Federal Block Grant Award Summary

The Pennsylvania Department of Human Services received an Adoption Assistance block grant award of $87.05 million from the Administration on Children, Youth and Families (part of the Department of Health and Human Services) for the period October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026 under CFDA 93.659. This block grant 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 Pennsylvania to facilitate permanent placements and provide ongoing financial support for adoptions of children considered difficult to place due to physical, emotional, or developmental challenges.

Under this award, Pennsylvania administers adoption assistance services statewide through its established Title IV-E Plan framework, leveraging the flexible block grant structure to determine implementation strategies in accordance with federal guidelines. The program operates through quarterly award distributions based on estimated and actual allowable expenditures, with Pennsylvania submitting quarterly estimates to the Administration for Children and Families Regional Child Welfare Program Manager. As documented in the vendor summary, adoption assistance represents one component of Pennsylvania's comprehensive child welfare portfolio, which also includes foster care services, guardianship assistance, and prevention services, collectively totaling approximately $199.5 million in federal funding for vulnerable children and families across the Commonwealth.