FY 2026 Guardianship Assistance Block Grant Summary

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts Department of Children and Families (DCF) received a $7 million block grant award from the Administration on Children, Youth and Families (ACYF) under the Title IV-E Guardianship Assistance Program (CFDA 93.090) for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2026. This funding supports guardianship assistance payments to relative caregivers who have assumed legal guardianship of eligible children transitioning from foster care. The program removes financial barriers to permanency by providing ongoing financial support that enables relatives to establish legally recognized family arrangements for children in the state's child welfare system.

DCF administers the guardianship assistance payments as part of its broader child welfare service portfolio, with the Secretary of Commonwealth Massachusetts providing administrative and archival support as a sub-recipient. The award operates on a quarterly drawdown basis tied to estimated and actual allowable expenditures, with quarterly estimates due throughout the fiscal year. Program administration requires compliance with federal recordkeeping and financial management standards under 45 CFR Part 75 and 2 CFR Part 200, including maintenance of all financial and programmatic records related to eligibility determinations, fund utilization, and administrative costs.