Tribal Title IV-B Supports

This toolkit provides resources to help tribes develop their CFSPs and APSRs, including federal guidance and information about documents that must be submitted.

Title IV-B Guide: Navigating Federal Child Welfare Services Funding from the Children’s Bureau

The process of applying for federal funding can be complex, so this guide was developed with the hope of breaking down and clarifying the process. This guide is a resource to assist the Children’s Bureau (CB) regional program specialists and tribal Title IV-B agency staff, including the social services / Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) director, leadership, and financial department, when working one on one to apply for and maintain Title IV-B funding. This guide helps tribes in their tribal Title IV-B funding journey by:

• Exploring funding options
• Assisting with the initial application
• Tracking program components
• Clarifying the yearly reporting process
• Reviewing allowable costs
• Providing helpful tips and community resources
• Answering general questions about the collaborative process

This guide focuses on Title IV-B requirements, and the tribe may encounter unique scenarios and questions that need further guidance from other resources. While the Children’s Bureau is committed to keeping this guide updated, future regulations or policy may make the information in this guide outdated. It is the tribe’s responsibility to ensure that it meets all the required provisions in the governing statutes, regulations, and official policy for program oversight. Always check in with the tribe’s regional program specialist for clarification. Federal representatives from the CB and the Office of Grants Management work in partnership to understand, value, and connect each tribe to the requirements so that tribes are empowered to be successful.

Read the Guide (PDF)

Title IV-B Instructional Video Series

These videos are intended to be a helpful supplemental resource to the title IV-B Guide and will guide tribal program staff through portions of the Guide, creating a more engaging sensory experience than using the IV-B Guide alone.  Learners will actually get to see and hear the concepts being taught, hopefully resulting in making the information more relatable and easier to understand.

Federal Guidance

This section includes the regulatory reference, the current policy issuance, and additional information to assist states in developing their CFSPs and APSRs.

45 CFR 1357 - This webpage includes the text from the Code of Federal Regulations regarding child welfare issues.

ACYF-CB-PI-24-03 - This Program Instruction (PI) provides guidance to Indian Tribes, Indian Tribal Organizations and Indian Tribal Consortia (hereafter “Tribes,” unless otherwise noted) on actions they are required to take to receive their allotments authorized under title IV-B, subparts 1 and 2, and Chafee and ETV programs for Federal Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 (subject to the availability of appropriations). This PI summarizes requirements for completing and submitting: (1) the Final Report for the 2020-2024 CFSP (2) the new 2025-2029 CFSP, and (3) the CFS-101, Parts I, II, and III. 

Other Helpful Resources

Match Calculator - This tool can calculate the tribal share of title IV-B expenditures.

Match Calculator - This tool can calculate the state share of expenditures required for the Chafee Foster Care Program for Successful Transition to Adulthood.

The CFSP or APSR, as appropriate, must be accompanied by form CFS-101 and the required assurances and certifications. These are attached to the annual program instructions.

Additional Information to Support Successful CFSPs

Optional CFSP/APSR Template  - To assist tribes in the development of the CFSP/APSR, CB prepared a template for tribes to use for the five-year cycle.  Each requirement listed in the template has each fiscal year listed below it for the tribe to easily update their prior submission. Tribes reported that the template was helpful as the entire CFSP/APSR plan and updates are all in one document. 

CFSP/APSR Reporting Schedule for States and Tribes (PDF) - This document provides a schedule of the reporting requirements for states' and tribes' CFSPs and APSRs. Please note that 45 CFR 1357.16(b) says, "The State and Indian Tribe must send the CFSP required for the year and the CFS-101 to the appropriate ACF Regional Office no later than June 30 of the year prior to the fiscal year in which the services will be provided."

Capacity Building Center for Tribes -   The Center for Tribes collaborates with American Indian and Alaska Native nations to help strengthen Tribal child and family systems and services in order to nurture the safety, permanency, and well-being of children, youth, and families.

Child Welfare Program Manual/IV-B/Use of Funds - This section of the Child Welfare Policy Manual provides information about the use of title IV-B funds.