Opportunity Information: Apply for HHS 2018 ACF ACYF CO 1360
The Strengthening Child Welfare Systems to Achieve Expected Child and Family Outcomes opportunity is a discretionary funding program from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Children s Bureau. It is designed to help child welfare systems move children in foster care to safe, permanent families more quickly, with a specific emphasis on improving adoption-related permanency outcomes while also strengthening safety and well-being. The program recognizes that while many children can reunify with their parents, others will need permanency through kinship care, guardianship, or adoption, and that state and local systems often struggle to achieve timely, stable permanency according to federal Child and Family Services Reviews (CFSRs).
The core problem the grant targets is the set of persistent practice and system gaps that show up in CFSR findings and contribute to delays in permanency. These issues include weak or inconsistent efforts to pursue timely adoption when appropriate, poor preservation of family connections, and limited meaningful engagement of parents, children, and youth in case planning. The description also points to service delivery problems, such as services that are not robust enough to support permanency goals, and to visitation challenges, including visits that are too infrequent or too short, or that are used punitively rather than as a tool to maintain and strengthen relationships. It further highlights structural and legal barriers such as delays in setting adoption as the goal, lack of real concurrent planning (working reunification and an alternative permanency plan at the same time), and lengthy appeals in contested termination of parental rights cases. The opportunity frames these barriers as not just administrative problems, but as issues rooted in basic social work practice, legal representation quality, and court and judicial processes, all of which shape permanency, safety, and well-being outcomes for children in care.
Funding is provided through cooperative agreements, meaning the federal agency expects substantial involvement beyond a typical grant, including support and coordination that can include technical assistance. The program plans to make up to five awards, each lasting five years, with an award ceiling of $1,610,000. The overall purpose is to support the development, implementation, and evaluation of strategies that improve adoption outcomes by strengthening foundational child welfare practice and removing systemic barriers that keep children from reaching permanency in a timely way. Because permanency cannot be separated from safety and well-being, the grant expects funded reform efforts to also address safety and well-being outcomes as part of an integrated approach, rather than treating adoption speed alone as the only measure of success.
Applicants are expected to ground their proposed reforms in the evidence of what is not working within their own systems, using specific planning and oversight documents. These include CFSR findings, Program Improvement Plans (PIPs), Child and Family Services Plans, Title IV-E Foster Care Eligibility Review results, Annual Progress and Services Reports, and Court Improvement Program (CIP) Plans and CIP Self-Assessments. The intent is that applicants use these sources to identify local barriers, name the practical and procedural challenges behind them, and propose targeted solutions. The grant highlights key areas where solutions should lead to measurable improvement: supporting placements in kinship, preadoptive, or adoptive homes; strengthening permanency planning and achievement; ensuring child safety; improving engagement and service delivery to children and families (explicitly including fathers); and improving case planning and the maintenance of family relationships and connections.
The strategies funded under this initiative are expected to focus on improving everyday practice and system functioning, not just creating new programs that sit alongside existing processes. That includes reforms that promote family-focused approaches, more meaningful engagement with parents and youth, higher-quality legal representation, and improvements tied to CFSR systemic factors. A major emphasis is collaboration with the courts, reflecting the reality that permanency timelines and decisions depend heavily on legal and judicial practice. Applicants must partner with their Administrative Office of the Courts, the Court Improvement Program, local courts, and other relevant systems involved in child welfare initiatives at the state or county level, and they must show clear buy-in from the appropriate leadership to demonstrate that the proposed changes can be implemented and sustained.
In short, this opportunity funds long-term, statewide or local system improvement projects that are tightly connected to documented performance gaps and that bring child welfare agencies and courts to the same table. The goal is to reduce time to permanency and strengthen adoption outcomes while simultaneously improving safety and well-being, using tested oversight data to guide reform, and evaluating the strategies so successful approaches can be sustained and replicated.Apply for HHS 2018 ACF ACYF CO 1360
- The Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families - ACYF/CB in the income security and social services sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Strengthening Child Welfare Systems to Achieve Expected Child and Family Outcomes" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.652.
- This funding opportunity was created on May 04, 2018.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jul 18, 2018 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.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $1,610,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 5 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Independent school districts, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, 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, Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, For profit organizations other than small businesses, Small businesses, Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
[Watch] Creating a grant proposal using the step-by-step wizard inside the applicant portal:
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is the name of this funding opportunity?
The opportunity is called Strengthening Child Welfare Systems to Achieve Expected Child and Family Outcomes.
Which federal agency is offering this grant?
This is a discretionary funding program from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Administration for Children and Families (ACF), Children's Bureau.
What is the main purpose of this program?
The program is designed to help child welfare systems move children in foster care to safe, permanent families more quickly, with a specific emphasis on improving adoption-related permanency outcomes while also strengthening safety and well-being.
What child permanency paths does the program recognize?
The program acknowledges that while many children may reunify with their parents, other children will need permanency through kinship care, guardianship, or adoption.
Why is this grant needed according to the opportunity description?
