Detailed Information on the
Adoption Assistance Assessment

Identifying barriers to increasing the proportion of foster care children receiving adoption assistance.

Completing another risk assessment using Office of Management and Budget approved criteria in order to identify if additional steps are needed to address the issue of erroneous payments.

Meet standards for low risk status through annual OMB financial risk assessment procedures.

Completing another risk assessment using Office of Management and Budget approved criteria in order to identify if additional steps are needed to address the issue of erroneous payments. Milestone: Monitor adoption assistance-related eligibility criteria through the title IV-E foster care eligibility reviews.

Measure: Increase the adoption rate.

Explanation:The adoption rate is calculated from the annual number of adoptions divided by the number of children in foster care at the end of the prior year.

Measure: To reduce the proportion of children with IV-E Adoption Assistance who experience a displaced adoption and return to the foster care system.

Explanation:This is a developmental, long-term measure that assesses the number of adoptions that fail, thus resulting in a child's re-entry into foster care. Adoptive displacement occurs when a child who has been previously adopted from foster care later re-enters foster care.

Measure: To maintain or decrease the average administrative claim per IV-E Adoption Assistance child.

Explanation:This efficiency measure sets annual targets to demonstrate improved efficiency through a gradual reduction in the average administrative claim per IV-E Adoption Assistance child. This is calculated by total computable claims submitted by states on the IV-E-1 for administrative costs divided by the average monthly number of children receiving Adoption Assistance maintenance payments.

Is the program purpose clear?

Explanation: The title IV-E (of the Social Security Act) Adoption Assistance Program has a clear and specific legislative mandate. The specific program purposes are to: provide funds to states for adoption assistance agreements with parents who adopt children with special needs; promote recruitment of adoptive parents to encourage adoption of low-income children with substantial physical, emotional and mental needs. The Adoption Assistance program was created by Congress under the Adoption Assistance and Child Welfare Act of 1980 (P.L. 96-272). It provides funds to states for adoption assistance agreements with parents who adopt eligible children with special needs. A child with special needs is defined as a child who the state has determined cannot or should not be returned home and has a specific factor or condition, as defined by the State, because of which it is reasonable to conclude that the child cannot be adopted without financial or medical assistance (42 USC 673 (a)(2)).

Evidence: Section 470 of the Social Security Act (attached) sets forth the purpose of the adoption assistance program. The June 13, 1980 Senate final conference report on the enacted bill (HR 3434) (attached) represented bipartisan agreement on the bill's provisions. The plain language in this conference report indicates that Congress was interested in facilitating the adoption of "hard-to-place children who might otherwise remain in foster care indefinitely." The Committee received testimony documenting the benefits of an adoption assistance program in providing a permanent home and family for children. Moreover, creation of a Federal adoption assistance program results in savings for both the Federal government and the States. Children who are adopted are discharged from foster care thus ending costs related to case management, court appearances and the like that continue throughout the life of a foster care placement.

Does the program address a specific and existing problem, interest, or need?

Explanation: 2003 AFCARS data indicate that 118,000 children in foster care are waiting to be adopted. On average, these children have been in foster care in this waiting status 45 months. While a significant improvement from 2002 in which 126,000 children were waiting to be adopted, a great need to further reduce the number of children in care who are waiting to be adopted still exists. The title IV-E foster adoption assistance program provides funds to states to assist with the costs of nonrecurring adoption expenses incurred by or on behalf of adoptive parents in connection with the adoption of such child, and assistance payments to the adoptive parents to address the ongoing needs of the children they adopt. Empirical research and child development theory emphasize that the best place for children to be raised is in a family environment. Outcome studies have consistently shown that permanent placements, such as adoption, provide for better outcomes for children.

Evidence: - CB briefing material "Trends in Foster Care and Adoption 2000 - 2004" www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/cb/stats_research/afcars/trends.htm

Is the program designed so that it is not redundant or duplicative of any other Federal, state, local or private effort?

