What’s New in Laws & Policies

Current as of:

This page provides resources and information about new federal legislation, regulations, and Children's Bureau policies. As new laws are passed, regulations are issued, or the Children's Bureau announces new policy, the information on this page is changed to ensure that the most current policy information is available to stakeholders quickly and accurately. Any questions or comments about information and resources provided here should be directed to the Children's Bureau Regional Program Managers.

New Information Memoranda (IMs) and Program Instructions (PIs)

  • ACF-ACYF-CB-IM-25-01: The purpose of this Information Memorandum (IM) is to inform state and tribal title IV-B and title IV-E agencies of a final rule issued by the United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office for Civil Rights (OCR) that implements Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (Section 504). HHS’s final rule includes regulatory provisions relevant to child welfare agencies that receive Federal financial assistance from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. These regulatory provisions clarify how Section 504 applies in the child welfare context. This guidance focuses on the Section 504 final rule and does not cover all disability rights laws applicable to child welfare entities.
  • ACF-ACYF-CB-PI-24-11: The purpose of this Program Instruction (PI) is to instruct tribal title IV-E agencies administering or supervising the administration of title IV-E under sections 479B and 471(a) of the Act on the title IV-E prevention program requirements, the exemption of tribal title IV-E agencies from the evaluation waiver and continuous quality improvement requirements, and on the flexibility title IV-E agencies may provide to tribes with whom they have agreements under section 472(a)(2)(B)(ii) of the Act. This PI supersedes ACF-ACYF-CB-PI-18-10 issued November 30, 2018, upon publication.
  • ACF-ACYF-CB-PI-24-10: The purpose of this Program Instruction (PI) is to instruct state title IV-E agencies on the title IV-E prevention program requirements and on the flexibility such agencies may provide to tribes with whom they have agreements under section 472(a)(2)(B)(ii) of the Act. ACF-ACYF-CB-PI-24-10 supersedes ACF-ACYF-CB-PI-24-07 issued May 21, 2024, upon publication

View additional Information Memorandums (IMs) and Program Instructions (PIs).

2024 Final Rule on the Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System

A final rule on the Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System (AFCARS) was published in the Federal Register on December 5, 2024 (89 FR 96569 ).  It amends the AFCARS regulations to require state title IV-E agencies to collect and report data elements related to the procedural protections of the Indian Child Welfare Act of 1978 (ICWA). The first report period when state title IV-E agencies must begin collecting the information required in this final rule begins October 1, 2028, and the first data files containing this information will be due to ACF by May 15, 2029. Note: A technical correction was published on December 30, 2025 (89 FR 106364 ) and was effective as if it was included in the document published December 5, 2024.

2024 Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on the Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System

A proposed rule on the Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System (AFCARS) was published in the Federal Register on February 23, 2024 (89 FR 13652).  It proposes to amend the AFCARS regulations to require state title IV-E agencies to collect and report data elements related to the procedural protections of the Indian Child Welfare Act of 1978 (ICWA).

Foster Care Legal Representation

ACF published a final rule in the Federal Register on May 10, 2024 (89 FR 40400) that allows a title IV-E agency to claim Federal financial participation (FFP) for the administrative cost of an attorney providing legal representation and a non-attorney providing representation in certain proceedings.

Separate Licensing Standards for Relative or Kinship Foster Family Homes

ACF published a final rule in the Federal Register on September 28, 2023 (88 FR 66700) that allows title IV-E agencies to adopt foster family home licensing or approval standards for foster family homes of relatives or kin that differ from nonrelative foster family homes standards. It also requires that during the title IV-E agency’s periodic review of licensing standards and the amount of foster care maintenance payments, the agency ensures that eligible children receive the same amount of foster care maintenance payments regardless of whether they are placed in a licensed or approved relative, kinship, or unrelated foster family home.

  • Final Rule (September 28, 2023) - This is a link to the Final Rule in the Federal Register (88 FR 66700).
  • ACF-ACYF-CB-IM-23-07 - This Information Memorandum informs title IV-E agencies of the publication of this final rule.
  • ACF-ACYF-CB-PI-23-10 - This Program Instruction provides instructions for title IV-E agencies that opt to adopt licensing or approval standards for relative or kinship foster family homes that differ from the standards used for non-relative foster family homes.
  • NPRM (February 14, 2023)  - This is a link to the NPRM in the Federal Register (88 FR 9411) and associated issuance ACYF-CB-IM-23-02.

Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System Rulemakings

A final rule on the Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System (AFCARS) was published in the Federal Register on May 12, 2020. It finalizes a proposal to streamline the information required to be reported by title IV-E agencies from the 2016 AFCARS final rule.