Adoption Assistance Block Grant Summary

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services received a $76.76 million Adoption Assistance block grant (CFDA 93.659) from the Department of Health and Human Services Administration for Children and Families, effective October 1, 2025, through September 30, 2026. This federal 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 program enables states to facilitate permanent placement and support for children considered difficult to place due to various physical, emotional, or developmental challenges.

The state administered this block grant through 56 county departments of social services across North Carolina, including Bertie, Alexander, Caswell, Davidson, Alleghany, Cherokee, Lee, Burke, Franklin, Martin, Craven, Graham, Union, Davie, Alamance, Haywood, Person, Brunswick, Lenoir, Stokes, Granville, Onslow, Cumberland, Greene, Pasquotank, Dare, Moore, Rowan, Harnett, Nash, Rutherford, Madison, Washington, Swain, Perquimans, Yancey, Watauga, Richmond, Duplin, Wayne, Rockingham, Gaston, Chatham, Anson, Guilford, Buncombe, Ashe, Mecklenburg, Currituck, Bladen, Robeson, New Hanover, Chowan, Surry, Orange, Cleveland, Warren, Pender, Avery, Hertford, Pitt, Clay, Jones, Caldwell, Edgecombe, Lincoln, Carteret, Iredell, Northampton, Durham, McDowell, Sampson, Jackson, Randolph, Johnston, Yadkin, Wake, Macon, Cabarrus, Mitchell, Columbus, Montgomery, Halifax, Pamlico, Hoke, Vance, Scotland, Stanly, Wilson, Beaufort, Catawba, Forsyth, Wilkes, and Polk. Each county sub-awardee delivered Title IV-E adoption assistance programs funding to support permanency and stability for special needs children and their adoptive families throughout their respective jurisdictions.