Title IV-E
Foster Care and
Adoption Assistance ProgramFamily on Bikes

Title IV-E is a subpart of Title IV of the federal Social Security Act. This program provides federal reimbursement to states for the costs of children placed in foster homes or other types of out-of-home care under a court order or voluntary placement agreement. Title IV-E benefits are an individual entitlement for qualified children who have been removed from their homes.

There are two major concepts within the Title IV-E program that determines whether federal reimbursement can be claimed for a child: Eligibility and Reimbursability. Some children in care are not eligible, some are eligible but not reimbursable, and some are both eligible and reimbursable. A child must be eligible in order to be reimbursable. The determination of IV-E eligibility and reimbursability for the child allows the state to claim federal IV-E reimbursement for the child’s maintenance costs. The IV-E eligibility also allows the state to obtain federal IV-E reimbursement for administrative and training costs associated with the child.

Last Revised: June 16, 2008