Federal Block Grant Award Summary

The Gila River Indian Community received a $1.52 million discretionary block grant award from the Department of Health and Human Services' Administration for Children and Families under the Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG) program (CFDA 93.575), effective October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2028. This three-year block grant supports the Community's provision of child care services and early childhood development programs for low-income families within the Gila River Indian Community reservation in Arizona. As the designated lead agency for this award, the Community is responsible for developing and implementing a comprehensive Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) plan that outlines the allocation of block grant funds toward child care subsidies, quality improvement initiatives, and workforce development within tribal early childhood education infrastructure.

The funding aligns with the Community's established capacity to deliver social services and demonstrates continuity with prior Department of Health and Human Services support for child care and development services. Block grant recipients under the CCDBG program are required to submit three-year plans detailing the intended use of funds in compliance with the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act, including provisions for sliding fee scales, payment rate certifications, and coordination with other federal, state, and local child care programs. The Gila River Indian Community's award reflects the federal government's recognition of tribal lead agencies as qualified administrators of child care assistance and quality improvement services for their respective communities.