TO: State and Tribal Agencies Administering or Supervising the Administration of Title IV-E of the Social Security Act

SUBJECT: Transitional Payments for the Title IV-E Kinship Navigator Programs

LEGAL AND RELATED REFERENCES: Section 474(a)(7) of the Social Security Act (the Act); ACYF-CB-PI-18-11

PURPOSE: To instruct title IV-E agencies on the procedures for transitional payments for title IV-E kinship navigator programs.

BACKGROUND: Section 471(e)(4)(C) of the Act requires that title IV-E kinship navigator programs must be rated through an independent systematic review of evidence as promising, supported, or well-supported in accordance with Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) criteria. In ACYF-CB-PI-18-11 (Requirements for Participating in the Title IV-E Kinship Navigator Program), we indicated that the Title IV-E Prevention Services Clearinghouse (the Clearinghouse) would conduct this review and issue ratings. We are issuing this PI to provide instruction that allows a title IV-E agency to claim transitional payments for kinship navigator program services and associated costs under the title IV-E kinship navigator program until the Clearinghouse can review and rate a program, if a title IV-E agency submits sufficient documentation as outlined in this PI by October 1, 2021. Agencies must conduct independent systematic reviews of kinship navigator programs to complete this documentation. The Clearinghouse will make the final determination about whether a program is assigned a promising, supported, or well-supported rating.