---
kind: "section"
citation: "42 U.S.C. § 676"
title: "42"
title_heading: "The Public Health and Welfare"
number: "676"
heading: "Administration"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/42/676"
units:
  - "Chapter 7 — Social Security"
  - "Subchapter IV — Grants to States for Aid and Services to Needy Families with Children and for Child-Welfare Services"
  - "Part E — Federal Payments for Foster Care, Prevention, and Permanency"
---

# §676. Administration

- (a) **Technical assistance to States—** The [Secretary](/usc/42/1301.md?p=a-6) may provide technical assistance to the [States](/usc/42/619.md?p=5) to assist them to develop the programs authorized under this part and shall periodically (1) evaluate the programs authorized under this part and part B of this subchapter and (2) collect and publish data pertaining to the incidence and characteristics of foster care and adoptions in this country.
- (b) **Data collection and evaluation—** Each [State](/usc/42/619.md?p=5) shall submit statistical reports as the [Secretary](/usc/42/1301.md?p=a-6) may require with respect to children for whom payments are made under this part containing information with respect to such children [including](/usc/42/1301.md?p=b) legal status, demographic characteristics, location, and length of any stay in foster care.
- (c) **Technical assistance and implementation services for tribal programs—**
  - (1) **Authority—** The [Secretary](/usc/42/1301.md?p=a-6) shall provide technical assistance and implementation services that are dedicated to improving services and permanency outcomes for [Indian](/usc/42/619.md?p=4-A) children and their families through the provision of assistance described in [paragraph (2)](#c-2).
  - (2) **Assistance provided—**
    - (A) **In general—** The technical assistance and implementation services shall be to—
      - (i) provide information, advice, educational materials, and technical assistance to [Indian tribes](/usc/42/619.md?p=4-A) and [tribal organizations](/usc/42/619.md?p=4-A) with respect to the types of services, administrative functions, data collection, program management, and reporting that are required under [State](/usc/42/619.md?p=5) plans under part B and this part;
      - (ii) assist and provide technical assistance to—
        - (I) [Indian tribes](/usc/42/619.md?p=4-A), [tribal organizations](/usc/42/619.md?p=4-A), and tribal consortia seeking to operate a program under part B or under this part through direct application to the [Secretary](/usc/42/1301.md?p=a-6) under [section 679c of this title](/usc/42/679c.md); and
        - (II) [Indian tribes](/usc/42/619.md?p=4-A), [tribal organizations](/usc/42/619.md?p=4-A), tribal consortia, and [States](/usc/42/619.md?p=5) seeking to develop cooperative agreements to provide for payments under this part or satisfy the requirements of section [622(b)(9)](/usc/42/622.md?p=b-9), [671(a)(32)](/usc/42/671.md?p=a-32), or [677(b)(3)(G)](/usc/42/677.md?p=b-3-G) of this title; and
      - (iii) subject to [subparagraph (B)](#c-2-B), make one-time [grants](/usc/42/1397j.md?p=10), to tribes, [tribal organizations](/usc/42/619.md?p=4-A), or tribal consortia that are seeking to develop, and intend, not later than 24 months after receiving such a [grant](/usc/42/1397j.md?p=10) to submit to the [Secretary](/usc/42/1301.md?p=a-6) a plan under [section 671 of this title](/usc/42/671.md) to implement a program under this part as authorized by [section 679c of this title](/usc/42/679c.md), that shall—
        - (I) not exceed $300,000; and
        - (II) be used for the cost of developing a plan under [section 671 of this title](/usc/42/671.md) to carry out a program under [section 679c of this title](/usc/42/679c.md), [including](/usc/42/1301.md?p=b) costs related to development of necessary data collection systems, a cost [allocation](/usc/42/2021b.md?p=2) plan, [agency](/usc/42/1397n–12.md?p=1) and tribal court procedures necessary to meet the [case review system](/usc/42/675.md?p=5) requirements under [section 675(5) of this title](/usc/42/675.md?p=5), or any other costs attributable to meeting any other requirement necessary for approval of such a plan under this part.
