Federal Block Grant Award Summary

The Administration on Children, Youth and Families awarded the MS Department of Child Protection Services a block grant of $21.1 million under the Adoption Assistance program (CFDA 93.659) effective October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026. This funding supports adoption subsidy costs and financial assistance for the adoption of children with special needs who cannot be reunified with their biological families. The program provides Federal Financial Participation (FFP) to enable Mississippi to facilitate permanent placements for difficult-to-place children and youth through adoption subsidies and related support services.

As the state's designated child welfare agency, the MS Department of Child Protection Services administers adoption assistance payments and subsidies to eligible families adopting special needs children. The award operates on a quarterly reimbursement basis with estimated expenditures submitted to the Administration for Children and Families Regional Child Welfare Program Manager, subject to adjustment based on actual allowable claimed expenditures. The flexible block grant structure allows Mississippi discretion in implementation strategies while maintaining compliance with Title IV-E plan requirements and applicable federal regulations at 45 CFR 1355-1356.