Who oversees the U.S. child welfare system at the federal level?

The Administration for Children and Families (ACF) is responsible for overseeing the U.S. child welfare system at the federal level. The ACF is an office within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) that focuses specifically on programs related to children and families, including those aimed at promoting the safety, permanency, and well-being of children. It administers various federal laws and regulations regarding child welfare, such as the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA) and the Titles IV-B and IV-E of the Social Security Act, which provide funding and guidance for state child welfare systems.

While the Department of Health and Human Services oversees ACF and has a broad range of responsibilities concerning health and human services, it is the ACF that directly manages the child welfare policies and programs within the federal framework. State Child Welfare Agencies operate independently to implement these policies within their jurisdictions, but they do not have federal oversight responsibilities. The Federal Bureau of Investigation, while crucial in other areas of law enforcement and security, does not have a role in overseeing child welfare systems.