tion of new programs [8, p. 51]. Largest federally funded programs that support State and Tribal efforts for child welfare, foster care, and adoption activities are authorized under titles IV-B and IV-E of the Social Security Act (the Act). These programs are administered by the US Department of Health and Human Services and include the title IV-B Child Welfare Services and Promoting Safe and Stable Families (formerly known as Family Preservation) programs, the title IV-E Foster Care Program, the title IV-E Adoption Assistance Program, and the title IV-E Chafee Foster Care Independence Program. The Social Services Block Grant (SSBG) is authorized under title XX of the Act and funds a wide range of programs that support various social policy goals.provide a framework for understanding the Federal legislation that has shaped the delivery of child welfare services, this point of the coursework presents a summary of Federal legislation since 1974 that has had a significant impact on the field. It provides an overview of each act and its major provisions.Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act was the first major legislation dealing specifically with child welfare, passed in 1974. The law establishes the Office on Child Abuse and Neglect under the auspices of the Department of Health and Human Services. This office researches child abuse and neglect, making recommendations about how to best deal with child abuse and neglect. The law enables the Secretary of Health and Human Services to aid state, municipal and nonprofit agencies dealing with child abuse and neglect with planning and developing programs to treat and prevent child abuse and neglect [17, p. 44]. Fair Labor Standards Act provides federal legal guidelines for the employment of minors. The law prohibits children under the age of 16 from engaging in hazardous work outside the agricultural industry and children under the age of 18 from engaging in hazardous work in other fields. The law prohibits children from working during school hours. Children 14 or 15 years of age may not work between the hours of 7 pm (from June 1 to Labor Day this shifts to 9 pm) and 7 am, nor more than three hours on a school day or 18 hours during a school week. When school is not in session, children 14 or 15 years of age may not work more than eight hours in a day or 40 hours during a workweek [19, p. 32]. Keeping Children and Families Safe Act of 2003 offers a number of grants for organizations concerned with preventing child abuse and neglect. To qualify for federal grants under this bill, an organization must provide certain services such as including treatment for fetal alcohol syndrome, child protective services legal training and referrals to community and volunteer organizations for children who are not in immediate danger. Organizations may use grants to improve case tracking technology, recruit and train caseworkers, improve case management and monitoring, train required reporters of abuse in their responsibilities and develop assessment protocols [23, p. 247]. Child and Family Services Improvement Act was passed in 2006 to assist existing child protective services agencies. The law sets aside funds for state child protective services agencies to provide monthly visits to children in foster care. The law also assists in locating children of prisoners requiring mentoring, provides vouchers for these children to receive mentoring and monitors the mentoring.
