With an annual budget of over $6.7 billion, the Children's Bureau works with State and local agencies to develop programs to assist America's children and their families.
The Children's Bureau administers eight State grant programs and seven discretionary grant programs. The State grant programs have their own legislatively mandated matching requirements and formulas for allocation and all require that the funds go to and be administered only by the State child welfare agency or, in some programs, Indian Tribes or Tribal organizations. The State agency can have agreements and contracts with other public agencies and with private agencies for provision of appropriate services. In the discretionary programs, the Administration for Children and Families policy requires a match from the grantees for all discretionary grant projects other than research.