Explanation: The Children's Bureau administers eight Federal/state programs, including Adoption Assistance, that fund the range of services in child welfare from early intervention/prevention through after care for those children who enter and are discharged from foster care. While each program has a unique purpose, the eight programs blend efficiently to fund the continuum of care in child welfare. The Adoption Assistance program is targeted at low-income, AFDC or SSI eligible, children with special needs who are currently placed in foster care. It is unique in this regard in that it's focus is on children with special needs who might otherwise languish in foster care without the opportunity for placement in a permanent home. While other Federal programs exist to increase the number of adoptions across the country (e.g., adoption incentive payments, adoption tax credit), none of them provide direct, ongoing support to adoptive parents on behalf of low-income special needs children.

Evidence: No other Federal program of a similar nature exists. At the state level, the program is not, by design, duplicative. Title IV-E reimburses a portion of state's costs only for those children who meet its eligibility requirements. State child welfare agencies have statutory authority and responsibility to implement the program to provide permanent homes for children in foster care. This authority does not exist in the private sector. Federal/State child welfare programs: www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/cb/programs/state.htm

Is the program design free of major flaws that would limit the program's effectiveness or efficiency?

Explanation: Historically, many children, especially those who were difficult to place into permanent homes because of medical disabilities, etc., were considered to be ""unadoptable"" and languished in foster care. The Adoption Assistance and Child Welfare Act of 1980 was a significant landmark in supporting permanency for these children. It required all States to establish an adoption subsidy program and provided Federal dollars to support a portion of adoption subsidy payments for children. Subsidy programs enable an entire population of families to consider special needs adoption. As a result, thousands of children have grown up in permanent, loving homes During FY 2003, approximately 315,000 children received Title IV-E adoption assistance.

Evidence: Section 473 of the Social Security Act CB Briefing Material "Trends in Foster Care and Adoption"

Is the program design effectively targeted so that resources will address the program's purpose directly and will reach intended beneficiaries?

Explanation: The children with the greatest need stand to gain the most as a result of this program's design. The program is effectively targeted to ensure that the intended beneficiaries receive the appropriate resources. The statute at section 473(a) clearly lays out the child eligibility requirements that will result in an adoption assistance payment, the purposes of which (food, clothing, shelter, etc.) are also clearly defined in statute. ACF has initiated several different approaches to ensure that states' programs impact the families they are intended to: ?? It intermittently examines states' statutes, policies, and procedures through the review of their title IV-E state plans to ascertain that they comply with Federal statutory and regulatory provisions. ?? An Adoption Assistance Eligibility Checklist has been developed for use by ACF Regional Office staff to ascertain that adoption subsidies are being provided to adoptive parents on behalf of eligible children. ?? A large body of policy provides instruction in the appropriate operation of the program.

Evidence:  Social Security Act, sections 473(a) and 475(3)  45 CFR 1356.40, 1356.41.  The number of children receiving Title IV-E adoption assistance is: Fiscal Year Number of New Children Total Average Number of Receiving Title IV-E AA Children Receiving Title IV-E AA per month 1998 26,215 168,400 1999 34,929 195,200 2000 38,061 228,300 2001 37,658 257,800 2002 38,696 285,600 2003 33,974 314,700  Child Welfare Policy Manual: www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/cb/laws/cwpm/policy.jsp?id=8  Program Instruction ACYF-CB-PI-01-06 and section 4 (Adoption Assistance) of the Attachment  Draft Adoption Assistance compliance tool  Policy Announcement ACYF-CB-PA-01-01

Does the program have a limited number of specific long-term performance measures that focus on outcomes and meaningfully reflect the purpose of the program?

Explanation: The Adoption Assistance program has two fundamental purposes: 1) to promote and encourage the adoption of special needs children from the foster care system and 2) to provide the supports necessary to incorporate former foster children into their adoptive families and maintain the healthy functioning of those placed.

Evidence: Increase the proportion of IV-E children in foster care who are adopted. Reduce the proportion of children with IV-E Adoption Assistance who experience a displaced adoption. Decrease the average administrative claim per IV-E Adoption Assistance child.

