Title 42, The Public Health and WelfareRelease 119-110
§629a Definitions
Title 42 › CHAPTER 7 — SOCIAL SECURITY › SUBCHAPTER IV — GRANTS TO STATES FOR AID AND SERVICES TO NEEDY FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN AND FOR CHILD-WELFARE SERVICES › Part B — Child and Family Services › subpart 2 — promoting safe and stable families › § 629a
Summary
Defines the words used for programs that help children, youth, and families who are at risk or in crisis. It explains what kinds of services count and who the main players are. "Family preservation services" covers eight types of help, like getting children back home when safe, placing them safely for adoption or guardianship, programs to prevent foster care, follow-up care after a return, short breaks for caregivers, parenting-skill help, infant safe-haven options, peer mentoring, and short-term crisis aid for things like housing, utilities, food, or transport. "Family support services" are community-based help (often from family resource centers) that aim to keep kids safe, strengthen families (including foster, kinship, and adoptive), support foster parents, build parenting skills, give stable homes, improve parental relationships, and help child development. "State agency" means the state office that runs the program. "State" also includes an Indian tribe or tribal organization. "Indian tribe" and "tribal organization" use the meanings in section 628(d). "Family reunification services" are help given when a child is removed or when a child returns home; they include counseling, substance abuse and mental-health treatment, domestic-violence help, temporary child care, peer support, help with visits, and transportation, and they are available only during the 15-month period after a child is returned home. "Adoption promotion and support services" are activities to encourage and help adoptions from foster care, including pre- and post-adoptive help. "Non-Federal funds" means state funds, or state plus local funds if the state chooses. A "family resource center" is a local school- or community-based hub that offers low-cost, family-focused support and peer help; spending for these centers can count under several service categories if it fits the purpose. "Youth" means anyone under 26 years old. "Mentoring" means a managed program that pairs a child with a screened, trained adult for regular one-on-one support. The programs may use an electronic portal, but the portal must not keep or share a person's identifiable information without consent or for anything other than a referral.
Full Legal Text
Title 42, §629a
The Public Health and Welfare, Source: USLM XML via OLRC
(a)In general
As used in this subpart:
(1)Family preservation services
The term “family preservation services” means services for children, youth, and families designed to help families (including kinship and adoptive families) at risk or in crisis, including—
(A)service programs designed to help children—
(i)where safe and appropriate, return to families from which they have been removed; or
(ii)be placed for adoption, with a legal guardian, or, if adoption or legal guardianship is determined not to be safe and appropriate for a child, in some other planned, permanent living arrangement;
(B)preplacement preventive services programs, such as intensive family preservation programs, designed to help children at risk of foster care placement remain safely with their families;
(C)service programs designed to provide followup care to families to whom a child has been returned after a foster care placement;
(D)respite care of children to provide temporary relief for parents, kinship caregivers, and foster parents;
(E)services designed to improve parenting skills (by reinforcing parents’ confidence in their strengths, and helping them to identify where improvement is needed and to obtain assistance in improving those skills) with respect to matters such as child development, family budgeting, coping with stress, health, and nutrition;
(F)infant safe haven programs to provide a way for a parent to safely relinquish a newborn infant at a safe haven designated pursuant to a State law;
(G)(i)peer-to-peer mentoring and support programs with demonstrated experience fostering constructive relationships between children and families and mentors with relevant lived experience or interactions with the child welfare system; and
(ii)for purposes of this subpart, an expenditure for a service described in clause (i) may be treated as an expenditure for any 1 or more of family support services, family preservation services, family reunification services, or adoption promotion and support services, as long as the expenditure is related to serving the children and families in the specified category and consistent with the overall purpose of the category; and
(H)(i)services providing nonrecurring short term benefits (including supports related to housing instability, utilities, transportation, and food assistance, among other basic needs) that address immediate needs related to a specific crisis, situation, or event affecting the ability of a child to remain in a home established for the child that is not intended to meet an ongoing need; and
(ii)for purposes of this subpart, an expenditure for a service described in clause (i) may be treated as an expenditure for any 1 or more of family support services, family preservation services, family reunification services, or adoption promotion and support services as long as the expenditure is related to serving the children and families in the specified category and consistent with the overall purpose of the category.
