Tribal Child Support Enforcement Direct Funding Requests

The requirement for submission of a tribal plan and plan amendments for the Child Support Services program is found in legislation at sections 455 of the Social Security Act (the Act). These sections are implemented by regulations at 45 CFR 309. Tribes are provided with instructions for completing the tribal plans and plan amendments. The Office of Child Support Services (OCSS) has approved a IV-D tribal plan for each comprehensive tribal child support program. Federal regulations require tribes to amend their plans only when a tribe or tribal organization “intends to make any substantial or material change in any aspect of the Tribal IV-D program” (45 CFR 309.35(e)). The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) previously approved the optional IV-D tribal streamlined plan forms, OMB 0970-0218. All tribes have IV-D plans in place. Some tribes use the optional streamlined plan forms to organize and update their plans. Plan amendments that tribes submit are required when there is a “substantial or material” change to the tribe’s code or policy and procedures. On average, OCSS receives 30 annual plan amendments to notify OCSS of relevant changes required. The streamlined plan for Tribal Direct Funding Request: 45 CFR 309 Plan information collection was approved by OMB for three years March 31, 2023. However, on May 31, 2024, OCSS published a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) (89 FR 47109; RIN 0970-AD00) proposing to allow federal financial participation (FFP) for certain optional and nonduplicative employment and training services for eligible noncustodial parents in the child support program. The proposed rule will permit tribes, at their discretion, to update their plan to use FFP to provide any or all of the following services: job search assistance; job readiness training; job development and job placement services; skills assessments; job retention services; work supports; and occupational training and other skills training directly related to employment. While the NPRM did not include tribes or tribal organizations, OCSS received multiple requests to include tribes in the rule. On December 13, 2024, OCSS published the Employment and Training Services for Noncustodial Parents in the Child Support Program final rule (89 FR 100789; RIN 0970-AD00). To incorporate changes resulting from this rule, we’re requesting approval to revise and extend this currently approved collection for three years. Attachments include OMB 0970-0218, optional tribal plan pages.

The latest form for Tribal Child Support Enforcement Direct Funding Requests expires 2028-02-29 and can be found here.

45 CFR 309–Amended Plan

Federal Enterprise Architecture: Community and Social Services - Social Services

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