Department of Health and Human Services
	Research, Demonstration, and Evaluation Activities FY 2003 Plan and Budget February 2002

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RESEARCH AND DEMONSTRATIONS

(by HHS Strategic Plan Objective)

IMPROVE THE SAFETY AND SECURITY OF CHILDREN AND YOUTH (OBJECTIVE 2.4)

FY 2003 Priorities

ABANDONED INFANTS PROGRAM DATA (ACF)

Demonstrations: ACF will fund grants to:

• prevent the abandonment of children and identify and address the needs of infants and young children who may be at risk for abandonment, particularly those with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) and drug and/or alcohol exposure.
• provide special services needed by target populations, e.g. parenting skills; supportive therapeutic services, housing and transportation, health care and drug and alcohol treatment, specialized health care, and therapeutic intervention.
• assist abandoned children to reside with their natural families, if possible, or in foster care.
• carry out residential care programs for abandoned children and children with AIDS.
• establish programs of respite care for families and foster families.
• prevent the abandonment of infants and young children by providing needed resources through model programs.

ADOPTION OPPORTUNITIES (ACF)

Demonstrations: ACF will conduct demonstrations in the following areas:

• studying the nature, scope, and effects of placement of children in kinship care arrangements, pre-adoptive or adoptive homes.
• studying the effectiveness of increasing services in support of adoption for minority children in foster care, with special emphasis on the recruitment of minority families.
• studying the efficacy of states contracting with public or private non-private agencies for effective placement of children in foster care (including community-based and other organizations).

CHILD ABUSE DISCRETIONARY PROGRAM (ACF)

Research: ACF will provide research grants to:

• examine investigative, administrative, and judicial procedures.
• report and analyze the national incidence of child abuse and neglect.
• study the causes, prevention, identification, and treatment of child abuse and neglect.

Demonstrations: ACF will fund demonstration grants to identify promising programs of prevention and treatment; and support a broad range of community-based prevention and service improvement projects.

INDEPENDENT LIVING (ACF)

Evaluations: The Independent Living Program provides services to foster children under 18 and former foster youth (18-21) to help them make the transition to independent living by engaging in a variety of services. ACF will examine the impact of services, looking specifically at educational assistance, career exploration, vocational training, job placement, life skills training, home management, health services, substance abuse prevention, preventive health activities, and room and board.

PROMOTING SAFE AND STABLE FAMILIES (ACF)

Research: These funds will be used to examine the effects of efforts related to family preservation and support activities, e.g. protecting them from abuse and neglect in their homes, providing children with permanency and stability in their living situations, minimizing disruptions to the continuity of family and other relationships, and provision of time-limited family reunification services.

Evaluations: These funds will be used to continue to assess the impact of family preservation and support activities on children and families.

RUNAWAY AND HOMELESS YOUTH BASIC CENTER PROGRAM (ACF)

Demonstrations: These funds will be used to continue State Youth Development Collaboration Demonstration grants to develop and support innovative youth development strategies within States and at the interfaces of Federal, State, local, and private programming.

CHILD WELFARE STUDY (ACF)

Research: The national longitudinal random sample study of child welfare required by law initiated in FY 1997 will continue in FY 2003. This study will examine the course of child abuse and neglect cases over time, the systems that serve families and their children, the services they receive, out-of-home placement experiences, and outcomes. Studies concerning structural decision-making and system dynamics, the services provided for families and children and their effectiveness, and capacity building to promote policy and practice-based research are planned.

3 — For FY 2001 and 2002, $6 million for the Child Welfare Study was included in the Social Services Research and Demonstration Fund.