(2)Family support services
(A)In general
The term “family support services” means community-based services, including services provided by family resource centers, designed to carry out the purposes described in subparagraph (B).
(B)Purposes described
The purposes described in this subparagraph are the following:
(i)To promote the safety and well-being of children, youth, and families.
(ii)To increase the strength and stability of families (including adoptive, foster, and kinship families).
(iii)To support and retain foster families so they can provide quality family-based settings for children in foster care.
(iv)To increase parents’ confidence and competence in their parenting abilities.
(v)To afford children a safe, stable, and supportive family environment.
(vi)To strengthen parental relationships and promote healthy marriages.
(vii)To enhance child development, including through mentoring.
(3)State agency
The term “State agency” means the State agency responsible for administering the program under subpart 1.
(4)State
The term “State” includes an Indian tribe or tribal organization, in addition to the meaning given such term for purposes of subpart 1.
(5)Indian tribe
The term “Indian tribe” has the meaning given the term in section 628(d) of this title.
(6)Tribal organization
The term “tribal organization” has the meaning given the term in section 628(d) of this title.
(7)Family reunification services
(A)In general
The term “family reunification services” means the services and activities described in subparagraph (B) that are provided to a child that is removed from the child’s home and placed with kinship caregivers or in a foster family home or a child care institution or a child who has been returned home and to the parents or primary caregiver of such a child, in order to facilitate the reunification of the child safely and appropriately within a timely fashion and to ensure the strength and stability of the reunification. In the case of a child who has been returned home, the services and activities shall only be provided during the 15-month period that begins on the date that the child returns home.
(B)Services and activities described
The services and activities described in this subparagraph are the following:
(i)Individual, group, and family counseling.
(ii)Inpatient, residential, or outpatient substance abuse treatment services.
(iii)Mental health services.
(iv)Assistance to address domestic violence.
(v)Services designed to provide temporary child care and therapeutic services for families, including crisis nurseries.
(vi)Peer-to-peer mentoring and support groups for parents and primary caregivers.
(vii)Services and activities designed to facilitate access to and visitation of children by parents and siblings.
(viii)Transportation to or from any of the services and activities described in this subparagraph.
(8)Adoption promotion and support services
The term “adoption promotion and support services” means services and activities designed to encourage more adoptions out of the foster care system, when adoptions promote the best interests of children, including such activities as pre- and post-adoptive services and activities designed to expedite the adoption process and support adoptive families.
(9)Non-Federal funds
The term “non-Federal funds” means State funds, or at the option of a State, State and local funds.
(10)Family resource center
(A)In general
The term “family resource center” means a community or school-based hub of support services for families that—
(i)utilizes an approach that is multi-generational, strengths-based, and family-centered;
(ii)reflects, and is responsive to, community needs and interests;
(iii)provides support at no or low cost for participants; and
(iv)builds communities of peer support for families, including kinship families, to develop social connections that reduce isolation and stress.
(B)Special rule
For purposes of this subpart, an expenditure for a service provided by a family resource center may be treated as an expenditure for any 1 or more of family support services, family preservation services, family reunification services, or adoption promotion and support services as long as the expenditure is related to serving the children and families in the specified category and consistent with the overall purpose of the category.
(11)Youth
The term “youth” means an individual who has not attained 26 years of age.
(12)Mentoring
The term “mentoring” means a structured, managed program in which children are appropriately matched with screened and trained adult volunteers for one on-one relationships, involving meetings and activities on a regular basis, intended to meet, in part, the child’s need for involvement with a caring and supportive adult who provides a positive role model.
(b)Other terms
For other definitions of other terms used in this subpart, see section 675 of this title.
