美国救援计划法案(ARPA)于2021年3月11日签署成为法律. Properly utilized and implemented, 这些基金有潜力大量支持儿童和家庭的儿童福利服务并将其转变为儿童和家庭的福利服务, 协助实施《快乐8网站》 (FFPSA), and stabilize your critical child welfare workforce.

Under ARPA, 新冠肺炎州和地方财政恢复基金(SLFRF)的成立是为了向州提供大量资金, local, 和部落管辖区应对COVID-19大流行. The final rule, 哪些机构执行SLFRF的法定规定，并就资金的合格和不合格使用提供指导, becomes effective April 1, 2022. The SLFRF program provides resources to state, local, and tribal governments to fight the pandemic, support economic recovery, prevent cuts to public services, and stimulate investments for long-term growth. SLFRF资金只能用于从3月3日开始的特定期间内发生的费用, 2021, with all funds obligated by December 31, 2024, and all funds spent by December 31, 2026.

公众谘询小组(专责小组)建议各司法管辖区共同努力，就儿童福利机构的合资格用途，向行政部门官员提供教育，并特别强调以下事项:

1. Child Welfare Services

最后的规则澄清了SLFRF资金的一些合格用途 child welfare services，已列入“促进健康及儿童环境”的经点算用途. 财政部引用了疫情对儿童福利和寄养系统的影响，并在最终规则中明确阐明了这一指导意见, “services to foster youth, including those aging out of the system, 参与儿童福利的家庭可能会涉及很多经济方面的问题, educational, child development, or health supports, or other supports necessary, including supports for kinship care.”[1]

因为大多数领取救济基金的司法管辖区可以根据第四- e章确定儿童福利服务的资格，或有资格领取医疗补助或其他联邦经济状况调查福利的家庭记录其收入, these families would be considered eligible impacted households and therefore be eligible for child welfare services funded by SLFRF. 这些联邦基金可以用于为参与该系统的儿童和家庭提供关键服务，并支持失去照料的青年.

州和地方司法管辖区有巨大的可能性为参与儿童福利系统的儿童和家庭提供支持. 以下只是在SLFRF下可以扩展或实施的许多潜在项目和服务中的几个.

Financial

• Stipends
• Concrete supports
• Transportation vouchers
• Housing and rental assistance
• Financial literacy curriculum development and training

Educational

• Education and training vouchers
• Educational supplies
• Education liaisons and partnerships with school districts
• Life skills curriculum development and training
• Workforce readiness and employment preparation training

Child Development / Health Supports

• Intensive in-home or prevention services
• Behavioral health counseling
• Substance abuse counseling
• Crisis stabilization services
• School-based therapy
• Clinical health partnerships
• Community health and wellness initiatives
• Parent education

 
Kinship Care

• Kinship navigator program development
• Kinship stipends
• Training and professional development
  
  

2. Child Welfare Workforce Stabilization

儿童福利人员问题在全国许多地区都处于危机之中. 对于儿童保护工作者来说尤其如此, but in other areas as well—home-based counselors, group home and residential facilities, foster care homes, and community-based services. With over 400,000 children in foster care, having an educated, well-trained, experienced, passionate, 有同理心的员工是儿童福利系统的重要组成部分. 他们的就业稳定是为儿童提供安全和永久性以及为家庭提供支助的关键因素. 他们是被虐待、忽视或遗弃的儿童的第一反应者.

在这一关键时刻，儿童福利基金为解决儿童福利人员配备问题提供了重要机会——这一流行病结束后，就业形势发生了变化. SLFRF为州和地方司法管辖区提供了领取奖金等补偿金的机会, hazardous pay, or supplemental pay. Additionally, it provides the opportunity for caseload/workload studies, salary comparisons with other first responders, 以及承认培训和经验价值的梯度薪酬计划, 加强社会工作者和其他以虐待和被忽视儿童为职业的人.

Click 阅读快乐8网站文章“通过ARPA稳定儿童福利劳动力”

3. Family First Implementation Support

就在大流行带来毁灭性影响前不久，美国颁布了《快乐8网站》. 各州高度关注如何实施这一新的联邦计划，以资助以证据为基础的做法，防止安置到寄养中心. 具体地说，FFPSA允许联邦政府通过第IV-E条拨款用于 prevention services that are rated as promising, supported, or well-supported and approved on the Title IV-E Prevention Services Clearinghouse; this is provided under a trauma-informed framework, 包括在国家批准的五年预防计划中, 对于一个在预防计划中被认定为“寄养候选者”的孩子.

SLFRF资金可用于支持长期增长和通过FFPSA提供的机会. 但是，SLFRF是非经常开支，应主要适用于非经常开支. SLFRF提供了一种途径来支付与FFPSA预防服务实施相关的许多初始成本, such as independent systematic reviews, services to sex trafficking victims, funding of home visiting programs, outcome evaluations, substance use treatment and prevention, and supports to kin caregivers.  

Click 阅读快乐8网站文章“利用ARPA支持FFPSA的实施”

PCG的顾问和主题专家团队可以帮助您的机构制定一个大胆的计划，利用这一庞大的联邦资金来源，转变儿童福利服务和支持，为儿童和家庭创造持久和可持续的影响.

关于SLFRF最终规则的更详细信息，可以在这里找到 here at the U.S. Treasury ARPA website.  

[1] SLFRF Final Rule. Pg. 100