NCJ Number
84949
Date Published
1982
Length
20 pages
Annotation
It is possible that services provided through Title IV-B may be used by status offenders, but it is State and local implementation, rather than Federal guidelines, that control such use.
Abstract
Title IV-B provides Federal grants to States for the provision of child welfare services. There are no Federal controls for exactly how the funds are to be used, which services are to be provided, or which types of children are to be served. Since the mid-1970's, Title IV-B grants have paid for similar activities in several of the seven States examined, primarily for administrative costs and foster care services. Any increased expenditures for services seem to be used for the same activities and types of services. Child care services have continued to focus on foster care even though there has been strong advocacy for permanent placements and leaving children at home whenever possible. When implemented, the Adoption Assistance and Child Welfare Act of 1980 will require States to use their Title IV-B funds to develop data systems that will allow the tracking of individual foster children. This was included in the new legislation to overcome the problem of children who drift through foster care of most for their childhood. It is possible that such State data systems eventually might include the legal reason each child is in foster care, which would then permit the identification of status offenders, or at least those youth labeled as such. Existing State data do not allow the determination of how many, if any, status offenders are receiving services under the Title IV-B program. Thirty-eight references are listed. (Author summary modified)