    - (B) **Grant condition—**
      - (i) **In general—** As a condition of being paid a [grant](/usc/42/1397j.md?p=10) under [subparagraph (A)(iii)](#c-2-A-iii), a tribe, [tribal organization](/usc/42/619.md?p=4-A), or tribal [consortium](/usc/42/17061.md?p=4) shall agree to repay the total amount of the [grant](/usc/42/1397j.md?p=10) awarded if the tribe, [tribal organization](/usc/42/619.md?p=4-A), or tribal [consortium](/usc/42/17061.md?p=4) fails to submit to the [Secretary](/usc/42/1301.md?p=a-6) a plan under [section 671 of this title](/usc/42/671.md) to carry out a program under [section 679c of this title](/usc/42/679c.md) by the end of the 24-month period described in that subparagraph.
      - (ii) **Exception—** The [Secretary](/usc/42/1301.md?p=a-6) shall waive the requirement to repay a [grant](/usc/42/1397j.md?p=10) imposed by [clause (i)](#c-2-B-i) if the [Secretary](/usc/42/1301.md?p=a-6) determines that a tribe’s, [tribal organization](/usc/42/619.md?p=4-A)’s, or tribal [consortium](/usc/42/17061.md?p=4)’s failure to submit a plan within such period was the result of circumstances beyond the control of the tribe, [tribal organization](/usc/42/619.md?p=4-A), or tribal [consortium](/usc/42/17061.md?p=4).
    - (C) **Implementation authority—** The [Secretary](/usc/42/1301.md?p=a-6) may provide the technical assistance and implementation services described in [subparagraph (A)](#c-2-A) either directly or through a [grant](/usc/42/1397j.md?p=10) or contract with public or private organizations knowledgeable and experienced in the field of [Indian](/usc/42/619.md?p=4-A) tribal affairs and [child](/usc/42/675.md?p=8-A) welfare.
  - (3) **Appropriation—** There is appropriated to the [Secretary](/usc/42/1301.md?p=a-6), out of any money in the Treasury of the [United States](/usc/42/1301.md?p=a-2) not otherwise appropriated, $3,000,000 for [fiscal year](/usc/42/619.md?p=3) 2009 and each [fiscal year](/usc/42/619.md?p=3) thereafter to carry out this subsection.
- (d) **Technical assistance and best practices, clearinghouse, data collection, and evaluations relating to prevention services and programs—**
  - (1) **Technical assistance and best practices—** The [Secretary](/usc/42/1301.md?p=a-6) shall provide to [States](/usc/42/619.md?p=5) and, as applicable, to [Indian tribes](/usc/42/619.md?p=4-A), [tribal organizations](/usc/42/619.md?p=4-A), and tribal consortia, technical assistance regarding the provision of services and programs described in [section 671(e)(1) of this title](/usc/42/671.md?p=e-1) and shall disseminate best [practices](/usc/42/17061.md?p=19) with respect to the provision of the services and programs, [including](/usc/42/1301.md?p=b) how to plan and implement a well-designed and rigorous evaluation of a promising, supported, or well-supported practice.
  - (2) **Clearinghouse of promising, supported, and well-supported practices—** The [Secretary](/usc/42/1301.md?p=a-6) shall, directly or through [grants](/usc/42/1397j.md?p=10), contracts, or interagency agreements, evaluate research on the [practices](/usc/42/17061.md?p=19) specified in clauses (iii), (iv), and (v), respectively, of [section 671(e)(4)(C) of this title](/usc/42/671.md?p=e-4-C), and programs that meet the requirements described in [section 627(a)(1) of this title](/usc/42/627.md?p=a-1), [including](/usc/42/1301.md?p=b) culturally specific, or location- or population-based adaptations of the [practices](/usc/42/17061.md?p=19), to identify and establish a public clearinghouse of the [practices](/usc/42/17061.md?p=19) that satisfy each category described by such clauses. In addition, the clearinghouse shall include information on the specific outcomes associated with each practice, [including](/usc/42/1301.md?p=b) whether the practice has been shown to prevent [child](/usc/42/675.md?p=8-A) [abuse](/usc/42/1397j.md?p=1) and [neglect](/usc/42/1397j.md?p=16) and reduce the likelihood of foster care placement by supporting birth families and kinship families and improving targeted supports for pregnant and parenting [youth](/usc/42/629a.md?p=a-11) and their children.
