Share Of Foster Children Receiving Title IV-E Maintenance Payments Fell From 40% To 33%

The share of children in foster care eligible for and receiving federal Title IV-E foster care maintenance payments declined from 40% in federal fiscal year 2019 to 33% in 2024. During the same period, the national average effective federal match rate for foster care maintenance payments fell three percentage points, from 24% to 21%. Children who are not eligible for Title IV-E reimbursement are supported through other funding sources, most commonly state funds.

Title IV-E of the Social Security Act is the largest source of federal child welfare funding, but the federal government is the minority payer . . .