Opportunity Information: Apply for HHS 2015 ACF ACYF CS 0973
Apply for HHS 2015 ACF ACYF CS 0973
- The Administration for Children and Families ACYF/CB in the income security and social services sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Tribal Court Improvement Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.586 State Court Improvement Program.
- This funding opportunity was created on Feb 10, 2015 and posted on Jan 20, 2015.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Apr 22, 2015 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 $1,000,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $150,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 10 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized) Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments).
- According to section 438(c)(3)(A)(iv) of the Social Security Act (Act) (42 U.S.C. sect 629h(c)(3)(A)(iv)), grants are to be awarded on a competitive basis among the highest courts of Indian tribes or tribal consortia that (1) are operating an approved title IV E program in accordance with section 479B of the Act (42 U.S.C. sect 679c) (2) plan to operate a title IV E program and have received a Tribal Title IV E Plan Development Grant, as authorized by section 476 of the Act (42 U.S.C. sect 676) or (3) have a court responsible for proceedings related to foster care or adoption. Tribal governments that were awarded TCIP grants in FY 2012 are eligible to compete for funding under this announcement. Please note that the definition of Indian tribe and tribal organization are in section 428(c) of the Social Security Act and refer to subsections (e) and (l) of section 4 of the Indian Self Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 450b), respectively. That is (e) lsquolsquoIndian tribersquorsquo means any Indian tribe, band, nation, or other organized group or community, including any Alaska Native village or regional or village corporation as defined in or established pursuant to the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (85 Stat. 688) 43 U.S.C. 1601 et seq., which is recognized as eligible for the special programs and services provided by the United States to Indians because of their status as Indians. (l) lsquolsquotribal organizationrsquorsquo means the recognized governing body of any Indian tribe any legally established organization of Indians which is controlled, sanctioned, or chartered by such governing body or which is democratically elected by the adult members of the Indian community to be served by such organization and which includes the maximum participation of Indians in all phases of its activities Provided, That in any case where a contract is let or grant made to an organization to perform services benefiting more than one Indian tribe, the approval of each such Indian tribe shall be a prerequisite to the letting or making of such contract or grant. Applications from individuals (including sole proprietorships) and foreign entities are not eligible and will be disqualified from competitive review and from funding under this announcement.
[Watch] Creating a grant proposal using the step-by-step wizard inside the applicant portal:
Opportunity Summary:
The Tribal Court Improvement Program (TCIP) is a discretionary federal grant opportunity offered by the Administration for Children and Families (ACF), Childrens Bureau (ACYF/CB), under Funding Opportunity Number HHS-2015-ACF-ACYF-CS-0973 (CFDA 93.586, State Court Improvement Program). The program is designed to help tribal courts strengthen how they handle child welfare proceedings, with a clear emphasis on improving court processes and outcomes for children and families involved in foster care, family preservation, reunification, and adoption matters. The overall purpose is to support court-led improvements that align with federal child welfare priorities, especially the Adoption and Safe Families Act of 1997, which focuses on child safety, permanency, and well-being.
Funding is intended to help tribal courts and tribal consortia in four main ways. First, awards can support an assessment of current tribal court handling of child welfare cases, including identifying gaps and practical areas for procedural improvement. Second, grantees can use funds to implement improvements that promote safety, permanency, and well-being for children, while also increasing meaningful engagement of the full family in the court process. Third, the program encourages better collection and analysis of data so that courts can monitor timeliness and completeness in meeting childrens needs and make evidence-informed changes. Fourth, funding can be used to train judges, attorneys, and other legal personnel who work on child welfare cases, strengthening the courts capacity to manage these matters effectively and consistently.
The opportunity has explicit limits on what the money can pay for. Grant funds cannot be used to hire attorneys or judges, to fill vacant court personnel positions, or to replace (supplant) funding that would otherwise be paid through tribal government budgets. In other words, the grant is meant to build systems, processes, training, and court improvement efforts rather than serve as a staffing backfill for existing or unfilled government roles.
