Social Services Block Grant (SSBG) Services Program
What is the Social Services Block Grant (SSBG) Services Program?
The Social Services Block Grant (SSBG) Services Program is a flexible funding source that allows states and counties to offer a variety of services to children, adults, and families in need.
Common services offered include:
- Institutional care arrangements as appropriate and preventing unnecessary institutional care
- Housing solutions
- Prevention and education of neglect, abuse, and exploitation
- Resources to achieve economic self-sufficiency
In total, the SSBG Services Program provides funding for 29 different categories of social services, with an estimated impact on 23.5 million Americans per year according to the most recent 2020 data.
Since 2001, Congress has authorized a total of $1.7B to be distributed to recipients through the SSBG Services Program. The flexible nature of SSBG funds means they can be applied by recipients towards social services that are most needed by individuals residing in the state or country that receives funding.
Why is the Social Services Block Grant (SSBG) Services Program important in healthcare?
Vulnerable demographic groups, such as children and seniors, don’t always have the financial resources available to promote a high standard of living. The SSBG Services Program is a major source of federal funding that can assist these vulnerable groups. Through SSBG funding, individuals can access services that directly affect their health, such as doctor’s visits, along with other social determinants of health, such as finding protection from traumatic situations like abuse, and attaining more general resources they need to live fulfilling lives.