Drawing on studies by the U.S. General Accounting Office (GAO) and other federal and state organizations, this document summarizes information and findings on six federal block grant programs involving social services, low-income home energy assistance, mental health, community services, maternal and child health, and preventive health. It also presents some data on three other federal block grants, involving primary care, community economic development in small cities, and elementary and secondary education. Two initial charts provide organizational and financial information on the 9 block grants and also characterize them according to 10 major features, such as matching funds, eligibility prohibitions, and annual audits. Data from a GAO study of 13 states are then used to discuss 9 aspects of the first 6 block grants mentioned above. The nine aspects include state decisions on block grant administration, funding changes (such as cuts or interfund transfers), organizational adjustments, administrative savings, federal regulation, state and local governments' roles in block grant control, public participation, and recent state tax increases. The document's conclusion lists 12 findings regarding block grants' first year and notes 7 future concerns raised by the findings. (RW)