FY 2026 guardianship assistance

The Department of Health and Human Services Administration for Children and Families awarded Children & Family Services, New York Office Of $78.692 million in Guardianship Assistance Program funding on October 1, 2025, for the period through September 30, 2026, under CFDA 93.090. The award supports guardianship assistance payments to relatives who have assumed legal guardianship of eligible children, removing financial barriers to permanency and enabling transitions from foster care into secure, legally recognized family settings.

The recipient distributes substantially all funds as sub-awards to 31 county-level sub-grantees across New York State. Sub-recipients include Westchester County, Rockland County, Clinton County, Albany County, Nassau County, Tompkins County, Oneida County, Saratoga County, Jefferson County, Greene County, Erie County, Franklin County, Seneca County, Otsego County, Hamilton County, Schenectady County, Fulton County, Oswego County, Delaware County, New York City Administration for Children's Services, Putnam County, Wayne County, Schuyler County, Cattaraugus County, Cayuga County, Washington County, Columbia County, Lewis County, Broome County, Orange County, Monroe County, Livingston County, St. Lawrence County, Madison County, Suffolk County, Montgomery County, Genesee County, Tioga County, Herkimer County, Cortland County, Essex County, Warren County, Niagara County, Onondaga County, Ontario County, Rensselaer County, Yates County, Orleans County, Sullivan County, Chemung County, and Allegany County. Each county sub-recipient administers guardianship assistance case management and subsidy payment operations within its jurisdiction.

Place of performance spans New York State. The program operates on a quarterly obligation cycle with estimated expenditures reconciled against actual allowable claimed expenditures; quarterly estimates are due July 30, October 30, January 30, and April 30 each year. Awards remain effective without plan renewal, though Title IV-E plan amendments may be submitted as needed. The Administration for Children and Families will approve or disapprove applications within 45 days of receipt. Recipients must maintain financial and programmatic records per 45 CFR 75.361–365 (or 2 CFR 200.334–.338 effective October 1, 2025) and comply with 45 CFR Part 75 Subpart F (or 2 CFR Part 200 Subpart F effective October 1, 2025).