In a recent policy change, the United Stated Department of Health and Human Services, Children’s Bureau, has interpreted administrative costs for foster care to include costs for children’s and parents’ attorneys. (Child Welfare Policy Manual, Section 8.1B, Question 30). For the first time, jurisdictions can seek federal reimbursement for the cost of legal representation for eligible children and their parents.
The resources listed below provide information about claiming federal Title IV-E Funds of the Social Security Act to pay for legal representation for children and parents. For additional information, including sample memorandums of understanding and IV-E claim forms for attorneys, please contact Mimi.Laver@americanbar.org or Elizabeth.Thornton.FJI@outlook.com
- Frequently Asked Questions
- FAQ regarding the relationship between Family First IV-E funds and Attorney IV-E funds
- Technical Bulletin – Frequently Asked Questions: Independent Legal Representation
- Overview Article – Claiming Title IV-E Funds to Pay for Parents’ and Children’s Attorneys: A Brief Technical Overview
- Article – New Federal Funding Rule Aims to Boost Effectiveness of Parents’ and Children’s Counsel
- U.S. Administration for Children and Families – High Quality Legal Representation for All Parties in Child Welfare Proceedings
- Webinar Recording – “Federal IV-E Reimbursement for High-Quality Legal Representation for Children and Parents”
- U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families Information Memorandum
- Maryland memorandum of Agreement Re: Title IV-E Funds for Parent Representation
- Montana IV-E Reimbursement Contract for Legal Representation for Parents and and Children
- New Mexico IV-E Agreement
- Washington Interagency Agreement re: Title IV-E for Child Representation
- Washington Interagency Agreement re: Title IV-E for Parent Representation
- Wyoming MOU
- MOU Colorado Judicial Branch