• SSBG Focus Reports 2004


• Adult Protective Services
• Child Day Care
• Child Protective Services
• Child Welfare Services


• Services for Adults and Children With Disabilities
• Services for Older Adults

The Social Services Block Grant (SSBG) program disburses funds to States to support social services for adults and children. This report is one in a series of focus reports describing SSBG expenditures and recipients for specific service categories, populations, and clusters of services, based on data published in the SSBG Annual Report 2004.[1]

Child Welfare Services

Child welfare services encompass a broad range of services aimed at achieving and maintaining the safety, permanency, and well-being of children. Services are provided to biological parents, foster parents, adoptive parents, and other relatives, as well as the children themselves. The SSBG is a critical source of Federal funds for agencies that provide child welfare 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 determine what services are provided and who is eligible to receive them. In addition, a State may transfer up to 10 percent of its annual Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Block Grant allocation into its SSBG program. States report on SSBG expenditures and recipients annually in a postexpenditure report. The term SSBG expenditures refers to the expenditures of the SSBG allocation combined with funds transferred from TANF into SSBG.

Of the 29 categories of services that may be funded with the SSBG, 6 are delivered primarily in an effort to protect vulnerable children and to promote their well-being -- adoption, child foster care, child protective services, home-based services, independent/transitional living services, and prevention and intervention services. With the exception of Montana, all 50 States and the District of Columbia used the SSBG to fund at least one of these child welfare services during 2004.

Adoption Services

Adoption services assist with bringing about the adoption of a child, and may include counseling for biological parents and training for adoptive parents both before and after the placement. Twenty-nine States spent approximately $29 million for adoption services.

Child Foster Care Services

Child foster care provides an alternative home for abused, neglected, or dependent children, following a court commitment or a voluntary placement agreement signed by the parent or guardian. Services may be provided in foster family or preadoptive homes, group homes, emergency shelters, residential facilities, or supervised independent living facilities. Thirty-seven States spent $332 million for child foster care services.

Child Protective Services

Child protective services prevent or remedy abuse, neglect, or exploitation of children who may be harmed through physical or mental injury, sexual abuse or exploitation, or negligent treatment or maltreatment. Services may include investigation, intervention, and counseling for children and families. Thirty-eight States spent $194 million for child protective services.

Home-Based Services

Home-based services may be provided to families to assist with household activities that improve or maintain adequate personal and family well-being, and to prevent abuse and neglect of the children in the family. Twenty-two States spent approximately $39 million for home-based services, estimated using the proportion of child recipients.[2],[3]

Independent/Transitional Living Services

Independent/transitional living services include educational and employment assistance, training in daily living skills, and housing assistance. Typically, the children receiving such services are older children in the foster care system who are making the transition to independent living. Fourteen States spent approximately $3 million for independent/transitional living services, estimated using the proportion of child recipients.[4]

Prevention and Intervention Services

Prevention and intervention services are designed to provide early identification or timely intervention to support families and prevent abuse, neglect, or family violence. Such services may also prevent the removal of a child or adult from the home. Thirty-two States spent $131 million for prevention and intervention services, estimated using the proportion of child recipients.[5]

Highlights

Highlights of SSBG's role in the funding of child welfare services in 2004 are listed below.

• Approximately 2.6 million children received child welfare services funded in whole or in part with SSBG expenditures.
• During 2004, States reported approximately $728 million in SSBG expenditures for child welfare services; States transferred 50 percent from TANF.
• Approximately 29 percent of all SSBG expenditures were directed toward child welfare services.
• Twenty-nine States reported that more than 20 percent of their SSBG expenditures were for child welfare services. Six States -- Alabama, Alaska, Colorado, Hawaii, Louisiana, and Oregon -- reported that more than 70 percent of their SSBG expenditures were for child welfare services.
• Ten States directed more than $30 million of SSBG expenditures each toward child welfare services during 2004. Florida and New York reported more than $65 million each of SSBG expenditures.

Table 1 provides a summary of expenditures and recipient data for the combined child welfare services.

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