Opportunity Information: Apply for HHS 2013 ACF OPRE PD 0549
Apply for HHS 2013 ACF OPRE PD 0549
- The Administration for Children and Families OPRE in the income security and social services sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Family Self Sufficiency and Stability Research Scholars Network" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.647 Social Services Research and Demonstration.
- This funding opportunity was created on Feb 19, 2013 and posted on Feb 19, 2013.
- Applicants must submit their applications by May 20, 2013 Electronically submitted applications must be submitted no later than 1159 p.m., ET, on the listed application due date.. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $700,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $100,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 7 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Public and State controlled institutions of higher education Private institutions of higher education.
- Eligibility under this announcement is limited to accredited public, State controlled, and private institutions of higher education including Historic Black Colleges and Universities, Tribally controlled Colleges and Universities, and Hispanic Serving Institutions applying on behalf of an individual faculty member who will serve as a PI. Institutions must be fully accredited by one of the regional accrediting commissions recognized by the Department of Education and the Council of Post Secondary Accreditation and provide proof of accreditation at the time of application.
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Opportunity Summary:
The Family Self Sufficiency and Stability Research Scholars Network grant opportunity was offered by the Office of Planning, Research and Evaluation (OPRE) within the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Its main purpose was to build a coordinated, multidisciplinary group of research leaders focused on strengthening the evidence base around family self-sufficiency and stability. Rather than funding a single standalone study, the program aimed to create a collaborative "network of scholars" where each selected Principal Investigator (PI) would conduct rigorous, policy-relevant research while also contributing to shared learning and cross-project coordination. The intent was to generate findings that are not only academically strong, but directly useful to real-world family self-sufficiency programs and the agencies and organizations that operate them.
At the core of the opportunity was an emphasis on addressing gaps in existing policies, programs, and research related to how families achieve and maintain economic independence and stability. Scholars supported through this mechanism were expected to take a systematic look at what is not yet well understood, then design research and evaluation activities that can help fill those gaps. A key feature was strong engagement with practice settings: the work was meant to be carried out in collaboration with state and local human services agencies and with community-based organizations. In practice, that means projects would likely involve applied research, evaluations, and partnerships that connect academic methods with on-the-ground program realities, such as how services are delivered, what barriers families face, and which program designs appear most effective for different populations and local contexts.
The funding instrument was a cooperative agreement, which typically signals a more active role for the federal sponsor compared with a standard grant. Under this model, OPRE would not simply provide funds and step back; it would likely be involved in shaping the broader network activities, supporting coordination among scholars, and ensuring that the collective output aligns with OPRE and ACF priorities. In addition to conducting their own research, PIs were expected to participate in a multidisciplinary learning community by collaborating with other Network members and affiliated scholars. This network structure implies meetings, shared problem-solving, dissemination activities, and potentially the development of common measures, aligned research questions, or complementary study designs across projects.
This was a discretionary funding opportunity in the Income Security and Social Services category, associated with CFDA 93.647 (Social Services Research and Demonstration). The announcement anticipated making about seven awards, with an estimated total funding level of $700,000. Individual awards were expected to range from $75,000 (floor) to $100,000 (ceiling), and there was no cost sharing or matching requirement. The opportunity was posted on February 19, 2013, with an application due date of May 20, 2013, and it was later archived on June 19, 2013. Applications were required to be submitted electronically by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on the due date.
Eligibility was limited to accredited public and state-controlled institutions of higher education and accredited private institutions of higher education, including institutions such as Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities, and Hispanic-Serving Institutions. Importantly, applications had to be submitted by the institution on behalf of an individual faculty member who would serve as the Principal Investigator. The institution also had to provide proof of full accreditation by a recognized regional accrediting commission at the time of application. For assistance accessing the full announcement, the listed contact was Sarah Sattelmeyer (Sarah.Sattelmeyer@acf.hhs.gov).
