FY 2026 Guardianship Assistance Block Grant Summary

The State of Alaska Department of Family and Community Services received a $2.26 million Block Grant award from the Administration for Children, Youth and Families (ACYF) for the Guardianship Assistance Program (GAP, CFDA 93.090) effective October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026. This award provides federal financial participation to support the delivery of guardianship assistance payments to relatives who have assumed legal guardianship of eligible children in Alaska's child welfare system. The program is designed to remove financial barriers to permanency and facilitate the transition of children from foster care into stable, legally recognized family settings with relative guardians.

Under this block grant, Alaska's DFCS administers the GAP as part of its comprehensive Title IV-E child welfare services portfolio, which includes foster care and adoption assistance programs. The funding supports direct financial assistance payments to eligible relative guardians, as well as necessary administrative and training costs associated with program operation. Awards are distributed quarterly based on estimated expenditures, with final adjustments made to reflect actual allowable claimed expenditures. DFCS must maintain comprehensive financial and programmatic records and comply with applicable federal regulations under 45 CFR Part 75 and 2 CFR Part 200.