Eligibility is limited to Native American tribal governments (federally recognized) and Native American tribal organizations (other than federally recognized tribal governments), and is further tied to specific statutory requirements in the Social Security Act. Competitive awards are available to the highest courts of Indian tribes or tribal consortia that meet at least one of these conditions: they are operating an approved Title IV-E program under section 479B; they plan to operate a Title IV-E program and have received a Tribal Title IV-E Plan Development Grant; or they have a court responsible for proceedings related to foster care or adoption. The announcement also notes that tribes that received TCIP grants in FY 2012 remain eligible to compete under this round. Individuals (including sole proprietorships) and foreign entities are not eligible and will be disqualified.
ACF anticipated making about 10 awards with an estimated total funding amount of $1,000,000. Individual awards were expected to range from $50,000 (award floor) to $150,000 (award ceiling). There is no cost sharing or matching requirement, which means applicants are not required to contribute non-federal funds as a condition of receiving an award.
As an administrative update, this funding opportunity announcement was modified to change the application due date. The original closing date was April 20, 2015, but the current closing date was moved to April 22, 2015 to account for scheduled maintenance on Grants.gov. Applications had to be submitted electronically by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on the due date. The posting date was January 20, 2015, and the archive date was May 22, 2015.
For applicants needing help accessing the full announcement or troubleshooting electronic submission issues, the contact listed is the ACF Applications Help Desk at appsupport@acf.hhs.gov. The announcement also provides an additional information link hosted on the ACF grants site.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): Tribal Court Improvement Program (TCIP)
1. What is the Tribal Court Improvement Program (TCIP)?
The Tribal Court Improvement Program (TCIP) is a discretionary federal grant opportunity offered by the Administration for Children and Families (ACF), Childrens Bureau (ACYF/CB). It is designed to help tribal courts strengthen how they handle child welfare proceedings, with an emphasis on improving court processes and outcomes for children and families involved in foster care, family preservation, reunification, and adoption matters.
2. What is the funding opportunity number and CFDA listing for this grant?
This opportunity is identified as Funding Opportunity Number HHS-2015-ACF-ACYF-CS-0973. It is associated with CFDA 93.586 (State Court Improvement Program).
3. What is the overall purpose of TCIP funding?
The overall purpose is to support court-led improvements that align with federal child welfare priorities, especially the Adoption and Safe Families Act of 1997, which focuses on child safety, permanency, and well-being.
4. What types of activities can TCIP funds support?
Funding is intended to help tribal courts and tribal consortia in four main ways: (1) assessing current tribal court handling of child welfare cases and identifying gaps and areas for procedural improvement; (2) implementing improvements that promote safety, permanency, and well-being for children and increase meaningful engagement of the full family in the court process; (3) improving collection and analysis of data so courts can monitor timeliness and completeness in meeting childrens needs and make evidence-informed changes; and (4) training judges, attorneys, and other legal personnel who work on child welfare cases.
5. Can this grant be used to hire judges or attorneys?
No. Grant funds cannot be used to hire attorneys or judges.
6. Can this grant be used to fill vacant court personnel positions?
No. Grant funds cannot be used to fill vacant court personnel positions.
7. Can TCIP funds replace existing tribal government funding for court operations?
No. The announcement states the grant cannot be used to replace (supplant) funding that would otherwise be paid through tribal government budgets. The intent is to support systems, processes, training, and court improvement efforts rather than backfilling existing or unfilled government roles.
8. Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is limited to Native American tribal governments (federally recognized) and Native American tribal organizations (other than federally recognized tribal governments). Individuals (including sole proprietorships) and foreign entities are not eligible and will be disqualified.
9. What tribal court entities can compete for awards under this opportunity?
Competitive awards are available to the highest courts of Indian tribes or tribal consortia that meet at least one statutory condition described in the announcement.
