Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA NIFA SLBCD 004190
Apply for USDA NIFA SLBCD 004190
- The National Institute of Food and Agriculture in the agriculture education employment, labor and training sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Children, Youth and Families at Risk Professional Development and Technical Assistance Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 10.500 Cooperative Extension Service.
- This funding opportunity was created on Mar 1, 2013 and posted on Mar 1, 2013.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Apr 29, 2013. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $850,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $850,000.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
- Applications may be submitted by Cooperative Extension at 1890 Land Grant Institutions, including Tuskegee University and West Virginia State University, at 1862 Land Grant Colleges and Universities, and the University of the District of Columbia.
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Opportunity Summary:
The Children, Youth and Families at Risk Professional Development and Technical Assistance (CYFAR PDTA) Program is a discretionary grant opportunity from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Institute of Food and Agriculture (USDA NIFA). Its purpose is to strengthen how Land Grant universities and the Cooperative Extension System support communities serving children, youth, and families who are at risk of not having basic needs met. The program is built around the idea that Extension, working alongside local and national partners, can deliver practical educational programs that help young people build life skills, make healthier choices, and become positive, productive contributors in their communities.
A central focus of the opportunity is the role of partnering universities in providing professional development and technical assistance to CYFAR Sustainable Community Projects (SCP). Rather than funding direct services alone, this PDTA effort is designed to improve the quality, reach, and long-term sustainability of community-based youth and family programs by building "connections, competency, and capacity" across the system. In practice, that means helping local projects and community coalitions strengthen what they offer, how they deliver it, how they measure results, and how they keep programs going over time, especially in communities that are underserved and underrepresented.
The announcement emphasizes a holistic approach to serving at-risk populations. CYFAR PDTA is expected to support the continued development and implementation of the broader CYFAR Sustainable Community program by ensuring local projects have access to strong training and ongoing support. Key components highlighted include programming support (helping projects implement effective educational approaches), evaluation (helping them track outcomes and demonstrate impact), technology (tools and systems that improve learning, communication, or data collection), and technical assistance (hands-on guidance to solve implementation challenges and improve performance). This work is meant to happen collaboratively through the Extension system, leveraging its network, community presence, and educational mission.
From an administrative standpoint, the opportunity is listed under Funding Opportunity Number USDA NIFA SLBCD 004190 and is associated with CFDA 10.500 (Cooperative Extension Service). It falls under the broad activity categories of agriculture, education, and employment/labor/training, reflecting Extension's role in youth development and workforce-related life skills. The program does not require cost sharing or matching funds, which can make participation more feasible for eligible institutions.
Eligibility is limited to Cooperative Extension at Land Grant institutions, specifically 1890 Land Grant Institutions (including Tuskegee University and West Virginia State University), 1862 Land Grant Colleges and Universities, and the University of the District of Columbia. The total estimated funding for the opportunity is $850,000, and the maximum award (ceiling) is also $850,000, indicating the potential for a single award at that level depending on how USDA NIFA structured awards for that cycle. The original and current closing date listed for applications was April 29, 2013, with an archive date of May 29, 2013, meaning this particular posting reflects a past funding cycle, though the description still conveys the program's core intent and structure.
For applicants, the practical takeaway is that CYFAR PDTA funding is aimed at building the support infrastructure that helps community-based CYFAR efforts succeed. Competitive proposals would be expected to show how a university-led PDTA partner will improve training, strengthen implementation, support meaningful evaluation, integrate useful technology, and provide responsive technical assistance so that local Sustainable Community Projects can deliver durable, evidence-informed programming for at-risk and underserved youth and families.
CYFAR PDTA (USDA NIFA) Grant Opportunity FAQs
What is the CYFAR Professional Development and Technical Assistance (PDTA) Program?
The Children, Youth and Families at Risk Professional Development and Technical Assistance (CYFAR PDTA) Program is a discretionary grant opportunity from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Institute of Food and Agriculture (USDA NIFA). It is designed to strengthen how Land Grant universities and the Cooperative Extension System support communities serving children, youth, and families who are at risk of not having basic needs met.
What is the main purpose of this funding opportunity?
The purpose is to improve the quality, reach, and long-term sustainability of community-based youth and family efforts supported through CYFAR by building "connections, competency, and capacity" across the Extension system and its partners.
Who is this program intended to help?
