Alabama Administrative Code Title 490 - ALABAMA DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN RESOURCES
Title 490 of the Alabama Administrative Code is designated for the Alabama Department of Human Resources (DHR). DHR is the state's primary agency responsible for providing a wide range of social services aimed at protecting vulnerable children and adults, promoting family well-being, and assisting low-income individuals and families.
Important Note on Title Numbering: It's worth noting that the Alabama Administrative Code sometimes uses a primary Title number for an agency, but then subdivides its extensive regulations into a separate, often larger, Title. For example, while you've asked about Title 490, a significant portion of DHR's detailed regulations, particularly those related to its core services, are found under Title 660 - Department of Human Resources. Title 490, as seen from the search results, appears to contain more specific procedural rules, possibly related to internal administration or specific, narrower programs.
To get a comprehensive understanding of DHR's rules, one would need to consult both Title 490 and Title 660.
Purpose and Functions of the Alabama Department of Human Resources (DHR)
The Alabama Department of Human Resources (DHR) traces its history back to the Department of Child Welfare, created in 1919. Its mission is to provide for the protection, well-being, and self-sufficiency of children and adults in Alabama.
Key responsibilities and functions of DHR include:
Child Protective Services (CPS): This is a core function. DHR receives and investigates reports of child abuse and neglect. It works to ensure the safety of children, provides services to families to prevent removal, and initiates court action when necessary.
Adult Protective Services (APS): DHR investigates complaints of abuse, neglect, and exploitation of elderly and disabled adults. It arranges and provides services to protect these vulnerable adults and prevent unnecessary institutionalization.
Foster Care: When children cannot safely remain with their biological families, DHR provides foster care services, including licensing foster homes, placing children in temporary care, and supporting foster families.
Adoption: DHR facilitates adoptions for children in its care, working to find permanent, loving homes.
Child Care Services: DHR oversees the licensing and regulation of child care facilities to ensure health and safety standards are met. It may also administer subsidies to help low-income families afford child care.
Child Support Enforcement: DHR helps custodial parents establish paternity, obtain child support orders, and enforce those orders through various collection mechanisms.
Family Assistance (TANF): Administering the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program, which provides time-limited financial assistance and work support to low-income families with children.
Food Assistance (SNAP): Administering the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which provides food benefits to eligible low-income individuals and families.
Medicaid/Health Care Eligibility (Partial Role): DHR often handles the eligibility determination for certain Medicaid programs for low-income families and children, working in coordination with the Alabama Medicaid Agency.
Disaster Assistance: Playing a role in providing social services and assistance during and after natural disasters.
Structure of the Alabama Administrative Code for DHR
As mentioned, DHR's regulations are split across two main titles.
Title 490 - ALABAMA DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN RESOURCES appears to contain more general administrative and procedural rules, possibly related to specific internal processes or less frequently updated areas. Based on search results, its current chapters include:
Chapter 490-X-1 - DEFINITIONS: Provides a glossary of terms used throughout DHR's administrative code.
Chapter 490-X-2 - PROCEDURES: This chapter seems to contain specific procedures, such as those related to the "Conveyance of Tax-Delinquent Property" (as seen in search results, e.g., 490-X-2-.01 to 490-X-2-.03). This suggests it covers administrative processes that might be less directly related to core client services but are part of DHR's broader governmental functions.
Title 660 - DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN RESOURCES is where the detailed, program-specific rules for DHR's core services are located. This title is much larger and includes numerous chapters covering:
Child Protective Services: Intake, assessment, investigation, substantiation, placement, services to families, court involvement.
Adult Protective Services: Investigation, services for vulnerable adults.
Foster Care: Licensing of foster homes, placement, services to foster children and families.
Adoption: Adoption procedures, subsidies, post-adoption services.
Child Care Licensing: Standards for various types of child care facilities.
Child Support: Paternity establishment, order establishment, enforcement, disbursement.
Food Assistance (SNAP): Eligibility requirements, application process, benefit determination, work requirements, fraud prevention.
Family Assistance (TANF): Eligibility, benefit levels, work participation requirements.
Hearings and Appeals: Procedures for individuals to appeal DHR decisions across various programs.
Financial Administration: Rules for handling funds, grants, and contracts.
Where to Find the Rules:
The official and most up-to-date source for the Alabama Administrative Code, including both Title 490 and Title 660 for the Department of Human Resources, is the Alabama Legislative Services Agency's website, which publishes the Alabama Administrative Code.
You can also find them on legal information platforms like:
The Alabama Department of Human Resources official website (dhr.alabama.gov) is also an excellent resource. It provides comprehensive information about their services, news and announcements (like the recent SUN Bucks program), contact information for county offices, and often links to relevant laws and regulations, though you'll likely be redirected to the Legislative Services Agency site for the full administrative code text.
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