FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Wednesday, June 9, 2004
Contact: Chris Downing
ACF Press Office (202) 401-9215
SOCIAL SERVICES BLOCK GRANT SUPPORTS
CHILD WELFARE, DISABILITIES SERVICES
The Social Services Block Grant (SSBG) Program Annual Report for 2002, released by HHS’ Administration for Children and Families, shows how states are spending flexible federal funding through the Social Services Block Grant in order to help low-income children and families around the country.
The top three program areas listed in the report are:
- Child protective services;
- Special services for individuals with disabilities; and
- Child foster care services.
In total, states spent $2.647 billion via the SSBG, of which 36 percent ($955 million) was transferred from the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Block Grant (TANF). More than 14 million individuals, of whom more than half were children, received services funded at least partially by the SSBG.
“It is important to see states and the federal government working together to fund child protective and foster care services so more homes are safe, stable and loving homes,” said HHS Assistant Secretary for Children and Families Wade F. Horn, Ph.D.
The report shows that the SSBG continues to fill a critical gap in state funding for social services. The SSBG provides funds to states, in proportion to their population, to assist with the provision of social services. States have substantial discretion in the use of SSBG funds and may report on expenditures and recipients in up to 29 categories of social services. A state can transfer up to 10 percent of its annual TANF allocation into its SSBG program. States report on SSBG expenditures and recipients annually in a post-expenditure report.
The report also found that in 42 states, almost 3 million (2,839,077) children received child day care services funded at least partially by the SSBG. SSBG expenditures for child day care were $205 million.
To view this report, go to: http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/ocs/ssbg/annrpt/2002/index.html.
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Note: All HHS press releases, fact sheets and other press materials are available at www.hhs.gov/news