Does the program have ambitious targets and timeframes for its long-term measures?

Explanation: The proposed targets would increase the proportion of foster care children adopted, but because of declining numbers of children in foster care would maintain the total number of adoptions at current levels. This measure is not ambitious. The first measure uses GPRA performance measures to examine the amount of children adopted per year. The target is to achieve 292,000 adoptions by 2008. The original target for this long-term measure was set through the FY 2005 PART of the Foster Care program. The estimated total number of adoptions to be finalized from FY 2003 to FY 2008 has been reduced from 327,000 to 292,000. A second developmental measure is to determine the number of children who were previously adopted who experience a displacement in the adoption and return to the foster care system."The first measure uses GPRA performance measures to examine the amount of children adopted per year. The target is to achieve 292,000 adoptions by 2008. The original target for this long-term measure was set through the FY 2005 PART of the Foster Care program. The estimated total number of adoptions to be finalized from FY 2003 to FY 2008 has been reduced from 327,000 to 292,000. A second developmental measure is to determine the number of children who were previously adopted who experience a displacement in the adoption and return to the foster care system. Please refer to PART memo for further explanation. "

Evidence: First measure: AFCARS data are continually being analyzed to determine what the trends are for the children in the foster care system. Analyses of these data have shown that since FY 1999, the number of children in foster care declined by an average of 2% per year, the average age of children waiting to be adopted has increased byetween FY 1999 and FY 2003 by almost 1 year, and since FY 2000, the number of children waiting for adoption has been declining by an average of 5% per year (see table in PART memo). Second measure: Again, using AFCARS will determine progress here.

Does the program have a limited number of specific annual performance measures that can demonstrate progress toward achieving the program's long-term goals?

Explanation: The most appropriate method for measuring progress toward the long-term measures is by setting annual targets, therefore, the same measures are used for both long-term goals and short term targets.

Evidence: Increase the proportion of IV-E foster care children who are adopted. Decrease the proportion of children with IV-E Adoption Assistance who experience a displaced adoption. Decrease the average administrative claim per IV-E Adoption Assistance child.

Does the program have baselines and ambitious targets for its annual measures?

Explanation: Annual targets specifically track performance toward meeting the long-term goal so no additional annual measures are necessary. However, these targets could be more ambitious. The data are monitored through AFCARS and GPRA reporting to assess progress toward meeting the annual targets. Please see the Measures tab.

Evidence: "For long-term performance measure 1, the baseline and targets are as follows: Fiscal Year Cumulative Target Actual 2003 50,000 50,000 2004 100,000 2005 149,000 2006 197,000 2007 245,000 2008 292,000 "

Do all partners (including grantees, sub-grantees, contractors, cost-sharing partners, and other government partners) commit to and work toward the annual and/or long-term goals of the program?

Explanation: All partners are committed to the goals of the Adoption Assistance program. All states support program planning efforts. The Child Welfare Outcomes reports depict the performance of states on seven national child welfare outcomes (including adoption outcomes) developed by the Department's Administration for Children and Families in consultation with State and local child welfare agency administrators and other experts in the child welfare field. States also participate in the Child & Family Services Reviews (CFSRs). The CFSR is the results-oriented, comprehensive monitoring system implemented in fiscal year 2001. The CFSR examines state child welfare system operations. States submit adoption data semi-annually to ACF as well as intermittently between required submissions to ensure an accurate count of finalized adoptions. Baselines are set for each state as targets which enable them to receive adoption incentive payments. The ACF Regional Office (RO) program staff is responsible for providing program guidance to the state Adoption Assistance program.

Evidence: "Child Welfare Outcomes 2001: Annual Report (http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/cb/publications/cwo01/) Child and Family Services Reviews and Title IV-E Eligibility Reviews (http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/cb/cwrp/index.htm) ACF -FY 2006 Congressional Justification (http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/olab/budget/2006/cj2006/cj2006.html)"

Are independent evaluations of sufficient scope and quality conducted on a regular basis or as needed to support program improvements and evaluate effectiveness and relevance to the problem, interest, or need?

