Title IV-B Guidance
On January 4, 2025, reauthorization of Title IV-B of the Social Security Act became law. This comprehensive bill supports a myriad of child welfare programs and improvements. Below are several selected provisions most applicable to child welfare attorneys and other court stakeholders.
What do Attorneys Need to Know about Title IV-B Reauthorization?
| New IV-B Provision | Advocacy Action for Attorneys |
| Nearly 33% increase in funding for Court Improvement Programs (CIP), allocated to states by formula. | Propose a project or new focus area for your CIP, including, but not limited to, providing high-quality legal representation. |
| State agencies must inform children, parents and guardians about available independent legal representation. | Collaborate on implementing this requirement, using forms in this packet as a template. |
| Authorizes CIP to conduct assessments and implement improvements around (1) disaster preparedness and (2) virtual hearings. | Collaborate on these assessments. Ensure lived experience experts are invited to contribute to the development and implementation process. |
| Family preservation services can include “nonrecurring short term benefits (including supports related to housing instability, utilities, transportation, and food assistance, among other basic needs) that address immediate needs…” | Advocate that the state IV-B plan include these examples of concrete resources. Incorporate these supports into your reasonable efforts advocacy. |
| State agencies must have policies and training in place to prevent family sepa ration based on poverty | Collaborate on the development of these materials. Advocate to expand access to the training beyond agency staff. Ask to review these policies and training materials; incorporate them into your advocacy. Advocate to amend state definitions of neglect. |
| New requirement that states make their Title IV-B Plans publicly available. | Review your jurisdiction’s IV-B plan to know what services are available for your clients. |
| Youth, families, and community stake holders must be consulted in the development of the IV-B plan. | Make a formal request to provide input on the state’s IV-B plan; offer to help convene stakeholders to review and develop the plan. |
| Requirements to improve the implementation of ICWA and to provide technical assistance to improve practice. | Review implementation practices of ICWA in your state. Ask that the child welfare agency request TA if needed. |
| IV-B services can be provided to youth up to age 26 | Provide input on the state’s IV-B plan and ask that programs targeted at older youth be provided. If there is a IV-B program that would benefit your older youth client, ask that the agency provide (or the court order) that service to your young adult client |
Independent Legal Representation Notification Forms
Below are templates of Independent Legal Representation Notification Forms for both youth and also parents for states to adapt for their jurisdiction. Below is also a PDF version of the info above – Title IV-B Reauthorization: What Do Attorneys Need to Know?
Contact:
Prudence Beidler Carr, JD
[email protected]
American Bar Association: americanbar.org
Allison Green, JD, CWLS
[email protected]
National Association of Counsel for Children: naccchildlaw.org
Jenny Pokempner, JD
[email protected]
Youth Law Center: ylc.org
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