Federal Block Grant Award Summary

The Office of Refugee Resettlement awarded the Social Services South Dakota Department a block grant of $200,215 effective October 1, 2025, through September 30, 2027, under the Refugee and Entrant Assistance State/Replacement Designee Administered Programs (CFDA 93.566). This award funds the Refugee Cash and Medical Assistance (CMA) Program, which provides reimbursement for short-term cash assistance, medical assistance, and medical screening services to eligible refugee populations during their first four months in the United States. The program serves refugees, asylees, Cuban and Haitian entrants, Iraqi and Afghan Special Immigrants, certain Afghan Humanitarian Parolees, Ukrainian Humanitarian Parolees, and victims of severe forms of trafficking, along with Unaccompanied Refugee Minors requiring foster care and youth services.

Under this block grant, South Dakota's Social Services Department administers cash assistance, medical assistance programs, and medical screening activities while managing recipient administrative costs. The award requires the awardee to submit an approved State Plan and annual CMA Program Estimates (ORR-1) to maintain funding eligibility. This funding enables the state to deliver critical integration support services throughout South Dakota, facilitating the resettlement and self-sufficiency of vulnerable refugee and entrant populations within the first year of arrival.