Social Services Block Grants (SSBG) and Adult Protective Services (APS) 
The Omnibus Reconciliation Act of 1981 amended Title XX of the Social Security Act establishing the Social Services Block Grant (SSBG), which provides funds (1.5. billion in 2016) to states and territories to support social services for vulnerable children, adults, and families. They support Adult Protective Services (APS) in 36 states and are the only source of funding for APS in some.

SSBG funds must be used for the following:

1. Achieve or maintain economic self-support to prevent, reduce, or eliminate dependency;
2. Achieve or maintain self-sufficiency, including reduction or prevention of dependency;
3. Prevent or remedy neglect, abuse, or exploitation of children and adults unable to protect their own interests or preserve, rehabilitate, or reunite families;
4. Prevent or reduce inappropriate institutional care by providing for community-based care, home-based care, or other forms of less intensive care; and
5. Secure referral or admission for institutional care when other forms of care are not appropriate, or providing services to individuals in institutions.

Updates:
The SSBG Coalition has organized a letter writing campaign asking local, state or national organization or agency to support preserving the Social Services Block Grant.

How you can help:
Check back often to Policy We're Watching

​To learn more:

• SSBG Fact Sheet. Produced by the Office of Community Services, an office of the Administration for Children and Families
• SSBG Annual Report FY 2014 (most recent as of Feb 1, 2018) which was prepared for the Office of Community Services, Administration for Children and Families, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
  
• Additional information about the SSBG program is available at https://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/ocs/programs/ssbg/