Federal Grant Award Summary

The Social Services South Dakota Department received a $7.7 million Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG) Discretionary award from the Department of Health and Human Services' Administration for Children and Families (ACF) effective October 1, 2025, through September 30, 2028. Under CFDA 93.575, this block grant funds child care services and support for low-income families in South Dakota through a three-year funding cycle. The award enables the state lead agency to provide child care subsidies to eligible families, primarily through vouchers or certificates, while simultaneously supporting quality improvements across both subsidized and unsubsidized child care programs.

The discretionary funding supports the state's administration of the Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF), which comprises the primary federal mechanism for expanding access to affordable, high-quality child care and early childhood education infrastructure. As the designated lead agency, the Social Services South Dakota Department must develop and submit a comprehensive three-year CCDF plan detailing the intended use of block grant funds, payment rates, and sliding fee scales. The funds may be allocated toward direct child care assistance, quality improvement initiatives, workforce development, technical assistance, and research and evaluation activities that strengthen South Dakota's child care system and promote healthy child development.