Foster-2026 - foster care

The Department of Health and Human Services Administration for Children and Families awarded the Ohio Department of Children and Youth $620.684 million on October 1, 2025, under the Foster Care Title IV-E block grant program (CFDA 93.658), with period of performance through September 30, 2026, in Ohio.

The award funds foster care maintenance, case management, adoption assistance, and child protective services statewide. The recipient serves as the state lead agency for federal child welfare programs and administers these Title IV-E services across Ohio's jurisdictions.

The Ohio Department of Children and Youth passed sub-awards to multiple Ohio county juvenile courts and related entities effective July 1, 2026, and earlier dates throughout the performance period. Named sub-recipients include the Cuyahoga County Juvenile Court Division, Hamilton County Court Services, Stark County Family Court, Summit County Common Pleas Juvenile Division, Montgomery County Government, Miami County Government, Lucas County Juvenile Court Division, Lawrence County Sheriff's Office, Lorain County Domestic Relations Court, and Jefferson County Juvenile Court, among others. The sub-awards fund local court administration, victim services, and juvenile justice operations. Additionally, the recipient sub-awarded to Ohio 211 (Ohio Council of Information and Referral Providers, Inc.) on March 3, 2026, for 211 expansion and information and referral services; to multiple Ohio universities (Youngstown State University, University of Rio Grande, University of Akron, Wright State University, University of Toledo, Miami University, University of Cincinnati, Ohio University, Bowling Green State University, and Central State University) for University Partnership Programs focused on child welfare training, research, and workforce development; and to the Ohio Children's Alliance for foster care transition and post-emancipation support services through the Bridges program.

The assistance type is a block grant. This is a formula grant distributed to states to administer Title IV-E foster care and related child welfare services.