote continuous improvement, and safeguard federal investments in child welfare.
• This acquisition will provide the comprehensive contractor support necessary to administer these review processes, including project management, technical assistance (staff) administration, training, logistics, data analysis, reporting, information system operation/maintenance and improvement of processes of all components of the reviews. These services are critical to ensuring that CB can meet its statutory oversight responsibilities and carry out the reviews with consistency, efficiency, and reliability.