Opportunity Information: Apply for HHS 2010 ACF ACYF CT 0022
Apply for HHS 2010 ACF ACYF CT 0022
- The Administration for Children and Families in the income security and social services sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Initiative to Reduce Long Term Foster Care" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.648 Child Welfare Research Training or Demonstration.
- This funding opportunity was created on Jun 24, 2010 and posted on Jun 9, 2010.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Aug 9, 2010 See link to full announcement for details. IMPORTANT NOTE Applications submitted electronically via Grants.gov must be submitted no later than 430 p.m., eastern time, on the due date referenced above.. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $17,000,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $2,500,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 5 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Public and State controlled institutions of higher education Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized) Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education County governments State governments Private institutions of higher education Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments) Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education.
- Collaborative efforts are strongly encouraged, but applicants must identify a primary applicant responsible for administering the cooperative agreement. If the primary applicant responsible for administering the cooperative agreement is a non profit organization or institution of higher education, the applicant must document a strong partnership with the public child welfare agency(ies) with responsibility for administering the child welfare program(s) in the targeted geographical area(s) and courts having jurisdiction over the targeted child welfare population. Faith based and community organizations that meet eligibility requirements are eligible to receive awards under this funding opportunity announcement.
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Opportunity Summary:
The Initiative to Reduce Long Term Foster Care is a discretionary funding opportunity from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families (ACF), designed to fund demonstration projects that try out and rigorously assess new, practical strategies for getting children to permanency faster. The central problem it targets is the continued growth of children and youth who remain in foster care for extended periods or age out without a permanent family, even after the Adoption and Safe Families Act of 1997 (ASFA) pushed systems to move more quickly toward reunification, guardianship, or adoption while maintaining child safety. The projects funded under this announcement are expected to focus on specific local or site-based obstacles that keep certain subgroups of children from achieving permanency, with an explicit goal of helping children exit foster care in fewer than three years.
Funding is provided through cooperative agreements, which typically means the federal agency expects an active partnership with grantees during planning, implementation, and evaluation rather than a hands-off grant. Awardees are expected to do more than run a program; they must build an intervention approach that fits local conditions, coordinate planning among key partners, and align or leverage other federal, state, and local funding streams so the permanency work is not isolated or temporary. Supported activities include designing and testing innovative intervention strategies, developing and adopting program models and practices that can be sustained, delivering the services needed to address barriers to permanent placement outside foster care, and participating in both site-specific and cross-site evaluations that cover implementation (process), results (outcomes), and costs. Grantees are also expected to share what they learn through dissemination of experiences and findings so other jurisdictions can replicate effective approaches.
A major requirement is that each applicant identify the local barriers that are driving long stays in care and then implement interventions that directly reduce or remove those barriers across the service continuum. The announcement intentionally allows flexibility in how applicants define the target population and design the interventions, recognizing that long-term foster care can result from different causes in different places (for example, court process delays, limited service capacity, lack of appropriate placements, behavioral health needs, or challenges involving older youth). While cooperative agreement funds can be used for direct services, the announcement emphasizes that those dollars should not replace (supplant) existing federal, state, or local funding already committed to these purposes. In other words, the grant is meant to add capability, test new approaches, and strengthen systems rather than simply backfilling routine service costs.
The types of innovative strategies encouraged span multiple points in the child welfare pathway. Examples include efforts to reduce the number of children entering foster care in the first place; early intervention at the point of entry for families whose children are likely to remain in care for long periods; targeted assessments of children and families that identify strengths, needs, trauma histories, and individualized service plans; specialized interventions for children already experiencing long stays; and practice or policy changes that improve child and family well-being while speeding progress toward permanency. The announcement also highlights state and tribal collaboration to shorten length of stay for children with tribal heritage, as well as targeted work with populations known to face persistent permanency barriers. Another example area is recruiting foster homes in communities with the highest rates of child removal, which can reduce placement instability and help maintain ties that support reunification or kin placement.
Projects can earn incentive payments if they hit defined targets for permanency and well-being outcomes, and they have leeway in how to use those incentive funds for enhanced project-related activities. The announcement notes it was modified from an earlier version, including clarification of what counts as "long term foster care" and removal of a requirement that applicants hire independent evaluators, while still maintaining expectations for rigorous evaluation. Broken web links in the original materials were also corrected.
