National Research Center for Promoting Work and Strong Families | Apply Online

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1) What is this funding opportunity?

This is a discretionary funding opportunity from the Administration for Children and Families (ACF), Office of Family Assistance, to fund a National Research Center for Promoting Work and Strong Families. The Center is intended to strengthen the evidence base behind human services policy and make research more usable in real-world decision-making.

2) What is the main purpose of the National Research Center?

The central purpose is to improve how federal and state policies support the dignity of work, economic self-sufficiency, and family stability. ACF is positioning the Center as a bridge between researchers and policymakers so that rigorous research is produced and translated into timely guidance that agencies can apply.

3) What policy areas does ACF expect the Center to focus on?

The expected focus includes employment and earnings, marriage and family formation, responsible fatherhood, child care, and reducing long-term reliance on public assistance. The Center is also expected to support policy-relevant work connected to the performance of major human services programs.

4) What are the required core functions of the Center?

The opportunity requires three core functions: (1) a fellowship program placing in-residence fellows within ACF (and potentially other HHS offices), (2) an extramural research grants program that competitively awards subgrants for timely and actionable projects aligned to ACF priorities, and (3) knowledge building and communication through convenings and policy-oriented materials designed for decision-makers.

5) What is the fellowship program expected to do?

The fellowship program is intended to place in-residence fellows within ACF and potentially other HHS offices to provide hands-on research expertise where policy is being developed and implemented. Emphasis areas include work participation, earnings progression, family stability, child care access and affordability, and performance of major human services programs.

6) What is the extramural research grants program?

Under this function, the Center would run a competitive process to award subgrants for research projects. These projects are expected to be timely, actionable, and aligned with ACF priorities.

7) What does ACF mean by knowledge building and communication?

This function includes hosting in-person and virtual convenings and producing policy-oriented materials so that research findings are understandable and usable for policymakers at the federal, state, tribal, and local levels.

8) What types of research themes does ACF emphasize?

ACF signals particular emphasis on research framing work as a pathway to self-sufficiency and stable family life. The notice also explicitly encourages work that can help identify duplication or redundancies across government welfare programs to support more efficient use of taxpayer dollars and help individuals and families reduce dependence on public assistance over time.

9) Are there restrictions on the types of activities the project may support?

Yes. The notice states that all activities must align with ACF statutory authorities. It also states that the project may not support diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEI/DEIA) activities, consistent with the general policies governing the funding notice.

10) What kind of award is this (grant vs. cooperative agreement)?

This award is expected to be a cooperative agreement. That means ACF anticipates substantial involvement during the project period, rather than a more hands-off relationship typical of some grant awards.

11) How many awards does ACF expect to make?

ACF anticipates making a single award.

12) What is the project period?

The anticipated project period is five years.

13) What is the maximum funding amount?

The award ceiling is $2,900,000.

14) Which agency and office are issuing this opportunity?

The opportunity is issued by the Administration for Children and Families (ACF), Office of Family Assistance.

15) What is the funding opportunity number?

The funding opportunity number is HHS 2026 ACF OFA PG 0059.

16) What is the application closing date?

The original closing date listed is 2026-08-31.

17) What is the assistance listing / CFDA information associated with this opportunity?

The opportunity is associated with CFDA numbers 93.239, 93.575, 93.595, and 93.647.

18) What activity category does this opportunity fall under?

The activity category is income security and social services.

19) Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is broad across many domestic entity types, including state, county, and city governments; special districts; independent school districts; public and private institutions of higher education; federally recognized tribal governments and other tribal organizations; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status; for-profit organizations (including small businesses); and other unrestricted domestic entities.

20) Are individuals allowed to apply?

No. Individuals (including sole proprietorships) are not eligible and would be disqualified from merit review.

21) Are foreign entities eligible?

No. Foreign entities are not eligible and would be disqualified from merit review.

22) Can faith-based or community organizations apply?

Yes. Faith-based and community organizations can apply as long as they meet the stated eligibility requirements.

23) Who are the intended users of the Center's research and outputs?

The notice emphasizes making research usable for policymakers and agencies at the federal, state, tribal, and local levels, with products designed to be understandable and applicable to real decision-making.

24) What does it mean that the Center is a "bridge" between researchers and policymakers?

It means the work is expected to go beyond producing research. The Center is also expected to translate findings into timely guidance, convene stakeholders, and develop policy-oriented materials that agencies can apply while developing and implementing human services policy.

25) Does the opportunity expect the Center to run competitions for research subgrants?

Yes. One of the required core functions is an extramural research grants program, where the Center would run a competitive process to award research subgrants aligned with ACF priorities.

26) Is child care included in the Center's expected scope?

Yes. The notice references child care as a practical policy area for the Center's work, including topics such as child care access and affordability.

27) Is reducing long-term reliance on public assistance part of the stated intent?

Yes. The notice describes reducing long-term reliance on public assistance as one of the practical focus areas, and it also highlights an intent to help individuals and families reduce dependence on public assistance over time.

28) Does ACF indicate interest in examining duplication across welfare programs?

Yes. The notice explicitly encourages work that can help identify duplication or redundancies across government welfare programs, with the stated intent of supporting more efficient use of taxpayer dollars.

29) What does "timely and actionable" research mean in this notice?

In the context of this opportunity, it refers to research designed to match ACF priorities and to be useful for real decision-making, including being translated into guidance and materials that agencies can apply.

30) Where are the fellows expected to be placed?

The fellowship program is described as placing in-residence fellows within ACF and potentially other HHS offices.