Title: Case Plan Requirement, Section 422, 471(a)(16) and 475(5)(A) of the Social Security Act.
OMB No.: 0980-0140.
Description: Under section 471(a)(16) of title IV-E of the Social Security Act (the Act), to be eligible for payments, states must have an approved state plan that provides for the development of a case plan (as defined in section 475(1) for each child for which the state receives foster care maintenance payments, and that provides a case review system that meets the requirements in section 475(5) and 475(6). The case review system assures that each child has a case plan designed to achieve placement in a safe setting that is the least restrictive (most family-like) setting available and in close proximity to the child's parental home, consistent with the best interest and special needs of the child. Through these requirements, states also comply, in part, with title (IV-B), section 422(b) of the Act, which assures certain protections for children in foster care.
The case plan is a written document that provides a narrative description of the child-specific program of care. Federal regulations at 45 CFR 1356.21(g) and section 475(1) of the Act delineate the specific information that should be addressed in the case plan. The Administration for Children and Families (ACF) does not specify a recordkeeping format for the case plan nor does ACF require submission of the document to the Federal government. Case plan information is recorded in a format developed and maintained by the state child welfare agency.
Respondents: State title IV-B and title IV-E agencies
Annual Burden Estimates
| Statement | Number of respondents | Number of responses per respondent | Average burden hours per response | Total burden hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Case Plan | 701,461 | 1 | 2.60 | 1,823,900 |
| Estimated total annual burden hours | 1,823,900 |
Additional Information: Copies of the proposed collection may be obtained by writing to the Administration for Children and Families, Office of Administration, Office of Information Services, 370 L'Enfant Promenade, SW., Washington, DC 20447, Attn: ACF Reports Clearance Officer. All requests should be identified by the title of the information collection. E-mail address: grjohnson@acf.hhs.gov.
OMB Comment: OMB is required to make a decision concerning the collection of information between 30 and 60 days after publication of this document in the Federal Register. Therefore, a comment is best assured of having its full effect if OMB receives it within 30 days of publication. Written comments and recommendations for the proposed information collection should be sent directly to the following: Office of Management and Budget, Paperwork Reduction Project, Attn: Desk Officer for ACF, e-mail address: katherine_t._astrich@omb.eop.gov.
Robert Sargis,
Reports Clearance Office.
[FR Doc. 04-16053 Filed 7-14-04; 8:45 am]
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