Family Law Guides: News & Notes

Awards kick off National Adoption Month in November

WASHINGTON, D.C. --- The Administration for Children and Families at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) today presented 21 Adoption Excellence Awards for effort and commitment to increasing the number of children in foster care who have been adopted nationally.

“The winners of this year's Adoption Excellence Awards deserve our praise and gratitude,” said HHS Assistant Secretary for Children and Families Wade F. Horn, Ph.D. “Thanks to them, more children in foster care will grow up in a permanent home with a loving family.”

The awards were presented at a ceremony at Union Station in Washington, D.C. to kick-off National Adoption Month.

The awards are given annually to honor individuals, families, local agencies, private organizations, courts, businesses and states for commitment to increasing the adoptions of children in foster care. ...

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Initiative to Help Youth Live in Permanent, Stable Homes

WASHINGTON, D.C. --- The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) today announced a child welfare waiver demonstration project for the state of Tennessee to help children move out of foster care and into permanent homes with relatives or other guardians with whom they have a close bond.

“This project will allow more children in Tennessee to grow up in a safe and stable home,” said HHS Secretary Mike Leavitt. “By providing Tennessee with greater flexibility, the Bush Administration is strengthening families and offering children the care and permanency they need to grow into responsible citizens.”

Section 1130 of the Social Security Act authorizes HHS to approve up to 10 new child welfare waiver demonstration projects each year. All demonstration projects are required to be evaluated by a third party and must be cost-neutral to the federal government.

“President Bush believes states should have more flexibility to improve ways to strengthen services to families in crisis,” said HHS Assistant Secretary for Children and families Wade F. Horn, Ph.D. “This waiver will help Tennessee make a positive difference in the lives of many children and families.”

The waiver will allow Tennessee to use federal foster care funds to pay monthly subsidies to families who assume legal guardianship of children who would otherwise remain in the custody of the state. ...

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WASHINGTON, D.C. --- The Administration for Children and Families (ACF) at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) today announced over $1.7 million in grants to 14 state and non-profit organizations to advance the performance of the nation’s child support enforcement system.

“By testing and developing strategic improvements to our nation’s child support enforcement system, these grants will advance the well-being of children,” said HHS Assistant Secretary for Children and Families Wade F. Horn, Ph.D. “These projects will lead to greater stability in the home by ensuring that vulnerable children get financial and emotional support of both parents.”

Six grants are designed to improve delivery of child support services, agency and judicial responsiveness to customers and health care coverage for children in child support cases: ...

Five grants were awarded to non-profit organizations to improve child support and marriage education services for ethnic and culturally-diverse populations: ...

Three grants were awarded to states and non-profit organizations to improve local collaboration strategies between child support enforcement and community agencies: ...

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Administration for Children and Families

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