Federal Block Grant Award Summary

The Administration on Children, Youth and Families (ACYF) awarded the Executive Office of the State of New Jersey, operating as Children & Families, a block grant totaling $104.8 million under the Adoption Assistance program (CFDA 93.659) for the fiscal year October 1, 2025, through September 30, 2026. This award provides Federal Financial Participation (FFP) to support adoption subsidy costs for children with special needs who cannot be reunited with their biological families. The funding enables New Jersey to make ongoing financial assistance payments to adoptive families, thereby facilitating permanent placements for difficult-to-place children with physical, emotional, or developmental challenges.

The State of New Jersey administers these funds through a quarterly reimbursement mechanism based on estimated and actual allowable claimed expenditures. As the prime recipient, the Executive Office strategically sub-awards portions of the block grant to county governments, local child welfare agencies, nonprofit organizations, and community-based service providers to implement adoption assistance services at the local level. All recipients must maintain comprehensive financial and programmatic records documenting eligibility determinations and fund utilization in accordance with 45 CFR Parts 75, 1355, and 1356, with quarterly expenditure estimates due on a prescribed schedule.