The opportunity is aimed at persistent practice and system gaps identified in federal Child and Family Services Reviews (CFSRs) that contribute to delays in permanency and difficulties achieving timely, stable permanency.
What kinds of problems or gaps is the grant targeting?
The grant targets issues such as inconsistent efforts to pursue timely adoption when appropriate, weak preservation of family connections, and limited meaningful engagement of parents, children, and youth in case planning. It also points to service delivery weaknesses and visitation challenges, along with structural and legal barriers that slow permanency.
How does the opportunity describe visitation challenges?
Visitation challenges include visits that are too infrequent or too short, or visits that are used punitively rather than as a tool to maintain and strengthen relationships.
What structural or legal barriers does the program call out?
Examples include delays in setting adoption as the goal, lack of real concurrent planning (pursuing reunification and an alternative permanency plan at the same time), and lengthy appeals in contested termination of parental rights cases. The opportunity also highlights the influence of legal representation quality and court and judicial processes on outcomes.
What type of funding mechanism is used?
Funding is provided through cooperative agreements, which means the federal agency expects substantial involvement beyond a typical grant and may provide support, coordination, and technical assistance.
How many awards does the program expect to make?
The program plans to make up to five awards.
How long is the project period?
Each award is expected to last five years.
What is the maximum funding amount per award?
The award ceiling is $1,610,000.
What kinds of projects is the program trying to fund?
The opportunity funds long-term, statewide or local system improvement projects focused on developing, implementing, and evaluating strategies that strengthen child welfare practice and remove systemic barriers that delay permanency, especially adoption-related permanency.
Is the focus only on speeding up adoption?
No. The grant emphasizes that permanency cannot be separated from safety and well-being. Funded efforts are expected to address permanency alongside safety and well-being outcomes as part of an integrated approach, rather than treating adoption speed as the only measure of success.
How are applicants expected to justify or design their proposed reforms?
Applicants are expected to ground proposed reforms in evidence about what is not working in their own systems, using specific planning and oversight documents (such as CFSR findings and other required reports and plans) to identify barriers and propose targeted solutions.
Which documents does the opportunity specifically say applicants should use?
The opportunity lists these sources: CFSR findings, Program Improvement Plans (PIPs), Child and Family Services Plans, Title IV-E Foster Care Eligibility Review results, Annual Progress and Services Reports, and Court Improvement Program (CIP) Plans and CIP Self-Assessments.
What improvement areas does the opportunity highlight as important?
The grant highlights measurable improvement in areas such as supporting placements in kinship, preadoptive, or adoptive homes; strengthening permanency planning and achievement; ensuring child safety; improving engagement and service delivery to children and families (explicitly including fathers); and improving case planning and the maintenance of family relationships and connections.
Does the program expect applicants to create new stand-alone programs?
The strategies are expected to focus on improving everyday practice and overall system functioning, not simply creating new programs that sit alongside existing processes.
What kinds of strategies are emphasized?
The opportunity emphasizes reforms that promote family-focused approaches, more meaningful engagement with parents and youth, higher-quality legal representation, and improvements tied to CFSR systemic factors.
Why is collaboration with the courts emphasized?
The opportunity highlights that permanency timelines and decisions depend heavily on legal and judicial practice, so collaboration with courts is a major emphasis of the program.
Which court-related partners are applicants expected to work with?
Applicants are expected to partner with their Administrative Office of the Courts, the Court Improvement Program (CIP), local courts, and other relevant systems involved in child welfare initiatives at the state or county level.
What does the opportunity say about leadership support and sustainability?
Applicants must show clear buy-in from appropriate leadership to demonstrate that the proposed changes can be implemented and sustained.
Is evaluation part of the expected work?
Yes. The purpose includes supporting the development, implementation, and evaluation of strategies, with an intent to sustain and replicate successful approaches.
What is the overall goal in plain terms?
The overall goal is to reduce time to permanency and strengthen adoption outcomes while also improving safety and well-being, by using documented performance gaps to guide reforms and bringing child welfare agencies and courts together to remove barriers.