Explanation: ASPE and outside organizations have done evaluations of the Adoption Assistance program (see a sample listed in evidence). Also, States regularly submit data to the Children's Bureau through AFCARS, and the Children's Bureau uses this data to support program improvements and monitor program effectiveness. However, the Children's Bureau does not conduct regular evaluations of the Adoption Assistance program sufficient to meet the PART standards for evaluation.

Evidence: Adoption Assistance: Impact and Outcomes Assessing the Field of Post-Adoption Services: Family Needs, Program Models, and Evaluation Issues: Analysis of Secondary Data aspe.hhs.gov/hsp/post-adoption01/data-analysis/ Understanding Adoption Subsidies: An Analysis of AFCARS Data aspe.hhs.gov/hsp/05/adoption-subsidies/index.htm What's Working For Children: A Policy Study of Adoption Stability and Termination www.adoptioninstitute.org/publications/2004_disruption_report.html (also available from the National Adoption Information Clearinghouse: naic.acf.hhs.gov/profess/admin/works/index.cfm)

Are Budget requests explicitly tied to accomplishment of the annual and long-term performance goals, and are the resource needs presented in a complete and transparent manner in the program's budget?

Explanation: Adoption Assistance is an entitlement program. The budget request is based on the adoption assistance caseload estimates, which assume that the annual targets and long-term goals will be met. For adoption, the federal government provides adoption subsidies to support adoptive parents and provides incentive funds to states that increase their number of children being adopted. In addition, the federal government provides training and technical assistance to states. The full cost of the program is accounted for through states' quarterly submission of claims utilizing the form IV-E-1. Regional staff recommend adjustments in both claims and estimates (for the next quarter) based on caseload size and historical data. ACF includes the budget request for Adoption Assistance in the annual Congressional Justification. The FY 2006 CJ is presented as a Performance Budget, with integration of budget and performance information. As new performance goals for Adoption Assistance are developed, the goals will be included in the CJ.

Evidence: FFY 2006 Congressional Justification: www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/olab/budget/2006/cj2006/cj2006.html

Has the program taken meaningful steps to correct its strategic planning deficiencies?

Explanation: 2.8 is no pending a revision of goals to make them more ambitious. The Children's Bureau has used improved data from the AFCARS to revise and develop long-term measures. The selection of these goals is based on trend data derived from the Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System (AFCARS). For further information, see questions 2.1-2.4.

Evidence:  

Does the agency regularly collect timely and credible performance information, including information from key program partners, and use it to manage the program and improve performance?

Explanation: The Children's Bureau regularly collects timely and credible performance information through AFCARS submission, the Child and Family Services Reviews (CFSRs), and State plans. The program is actively managed in accordance with legislative intent to ensure that children with the greatest need, including those in foster care, have access to a permanent home when efforts to re-unify are no longer feasible. AFCARS collects case level information on all children in foster care for whome state child welfare agencies have responsibility for placement, care or supervision and on children who are adopted under the auspices of the state's public child welfare agency. AFCARS also includes information on foster and adoptive parents. States are required to submit AFCARS data semi-annually to ACF. ACF Regional Office staff review and approve title IV-E State plans. Regional office financial management staff review quarterly expenditures and documentation supporting this data to ensure Federal funds are being provided only on behalf of eligible children and for necessary costs.

Evidence: 2003 AFCARS data CB Briefing Material: "Trends in Foster Care and Adoption." Sections 471 and 473 of the Social Security Act Examples of State CFSR Program Improvement Plans

Are Federal managers and program partners (including grantees, sub-grantees, contractors, cost-sharing partners, and other government partners) held accountable for cost, schedule and performance results?

