Federal Block Grant Award Summary

The Arkansas Department of Human Services received a Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) block grant award of $42.4 million from the Department of Health and Human Services Administration for Children and Families (ACF) for the fiscal year 2026 (October 1, 2025 – September 30, 2026). Under CFDA 93.558, the TANF program provides block grant funding to states to assist low-income families with children through comprehensive social service delivery. Arkansas utilizes these funds to support financial assistance programs, employment training and job preparation services, child care support, nutrition programs, and child welfare initiatives designed to promote self-sufficiency and economic independence among vulnerable populations.

The award enables Arkansas to implement its state TANF plan, which encompasses services aimed at allowing children to be cared for in their own homes or relatives' homes, reducing dependence on government benefits through work promotion, preventing out-of-wedlock pregnancies, and supporting two-parent family formation. The state receives funds through quarterly payments following ACF's determination that the state plan is complete, and must maintain records and comply with federal audit and accounting requirements under 2 CFR Part 200 and applicable HHS provisions in 2 CFR Part 300.