Promoting Safe and Stable Families (PSSF) Program

Promoting Safe and Stable Families (PSSF) Program is sponsored by U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Administration for Children and Families (ACF), Children's Bureau. This program supports a variety of services for families with children and is a source of federal funds directed toward the prevention of problems that bring families to the attention of the child welfare system.

It promotes flexibility in the development and expansion of coordinated child and family services programs that utilize community-based agencies, family support services, family preservation services, adoption promotion and support services, and time-limited family reunification services.

HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, DEPARTMENT OF The objectives of the MaryLee Allen Promoting Safe and Stable Families Program (PSSF) are: 1) to prevent child maltreatment among families at risk through the provision of supportive family services; 2) to assure children's safety within the home and preserve intact families in which children have been maltreated, when the family's problems can be addressed effectively; 3) to address the problems of families whose children have been placed in foster care so that reunification may occur in a safe and stable manner; 4) to support adoptive families by providing support services as necessary so that they can make a lifetime commitment to their children.

The Marylee Allen Promoting Safe and Stable Families program provides funding to states, territories, and tribes to develop or expand and operate coordinated programs of community-based family support services, family preservation services, family reunification services, and adoption promotion and support services.

In addition, a portion of funds is reserved for separate formula awards for states and territories to support monthly caseworker visits with children who are in foster care. A small proportion of appropriated funds are reserved for research, evaluation, and technical assistance, which may be awarded competitively discretionary awards.

INCOME SECURITY AND SOCIAL SERVICES - ND Families and Child Welfare Services _These funding amounts do not reflect the award amounts that are displayed on USASpending. gov_ **This listing is funded for the current fiscal year. ** **Fiscal Year 2025:** 56 states and territories and 118 tribes received PSSF formula awards in FY 2025.

10 discretionary awards were made in FY 2025 The state agency which administers the formula award programs under title IV-B of the Social Security Act must be the same agency that administers the social services program under title XX of the Social Security Act (Social Services Block Grant), per Title IV, Part B, Subpart 2, Section 432(a). PLAN REQUIREMENTS.

—A State plan meets the requirements of this subsection if the plan- (1) provides that the State agency shall administer, or supervise the administration of, the State program under this subpart Discretionary Awards: Nonprofit agencies must submit proof of nonprofit status. 2 CFR 200, Subpart E - Cost Principles applies to this program.

U.S. Territory (or Possession) Government (including freely-associated states), Federally Recognized Indian/Native American/Alaska Native Tribal Government, (1) Formula Awards: States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the U. S. Virgin Islands, the Northern Marianas, Guam, American Samoa, and Federally recognized Indian tribes are eligible applicants.

For caseworker visit funds, only states and territories are eligible applicants. (2) Discretionary Awards: Please see the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for applicant eligibility for research, evaluation, and technical assistance funds.

Unrestricted by Individual Type Families and children who need services to assist them to stabilize their lives, strengthen family functioning, prevent out-of-home placement of children, enhance child development, and increase competence in parenting abilities, facilitate timely reunification of the child, and promote appropriate adoptions.

Under the main Promoting Safe and Stable Families Formula Awards, states must spend a significant portion of funds (approximately 20 percent) on each of the service categories of family preservation, family support services, time limited family reunification services, and adoption promotion and support services. State recipients must limit administrative costs to 10 percent of the Federal funds.

Caseworker visit formula awards: States and territories are required to spend funds to improve the quality of monthly caseworker visits with children in foster care under the responsibility of the state, with an emphasis on improving caseworker decision making on the safety, permanency, and well-being of foster children, and on activities designed to increase retention, recruitment, and training of caseworkers.

Discretionary Awards: Awards are typically awarded for research, evaluation, and technical assistance activities relating to family support, family preservation, family reunification, and adoption promotion support. Project funds may not be used for construction. Apr 01, 2026 to Jun 30, 2026 Formula awards: The Child and Family Services Plan or its annual update is due on June 30 of each year.

Discretionary awards: Please see latest NOFO(s). Formula awards: The Child and Family Services Plan or its annual update is due on June 30 of each year. Discretionary awards: Please see latest NOFO(s).

Preapplication coordination is required. Environmental impact information is not required for this program. This program is eligible for coverage under E.

O. 12372, "Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs." An applicant should consult the office or official designated as the single point of contact in his or her State for more information on the process the State requires to be followed in applying for assistance, if the State has selected the program for review.

2 CFR 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards applies to this program. Discretionary awards: The criteria for selecting discretionary proposals will be published in the NOFO(s). This is not applicable to formula awards.

Formula Awards: Funds will be awarded after the agency plan, or annual update is submitted and approved. Discretionary Awards: Each application is reviewed against four factors: eligibility, the application deadline, required electronic submission or waiver requested and approved, and the Award Ceiling. If the application does not meet all of these factors, then it is disqualified from the merit review process.

After the initial review, applications are reviewed and evaluated by merit review panels using only the criteria described in the Application Review section of the NOFO. Each panel is composed of experts with knowledge and experience in the area under review. Generally, review panels include three reviewers and one chairperson.