Explanation: The Implementation Division in the Children's Bureau has responsibility for the implementation and oversight of the Adoption Assistance program in collaboration with the ACF regional offices, in accordance with ACF's Statement of Organization and Functions. Performance standards are defined in employees' performance plans. Staff EPMS plans specify relevant objectives and performance is rated accordingly. States are held accountable through the monitoring of State plan requirements, joint planning with regional offices, and regional office reviews of state quarterly exapenditure reports. The ACF Regional Offices have specific responsibility for the management and oversight of the Adoption Assistance Program.

Evidence: Children's Bureau Functional Statement Redacted Employee Performance Plans Redacted letter addressing compliance issue identified in explanation

Are funds (Federal and partners') obligated in a timely manner and spent for the intended purpose?

Explanation: Funds are obligated in a timely manner. Title IV-E is an entitlement program whereby states are reimbursed for allowable expenditures. Federal funds are only disbursed as they are claimed. It is not possible for funds to go unobligated. ACF ensures that funds are expended for intended use through state and IG audits and Regional Office assessment of claims. Funds that are expended inappropriately are disallowed. Funds are also audited annually. ACF plans on developing a tool to assist Regional Office staff in providing technical assistance to states to ensure compliance with eligibility requirements when warranted.

Evidence: Funds that are expended inappropriately are disallowed. If the disallowance is appealed and sustained, the disallowance is adjusted in a subsequent grant award sent to the state. The Children's Bureau also issues policy guidance to address inappropriate claiming issues, as evidenced by PA-01-02, attached. Other evidence includes: Form IV-E 1-State quarterly expenditure report Draft Adoption Assistance compliance tool

Does the program have procedures (e.g. competitive sourcing/cost comparisons, IT improvements, appropriate incentives) to measure and achieve efficiencies and cost effectiveness in program execution?

Explanation: To decrease the average administrative claim per IV-E Adoption Assistance child. This is calculated using the same data used to formulate budget projections. The total computable claims submitted by states on the IV-E-1 for administrative costs are divided by the average monthly number of children receiving Adoption Assistance maintenance payments. The annual targets reflect an ambitious decline of 2% from the prior year's average administrataive cost per child. The core purpose of the program is to provide the supports necessary to integrate a child into an adoptive family and reduce or remove the imvolvement of the state social service agency. If the program is functioning as intended, children and their adoptive families will receive services and supports that permit the child to fully integrate into the family and redue agency involvement thereby reducing administrative costs.

Evidence: ?? Title IV-E of the Social Security Act, Section 473A ?? Section 13713 of the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1993 (OBRA 93) (Pub. L. 10366); ?? Statewide Automated Child Welfare Information Systems (SACWIS) provisions under Title IV-E of the Social Security Act at Section 474(a)(3); 45 CFR 1356.40 and 1356.41; 45 CFR

Does the program collaborate and coordinate effectively with related programs?

Explanation: At the Federal level, the Adoption Assistance program is a critical component in the continuum of care in child welfare. As explained in 1.3, the Federal government funds eight Federal/State programs that support child welfare services from prevention through intervention in foster care or in the home to after care. Adoption Assistance is a critical support for those children in foster care who are unable to return home. The program serves to continue the services and supports that children receive in foster care once they transition to a permanent setting. It facilitates the integrity of those permanent placements so that they are sustained until the child becomes an adult. At the state level, seven systemic factors are assessed throught the CFSR which address aspects of state child welfare agency operations that are relevant to achieving the desired outcomes for children and families. One of the systemic factors is the "responsiveness of the agency to the community".

Evidence:  Federal/State Child Welfare Programs: www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/cb/programs/state.htm  Results of the Child and Family Services Reviews: www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/cb/cwrp/results.htm

Does the program use strong financial management practices?

Explanation: ACF does not currently have a method to determine whether or not there is a significant level of erroneous payments in the program. Financial management practices presently in place include annual state audits of the program, and regional office assessment and resolution of related state claims. Questioned claims may be deferred or disallowed, in accordance with applicable Federal regulations. A "partial review" may also be conducted at any time when it is discovered based on any information, regardless of the source, that a state may not be operating in conformance with state plan requirements. An inquiry to the state precedes a request for additional information that, if it confirms the non-conformity, will result in the state's having to implement a program improvement plan. Failure to successfully implement a plan will result in a financial penalty. ACF recently completed its inherent risk assessment of the Adoption Assistance program in accordance with the Improper Payments Information Act. OMB has requested that HHS reassess the criteria for assessing financial risk associated with the program. Within the CFO audit, the last material weakness declared was in FY 2000.