In terms of funding scale and program logistics, ACF anticipated making about five awards under this opportunity, with an estimated total funding amount of $17,000,000 and an award ceiling of $2,500,000 (the award floor is listed as $0). A cost-sharing or matching requirement applies. The program falls under CFDA 93.648 (Child Welfare Research, Training or Demonstration) and is categorized within Income Security and Social Services. The opportunity was posted June 9, 2010, with an application deadline of August 9, 2010, and an archive date of September 8, 2010. Applications submitted through Grants.gov were required to be submitted by 4:30 p.m. Eastern Time on the due date.
Eligible applicants include state and county governments, federally recognized tribal governments, tribal organizations, public and private institutions of higher education, and nonprofit organizations (including both 501(c)(3) and certain non-501(c)(3) nonprofits). Collaborative applications are strongly encouraged, but the announcement requires a clearly identified primary applicant that will administer the cooperative agreement. If the primary applicant is a nonprofit or a higher education institution, it must document a strong partnership with the public child welfare agency or agencies responsible for administering the child welfare programs in the targeted area, as well as with the courts that have jurisdiction over the targeted child welfare population. Faith-based and community organizations that meet the eligibility requirements are also eligible. For applicants needing help accessing the full announcement, the ACF Applications Help Desk (appsupport@acf.hhs.gov) is listed as the support contact.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): Initiative to Reduce Long Term Foster Care
1) What is the Initiative to Reduce Long Term Foster Care?
It is a discretionary funding opportunity from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Administration for Children and Families (ACF), to fund demonstration projects that test and rigorously assess new, practical strategies to help children reach permanency faster and reduce extended stays in foster care.
2) What problem is this funding opportunity trying to solve?
The opportunity targets the continued growth of children and youth who remain in foster care for long periods or who age out without a permanent family, even after the Adoption and Safe Families Act of 1997 (ASFA) encouraged systems to move more quickly toward reunification, guardianship, or adoption while maintaining child safety.
3) What is the primary goal for funded projects?
Projects are expected to focus on local or site-based barriers that keep specific subgroups of children from achieving permanency, with an explicit goal of helping children exit foster care in fewer than three years.
4) What type of funding instrument is used?
Funding is provided through cooperative agreements, which typically involve an active partnership between the federal agency and the grantee during planning, implementation, and evaluation (rather than a hands-off grant).
5) What does ACF expect grantees to do beyond running a program?
Grantees are expected to build an intervention approach that fits local conditions, coordinate planning among key partners, and align or leverage other federal, state, and local funding streams so permanency work is not isolated or temporary.
6) What kinds of activities can be supported with grant funds?
Supported activities include designing and testing innovative intervention strategies; developing and adopting program models and practices that can be sustained; delivering services that address barriers to permanent placement outside foster care; participating in site-specific and cross-site evaluations (process, outcomes, and costs); and disseminating experiences and findings so other jurisdictions can replicate effective approaches.
7) Are applicants required to identify local barriers to permanency?
Yes. A major requirement is that each applicant identify the local barriers driving long stays in care and implement interventions that directly reduce or remove those barriers across the service continuum.
8) How prescriptive is ACF about the target population and intervention design?
The announcement is intentionally flexible. Applicants may define their target population and design interventions based on local conditions, recognizing that long-term foster care can have different causes in different places.
9) What are examples of barriers that may contribute to long stays in foster care?
Examples mentioned include court process delays, limited service capacity, lack of appropriate placements, behavioral health needs, and challenges involving older youth.
10) Can cooperative agreement funds be used for direct services?
Yes. Funds can be used for direct services, but the announcement emphasizes that grant dollars should not replace (supplant) existing federal, state, or local funding already committed to these purposes.
11) What does "supplanting" mean in this context?
It means using grant funds to backfill or replace routine service costs that are already paid for with existing federal, state, or local dollars. The grant is intended to add capability, test new approaches, and strengthen systems.
12) What types of innovative strategies are encouraged?
