OCR Issues Guidance on Rehab Act’s Applicability to Child Welfare Agencies

On January 14, HHS’s Office of Civil Rights (OCR) issued guidance on the implementation of  HHS’s updated final rule, which went into effect July 2024, governing the application of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 to child welfare agencies that receive Federal financial assistance from HHS. These regulatory provisions clarify Section 504’s applicability in the child welfare context and do not cover all disability rights laws applicable to child welfare agencies. Among the issues addressed are requirements that ensure individuals with disabilities are not discriminated against in any programs and activities, including parent-child visitation, reunification services, and child placement, among others.