The work supported by CYFAR PDTA is intended to benefit communities serving children, youth, and families who are at risk, especially in communities that are underserved and underrepresented. The program emphasizes practical educational efforts that help young people build life skills, make healthier choices, and become positive, productive contributors in their communities.
Does the CYFAR PDTA program fund direct services to youth and families?
The emphasis of CYFAR PDTA is not on funding direct services alone. Instead, it focuses on strengthening the support infrastructure around CYFAR Sustainable Community Projects (SCP) through professional development and technical assistance so local programs can improve how they operate and sustain results over time.
What are CYFAR Sustainable Community Projects (SCP)?
CYFAR Sustainable Community Projects are local CYFAR efforts operating in communities. In this opportunity, they are the primary recipients of the professional development and technical assistance support delivered by the partnering university and Extension system.
What role do partnering universities play in this opportunity?
A central focus of the opportunity is the role of partnering universities in providing professional development and technical assistance to CYFAR Sustainable Community Projects. The university-led PDTA partner is expected to help local projects and community coalitions improve training, strengthen implementation, improve evaluation, integrate useful technology, and address implementation challenges through hands-on guidance.
What kinds of activities are expected under CYFAR PDTA?
The announcement highlights four key components: programming support, evaluation, technology, and technical assistance. Activities are expected to be delivered collaboratively through the Cooperative Extension System and its local and national partners.
What is meant by "programming support" in this program?
Programming support refers to helping CYFAR projects implement effective, practical educational approaches that align with the program's goals for youth development, healthy choices, and life skills.
What is the evaluation component expected to cover?
The evaluation component is intended to help local projects track outcomes and demonstrate impact. This includes strengthening how projects measure results and use evidence to improve performance.
How does technology fit into CYFAR PDTA?
Technology is identified as a key component, including tools and systems that can improve learning, communication, or data collection in support of CYFAR programming and evaluation.
What does "technical assistance" mean in this context?
Technical assistance is described as hands-on guidance to solve implementation challenges and improve performance. It is part of the ongoing support intended to help local CYFAR projects operate effectively and sustainably.
What is meant by building "connections, competency, and capacity"?
Within the context provided, this phrase describes the overall intent of the PDTA effort: strengthening relationships and collaboration (connections), improving knowledge and skills (competency), and increasing the ability of projects and coalitions to deliver and sustain high-quality programming (capacity).
Which federal agency is offering this grant?
This opportunity is offered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA).
What is the Funding Opportunity Number for this announcement?
The Funding Opportunity Number listed is USDA NIFA SLBCD 004190.
What CFDA number is associated with this opportunity?
The opportunity is associated with CFDA 10.500, Cooperative Extension Service.
What activity categories does this program fall under?
The opportunity is listed under broad activity categories of agriculture, education, and employment/labor/training, reflecting Extension's role in youth development and workforce-related life skills.
Is cost sharing or matching required?
No. The announcement states that the program does not require cost sharing or matching funds.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is limited to Cooperative Extension at Land Grant institutions, specifically: 1890 Land Grant Institutions (including Tuskegee University and West Virginia State University), 1862 Land Grant Colleges and Universities, and the University of the District of Columbia.
How much funding is available?
The total estimated funding for the opportunity is $850,000.
What is the maximum award amount?
The maximum award (ceiling) is $850,000.
Does the funding information suggest there could be a single award?
Because the total estimated funding amount ($850,000) matches the maximum award ceiling ($850,000), the posting indicates there may be a single award at that level, depending on how USDA NIFA structured awards for that cycle.
What were the application due date and archive date?
The original and current closing date listed was April 29, 2013, and the archive date was May 29, 2013.
Is this a current funding opportunity?
The dates shown indicate this particular posting reflects a past funding cycle (closing in 2013 and archived in 2013). The description still communicates the program's core intent and structure.
What is the practical takeaway for potential applicants?
The key takeaway is that CYFAR PDTA funding is aimed at building the support infrastructure that helps community-based CYFAR efforts succeed. Competitive proposals would be expected to explain how a university-led PDTA partner will improve training, strengthen implementation, support meaningful evaluation, integrate useful technology, and provide responsive technical assistance so local Sustainable Community Projects can deliver durable, evidence-informed programming for at-risk and underserved youth and families.
How is the work expected to be delivered?
The work is expected to happen collaboratively through the Cooperative Extension System, leveraging its network, community presence, and educational mission, and working alongside local and national partners.
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