The announcement encourages strategies across multiple points in the child welfare pathway, including efforts to reduce entries into foster care; early intervention at the point of entry for families whose children are likely to remain in care for long periods; targeted assessments identifying strengths, needs, trauma histories, and individualized service plans; specialized interventions for children already experiencing long stays; and practice or policy changes that improve well-being while speeding progress toward permanency.
13) Does the opportunity mention work involving tribal communities?
Yes. It highlights state and tribal collaboration to shorten length of stay for children with tribal heritage, as well as targeted work with populations known to face persistent permanency barriers.
14) Are placement-related strategies included?
Yes. One example area is recruiting foster homes in communities with the highest rates of child removal, which can reduce placement instability and help maintain ties that support reunification or kin placement.
15) Are evaluations required?
Yes. Grantees are expected to participate in both site-specific and cross-site evaluations that examine implementation (process), results (outcomes), and costs. The announcement states that the requirement to hire independent evaluators was removed, while expectations for rigorous evaluation remain.
16) Is dissemination of results expected?
Yes. Grantees are expected to share lessons learned through dissemination of experiences and findings so other jurisdictions can replicate effective approaches.
17) Are there incentive payments available under this opportunity?
Yes. Projects can earn incentive payments if they meet defined targets for permanency and well-being outcomes, and they have flexibility in how to use those incentive funds for enhanced project-related activities.
18) How many awards did ACF anticipate making?
ACF anticipated making about five awards.
19) What is the estimated total funding amount available?
The estimated total funding amount is $17,000,000.
20) What is the maximum award amount per project?
The award ceiling is $2,500,000.
21) Is there a minimum award amount?
The award floor is listed as $0.
22) Is cost sharing or matching required?
Yes. A cost-sharing or matching requirement applies.
23) What is the CFDA number and program category for this opportunity?
The opportunity is under CFDA 93.648 (Child Welfare Research, Training or Demonstration) and is categorized within Income Security and Social Services.
24) When was the opportunity posted, and what were the key dates?
It was posted on June 9, 2010. The application deadline was August 9, 2010, and the archive date was September 8, 2010.
25) What was the Grants.gov submission deadline time?
Applications submitted through Grants.gov were required to be submitted by 4:30 p.m. Eastern Time on the due date.
26) Who is eligible to apply?
Eligible applicants include state and county governments, federally recognized tribal governments, tribal organizations, public and private institutions of higher education, and nonprofit organizations (including both 501(c)(3) and certain non-501(c)(3) nonprofits). Faith-based and community organizations that meet eligibility requirements are also eligible.
27) Are collaborative applications allowed or encouraged?
Collaborative applications are strongly encouraged, but the announcement requires a clearly identified primary applicant that will administer the cooperative agreement.
28) If a nonprofit or university is the primary applicant, are partnerships required?
Yes. If the primary applicant is a nonprofit or an institution of higher education, it must document a strong partnership with the public child welfare agency or agencies responsible for administering child welfare programs in the targeted area, as well as with the courts that have jurisdiction over the targeted child welfare population.
29) Who can help if an applicant has trouble accessing the full announcement?
The ACF Applications Help Desk is listed as the support contact: appsupport@acf.hhs.gov.
30) Did the announcement note any updates or modifications from an earlier version?
Yes. The announcement notes it was modified from an earlier version, including clarification of what counts as "long term foster care," removal of the requirement that applicants hire independent evaluators, and correction of broken web links in the original materials.
