The first thing that we have to clear up here is what exactly is “Title IV-E Funds.” According to Nationwide Blueprint, a site that discusses Welfare Reforms, Foster Care, and Child Custody reforms Title IV-E of the Social Security Act starts at 42 USC 670. It’s appropriation and purpose section define the purpose of the program. Quoting Sec. 470 of the Social Security Act [42 USC 670]:
For the purpose of enabling each State to provide, in appropriate cases, foster care and transitional independent living programs for children who otherwise would have been eligible for assistance under the State’s plan approved under part A (as such plan was in effect on June 1, 1995) and adoption assistance for children with special needs, there are authorized to be appropriated for each fiscal year (commencing with the fiscal year which begins October 1, 1980) such sums as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of this part. The sums made available under this section shall be used for making payments to States which have submitted, and had approved by the Secretary, State plans under this part.
The program requires state plans for foster care and adoption assistance, allows for federal block grants to the various states, and rewards states for improved adoption scores through incentive programs associated with the operation of state programs.
Pennsylvania has had some recent corruption problems, which it is unknown if that is the cause of the federal government freezing funds across the state, pertaining to judicial corruption. See Pennsylvania Judicial Corruption: What About Judges Jailing Parents for Cash (Feb. 12, 2009)
According to WJACTV.COM, Blair County Commissioners announced Tuesday that they will have to figure out how to survive without $571,000 from the federal government. Blair County is not the only county being affected, with information leading to the entire state’s funding being temporarily frozen. Several counties and the State may have to pay back funds to the federal government due to possible accounting problems with state records.
This move by the federal government could mean that they are starting to pay attention to other areas of concern with programs managed under the Social Security Act, including Title IV-A, Title IV-D, and Title IV-E. For more information about these programs, please see Nationwide Blueprint.