(c)Use of technology
(1)Use of portal
The services referred to in subsection (a) may include the means of access to and use of an electronic or digital portal to facilitate the provision of community support to care for and meet specific needs of families and children.
(2)Limitation
Such a portal shall not retain or share personally identifiable information about a beneficiary without consent or for any purpose other than referral.
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Editorial Notes
Prior Provisions
A prior section 431 of act Aug. 14, 1935, was classified to section 631 of this title prior to repeal by Pub. L. 100–485.
Amendments
2025—Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 118–258, § 110(a)(1)(A), substituted “children, youth,” for “children” and “kinship and adoptive” for “adoptive and extended” in introductory provisions. Subsec. (a)(1)(D). Pub. L. 118–258, § 110(a)(1)(B), substituted “parents, kinship caregivers, and foster parents” for “parents and other caregivers (including foster parents)”. Subsec. (a)(1)(G). Pub. L. 118–258, § 110(a)(1)(C)–(E), added subpar. (G). Subsec. (a)(1)(H). Pub. L. 118–258, § 111(a), added subpar. (H). Subsec. (a)(2)(A). Pub. L. 118–258, § 106(b)(1), inserted “, including services provided by family resource centers,” before “designed”. Subsec. (a)(2)(B)(i). Pub. L. 118–258, § 110(a)(2)(A), substituted “children, youth,” for “children”. Subsec. (a)(2)(B)(ii). Pub. L. 118–258, § 110(a)(2)(B), substituted “kinship” for “extended”. Subsec. (a)(2)(B)(vii). Pub. L. 118–258, § 113(b)(1), struck out “(as defined in section 629i(b)(2) of this title)” after “through mentoring”. Subsec. (a)(5), (6). Pub. L. 118–258, § 107(a)(3)(B), substituted “628(d) of this title” for “628(c) of this title”. Subsec. (a)(7)(A). Pub. L. 118–258, § 110(a)(3), inserted “with kinship caregivers or” before “in a foster family home”. Subsec. (a)(10). Pub. L. 118–258, § 106(b)(2), added par. (10). Subsec. (a)(11). Pub. L. 118–258, § 110(a)(4), added par. (11). Subsec. (a)(12). Pub. L. 118–258, § 113(b)(2), added par. (12). Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 118–258, § 106(a), added subsec. (c). 2018—Subsec. (a)(2)(B)(iii) to (vii). Pub. L. 115–123, § 50751(a), added cl. (iii) and redesignated former cls. (iii) to (vi) as (iv) to (vii), respectively. Subsec. (a)(7). Pub. L. 115–123, § 50721(a)(1), substituted “Family” for “Time-limited family” in heading. Subsec. (a)(7)(A). Pub. L. 115–123, § 50721(a)(2), struck out “time-limited” before “family reunification”, inserted “or a child who has been returned home” after “child care institution”, and substituted “and to ensure the strength and stability of the reunification. In the case of a child who has been returned home, the services and activities shall only be provided during the 15-month period that begins on the date that the child returns home” for “, but only during the 15-month period that begins on the date that the child, pursuant to section 675(5)(F) of this title, is considered to have entered foster care”. 2011—Subsec. (a)(2). Pub. L. 112–34, § 102(c)(1), amended par. (2) generally. Prior to amendment, text read as follows: “The term ‘family support services’ means community-based services to promote the safety and well-being of children and families designed to increase the strength and stability of families (including adoptive, foster, and extended families), to increase parents’ confidence and competence in their parenting abilities, to afford children a safe, stable, and supportive family environment, to strengthen parental relationships and promote healthy marriages, and otherwise to enhance child development.” Subsec. (a)(5), (6). Pub. L. 112–34, § 102(d), added pars. (5) and (6) and struck out former pars. (5) and (6) which read as follows: “(5) Tribal organization.—The term ‘tribal organization’ means the recognized governing body of any Indian tribe. “(6) Indian tribe.—The term ‘Indian tribe’ means any Indian tribe (as defined in section 682(i)(5) of this title, as in effect before
