Foster-2026 - foster care

The Department of Health and Human Services Administration for Children and Families awarded the Virginia Department of Social Services $145.846 million on October 1, 2025, to administer the Foster Care Title IV-E program (CFDA 93.658) through September 30, 2026. This block grant funds safe and stable out-of-home care for children under the jurisdiction of the state child welfare agency.

The Virginia Department of Social Services, through its Division of Finance, serves as the recipient and administrator, distributing this federal assistance to 64 sub-recipients across Virginia counties, cities, and regional service areas for local foster care and child welfare services delivery. Sub-recipients include county departments of social services, county boards of supervisors, city governments, and designated child welfare organizations. The award covers the fiscal quarter ending September 30, 2026, allocated through the Title IV-E Child Welfare Stipend Program identified as QE202609, with sub-awards dated July 1, 2026. Sub-recipient allocations are designated as local budget allocations for quarterly expenditure (QE202609), meaning distributed funds support county-level foster care operations, case management, kinship care, and related child welfare services.

Place of performance is Virginia. This is a formula grant under the Foster Care Title IV-E program, which operates on a reimbursement basis where states and tribes submit quarterly estimates of anticipated foster care expenditures; ACF subsequently revises awards based on actual allowable claimed expenditures. Award amendments and plan modifications may occur as necessary. Recipient quarters are due July 30, October 30, January 30, and April 30 annually. The award reflects quarterly obligated funding flowing through the state pass-through mechanism to local government sub-recipients delivering foster care services.