Oct. 19 Federal Update: ACF Seeks Recommendations for Title IV-E Eligible Domestic Violence Programs 

The Administration for Children and Families announced that it is accepting new recommendations for domestic violence prevention and support programs and services for review by the Title IV-E Prevention Services Clearinghouse.  

To be eligible, programs and services should directly address domestic violence, including intimate partner violence, or the needs of children and families who may be at risk for domestic violence. Programs and services must be clearly defined and replicable, with documentation that specifies the practice’s components and describes how to implement or administer it.  

Additionally, programs should address at least none of the following service areas: 

• Mental Health Prevention and Treatment 
• Substance Use Prevention and Treatment 
• In-home Parent Skill-based programs or services  
• Kinship Navigator programs 

Details on how to submit a program or service for consideration are available here. 

ACF Announces New Best Practices to Strengthen Ombudsman Offices  

The Administration for Children and Families announced new best practices to help states strengthen child welfare ombudsman offices and integrate feedback from children, youth, and families to improve child welfare systems. 

The resource builds on a May 2026 report from the HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation, which examined the landscape and common functions of state child welfare ombudsman programs, as well as lessons from ACF’s July 2026 roundtable with state leaders, ombudsman offices, youth representatives, advocates, and national partners. 

ACF identified six practices that can support effective child welfare ombudsman offices: 

• Define the office’s role and authority so stakeholders understand its responsibilities and limitations 
• Protect independence and credibility through impartial review, appropriate authority, access to information and operational autonomy 
• Build relationships before concerns escalate to strengthen trust and support problem-solving 
• Use complaint data to identify system patterns and inform system improvement efforts 
• Center youth and family voices in office operations, engagement and improvement efforts 
• Report findings and prioritize accountability by tracking recommendations, communicating progress and demonstrating how concerns contribute to meaningful change 

The Child Welfare Policy Manual notes that certain ombudsman activities are eligible for federal financial participation under Title IV-E. The guidance clarifies, for example, that case review, case supervision, and case management duties performed by child ombudsman personnel may be claimed when paid through a Title IV-E agency. Eligible costs may be reimbursed when included in an approved cost allocation plan. 

Information Memorandum Guides Title IV-E Prevention Data Requirements  

The Children’s Bureau recently published an information memorandum clarifying Title IV-E prevention data requirements and encouraging agencies to claim allowable Title IV-E prevention expenditures using the data and systems currently available. The Administration for Children and Families expressed its commitment to honoring allowable claims supported by available data and working with agencies to identify a path forward.  

The memorandum offers guidance regarding, 

Title IV-E Prevention Data and Claiming Requirements 

• CCWIS Solutions for Title IV-E Prevention Data 
• Interim Non-CCWIS Solutions for Title IV-E Prevention Reporting 
• Interim Title IV-E Prevention Solutions as a Step Towards CCWIS Implementation 
• Title IV-E Prevention Data and Claiming Requirements

SAMHSA Announces 8 Communities to Receive $96 Million Through New STREETS Program 

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recently announced the eight communities selected to receive funding through the new Safety Through Recovery, Engagement, and Evidence-based Treatment and Support (STREETS) program. Administered by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, STREETS will provide $96 million over four years to help communities build coordinated systems of care for people who are homeless and have serious mental illness, substance use disorders, or co-occurring disorders. 

Each of the eight selected communities will receive $3 million a year for four years. The selected communities are: 

• Alcohol, Drug Addiction and Mental Health Services (ADAMHS) Board for Montgomery County (OH) 
• Cherokee Nation (OK) 
• City of Detroit, Health Department (MI) 
• City of Houston, Health Department, Human Services Division (TX) 
• City of Huntington (WV) 
• Miami-Dade County (FL) 
• Robeson County (NC) 
• Tangipahoa Parish Government (LA) 

ASPE Report Assesses Regulatory Costs of Head Start’s 2016 Final Rule 

A recent report published by the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation assessed the costs associated with the 2016 Head Start Rule alongside changes in the number of slots and quality measures,  

The 2016 rule, which sought to modernize performance standards, forecast costs per slot at a static $10 increase over 2015 costs, although ASPE found they rose by 49% through Fiscal Year 2024. In 2024 dollars, regular Head Start per-slot costs were $15,752, compared with $10,575 projected by the Regulatory Impact Analyses. 

The 2016 rule forecast that rising costs would reduce Head Start slots by 123,614 by 2025, although ASPE found the number of slots fell by 277,658 over that time. 

The 2016 rule also forecast that quality measures, as measured by the Classroom Assessment Scoring System, would increase, although minimal changes were evident through Fiscal Year 2026. 

Published Final Rule Addresses Health Insurance Price Transparency  

The Department of the Treasury, Department of Labor, and Department of Health and Human Services finalized changes to the Transparency in Coverage regulations. The changes aim to ease finding, comparing, and reporting healthcare pricing and coverage information in the healthcare marketplace. By providing more reliable, accessible, and actionable information about health coverage and expected prices, the regulations aim to strengthen federal healthcare price transparency requirements.  

The regulations become effective Dec. 7. For further information, CMS has published a fact sheet. 

HHS Launches Initiative to Advance Nutrition, Prevention, and Healthy Living 

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services launched the HHS Health Center Healthy Lifestyle Commitment, a voluntary initiative that encourages health centers nationwide to put nutrition, prevention, and healthy living at the center of patient care. 

Through the voluntary Health Center Healthy Lifestyle Commitment, HRSA-supported health centers are encouraged to advance evidence-based best practices that support: 

• Prioritizing prevention and healthy lifestyles by encouraging healthy eating, physical activity, adequate sleep, limited screen time, and other behaviors that can help prevent, delay, and better manage chronic disease 
• Promoting healthy eating by helping patients and families understand and apply the new Dietary Guidelines for Americans, including choosing whole, nutrient-dense foods and limiting highly processed foods and added sugars 
• Empowering patients and families with practical, actionable information about nutrition, preventive care, and healthy behaviors that support lifelong health 
• Connecting patients to community health activities, including community gardens, fresh produce programs, nutrition education, and physical activity opportunities 
• Strengthening the prevention workforce by equipping health center staff with tools, training, and resources to integrate nutrition and healthy living into everyday patient care 
• Building a culture of health that encourages healthy choices and empowers patients to take an active role in improving their health 

HHS noted that participation in the commitment is voluntary and will not affect its eligibility for or receipt of HRSA funding. The initiative also does not establish new federal requirements or standards of care. The grants were created through the Violence Against Women Act, part of the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994, to help organizations that support victims through legal services, housing assistance, and crisis counseling. 

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