August 22, 1996) and any Alaska Native organization (as defined in section 682(i)(7)(A) of this title, as so in effect).” Subsec. (a)(7)(B)(vi) to (viii). Pub. L. 112–34, § 102(c)(2), added cls. (vi) and (vii) and redesignated former cl. (vi) as (viii). 2006—Subsec. (a)(6). Pub. L. 109–288 substituted “1996” for “1986”. 2002—Subsec. (a)(1)(F). Pub. L. 107–133, § 102(a), added subpar. (F). Subsec. (a)(2). Pub. L. 107–133, § 102(b), inserted “to strengthen parental relationships and promote healthy marriages,” after “environment,”. 1999—Subsec. (a)(6). Pub. L. 106–169 inserted “, as in effect before
August 22, 1986” after “682(i)(5) of this title” and “, as so in effect” after “682(i)(7)(A) of this title”. 1997—Subsec. (a)(1)(A). Pub. L. 105–89, § 305(c)(2)(A)(i), inserted “safe and” before “appropriate” in cls. (i) and (ii). Subsec. (a)(1)(B). Pub. L. 105–89, § 305(c)(2)(A)(ii), inserted “safely” after “remain”. Subsec. (a)(2). Pub. L. 105–89, § 305(c)(2)(B), inserted “safety and” before “well-being of children” and substituted “safe, stable, and supportive family” for “stable and supportive family”. Subsec. (a)(7), (8). Pub. L. 105–89, § 305(b)(2), added pars. (7) and (8). Subsec. (a)(9). Pub. L. 105–89, § 305(d)(1), added par. (9).
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date
of 2025 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 118–258 effective Oct. 1, 2025, and applicable to payments under this part for calendar quarters beginning on or after such date, with delay permitted if either State legislation or tribal action is required to meet additional requirements, see section 117 of Pub. L. 118–258, set out as a note under section 622 of this title.
Effective Date
of 2018 AmendmentAmendment by section 50721(a) of Pub. L. 115–123 effective Oct. 1, 2018, subject to transition rules for required State legislation or tribal action, see section 50734 of Pub. L. 115–123, set out as a note under section 622 of this title.
Effective Date
of 2011 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 112–34 effective Oct. 1, 2011, and applicable to payments under this part and part E of this subchapter for calendar quarters beginning on or after such date, without regard to whether implementing
Regulations
have been promulgated, and with delay permitted if State legislation is required to meet additional requirements, see section 107 of Pub. L. 112–34, set out as a note under section 622 of this title.
Effective Date
of 2006 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 109–288 effective Oct. 1, 2006, and applicable to payments under this part and part E of this subchapter for calendar quarters beginning on or after such date, without regard to whether implementing
Regulations
have been promulgated, and with delay permitted if State legislation is required to meet additional requirements, see section 12(a), (b) of Pub. L. 109–288, set out as a note under section 621 of this title.
Effective Date
of 2002 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 107–133 effective Jan. 17, 2002, with delay permitted if State legislation is required, see section 301 of Pub. L. 107–133, set out as a note under section 629 of this title.
Effective Date
of 1999 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 106–169 effective as if included in the enactment of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996, Pub. L. 104–193, see section 401(q) of Pub. L. 106–169, set out as a note under section 602 of this title.
Effective Date
of 1997 AmendmentAmendment by section 305(b)(2), (c)(2) of Pub. L. 105–89 effective Nov. 19, 1997, except as otherwise provided, with delay permitted if State legislation is required, see section 501 of Pub. L. 105–89, set out as a note under section 622 of this title. Pub. L. 105–89, title III, § 305(d)(2), Nov. 19, 1997, 111 Stat. 2132, provided that: “The amendment made by paragraph (1) [amending this section] takes effect as if included in the enactment of section 13711 of the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1993 (Public Law 103–33 [103–66]; 107 Stat. 649).”
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
42 U.S.C. § 629a
Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare
Last Updated
Sep 22, 2026
Release point: 119-110