TANF Spending on Child Welfare Assistance

This figure shows trends in TANF spending on Child Welfare Assistance from FY 2015-2022 by region.

For more information on state TANF spending, visit our report landing page.

TANF Spending on Child Welfare Assistance, FYs 2015-2022

Note: Total state TANF spending includes both expenditures and transfers for federal TANF funds and expenditures of state maintenance of effort funds, as reported by states in Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Form ACF-196R. While TANF’s authorizing legislation provides states $16.5 billion in fixed federal TANF funding, state spending may vary from year to year as states spend different amounts of maintenance of effort funds, receive and spend federal Contingency Funds, and spend unspent federal funds carried over from previous years or retain these funds for future use.

Definitions

Child Welfare Assistance: This is the sum of two Form ACF-196R categories:

Relative Foster Care Maintenance Payments and Adoption and Guardianship Subsidies: Basic assistance provided on behalf of a child involved in the state's child welfare system who is living with a caretaker relative. Also includes adoption subsidies.

Foster Care Payments Authorized Solely Under Prior Law: Basic assistance provided on behalf of a child involved in the state's child welfare system who is in foster care, authorized solely under section 404(a)(2) of the Social Security Act and referenced in a state's former Aid to Families with Dependent Children or Emergency Assistance plan.