  - (3) **Data collection and evaluations—** The [Secretary](/usc/42/1301.md?p=a-6), directly or through [grants](/usc/42/1397j.md?p=10), contracts, or interagency agreements, may collect data and conduct evaluations with respect to the provision of services and programs described in [section 671(e)(1) of this title](/usc/42/671.md?p=e-1) for purposes of assessing the extent to which the provision of the services and programs—
    - (A) reduces the likelihood of foster care placement;
    - (B) increases use of kinship care arrangements; or
    - (C) improves [child](/usc/42/675.md?p=8-A) well-being.
  - (4) **Reports to Congress—**
    - (A) **In general—** The [Secretary](/usc/42/1301.md?p=a-6) shall submit to the Committee on Finance of the Senate and the Committee on Ways and Means of the House of Representatives periodic reports based on the provision of services and programs described in [section 671(e)(1) of this title](/usc/42/671.md?p=e-1) and the activities carried out under this subsection.
    - (B) **Public availability—** The [Secretary](/usc/42/1301.md?p=a-6) shall make the reports to Congress submitted under this paragraph publicly available.
  - (5) **Appropriation—** Out of any money in the Treasury of the [United States](/usc/42/1301.md?p=a-2) not otherwise appropriated, there are appropriated to the [Secretary](/usc/42/1301.md?p=a-6) $1,000,000 for [fiscal year](/usc/42/619.md?p=3) 2018 and each [fiscal year](/usc/42/619.md?p=3) thereafter to carry out this subsection.
- (e) **Evaluation of State procedures and protocols to prevent inappropriate diagnoses of mental illness or other conditions—** The [Secretary](/usc/42/1301.md?p=a-6) shall conduct an evaluation of the procedures and protocols established by [States](/usc/42/619.md?p=5) in accordance with the requirements of [section 622(b)(15)(A)(vii) of this title](/usc/42/622.md?p=b-15-A-vii). The evaluation shall analyze the extent to which [States](/usc/42/619.md?p=5) comply with and enforce the procedures and protocols and the effectiveness of various [State](/usc/42/619.md?p=5) procedures and protocols and shall identify best [practices](/usc/42/17061.md?p=19). Not later than January 1, 2020, the [Secretary](/usc/42/1301.md?p=a-6) shall submit a report on the results of the evaluation to Congress.

## Source credit

(Aug. 14, 1935, ch. 531, title IV, § 476, as added Pub. L. 96–272, title I, § 101(a)(1), June 17, 1980, 94 Stat. 511; amended Pub. L. 110–351, title III, § 302, Oct. 7, 2008, 122 Stat. 3972; Pub. L. 115–123, div. E, title VII, §§ 50711(d), 50743(b), Feb. 9, 2018, 132 Stat. 242, 260.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Amendments

2018—Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 115–123, § 50711(d), added subsec. (d).

Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 115–123, § 50743(b), added subsec. (e).

2008—Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 110–351 added subsec. (c).

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date of 2018 Amendment

Amendment by section 50711(d) of Pub. L. 115–123 effective Feb. 9, 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.

Amendment by section 50743(b) of Pub. L. 115–123 effective as if enacted on Jan. 1, 2018, subject to transition rule and State waiver provisions, see section 50746 of Pub. L. 115–123, set out as a note under section 622 of this title.

### Effective Date of 2008 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 110–351 effective Oct. 7, 2008, and applicable to payments under this part and part B of this subchapter for quarters beginning on or after such date, with delay permitted if State legislation is required to meet additional requirements, see section 601 of Pub. L. 110–351, set out as a note under section 671 of this title.