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| National Data Archive on Child Abuse and Neglect Apply for HHS 2010 ACF ACYF CA 0024 Funding Number: HHS 2010 ACF ACYF CA 0024 Agency: Administration for Children and Families Category: Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $675,000 |
| Post Release Services for Unaccompanied Alien Children Apply for HHS 2010 ACF ORR ZU 0078 Funding Number: HHS 2010 ACF ORR ZU 0078 Agency: Administration for Children and Families Category: Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $2,000,000 |
| Help America Vote Act (HAVA) Training and Technical Assistance (T/TA) to Assist Protection and Advocacy Systems (P amp As) to Establish or Improve Voting Access for Individuals with Disabilities Apply for HHS 2010 ACF ADD DH 0021 Funding Number: HHS 2010 ACF ADD DH 0021 Agency: Administration for Children and Families Category: Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $183,960 |
| National Human Trafficking Hotline, Training, and Technical Assistance Program Apply for HHS 2010 ACF ORR ZV 0025 Funding Number: HHS 2010 ACF ORR ZV 0025 Agency: Administration for Children and Families Category: Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $800,000 |
| Social Services and Income Maintenance Benefits Enrollment Coordination Grants Apply for HHS 2010 ACF OCS IB 0111 Funding Number: HHS 2010 ACF OCS IB 0111 Agency: Administration for Children and Families Category: Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $350,000 |
| Head Start Replacement Grantee Catawba County, North Carolina Apply for HHS 2010 ACF OHS CH R04 0133 Funding Number: HHS 2010 ACF OHS CH R04 0133 Agency: Administration for Children and Families Category: Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $1,183,768 |
| Head Start Replacement Grantee Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania Apply for HHS 2010 ACF OHS CH R03 0128 Funding Number: HHS 2010 ACF OHS CH R03 0128 Agency: Administration for Children and Families Category: Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $2,891,046 |
| Head Start Replacement Grantee Westfield, West Springfield and Agawam, Southwick, Tolland, Russell, Blandford, Chester, Middlefield, Montgomery, Huntington and Worthington, Massachusetts Apply for HHS 2010 ACF OHS CH R01 0130 Funding Number: HHS 2010 ACF OHS CH R01 0130 Agency: Administration for Children and Families Category: Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $1,452,184 |
| Head Start Replacement Grantee Morrisania Section of the Bronx, New York Apply for HHS 2010 ACF OHS CH R02 0132 Funding Number: HHS 2010 ACF OHS CH R02 0132 Agency: Administration for Children and Families Category: Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $1,416,758 |
| Head Start Replacement Grantee City and County of Camden, New Jersey Apply for HHS 2010 ACF OHS CH R02 0127 Funding Number: HHS 2010 ACF OHS CH R02 0127 Agency: Administration for Children and Families Category: Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $10,341,955 |
| Head Start Replacement Grantee Weld County, Colorado Apply for HHS 2010 ACF OHS CH R08 0129 Funding Number: HHS 2010 ACF OHS CH R08 0129 Agency: Administration for Children and Families Category: Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $2,958,964 |
| Migrant and Seasonal Head Start Replacement Grantee Northern Colorado (including Weld, Morgan, Larimer, Adams, Boulder, Mesa, Montrose and Delta Counties, Colorado) Apply for HHS 2010 ACF OHS CH R12 0131 Funding Number: HHS 2010 ACF OHS CH R12 0131 Agency: Administration for Children and Families Category: Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $2,406,240 |
| Mentoring Children of Prisoners Apply for HHS 2010 ACF ACYF CV 0070 Funding Number: HHS 2010 ACF ACYF CV 0070 Agency: Administration for Children and Families Category: Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $1,000,000 |
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| Family Violence Prevention and Services/Expanding Leadership Opportunities within the Domestic Violence Field for Members of Underrepresented Groups Apply for HHS 2010 ACF ACYF EV 0017 Funding Number: HHS 2010 ACF ACYF EV 0017 Agency: Administration for Children and Families Category: Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $500,000 |
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| Family Violence Prevention and Services/Expanding Services for Children and Youth Apply for HHS 2010 ACF ACYF EV 0084 Funding Number: HHS 2010 ACF ACYF EV 0084 Agency: Administration for Children and Families Category: Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $150,000 |
| Mentoring Children of Prisoners Statewide Projects Apply for HHS 2010 ACF ACYF CV 0083 Funding Number: HHS 2010 ACF ACYF CV 0083 Agency: Administration for Children and Families Category: Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $2,000,000 |
| Projects of National Significance Family Support and Community Access Demonstration Projects Apply for HHS 2010 ACF ADD DN 0031 Funding Number: HHS 2010 ACF ADD DN 0031 Agency: Administration for Children and Families Category: Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $250,000 |
| Health Profession Opportunity Grants for Tribes, Tribal Organizations or Tribal College or University Apply for HHS 2010 ACF OFA FY 0124 Funding Number: HHS 2010 ACF OFA FY 0124 Agency: Administration for Children and Families Category: Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $5,000,000 |
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