Regional Partnership Grants to Increase the Well Being of, and to Improve the Permanency Outcomes for, Children Affected by Substance Abuse | Apply Online

Opportunity Summary:

The Regional Partnership Grants to Increase the Well Being of, and to Improve the Permanency Outcomes for, Children Affected by Substance Abuse is a competitive federal grant opportunity from the Administration for Children and Families (ACF), within the Childrens Bureau. It is funded under the Promoting Safe and Stable Families (PSSF) program and was created as a targeted grants initiative under the Child and Family Services Improvement and Innovation Act (Public Law 112-34), specifically section 437(f). The core purpose is to support coordinated, cross-system responses for children whose parents or caretakers have substance use disorders, particularly when that substance abuse is contributing to children entering foster care or being at imminent risk of out-of-home placement. The program is built around the idea that child welfare goals cannot be achieved by child welfare agencies alone; instead, stronger results come from formal, structured partnerships that blend and align services across child welfare, substance use treatment, courts, and related community systems.

The grants are intended to fund regional partnerships that design and deliver integrated activities and services that do three things at once: increase child well-being, improve permanency outcomes, and enhance child safety. In practical terms, this means applicants are expected to propose approaches that help stabilize families affected by substance abuse, reduce the length of time children spend in temporary care, increase timely reunification when safe and appropriate, and ensure children are protected from harm while parents receive effective treatment and related supports. The emphasis on permanency outcomes signals that the work is not only about crisis response; it is also about building reliable pathways to stable family arrangements, whether through reunification, guardianship, adoption, or other legally permanent solutions, depending on the childs needs and safety.

A defining feature of this funding opportunity is its eligibility and partnership structure. Applications must be submitted by a primary applicant (lead agency) that takes responsibility for administering the grant, managing funds, and meeting reporting requirements. However, the project itself must be carried out by a regional partnership formed through a collaborative agreement. That partnership must include at least two qualifying parties, and it must include, as a statutory requirement, the State child welfare agency responsible for administering the Title IV-B or Title IV-E state plan under the Social Security Act. The announcement also makes room for how different states are organized: in a state-supervised, county-administered child welfare system, a county child welfare agency can satisfy the requirement tied to administering the state plan. In a state-administered system, a local office of the state child welfare agency can participate and satisfy the requirement. The key point is that child welfare authority connected to the Title IV plan must be at the table, but that entity does not have to serve as the lead applicant.

The program also explicitly addresses Tribal participation. If an Indian Tribe or Tribal consortium enters into a regional partnership, the Tribe may include the State child welfare agency, but it is not required to do so. At the same time, the partnership cannot be composed only of Tribal child welfare agencies (or a consortium of them); it must include at least one additional type of eligible partner entity to meet the definition of a regional partnership under the legislation. This structure is meant to ensure that the partnership genuinely spans systems and brings together distinct roles such as treatment, courts, health, and child welfare practice, rather than operating within a single agency silo.

Beyond child welfare agencies, the notice lists a wide range of potential partners that may participate in the collaborative agreement. These include the state agency administering the Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Block Grant, nonprofit or for-profit child welfare service providers, community health and mental health providers, local law enforcement, judges and court personnel, juvenile justice officials, school personnel, and other entities connected to child and family services. Faith-based and community organizations may also participate if they otherwise meet eligibility requirements. The list is intentionally broad, reflecting the complex, multi-system needs of families affected by substance use disorders and the reality that decisions about child placement, treatment engagement, and permanency frequently involve courts, treatment providers, and community supports in addition to child welfare casework.

From a funding standpoint, this opportunity was posted May 17, 2012, with an application deadline of July 16, 2012 (electronic submissions due by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time). ACF anticipated making about 32 awards, supported by an estimated total funding level of $16,000,000. Individual awards were expected to fall between $500,000 (floor) and $1,000,000 (ceiling). The program falls under Assistance Listing/CFDA 93.087 and is categorized under Income Security and Social Services. A cost-sharing or matching requirement applies, meaning applicants should be prepared to commit non-federal resources consistent with the terms laid out in the full announcement.

Eligibility for the lead applicant is broad in terms of organizational type, but it is not open to everyone. Eligible applicant types include state, county, city, township, and special district governments; federally recognized Tribal governments and certain Tribal organizations; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; independent school districts; public and private institutions of higher education; nonprofits (both with and without 501(c)(3) status); and for-profit organizations (including small businesses and other for-profit entities). Despite that breadth, the lead applicant must be one of the organizations that is actually part of the regional partnership, and it must have the capacity to oversee program activities, finances, and reporting. Individuals, foreign entities, and sole proprietorships are explicitly ineligible.

Overall, the opportunity is designed for regions that can formalize a working coalition across child welfare and substance use treatment systems and demonstrate how integrated services will translate into measurable improvements for children and families. It is less about funding a single program in isolation and more about building a coordinated regional response where agencies share responsibility, align practice, and reduce the gaps that often leave families bouncing between disconnected systems. For applicants, the major strategic task is not only proposing effective interventions, but also showing that the partnership structure is real, compliant with the statutory requirements, and capable of managing a complex, multi-agency project with shared goals tied to safety, well-being, and permanency.

Browse more opportunities from the same agency: Administration for Children and Families

Browse more opportunities from the same category: Income Security and Social Services

Next opportunity: Pacific Islands Area Conservation Innovation Grant

Previous opportunity: Alpine Loop Education and Enforcement in Hinsdale County Colorado

USGrants.org Applicant Portal:

Are you interested in learning about about how to apply for this government funding opportunity? You can create a free applicant account and receive instant access to our applicant portal that many business owners like you have benefited from.

Apply for HHS 2012 ACF ACYF CU 0321

 

[Watch] how do funding administrators access proposals?

Applicants also applied for:

Applicants who have applied for this opportunity (HHS 2012 ACF ACYF CU 0321) also looked into and applied for these:

 

Grant application guides and resources

It is always free to apply for government grants. However the process may be very complex depending on the funding opportunity you are applying for. Let us help you!

Apply for Grants

 

 

Premium leads for funding administrators, grant writers, and loan issuers

Thousands of people visit our website for their funding needs every day. When a user creates a grant proposal and files for submission, we pass the information on to funding administrators, grant writers, and government loan issuers.

If you manage government grant programs, provide grant writing services, or issue personal or government loans, we can help you reach your audience.

Subscribe to Leads

 

Request more information:

Would you like to learn more about this funding opportunity, similar opportunities to "HHS 2012 ACF ACYF CU 0321", eligibility, application service, and/or application tips? Submit an inquiry below:

Don't forget to subscribe to our grant alerts mailing list to receive weekly alerts on new and updated grant funding opportunities like this one in your email.