Browse more opportunities from the same category: Income Security and Social Services
Next opportunity: NCPE Interns at Cane River Creole National Historical Park
Previous opportunity: OVC FY 2018 2019 National Crime Victims' Rights Week Resource Guide
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 2018 ACF ACYF CO 1360
Applicants also applied for:
Applicants who have applied for this opportunity (HHS 2018 ACF ACYF CO 1360) also looked into and applied for these:
| Funding Opportunity |
|---|
| Native American Elder Justice Initiative Apply for HHS 2018 ACL AOA IERC 0292 Funding Number: HHS 2018 ACL AOA IERC 0292 Agency: Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Community Living Category: Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $250,000 |
| Minority Serving Institutions Partnership Implementation Grants Apply for HHS 2018 ACL AOD DDTI 0303 Funding Number: HHS 2018 ACL AOD DDTI 0303 Agency: Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Community Living Category: Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $50,000 |
| Basic Center Program Apply for HHS 2018 ACF ACYF CY 1354 Funding Number: HHS 2018 ACF ACYF CY 1354 Agency: Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children Families - ACYF/FYSB Category: Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $200,000 |
| Sexual Risk Avoidance Education Program Apply for HHS 2018 ACF ACYF SR 1358 Funding Number: HHS 2018 ACF ACYF SR 1358 Agency: Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children Families - ACYF/FYSB Category: Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $450,000 |
| Direct Services for Survivors of Torture Apply for HHS 2018 ACF ORR ZT 1356 Funding Number: HHS 2018 ACF ORR ZT 1356 Agency: Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families - ORR Category: Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $450,000 |
| National Alzheimer's Call Center Apply for HHS 2018 ACL AOA ADCC 0306 Funding Number: HHS 2018 ACL AOA ADCC 0306 Agency: Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Community Living Category: Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $1,233,571 |
| Alzheimer's Disease Programs to States and Communities Apply for HHS 2018 ACL AOA ADPI 0307 Funding Number: HHS 2018 ACL AOA ADPI 0307 Agency: Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Community Living Category: Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $1,000,000 |
| Technical Assistance to the Survivors of Torture Program Apply for HHS 2018 ACF ORR ZT 1357 Funding Number: HHS 2018 ACF ORR ZT 1357 Agency: Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families - ORR Category: Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $500,000 |
| Innovations in Nutrition Programs and Services Apply for HHS 2018 ACL AOA INNU 0300 Funding Number: HHS 2018 ACL AOA INNU 0300 Agency: Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Community Living Category: Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $250,000 |
| Using Digital Marketing to Increase Participation in the Child Support Program Apply for HHS 2018 ACF OCSE FD 1368 Funding Number: HHS 2018 ACF OCSE FD 1368 Agency: Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families - OCSE Category: Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $170,000 |
| State of the States in Developmental Disabilities-On-going Data Collection and Information Dissemination Apply for HHS 2018 ACL AOD DNPA 0293 Funding Number: HHS 2018 ACL AOD DNPA 0293 Agency: Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Community Living Category: Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $400,000 |
| Head Start and/or Early Head Start Grantee -- City of New Haven in New Haven County, Connecticut Apply for HHS 2018 ACF OHS CH R01 1381 Funding Number: HHS 2018 ACF OHS CH R01 1381 Agency: Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families - OHS Category: Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $7,338,347 |
| Refugee Technical Assistance Program Apply for HHS 2018 ACF ORR RB 1361 Funding Number: HHS 2018 ACF ORR RB 1361 Agency: Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families - ORR Category: Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $1,200,000 |
| Center for Research on Hispanic Children and Families Apply for HHS 2018 ACF OPRE PH 1378 Funding Number: HHS 2018 ACF OPRE PH 1378 Agency: Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families - OPRE Category: Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $1,050,000 |
| Marriage Strengthening Research & Dissemination Center Apply for HHS 2018 ACF OPRE PR 1372 Funding Number: HHS 2018 ACF OPRE PR 1372 Agency: Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families - OPRE Category: Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $1,000,000 |
| Information and Planning: Understanding the Capacity of the Aging Network Apply for HHS 2018 ACL AOA PPUC 0297 Funding Number: HHS 2018 ACL AOA PPUC 0297 Agency: Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Community Living Category: Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $300,000 |
| Serious Mental Illness Apply for HHS 2018 ACL AOD DDTI 0305 Funding Number: HHS 2018 ACL AOD DDTI 0305 Agency: Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Community Living Category: Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $700,000 |
| Head Start and/or Early Head Start Grantee -- Cabarrus County, North Carolina Apply for HHS 2019 ACF OHS CH R04 1388 Funding Number: HHS 2019 ACF OHS CH R04 1388 Agency: Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families - OHS Category: Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $1,302,662 |
| Head Start and/or Early Head Start Grantee -- Harrison County, Mississippi Apply for HHS 2019 ACF OHS CH R04 1389 Funding Number: HHS 2019 ACF OHS CH R04 1389 Agency: Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families - OHS Category: Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $9,928,779 |
| Head Start and/or Early Head Start Grantee -- Taylor County, Florida Apply for HHS 2019 ACF OHS CH R04 1391 Funding Number: HHS 2019 ACF OHS CH R04 1391 Agency: Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families - OHS Category: Income Security and Social Services Funding Amount: $1,265,546 |
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
Inside Our Applicants Portal
Access Applicants Portal
- Grants Repository - Access current and historic funding opportunities with ease. Thousands of funding opportunities are published every week. We can help you sort through the database and find the eligible ones to apply for.
- Applicant Video Guides - The grant application process can be challenging to follow. We can help you with intuitive video guides to speed up the process and eliminate errors in submissions.
- Grant Proposal Wizard - We have developed a network of private funding organizations and investors across the United States. We can reach out and submit your proposal to these contacts to maximize your chances of getting the funding you need.
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.
Learn More
Request more information:
Would you like to learn more about this funding opportunity, similar opportunities to "HHS 2018 ACF ACYF CO 1360", 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.