Fact Sheet

Department of Health and Human Services

ADMINISTRATION FOR
CHILDREN AND FAMILIES
370 L'Enfant Promenade, S.W.
Washington , D.C. 20447

Social Services Block Grant

Type of Grant: Mandatory Block Grant

2008 Appropriation: $1.7 billion

 

Legislative Authority:

Social Security Act, Title XX, as amended; Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1981, as amended, Public Law 97-35; Jobs Training Bill, Public Law 98-8; Public Law 98-473; Medicaid and Medicare Patient and Program Act of 1987; Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1987, Public Law 100-203; Family Support Act of 1988, Public Law 100- 485; Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1993, Public Law 103-66; 42 U.S.C. 1397 et seq.

 

Purpose:

Social Services Block Grant (SSBG) funds are to enable each State to furnish social services best suited to meet the needs of the individuals residing within the State. Such services may be, but are not limited to: daycare for children or adults, protective services for children or adults, special services to persons with disabilities, adoption, case management, health-related services, transportation, foster care for children or adults, substance abuse, housing, home-delivered meals, independent/transitional living, employment services or any other social services found necessary by the State for its population. Services funded by the SSBG as far as practicable under the conditions of that State are directed at one or more of five goals: achieving or maintaining economic self-support to prevent, reduce or eliminate dependency; achieving or maintaining self-sufficiency, including reduction or prevention of dependency; preventing or remedying neglect, abuse or exploitation of children and adults unable to protect their own interest, or preserving, rehabilitating or reuniting families; preventing or reducing inappropriate institutional care by providing for community-based care, home-based care or other forms of less intensive care; and/or securing referral or admission for institutional care when other forms of care are not appropriate or providing services to individuals in institutions.

 

Target Population:

Under Title XX, each eligible jurisdiction determines the services that will be provided and the individuals that will be eligible to receive services. Federal block grant funds may be used to provide services directed toward one of the following five goals specified in the law: (1) To prevent, reduce, or eliminate dependency; (2) to achieve or maintain self-sufficiency; (3) to prevent neglect, abuse, or exploitation of children and adults; (4) to prevent or reduce inappropriate institutional care; and (5) to secure admission or referral for institutional care when other forms of care are not appropriate.

 

Eligible Applicants:

Funds are allocated to the 50 States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and the Territories of Guam, American Samoa, the Virgin Islands, and the Northern Mariana Islands.

 

Federal Contact:

Division of State Assistance
Office of Community Services
202.205.5926
ssbg@acf.hhs.gov
http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/ocs/ssbg