10. What are the statutory conditions tied to eligibility for competitive awards?
A highest court of an Indian tribe or a tribal consortium must meet at least one of the following conditions: (1) operating an approved Title IV-E program under section 479B; (2) planning to operate a Title IV-E program and having received a Tribal Title IV-E Plan Development Grant; or (3) having a court responsible for proceedings related to foster care or adoption.
11. Are tribes that previously received TCIP grants eligible to apply again?
Yes. The announcement notes that tribes that received TCIP grants in FY 2012 remain eligible to compete under this round.
12. How many awards were expected to be made, and what was the total estimated funding?
ACF anticipated making about 10 awards with an estimated total funding amount of $1,000,000.
13. What is the expected award size for individual grants?
Individual awards were expected to range from $50,000 (award floor) to $150,000 (award ceiling).
14. Is there a cost sharing or matching requirement?
No. There is no cost sharing or matching requirement, meaning applicants are not required to contribute non-federal funds as a condition of receiving an award.
15. When was the opportunity posted, and when was it archived?
The posting date was January 20, 2015, and the archive date was May 22, 2015.
16. What was the application due date and submission deadline time?
The application due date was modified. The original closing date was April 20, 2015, and the current closing date was moved to April 22, 2015. Applications had to be submitted electronically by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on the due date.
17. Why was the application due date changed?
The due date was moved to account for scheduled maintenance on Grants.gov.
18. How were applications required to be submitted?
Applications had to be submitted electronically through Grants.gov by the stated deadline.
19. Where can applicants get help with electronic submission or accessing the full announcement?
Applicants needing help accessing the full announcement or troubleshooting electronic submission issues were directed to the ACF Applications Help Desk at appsupport@acf.hhs.gov.
20. Which federal agency and office administered this opportunity?
This opportunity was offered by the Administration for Children and Families (ACF), Childrens Bureau (ACYF/CB).
21. What kinds of child welfare proceedings are emphasized under TCIP?
The program emphasizes improving court processes and outcomes for matters involving foster care, family preservation, reunification, and adoption.
22. What are the key improvement themes the program wants courts to focus on?
The program highlights improvements related to child safety, permanency, and well-being, including meaningful engagement of the full family in the court process, and stronger data collection and analysis to track timeliness and completeness in meeting childrens needs.
Browse more opportunities from the same category: Income Security and Social Services
Next opportunity: Metabolomics Core for the Undiagnosed Diseases Network (UDN) (U01)
Previous opportunity: Increasing Data and Analytics Capacity
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 2015 ACF ACYF CS 0973
[Watch] how do funding administrators access proposals?
Applicants also applied for:
Applicants who have applied for this opportunity (HHS 2015 ACF ACYF CS 0973) also looked into and applied for these:
| Funding Opportunity |
|---|
| SSA Work Incentives Planning and Assistance Program (WIPA) Apply for WIPA WIP 15 001 Funding Number: WIPA WIP 15 001 Agency: Social Security Administration Category: Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $300,000 |
| Basic Center Program Apply for HHS 2015 ACF ACYF CY 0957 Funding Number: HHS 2015 ACF ACYF CY 0957 Agency: Administration for Children Families ACYF/FYSB Category: Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $200,000 |
| Street Outreach Program Apply for HHS 2015 ACF ACYF YO 0956 Funding Number: HHS 2015 ACF ACYF YO 0956 Agency: Administration for Children Families ACYF/FYSB Category: Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $200,000 |
| Senior Medicare Patrol Projects Empowering Seniors to Prevent Health Care Fraud Apply for HHS 2015 ACL CCASD MP 0091 Funding Number: HHS 2015 ACL CCASD MP 0091 Agency: Administration for Community Living Category: Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $493,881 |
| Building the Evidence for Family Group Decision Making in Child Welfare Apply for HHS 2015 ACF ACYF CF 1008 Funding Number: HHS 2015 ACF ACYF CF 1008 Agency: Administration for Children and Families ACYF/CB Category: Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $670,000 |
