GY2026 ORR Refugee Cash and Medical Assistance Block Grant Summary

The Department of Health and Human Services' Office of Refugee Resettlement awarded California's Department of Social Services a $33.4 million block grant on October 1, 2025, under the Refugee and Entrant Assistance State/Replacement Designee Administered Programs (CFDA 93.566). This award funds the Refugee Cash and Medical Assistance (CMA) program through September 30, 2027, providing reimbursement to the State for short-term cash assistance, medical assistance, and medical screening services delivered to eligible refugees, asylees, Cuban and Haitian entrants, victims of severe trafficking, and Special Immigrants from Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as certain Ukrainian and Afghan Humanitarian Parolees during their first four months following arrival or eligibility determination.

In addition to direct assistance, the CMA program award supports Unaccompanied Refugee Minors (URM) services, including foster care and youth services, along with recipient administrative costs necessary to administer the program. The California Department of Social Services distributes these funds through its Finance and Accounting Division to county-level social services agencies and community-based service providers across the state's 58 counties, ensuring coordinated delivery of cash, medical, and foster care services to vulnerable refugee populations. The award requires submission of an approved State Plan and annual CMA Program Estimates (ORR-1) and is subject to applicable federal audit and record-keeping requirements under 2 CFR Part 200 and 45 CFR Part 75.