While merit review scores and their ranking are not binding, ACF does consider them when selecting projects for funding. Scores and rankings are only one element used in the award decision-making process. Other criteria are explained in the Program Description section and in the Application Review section of the NOFO.

For example, ACF may reserve the right to consider preferences to fund organizations serving emerging, unserved, or under-served populations, including those populations located in pockets of poverty.

In addition, ACF reserves the right to evaluate applications in the larger context of the overall portfolio by considering the geographic distribution of federal funds (e.g., ensuring coverage of states, counties, or service areas) in its pre-award decisions. ACF may elect not to fund applicants with management or financial problems that would indicate an inability to successfully complete the proposed project.

In addition, ACF may elect to not allow a prime recipient to subaward if there is any indication that they are unable to properly monitor and manage subrecipients. Applications may be funded in whole or in part. Successful applicants may be funded at an amount lower than requested.

Formula Awards: The agency plan or its annual update is due June 30 of each year. Approval/disapproval by the Children's Bureau is due September 30 of each year. Discretionary Awards: The approval/disapproval range is 90 to 180 days.

Discretionary Awards: Non-competing continuations will be issued based on availability of funds, satisfactory progress, compliance with award terms and conditions and a determination that continuation funding is in the best interest of the federal government. There is no appeal process for unsuccessful discretionary applicants.

For existing recipients, appeals regarding disputes may take place in accordance with 45 CFR Part 16, subject to the limitations of the Appendix A.

The following 2CFR policy requirements apply to this assistance listing: Subpart B, General provisions Subpart C, Pre-Federal Award Requirements and Contents of Federal Awards Subpart D, Post Federal; Award Requirements Subpart E, Cost Principles Subpart F, Audit Requirements The following 2CFR policy requirements are excluded from coverage under this assistance listing: Additional Information: The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) adopted the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Guidance in 2 CFR part 200, and has codified the text, with HHS-specific amendments in 45 CFR Part 75.

ACF recipients must follow the requirements in 45 CFR Part 75. **Financial Reports:**Expenditure Reports: Expenditure reports are required using the SF-425 Federal Financial Report. The frequency of reporting will be listed in the NOFO and in the award terms and conditions.

For more information, see: https://acf. gov/grants/manage-grant/reporting#sf-425. Tangible Personal Property - If requesting funds to purchase equipment, the recipient must request prior approval.

When the equipment is no longer needed, the SF-428 Tangible Personal Property—Cover Page with the SF-428 Attachment C must be submitted to the Office of Grants Management. Please see the ACF Property, Tangible Personal Property Guidance at https://www. acf.

hhs. gov/grants/manage-grant/property/tangible-property#book_content_2. , Frequency: Annually **Progress/Performance Reports :**After the end of each of the first four fiscal years, the states, territories, and Indian tribes must submit an interim review of progress toward accomplishment of the goals in the state or tribal plan.

After the end of the fifth fiscal year, the states, territories, and Indian tribes must perform a final review of progress toward accomplishment of the goals. Performance monitoring of state agencies is conducted through the Child and Family Services Review (CFSR) process in accordance with 45 CFR 1355. 31 - 1355.

37. , Frequency: Annually All records are to be maintained in accordance with 45 CFR 75. 361-.

365 (effective on or after 10/01/2025: 2 CFR 200. 334-. 338).

Retention Period: 3 Years Statutory Formula: Title IV Chapter Sections 433 and 437 Part B Subpart 2 Public Law Social Security Act . Cost Sharing Requirement Type: Mandatory Description: (1) Formula Awards: State allotments are computed based on the number of children receiving food stamps over a three year rolling average.

Allotments to Indian tribes, including tribal consortia are based on a percent set aside of the total appropriation in each fiscal year and computed based on the number of children in the tribe compared to the total number of children in eligible Indian tribes. However, awards will not be made to Indian tribes whose allotment is less than $10,000. Allotments to territories are based on the formula in subpart 1 of Title IV-B.

Matching Requirements: Federal Financial Participation (FFP) is available up to the full allotment at the rate of 75 percent for allowable program expenditures made by the recipient. Recipients must provide a 25 percent match for these expenditures. (2) Discretionary Awards: The funding formula and matching requirements are described in each NOFO.

This program has MOE requirements, see funding agency for further details. Additional Information: An MOE requirement is applicable to the formula awards to states. States may not use the Federal funds under title IV-B, Subpart 2, to supplant Federal or non-Federal funds for existing family preservation and family support services as of 1992 (base year).

There are no matching requirements for the Kinship Navigator program. The discretionary awards component of this program does not have MOE requirements.

Domestic Assistance Program that uses Core-Based Statistical Area (CBSA): MaryLee Allen Promoting Safe and Stable Families Program MaryLee Allen Promoting Safe and Stable Families Program MaryLee Allen Promoting Safe and Stable Families Program MaryLee Allen Promoting Safe and Stable Families Program MaryLee Allen Promoting Safe and Stable Families Program MaryLee Allen Promoting Safe and Stable Families Program **To:**MaryLee Allen Promoting Safe and Stable Families Program **From:**Promoting Safe and Stable Families Promoting Safe and Stable Families Promoting Safe and Stable Families Promoting Safe and Stable Families Family Preservation and Support Services