Federal Block Grant Award Summary

The Department of Health and Human Services Administration for Children and Families awarded the Department of Social Services California a $448.4 million block grant under the Adoption Assistance program (CFDA 93.659) for the fiscal year October 1, 2025, through September 30, 2026. This funding provides Federal Financial Participation (FFP) to support adoption subsidy costs for children with special needs who cannot be reunited with their biological families. The award enables California to facilitate permanent placements and provide ongoing financial assistance to adoptive families, helping to ensure stable, permanent homes for vulnerable children throughout the state.

Under this block grant, the Department of Social Services California distributes adoption assistance funding through its county-level social services agencies, nonprofit organizations, and community-based service providers across the state's 58 counties. The program operates on a quarterly reimbursement basis, with awards determined by estimated and actual allowable expenditures submitted on a prescribed schedule. California maintains comprehensive financial and programmatic records to document eligibility determinations, fund utilization, and administrative costs in accordance with federal regulations. The flexible block grant structure allows the state to implement adoption assistance services according to its Title IV-E Plan while maintaining accountability to federal requirements under 45 CFR Parts 75, 1355, and 1356.