Evidence: Inherent Risk Assessment for Adoption Assistance

Has the program taken meaningful steps to address its management deficiencies?

Explanation: ACF is working to determine whether or not the program should take additional steps concerning erroneous payments. As a proactive measure, the Children's Bureau convenes a monthly conference call with ACF regional office program and fiscal staff to discuss management issues. Other efforts by the Children's Bureau include: ?? It intermittently examines states' statutes, policies, and procedures through the review of their title IV-E state plans to ascertain that they comply with Federal statutory and regulatory provisions. ?? An Adoption Assistance Eligibility Checklist has been developed for use by ACF Regional Office staff to ascertain that adoption subsidies are being provided to adoptive parents on behalf of eligible children. It is expected to be piloted in the very near future. ?? A large body of policy provides instruction in the appropriate operation of the program related to identifying and serving eligible children. The Children's Bureau is working to resolve with OMB the issue that the Adoption Assistance program is at a low risk for erroneous payments. This process is a resolution to 3.6. "

Evidence: Regional office staff consult with CB staff with questions and/or problems that arise within their regions. Feedback from various regions alerts central office staff to what may be a pervasive problem, enabling them to develop a response appropriate to the issue. This may be in the form of policy development and issuance, the provision of technical assistance, or the decision to defer or disallow funds on the basis of a perceived violation of Federal law or regulations. -ACYF-PA-01-01 -Child Welfare Policy Manual: www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/cb/laws/cwpm/index.jsp

Does the program have oversight practices that provide sufficient knowledge of grantee activities?

Explanation: The ACF Regional Office designates responsibility for each program among available staff, either by state or by program area. RO program staff are responsible for providing program guidance and direction to the state Adoption Assistance program. They maintain an ongoing relationship with the state Adoption Assistance program staff through various methods. Annual expenditure reports are submitted quarterly to ACF regional offices for review and approval. ACF also has in place a data collection system where states submit adoption data to ACF semi-annually through the Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting system (AFCARS). The quality of the data is assessed and each year the data continues to improve. In the CFSR process, states are evaluated for achievement of substantial conformity for systemic factors, one of which is the Statewide Information System. The CFSR findings indicated 45 states (87%) achieved substantial conformity in the item rating their statewide information systems, and 45 states (87%) were rated with a ""Strength"".

Evidence:  FY 2003 AFCARS data  CFSR Findings: www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/cb/cwrp/results.htm  Standing of AFCARS Assessment Reviews  Standing/Summary of SACWIS Assessment Reviews

Does the program collect grantee performance data on an annual basis and make it available to the public in a transparent and meaningful manner?

Explanation: Program performance is publicized in the following ways: CFSR Reports; Child Welfare Outcomes Report; AFCARS data; annual Congressional Justification; and the HHS Performance and Accountability Report (for some elements of program performance). AFCARS data is submitted semi-annually from states to ACF. States are automatically sent data quality and compliance reports to provide them with feedback on their submission. Data collected during on-site reviews are input into data bases by ACF staff for review and analysis.

Evidence: The CFSR Final Reports, Child Welfare Outcomes Report and AFCARS data reports are available on the Children's Bureau website. www.acf.dhhs.gov/programs/cb The Congressional Justification is available online: www.acf.dhhs.gov/programs/olab/budget/index.html The Performance and Accountability Report is available online: www.hhs.gov/of/reports/account/index.html

Has the program demonstrated adequate progress in achieving its long-term performance goals?