Family Self Sufficiency and Stability Research Scholars Network - FAQs
What is the Family Self Sufficiency and Stability Research Scholars Network opportunity?
It was a discretionary federal grant opportunity offered by the Office of Planning, Research and Evaluation (OPRE) within the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The initiative was designed to build a coordinated, multidisciplinary group of research leaders focused on strengthening the evidence base around family self-sufficiency and stability.
What was the main goal of this grant?
The main goal was to strengthen research and evaluation evidence related to how families achieve and maintain economic independence and stability, with an emphasis on producing findings that are academically rigorous and directly useful to real-world programs and agencies working on family self-sufficiency.
Was this funding intended for one single research study?
No. Rather than funding a single standalone study, the program aimed to create a collaborative network of scholars. Each selected Principal Investigator (PI) would conduct policy-relevant research while also contributing to shared learning and cross-project coordination across the network.
What kinds of activities were scholars expected to do?
Scholars were expected to (1) conduct rigorous, policy-relevant research and evaluation work that addresses gaps in existing knowledge related to family self-sufficiency and stability, and (2) participate in network activities such as collaboration with other Network members, shared learning, and cross-project coordination.
What topics or focus areas did the opportunity emphasize?
The opportunity emphasized identifying and addressing gaps in policies, programs, and research related to family economic independence and stability. It encouraged systematic assessment of what is not well understood and the design of research/evaluation activities to fill those gaps in ways that inform practice.
How important were partnerships with agencies and community organizations?
Partnerships were a key feature. The work was meant to be carried out in collaboration with state and local human services agencies and with community-based organizations, linking academic research methods with on-the-ground program realities such as service delivery, barriers families face, and which program designs appear most effective in different settings.
What type of funding mechanism was used?
The opportunity used a cooperative agreement. This typically indicates a more active role for the federal sponsor than under a standard grant, with OPRE likely supporting and shaping broader network activities and helping ensure alignment with OPRE and ACF priorities.
What did being part of a "network of scholars" likely involve?
Beyond conducting individual research projects, PIs were expected to participate in a multidisciplinary learning community by collaborating with other Network members and affiliated scholars. The network structure implies coordinated activities such as meetings, shared problem-solving, dissemination efforts, and potentially the development of common measures or aligned research questions across projects.
Which federal office offered this opportunity?
The opportunity was offered by OPRE within ACF, which is part of HHS.
What funding category and program identification were associated with this grant?
This was in the Income Security and Social Services category and was associated with CFDA 93.647 (Social Services Research and Demonstration).
How many awards were anticipated, and what was the estimated total funding?
The announcement anticipated making about seven awards, with an estimated total funding level of $700,000.
What was the expected award size?
Individual awards were expected to range from $75,000 (floor) to $100,000 (ceiling).
Was cost sharing or matching required?
No. The opportunity stated there was no cost sharing or matching requirement.
Who was eligible to apply?
Eligibility was limited to accredited public and state-controlled institutions of higher education and accredited private institutions of higher education. The eligible institution types explicitly included Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities, and Hispanic-Serving Institutions, as long as they met the accreditation requirement.
Could an individual researcher apply directly?
Applications had to be submitted by the institution on behalf of an individual faculty member who would serve as the Principal Investigator (PI). The opportunity specified that the institution, not the individual alone, must submit the application.
What documentation related to accreditation was required?
The institution had to provide proof of full accreditation by a recognized regional accrediting commission at the time of application.
When was the opportunity posted, and when were applications due?
The opportunity was posted on February 19, 2013. Applications were due May 20, 2013.
What time were applications due on the deadline date?
Applications were required to be submitted electronically by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on the due date.
When was the opportunity archived?
It was later archived on June 19, 2013.
How were applications submitted?
Applications were required to be submitted electronically.
Who was the contact person for assistance with accessing the full announcement?
The listed contact was Sarah Sattelmeyer. The email provided was Sarah.Sattelmeyer@acf.hhs.gov.
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