Federal Block Grant Award Summary

The Minnesota Department of Children, Youth, and Families received a $17.7 million Adoption Assistance block grant (CFDA 93.659) from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Administration on Children, Youth and Families, effective October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026. This award 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 Minnesota to facilitate permanent placements and provide ongoing financial support for difficult-to-place children facing various physical, emotional, or developmental challenges.

Under this block grant, Minnesota administers flexible federal resources to determine implementation strategies for adoption assistance services within broad federal guidelines. The state is required to submit quarterly expenditure estimates and maintain comprehensive financial and programmatic records for program operations and compliance purposes. Awards are distributed on a quarterly basis aligned with estimated and actual allowable expenditures, with the state submitting estimates on July 30, October 30, January 30, and April 30 annually. The program operates under an established Title IV-E Plan framework, allowing for plan amendments as necessary without requiring renewal for continued funding.