- Block grants are federal funds earmarked for specific state or local programs.
- A block grant is supported by federal funds but administered by state or local governments.
- Most block grants support housing, health, or other social services.
What are some examples of block grants?
The program responds to calls in Rogers Park, Edgewater, Uptown and West Ridge, as well as Evanston and Skokie. Trilogy not only responds to mental health emergencies, but it also follows up with people who had to call emergency responders in the past and works with people to prevent such crises.
Why do states prefer block grants?
Why do states prefer block grants? Block grants are given to states or communities and they decide how to spend the money. States prefer block grants because there are less strings attached and the money can be used for a broader purpose. What is a block grant example? Block grants provide funding for eligible activities identified in authorizing legislation.
What is the purpose of a block grant?
Program Highlights:
- Approximately 1,018 eligible entities receive CSBG funding annually.
- Eligible entities leverage funds from other federal sources, state and local governments, and private sources.
- As preliminary data indicate, CSBG served 16,997,192 individuals, or 7,335,240 families, in FY 2017. ...
How do Block Grant increase state power?
Participating States
- Georgia
- Illinois
- Michigan
- Missouri
- New Hampshire
- North Carolina
- Pennsylvania
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Wisconsin
What are block grants in simple terms?
A block grant is an annual sum of money that is awarded by the federal government to a state or local government body to help fund a specific project or program.
What is an example of a block grant?
Examples of Federal block grant programs are the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968, the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974, and the grants to states for social services under title XX of the Social Security Act.
What is a block grant use?
Block grants are a form of grant-in-aid that the federal government uses to provide state and local. governments a specified amount of funding to assist them in addressing broad purposes, such as. community development, social services, public health, or law enforcement.Feb 21, 2020
What is a block grant used for quizlet?
Block Grants, generally favored by Republicans in Congress as they take power out of the federal government and give it to the states, are an easy way to implement programs or funds more locally instead of by a central government.
What are block grants and mandates?
Block grants pass decision-making authority and fiscal responsibility to a lower level of government. With the funds from a block grant, the lower level of government obtains broad latitude for spending the money. In exchange, the higher level of government generally caps the funds available each year for the program.
What is the difference between a grant program and a block grant?
Block grants are distinct from discretionary grants because they generally allow for more autonomy and flexibility to the states to decide how to implement the program. States may use the block grant funding to establish a program or to make sub-awards to local organizations to provide the services within their region.Jan 21, 2020
What are the advantages of block grants?
Cannon and Edwards said making Medicaid a block grant would save taxpayers in two ways: Less federal cost and state officials would have greater incentive to root out fraud and abuse. They also say it could help push more people into the private market for health care.May 2, 2011
What is the purpose of block grants or federal aid given to state or local governments?
Block grants are federal grants-in-aid that allow states considerable discretion (within broad limits) about how the funds will be spent. These give greater flexibility to state political actors to tailor programs to the state's particular needs than do categorical grants.
What is the purpose of block grants or federal aid given to state or local governments quizlet?
Block grants are federal grants that are given for more general purposes for broad policy areas, such as welfare, public health, community development, or education. Federal mandates are demands on states to carry out certain policies as a condition of receiving grant money.
How do block grants differ from categorical grants quizlet?
Categorical grants are for spending on specific items and programs, whereas block grants allow states to determine how they are spent.
How do block grants reflect cooperative federalism?
Block grants reflect cooperative federalism in the way that federal money is used to help the American communities. Block grants allow the local powers distribute the money to qualifying programs and agencies.
Why do states prefer block grant to categorical grant quizlet?
What are categorical grants? Block grants are given to states or communities and they decide how to spend the money. States prefer block grants because there are less strings attached and the money can be used for a broader purpose.
Why are block grants preferred by Republicans?
Block grants are generally preferred by Republicans because of the freedom allowed in the spending whereas categorical grants are generally favored by Democrats because the regulations attached help ensure the original goals of the grant are met. To unlock this lesson you must be a Study.com Member. Create your account.
How many block grants were there in 2013?
In the 2013 fiscal year, the federal government had 25 block grants, as reported by the Congressional Research Service. One of the biggest block grant programs is called Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, or TANF for short. TANF is commonly called welfare.
What are the negatives of block grants?
Opponents of block grants, on the other hand, argue that the money is rarely spent with the intended purpose, and states usually end up spending less or cutting critical programs important to the national goals. TANF is an example here. After switching from a categorical grant to a block grant, government spending on welfare dramatically dropped, causing states to cut several welfare programs for poor families. Likewise, critics of Paul Ryan's plans to convert Medicare into a block grant argue that the end result will simply be to cut funding for the healthcare of older Americans.
What is TANF grant?
TANF is commonly called welfare. This block grant replaced an earlier categorical grant called Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC), which placed a lot of requirements on states. Now, under TANF, states have more control over how money is spent.
What is the federal government?
In a federal system, the federal government is in charge of certain government functions (for example, national defense), and the local and state governments are in charge of other government functions (for example, education). But the federal government often tries to influence state and local governments by offering money grants in exchange ...
What is a low income home energy assistance grant?
Another block grant is the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Block Grant, which provides assistance to low-income families to help pay energy bills. Like TANF, this grant gives a lot of control to states in deciding how to distribute funds across the state. This program is especially important for northern states, where cold winters drive up heating costs.
Which party favors block grants?
Although not necessarily exclusive to one party, Republicans generally tend to promote block grants more than Democrats.
Why are block grants bad?
Critics of block grants cite the relative lack of federal oversight as a problem. Notably, the proposal to turn Medicaid into a block grant program was seen as endangering the federal government's ability to guarantee a standard level of service.
