	Background

Title IV-B of the Social Security Act authorizes funds to states to provide  an array of child welfare services to prevent the occurrence of abuse,  neglect, and need to place children in foster care. States Used Subparts 1 and 2 to Support Similar Services and Populations, but Funding Emphasis Differed

		States Emphasized Different Services under Subparts 1 and 2

While states funded similar services under subparts 1 and 2, most states  reported using subpart 1 funds primarily to pay for costs associated with  operating child welfare programs, while most states reported using  subpart 2 funds for family services as shown in table 1. Overall, states  reported that nearly half of Title IV-B funds used for staff salaries  supported social worker positions in child protective services. These services included mentoring programs to help  pregnant adolescents learn to be self-sufficient, financial assistance to low- income families to help with rent and utilities, parenting classes, child  care, and support groups provided by community-based resource centers. In contrast, states used 44 percent of subpart 2 funds for children  at risk of child abuse and neglect and/or their parents. Federal Oversight Insufficient to Ensure State Compliance with Title IV-B Spending Requirements under Subpart 1

HHS provided relatively little oversight specific to state spending under  subpart 1. We also found that HHS regional offices had paid little  attention to statutory limits in states’ planned use of subpart 1 funds. In  response to our survey, 10 states reported actual 2002 subpart 1  expenditures that exceeded the spending limits by over $15 million in  total. Little Research Existed on the Effectiveness of Title IV-B Services

Research on the effectiveness of services provided under subpart 1of Title  IV-B was limited, and HHS evaluations of subpart 2 services showed no or  little effect on children’s outcomes. In our survey, 22 states reported  providing services other than maintenance payments, staff salaries, or  administration under subpart 1; however, none of these states had  evaluated the outcomes of these services. Similarly, our literature review showed that few evaluations had been  conducted, and evaluations that had been conducted produced mixed  results. Overall, the findings were similar across all  evaluation sites showing subpart 2 services provided no or little effect in   reducing out-of-home placement, maltreatment recurrence, or improved  family functioning beyond what normal casework services achieved. GAO-03-956.
Why GAO Did This Study

For federal fiscal year 2004, state and local child protective services staff determined that an estimated 872,000 children have been victims of abuse or neglect. Title IV-B subparts 1 and 2 authorize a wide array of child welfare services with some restrictions on states' use of funds. This testimony discusses: (1) how states used Title IV-B dollars to serve families under subparts 1 and 2; (2) the extent that federal oversight ensured state compliance with spending requirements under subpart 1; and (3) what the research said about the effectiveness of service states have provided to families using Title IV-B funds. This testimony was primarily based on a 2003 report (GAO-03-956).

What GAO Found

States used Title IV-B funds to provide a broad range of services to prevent the occurrence of abuse, neglect, and foster care placements in addition to other child welfare services. While there was some overlap, states reported using Title IV-B subpart 1 funds primarily to operate child welfare programs and serve families in the foster care system, while states reported using subpart 2 funds primarily for family services targeted to families at risk of child removal due to abuse or neglect. For example, nearly half of subpart 1 staff costs paid salaries for social worker positions in child protective services. Family services under subpart 2 included those to support, preserve, and reunify families by providing mentoring programs, financial assistance to help with rent and utilities, parenting classes, child care, and support groups. HHS provided relatively little oversight specific to state spending under subpart 1. HHS did not collect data on subpart 1 expenditures and regional officials paid little attention to statutory limits in states' planned use of funds. In response to GAO's survey, 10 states reported actual 2002 subpart 1 expenditures that exceeded the sending limits by over $15 million in total. Research is limited assessing the effectiveness of services provided under Title IV-B. In GAO's survey, 22 states reported providing services other than foster care and adoption assistance payments, staff salaries, or administration under subpart 1; however, none of these states had sufficiently evaluated the outcomes of these services. Similarly, GAO's literature review showed that few evaluations had been conducted, and evaluations that had been conducted showed mixed results. HHS evaluations of subpart 2 services also have shown no or little effect in reducing out-of-home placement, maltreatment recurrence, or improved family functioning beyond what normal casework services achieved.