Opportunity Information: Apply for HHS 2012 ACF ACYF CA 0538
Apply for HHS 2012 ACF ACYF CA 0538
- The Administration for Children and Families in the income security and social services sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Partnerships to Demonstrate the Effectiveness of Supportive Housing for Families in the Child Welfare System" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.670 Child Abuse and Neglect Discretionary Activities.
- This funding opportunity was created on May 30, 2012 and posted on May 30, 2012.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jul 30, 2012 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 $5,000,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $1,000,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 5 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education Private institutions of higher education Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized) State governments City or township governments For profit organizations other than small businesses County governments Small businesses Public and State controlled institutions of higher education Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments) Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education Special district governments.
- Eligible applicants are public and private agencies that demonstrate innovation in responding to reports of child abuse and neglect, including programs of collaborative partnerships between the State child protective services agency, community social service agencies and family support programs, law enforcement agencies, developmental disability agencies, substance abuse treatment entities, health care entities, domestic violence prevention entities, mental health service entities, schools, churches and synagogues, and other community agencies, to allow for the establishment of a triage system. Faith based and community organizations that meet eligibility requirements are eligible to receive awards under this funding opportunity announcement. Individuals, foreign entities, and sole proprietorship organizations are not eligible to compete for, or receive, awards made under this announcement.
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Opportunity Summary:
This grant opportunity, titled Partnerships to Demonstrate the Effectiveness of Supportive Housing for Families in the Child Welfare System, was released by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Administration for Children and Families (ACF), specifically the Administration for Children, Youth and Families (ACYF) and the Children s Bureau (CB). It is a competitive, discretionary funding opportunity authorized under the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA) Reauthorization Act of 2010 (Public Law 111 320). The program is designed as a targeted, five-year demonstration effort intended to help child welfare systems respond more effectively to families whose involvement with child protective services is closely tied to severe housing instability alongside other high and complex service needs.
At the core of the announcement is the idea that some families come to the attention of child welfare not only because of safety concerns, but because homelessness, unsafe housing conditions, overcrowding, or the inability to maintain stable housing can push families into crisis and increase the risk of child removal. The grant aims to support communities in building or strengthening triage procedures within child protective services and related partners so agencies can identify this subset of families early, assess their needs quickly, and connect them to the right mix of housing and supportive services. In this context, triage refers to structured decision-making and coordinated intake approaches that route families to the most appropriate intervention track, rather than relying on a one-size-fits-all response.
The funded projects are expected to implement supportive housing approaches tailored to families involved with child welfare. Supportive housing here is not just rental assistance; it is housing paired with coordinated services that address the underlying factors contributing to instability and risk. The FOA emphasizes local implementation models that integrate community services for both housing and other critical supports. This includes partnering with housing entities and community-based service providers so families can access a more complete set of resources, such as benefits enrollment help, employment supports, substance use treatment, domestic violence services, health care, and other family stabilization services. The intent is to create a practical, multidisciplinary service structure that can respond to complex and overlapping challenges in a sustained way.
A major required component is customized case management for both children and parents, delivered in coordination with trauma-informed interventions and evidence-based mental health services. Applicants are specifically instructed to describe which evidence-based, trauma-informed services they plan to include or are considering adding to the service array. The emphasis on trauma-informed practice reflects the reality that many families in the child welfare system have histories of trauma that affect parenting, mental health, family functioning, and engagement with services. By embedding evidence-based and trauma-informed supports within the supportive housing model, the program aims to improve housing stability and increase meaningful participation in services that reduce risk and strengthen family well-being.
Evaluation is also a central expectation of the cooperative agreements. Grantees must conduct evaluations that examine process and implementation outcomes, meaning they are expected to document how the model is put into place, how partnerships function, what services are delivered, and what barriers and facilitators affect results. This demonstration focus signals that the federal government is not only funding direct services, but also seeking lessons about what works, under what conditions, and how supportive housing can be coordinated with child welfare practice to prevent unnecessary foster care placements.
The target population is explicitly defined as families for whom inadequate housing is a significant factor, combined with other high service needs, in situations where a child is at imminent risk of placement or has already been placed in out-of-home care. In other words, the grants are meant to serve families at the intersection of housing crisis and child welfare involvement, where stabilizing housing and wrapping services around the family could prevent removal, shorten time in foster care, or reduce repeat system involvement. The expected outcomes listed in the announcement include reductions in child welfare system contacts, reductions in child maltreatment, fewer child removals, and fewer foster care placements.
From a funding and administrative standpoint, this opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number HHS 2012 ACF ACYF CA 0538) used a cooperative agreement mechanism, which generally means the federal agency expects a higher level of involvement and collaboration during implementation than a standard grant. The total estimated funding was 5,000,000, with an anticipated 5 awards. Individual awards were expected to range from 500,000 (floor) to 1,000,000 (ceiling). There was no cost sharing or matching requirement. The CFDA number associated with the program is 93.670, Child Abuse and Neglect Discretionary Activities. The opportunity was posted May 30, 2012, and applications were due July 30, 2012 by 11:59 p.m. ET, with the archive date listed as July 31, 2012.
Eligibility was broad and intentionally inclusive of the cross-sector partnerships needed to make supportive housing work for child welfare-involved families. Eligible applicants included state, county, and local governments; public housing authorities and Indian housing authorities; federally recognized tribal governments and other tribal organizations; public and private institutions of higher education; nonprofits (including those with and without 501(c)(3) status); for-profit organizations other than small businesses; and small businesses. The announcement also makes clear that faith-based and community organizations that meet the requirements are eligible. At the same time, individuals, foreign entities, and sole proprietorships were not eligible to apply. Beyond organizational type, applicants were expected to demonstrate innovation in responding to child abuse and neglect reports and to show the capacity to build collaborative partnerships among child protective services and other community systems. The FOA lists examples of relevant partners, including law enforcement, developmental disability agencies, substance abuse treatment providers, health care entities, domestic violence prevention organizations, mental health service providers, schools, and faith communities, among others, with the overall goal of supporting a functional triage system and coordinated service delivery.
In practical terms, this FOA is about using supportive housing as a child welfare prevention and family preservation strategy, backed by structured triage, strong interagency collaboration, and trauma-informed, evidence-based services. The federal government s interest is twofold: helping families stabilize and stay safely together when housing is a major driver of risk, and generating credible implementation and outcome information that can inform broader child welfare and housing policy decisions in the future.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the official title of this grant opportunity?
The opportunity is titled Partnerships to Demonstrate the Effectiveness of Supportive Housing for Families in the Child Welfare System.
Which federal agency released this funding opportunity?
It was released by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), specifically the Administration for Children and Families (ACF), through the Administration for Children, Youth and Families (ACYF) and the Children's Bureau (CB).
What type of funding opportunity is this?
This is a competitive, discretionary funding opportunity using a cooperative agreement mechanism.
What does it mean that this is a cooperative agreement?
A cooperative agreement generally indicates that the federal agency expects a higher level of involvement and collaboration during project implementation than with a standard grant.
What law authorizes this program?
The opportunity is authorized under the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA) Reauthorization Act of 2010 (Public Law 111-320).
What is the overall purpose of this demonstration program?
It is a targeted, five-year demonstration effort intended to help child welfare systems respond more effectively to families whose involvement with child protective services is closely tied to severe housing instability alongside high and complex service needs.
Why is housing instability a focus for child welfare involvement?
The program is based on the premise that some families come to the attention of child welfare not only due to safety concerns, but because issues like homelessness, unsafe housing, overcrowding, or an inability to maintain stable housing can push families into crisis and increase the risk of child removal.
Who is the target population for services under this grant?
The target population is families for whom inadequate housing is a significant factor, combined with other high service needs, where a child is at imminent risk of placement or has already been placed in out-of-home care.
What does the FOA mean by "triage" in this context?
Triage refers to structured decision-making and coordinated intake approaches that help child protective services and partners identify the relevant subset of families early, assess needs quickly, and route families to the most appropriate intervention track rather than using a one-size-fits-all response.
What is the role of supportive housing in this program?
Supportive housing is positioned as a child welfare prevention and family preservation strategy. It combines housing with coordinated supportive services designed to address the underlying factors contributing to instability and risk.
Does supportive housing here mean only rental assistance?
No. The FOA emphasizes that supportive housing is not just rental assistance; it is housing paired with coordinated services that address underlying causes of instability and child welfare risk.
What kinds of supportive services are expected to be included?
The FOA highlights integration with community services that may include benefits enrollment assistance, employment supports, substance use treatment, domestic violence services, health care, and other family stabilization services.
Are projects required to use trauma-informed approaches?
Yes. A major required component is customized case management for both children and parents delivered in coordination with trauma-informed interventions and evidence-based mental health services.
What do applicants need to describe regarding evidence-based services?
Applicants are instructed to describe which evidence-based, trauma-informed services they plan to include or are considering adding to their service array.
What is expected regarding case management?
Projects are expected to provide customized case management for both children and parents, coordinated with trauma-informed interventions and evidence-based mental health services.
What kinds of partnerships does the FOA expect applicants to build?
The FOA is centered on cross-system collaboration, including partnerships among child protective services and housing and community-based providers. Examples of potential partners mentioned include law enforcement, developmental disability agencies, substance abuse treatment providers, health care entities, domestic violence prevention organizations, mental health service providers, schools, and faith communities.
Why are partnerships emphasized so strongly?
The intent is to create a practical, multidisciplinary structure that can respond to complex and overlapping challenges in a sustained way, supported by functional triage and coordinated service delivery.
What evaluation requirements are included in the cooperative agreement?
Grantees must conduct evaluations that examine process and implementation outcomes, including how the model is implemented, how partnerships function, what services are delivered, and what barriers and facilitators affect results.
Is the federal government funding only direct services?
No. The FOA indicates the federal government is funding both direct services and the generation of lessons about what works, under what conditions, and how supportive housing can be coordinated with child welfare practice to prevent unnecessary foster care placements.
What outcomes is the program aiming to achieve?
Expected outcomes listed include reductions in child welfare system contacts, reductions in child maltreatment, fewer child removals, and fewer foster care placements.
How long is the program designed to run?
The program is described as a five-year targeted demonstration effort.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FON)?
The Funding Opportunity Number is HHS-2012-ACF-ACYF-CA-0538.
What is the CFDA number for this program?
The CFDA number is 93.670, titled Child Abuse and Neglect Discretionary Activities.
How much total funding was estimated for this opportunity?
The total estimated funding was $5,000,000.
How many awards were anticipated?
The announcement anticipated 5 awards.
What was the expected award size range?
Individual awards were expected to range from a $500,000 floor to a $1,000,000 ceiling.
Was there a cost-sharing or matching requirement?
No. The opportunity stated there was no cost sharing or matching requirement.
When was the opportunity posted?
The opportunity was posted on May 30, 2012.
When were applications due?
Applications were due on July 30, 2012 by 11:59 p.m. ET.
What was the archive date listed for the opportunity?
The archive date was listed as July 31, 2012.
Which organizations were eligible to apply?
Eligible applicants included state, county, and local governments; public housing authorities and Indian housing authorities; federally recognized tribal governments and other tribal organizations; public and private institutions of higher education; nonprofits (with and without 501(c)(3) status); for-profit organizations other than small businesses; and small businesses.
Are faith-based organizations eligible to apply?
Yes. The announcement indicates that faith-based and community organizations that meet the requirements are eligible.
Who was not eligible to apply?
The FOA stated that individuals, foreign entities, and sole proprietorships were not eligible to apply.
Beyond basic eligibility, what capacity were applicants expected to demonstrate?
Applicants were expected to demonstrate innovation in responding to child abuse and neglect reports and the capacity to build collaborative partnerships among child protective services and other community systems, supporting a functional triage system and coordinated service delivery.
What is the central strategy behind this FOA?
The FOA focuses on using supportive housing backed by structured triage, strong interagency collaboration, and trauma-informed, evidence-based services to help stabilize families and improve child welfare outcomes.
What broader interest does the federal government have in funding this work?
The FOA describes a dual interest: (1) helping families stabilize and stay safely together when housing is a major driver of risk, and (2) generating credible implementation and outcome information that can inform broader child welfare and housing policy decisions.
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