When was the Mental Health Block Grant established?
The Mental Health Block Grant, established in 1981, has disbursed millions of dollars to states to assist in the treatment of mental illnesses. The grant was amended in 1986 to require that states develop its services based on the advice of Mental Health Planning Councils comprised primarily of family members and non-treating professional citizens.
What is SSBG grant?
The Social Services Block Grant Program (SSBG) The Social Services Block Grant Program (SSBG) is a broadly defined program that allows states and territories to tailor social service programming to the needs of their populations.
What is CDBG program?
The CDBG program, administered by the Housing and Urban Development agency, is broadly defined as working to ensure decent affordable housing, to provide services to the most vulnerable in our communities, and to create jobs through the expansion and retention of businesses, " according to the agency.
What is a block grant?
The definition of a Block Grant is a lump sum of federal government funds awarded to a state, county, or city government for use in a general purpose. The Federal role in administering block grants is less active when compared to other types of grants. They generally do not specify application requirements, negotiate awards, or evaluate the effects.
When were block grants established?
The first five block grants were established by the United States federal government from the mid-60's to the mid-70's. The initial block grants were the Community Development Block Grant, the Partnership for Health Act, the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act, the Comprehensive Employment and Training Act, ...
What is regional grant?
The regional grantees are allowed to allocate the grant money at their discretion in accordance with local needs. This provides the regional governments with the flexibility to design programs and distribute resources that target a wide array of issues. The first U.S. Block Grants.
What is the law enforcement assistance program?
The Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 formed the Law Enforcement Assistance Administration (LEAA) and provided over $100 million in grants to states in order to improve local law enforcement and community crime control efforts.
When was the Community Development Block Grant enacted?
In 1974 , the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) was enacted to support community development at a local level. Read more about this important block grant in the next section.
How much did HUD give to Louisiana?
As recently as 2005, HUD was provided with $11.5 billion in Community Development Block Grants to award to the states of Louisiana, Texas, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida in their efforts to rebuild the Gulf Coast after Hurricanes Katrina, Rita, and Wilma. © 2021 Federal Grants.
What are some examples of county human services programs not included in the Block Grant?
Examples of funding not included in the Block Grant are: Intellectual Disabilities Waiver programs, Behavioral Health HealthChoices Program, Early Intervention Services, and County Child Welfare Needs-Based funded services.
What is Act 80 grant?
Act 80 of 2012 established a Human Services Block Grant Program for the purpose of allocating funds to select county governments to provide locally identified county-based human services to meet the service needs of county residents.
What is Act 153?
Act 153 of 2016 (Act) further amended the Human Services Code removing the cap on the number of counties that may be included in the Block Grant. The Act also removed the Child Welfare Special Grants funding beginning in fiscal year 2017-2018.
What is a block grant?
Block grants provide states, territories, and tribes with funds they can tailor to meet their specific population's needs. There are many examples of block grants funded by the federal government and distributed to state and local governments or organizations that provide services to at-risk and low income individuals.
Who administers the Block Grant Program?
This block grant program is administered by the Office of Weatherization and Intergovernmental Programs, which is part of the US Department of Energy. Over three million dollars have been allocated through this grant to states, cities, U.S. territories, and Indian tribes. Grantees are tasked with starting and developing projects that improve energy efficiency and create new jobs in their area.
What is a mental health grant?
Administered by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, these funds seek to improve the country's mental health services. U.S. states and territories are eligible to receive grant awards to support existing programs or help with the creation of unique new services. Target populations for this grant are adults with serious mental illnesses and children with serious emotional disturbances. Services like screenings, outpatient programs, and day treatment programs are a requirement, but states can distribute grant funds to local governments and organizations to help implement programming.
What is the Social Services Block Grant?
The unique social service needs of each specific state or territory are met through the Social Services Block Grant provided by the Office of Community Services. Funded programs focus on increasing self-sufficiency, protecting kids and adults from abuse, and helping those who can't care for themselves find suitable care through services like childcare, adult daycare, and medical transportation. Over one billion dollars is awarded annually by the federal government to states. Services, training and administration are all covered under this block grant.
What is the Indian Housing Block Grant?
HUD oversees the Indian Housing Block Grant to help low-income Native Americans living in an Indian tribe or on an Indian reservation find and maintain suitable housing. A group or individual acting on behalf of the group applies for the grant with specific information about how they will use funds to support housing for their people. Awards can be used toward projects and services such as providing housing for low income families, maintaining public housing developed through a previous grant, or activities related to creative approaches to housing problem-solving.
What are the goals of TANF?
The goals of funded services include keeping families with children in their own homes, reducing dependence on government assistance, and promoting two-parent families. Tribes, states, and U.S. territories can receive awards from TANF, which is administered by the Department of Health and Human Services.
Who is responsible for distributing the funds or services to the individuals?
The state is awarded the block grant from the federal government. It is up the state or local government to decide who is eligible for the specific grant. They also are responsible for distributing the funds or services to the individuals. Individuals do not directly receive the block grant.
What Is A Block Grant?
Understanding Block Grants
- Block grants have been in use in some form since the 1950s. Most have supported social services, public health services, or community development programs. Block grants were designed to provide funding for those services with relatively few strings attached, allowing local governments to manage and oversee the programs. In addition, state and local governments ma…
Criticism of Block Grants
- While block grants are intended to promote social good by helping states fund important programs, some have held critical views of these programs. Because the recipients of block grants have a great deal of flexibility in how those dollars are actually spent, opponents argue that federal money can be misused by local authorities. Money received from block grants often can…
Examples of Block Grants
- Three of the better-known block grant programs are earmarked for social services delivered at the local level: