§12337 State coordination of services

Summary

The federal Commissioner gives formula grants to states to help them better coordinate services for children, youth, and families. The state governor must send a plan that shows a designated independent state body will get different agencies to work together on planning, financing, intake, and service delivery. The plan must be based on a current needs study (like a “State of the Child” report) with data on things such as age, sex, race, where young people live, homelessness, family makeup, income and poverty, out-of-home care, health, violence, school and work connection, dropout rates, and community conditions. The plan must also promise fair chances for every area to get funds, public input, an inventory of services, regular reports and evaluations, proper financial controls, and training or technical help. The state must put in place required supportive services. States may use grant money to pay some administrative costs, such as plan writing, helping local areas, evaluating projects, collecting and sharing data, and short-term staff training. These funds must add to other money already spent (not replace it) and cannot be used to meet matching rules for other federal programs. If a state will apply for a related grant for the same year, its application must explain family resource and support plans and how it will coordinate all the funds.