Explanation: The program is on track for meeting its long-term target. The program received a "small extent " rating because the long-term performance goal could be more ambitious. The first measure addresses the number of children adopted under title IV-E provisions. In FY2003 there were 50,000 children adopted from the public child welfare system. While the annual adoption numbers appear to have leveled off, these adoptions continue to represent a significant increase over the estimated 37,000 adoptions in FY1998. The AFCARS data indicate that ACF will achieve the long-term goal of 292,000 adoptions by FY 2008 (see attached AFCARS data showing the adoption trend). The second measure will determine the number of children who were previously adopted who experience a disruption in the adoption and return to the foster care system. "

Evidence: ?? Trends in Adoption

Does the program (including program partners) achieve its annual performance goals?

Explanation: The first measure is designed to look at the AFCARS data on title IV-E adopted children to ascertain whether the percentage of adoptions of children who qualify for title IV-E adoption assistance is maintained at the same level of the past few years through FY 2009. The target is to have a gradual increase in the adoption rate from 9.4% FY 2003 to 9.7% in FY 2008. The original goal for the number of adoptions, 327,000, was unrealistic because of changes in the foster care system and the changing demographics ( e.g., population getting older) of the foster care population. The target is being revised to 292,000 to adjust for these factors. The second measure will determine the number of previously adopted children who experience an adoptive displacement. The program received a "small extent" rating because the performance goal could be more ambitious.

Evidence: Based on the revised numbers, the target for annual number of adoptions was met. Please see PART memo for table.

Does the program demonstrate improved efficiencies or cost effectiveness in achieving program goals each year?

Explanation: The annual targets reflect an ambitious decline of 2% from the prior year's average administrative cost per child.

Evidence: "2001-$1,951 2002-$1,833 2003-$1,678 2004-$1,631 estimate 2005-$1,598 goal 2006-$1,566 goal 2007-$1,535 goal"

Does the performance of this program compare favorably to other programs, including government, private, etc., with similar purpose and goals?

Explanation: "There are studies that demonstrate the benifits of Adoption Assistance (see studies cited in 1.2). There are benefits to children in achieving permanancy with this program, and it is a less expensive program when compared to foster care. As such, its performance compares favorably to and often exceeds that of the others. The program is also at a lower risk of erroneous payments when compared to the federal foster care maintenance payments program and Medicaid, for example. The Children's Bureau was required to conduct a risk assessment of the Adoption Assistance program in accordance with the Improper Payments Information Act while foster care maintenance payments and Medicaid were immediately required to report error rates and develop corrective action plans to reduce those rates. The Adoption Assistance program's performance related to meeting performance measures is comparable to or exceeds that of the other entitlements. Adoption Assistance targets have been met in recent years as have those for the Federal foster care program. "

Evidence: "?? 2006 Congressional Justifications ?? Performance and Accountability Report (PAR) page I.38 lists the programs identified in the OMB circular A-11for HHS erroneous payments reporting www.hhs.gov/of/library/par04/pdfmenu/ ?? OMB circular A-11 citation for Section 57 - Erroneous Payments www.whitehouse.gov/omb/circulars/a11/2002/S57.pdf Studies cited in 1.2 of PART memo. "

Do independent evaluations of sufficient scope and quality indicate that the program is effective and achieving results?

Explanation: "The study Understanding Adoption Subsidies: An Analysis of AFCARS Data (see 2.6) shows significant correlations between the percent of children who received an adoption subsidy and the rate of adoptions among eligible children. The percent of children receiving any subsidy was, in turn, significantly correlated with the percent of children for whom a federal IV-E subsidy was used. This suggests that adoption assistance under Title IV-E expands states' ability to offer adoption subsidies, rather than substituting for subsidies that would otherwise be supported by state funds. The available data in the Adoption Institute study (see 2.6) showed termination rates are indeed low, but that capability to collect outcome data on adoption placements and finalized adoptions varied widely in the states. Even when outcome data were available, officials conceded their numbers may not accurately reflect disrupted and dissolved adoptions in their states. "

Evidence: Understanding Adoption Subsidies: An Analysis of AFCARS Data (see 2.6)