Block Grant 2601IARCMA

The Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) awarded Iowa Department of Human Services a Block Grant of $4,370,454 under the Refugee and Entrant Assistance State/Replacement Designee Administered Programs (CFDA 93.566), effective October 1, 2025, through September 30, 2027. This funding supports the Refugee Cash and Medical Assistance (CMA) program, which reimburses the state for providing short-term cash assistance, medical assistance, and medical screening services to eligible refugee populations during their first four months following arrival or eligibility determination. The program serves refugees, asylees, Cuban and Haitian entrants, victims of human trafficking, Iraqi and Afghan Special Immigrants, certain Afghan and Ukrainian humanitarian parolees, and unaccompanied refugee minors (URM). Iowa DHS also administers recipient administrative costs associated with program delivery.

The award enables Iowa DHS to deliver critical integration support services that facilitate the resettlement of vulnerable populations into the state. Beyond immediate cash and medical assistance, the funding supports administrative infrastructure necessary for program compliance, including submission of required planning documents such as State Plans and annual CMA Program Estimates (ORR-1). The state must maintain records in accordance with applicable federal audit and financial management requirements under 2 CFR Part 200 and 45 CFR Part 75, effective October 1, 2025.