| The Paralysis Resource Center Apply for HHS 2015 ACL AIDD PR 0093 Funding Number: HHS 2015 ACL AIDD PR 0093 Agency: Administration for Community Living Category: Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $6,529,823 |
| Disaster Assistance for State Units on Aging (SUAs) and Tribal Organizations in National Disasters Declared by the President Apply for HHS 2015 ACL AOA DA 0066 Funding Number: HHS 2015 ACL AOA DA 0066 Agency: Administration for Community Living Category: Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $80,000 |
| Refugee Individual Development Accounts (IDA) Program Apply for HHS 2015 ACF ORR ZI 0958 Funding Number: HHS 2015 ACF ORR ZI 0958 Agency: Administration for Children and Families ORR Category: Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $250,000 |
| Grants for Coordination of Tribal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) and Child Welfare Services to Tribal Families at Risk of Child Abuse or Neglect Apply for HHS 2015 ACF OFA FN 0991 Funding Number: HHS 2015 ACF OFA FN 0991 Agency: Administration for Children and Families OFA Category: Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $225,000 |
| Personal Responsibility Education Program (PREP) Competitive Grants under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) Apply for HHS 2015 ACF ACYF AK 0984 Funding Number: HHS 2015 ACF ACYF AK 0984 Agency: Administration for Children Families ACYF/FYSB Category: Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $900,000 |
| University Centers for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities Apply for HHS 2015 ACL AIDD DD 0099 Funding Number: HHS 2015 ACL AIDD DD 0099 Agency: Administration for Community Living Category: Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $545,919 |
| Family Violence Prevention and Services Discretionary Grant Program/National Domestic Violence Hotline Apply for HHS 2015 ACF ACYF EV 0975 Funding Number: HHS 2015 ACF ACYF EV 0975 Agency: Administration for Children Families ACYF/FYSB Category: Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $4,100,000 |
| U.S. Administration on Aging National Resource Centers on Older Indians, Alaska Natives and Native Hawaiians Apply for HHS 2015 ACL AOA OI 0098 Funding Number: HHS 2015 ACL AOA OI 0098 Agency: Administration for Community Living Category: Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $340,000 |
| Senior Legal Helplines and Model Approaches Technical Assistance Apply for HHS 2015 ACL AOA LM 0101 Funding Number: HHS 2015 ACL AOA LM 0101 Agency: Administration for Community Living Category: Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $143,000 |
| National Legal Resource Center Apply for HHS 2015 ACL AOA LA 0100 Funding Number: HHS 2015 ACL AOA LA 0100 Agency: Administration for Community Living Category: Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $176,838 |
| Help America Vote Act (HAVA) Apply for HHS 2015 ACL AIDD DH 0095 Funding Number: HHS 2015 ACL AIDD DH 0095 Agency: Administration for Community Living Category: Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $247,218 |
| Implementation Grants to Develop A Model Intervention for Youth/Young Adults With Child Welfare Involvement At Risk of Homelessness Apply for HHS 2015 ACF ACYF CA 0961 Funding Number: HHS 2015 ACF ACYF CA 0961 Agency: Administration for Children and Families ACYF/CB Category: Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $670,000 |
| Health Profession Opportunity Grants to Serve TANF Recipients and Other Low Income Individuals Apply for HHS 2015 ACF OFA FX 0951 Funding Number: HHS 2015 ACF OFA FX 0951 Agency: Administration for Children and Families OFA Category: Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $3,000,000 |
| Health Profession Opportunity Grants for Tribes, Tribal Organizations or Tribal College or University Apply for HHS 2015 ACF OFA FY 0952 Funding Number: HHS 2015 ACF OFA FY 0952 Agency: Administration for Children and Families OFA Category: Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $3,000,000 |
| PPHF 2015 Evidence Based Falls Prevention Programs Financed Solely by 2015 Prevention and Public Health Funds (PPHF 2015) Apply for HHS 2015 ACL AOA FP 0092 Funding Number: HHS 2015 ACL AOA FP 0092 Agency: Administration for Community Living Category: Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $700,000 |
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 2015 ACF ACYF CS 0973", 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.