This document conveys mandatory policies that have their basis in Federal Law and/or program regulations. It also provides interpretations of Federal Statutes and program regulations initiated by inquiries from State Child Welfare agencies or Administration for Children and Families (ACF) Regional Offices. The manual replaces the Children's Bureau's former policy issuance system, updating and reformatting all of the existing relevant policy issuance's (Policy Announcements and Policy Interpretation Questions) into question and answer format. This manual is broken down into nine main policy areas (with detailed subsections): (1) AFCARS [Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System]; (2) CAPTA [Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act]; (3) Independent Living; (4) MEPA [Multiethnic Placement Act]/IEAP [Interethnic Adoption Provisions (Small Business Job Protection Act)]; (5) Monitoring; (6) SACWIS [Statewide Automated Child Welfare Information System]; (7) Title IV-B; (8) Title IV-E; and (9) Tribes/Indian Tribal Organizations.