Notice2026-03445
Proposed Information Collection Activity; Case Plan Requirement, Title IV-E of the Social Security Act
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
February 23, 2026
Issuing agencies
Health and Human Services DepartmentChildren and Families Administration
Abstract
The Administration for Children and Families (ACF) is requesting a 3-year extension of the information collection Case Plan Requirement, Title IV-E of the Social Security Act, (Office of Management and Budget (OMB) #0970-0428, expiration September 30, 2026). There are no changes to the requirements, but burden estimates have been updated to reflect a reduction in average time to complete a case plan and the current numbers of children in foster care.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 35 (Monday, February 23, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 35 (Monday, February 23, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Page 8493]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-03445]
[[Page 8493]]
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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Administration for Children and Families
[Office of Management and Budget #: 0970-0428]
Proposed Information Collection Activity; Case Plan Requirement,
Title IV-E of the Social Security Act
AGENCY: Children's Bureau, Administration for Children and Families,
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
ACTION: Request for public comments.
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SUMMARY: The Administration for Children and Families (ACF) is
requesting a 3-year extension of the information collection Case Plan
Requirement, Title IV-E of the Social Security Act, (Office of
Management and Budget (OMB) #0970-0428, expiration September 30, 2026).
There are no changes to the requirements, but burden estimates have
been updated to reflect a reduction in average time to complete a case
plan and the current numbers of children in foster care.
DATES: Comments due April 24, 2026.
ADDRESSES: In compliance with the requirements of the Paperwork
Reduction Act of 1995, ACF is soliciting public comment on the specific
aspects of the information collection described above. You can obtain
copies of the proposed collection of information and submit comments by
emailing <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#2b42454d44484447474e485f4244456b4a484d05434358054c445d"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="127b7c747d717d7e7e7771667b7d7c527371743c7a7a613c757d64">[email protected]</span></a>. Identify all requests by the title
of the information collection.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Description: The case plan information collection is authorized in
sections 422(b)(8)(A)(ii) and 471(a)(16), and defined in sections 475
and 475A of the Social Security Act (the Act). Statutory requirements
in the Act mandate that states, territories, and tribes with an
approved title IV-E plan develop a case review system and case plan for
each child in the foster care system for whom the state, territory, or
tribe receives title IV-E reimbursement of foster care maintenance
payments. The case review system assures that each child has a case
plan designed to achieve placement in a safe setting that is the least
restrictive, most family-like setting available and near the child's
parental home, consistent with the best interest and special needs of
the child. States, territories, and tribes meeting these requirements
also partly comply with title IV-B, section 422(b), of the Act, which
assures certain protections for children in foster care. The case plan
is a written document that provides a narrative description of the
child-specific program of care. Federal regulations at 45 CFR
1356.21(g) and sections 475 and 475A of the Act delineate the specific
information that must be addressed in the case plan. ACF does not
specify a format for the case plan nor does ACF require submission of
the document to the federal government. Case plan information is
recorded in a format developed and maintained by the state,
territorial, or tribal title IV-E agency.
Respondents: State, territorial, and tribal title IV-E agencies.
Annual Burden Estimates: Burden estimates have been adjusted to
reflect one additional title IV-E agency, a decrease in average hours
to complete a case plan due to technology, fewer children entering
foster care, and an increased number of children exiting foster care.
Overall, the estimated annual burden has decreased by about 32 percent.
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Total number of Average burden
Instrument Total number of responses per hours per Total burden Annual burden
respondents respondent response hours hours
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Case Plan Requirement.............................................. 67 19,490 3.8 4,962,154 1,654,051
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Comments: The Department specifically requests comments on (a)
whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the
proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether
the information shall have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the
agency's estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of
information; (c) the quality, utility, and clarity of the information
to be collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the collection
of information on respondents, including through the use of automated
collection techniques or other forms of information technology.
Consideration will be given to comments and suggestions submitted
within 60 days of this publication.
Authority: 42 U.S.C. 622; 42 U.S.C. 671; 42 U.S.C. 675; 42 U.S.C.
675a.
Mary C. Jones,
ACF/OPRE Certifying Officer.
[FR Doc. 2026-03445 Filed 2-20-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4184-01-P
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</html>Indexed from Federal Register on February 23, 2026.
This is legal information, not legal advice. Laws vary by jurisdiction and change frequently. Always verify current law with official sources and consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction for advice on your specific situation.