Collaborative Approaches to Adoption for Children with Complex Needs

HHS-ACF-CB Posted HHS-2026-ACF-ACYF-CO-0055

Description

This funding opportunity aims to support innovations that build evidence on how to help children and youth with complex or high-acuity needs achieve permanency through adoption. The projects will focus on collaborative, system-level efforts to recruit, train, support, and retain families who can meet these children's needs.Projects must be led by researchers who work within a child welfare agency or work in close partnership with one or more child welfare agencies. Together, researchers and child welfare program staff will identify and evaluate promising collaborative approaches.Collaborations that include Medicaid Section 1115 Research and Demonstration Projects, private adoption agencies, or community- or faith-based organizations are of particular interest.You'll be expected to: (1) Study how the model works in practice (i.e., implementation study). (2) Evaluate the effectiveness of the approach. (3) Use the most rigorous research designs, methods, and analytic techniques that are appropriate and sufficient to address the research questions of interest.Projects are expected to build on the existing research evidence and contribute generalized knowledge.

Eligibility

N/A Applications from individuals (including sole proprietorships) and foreign entities are not eligible and will be disqualified from the merit review and funding under this funding opportunity. Faith-based and community organizations that meet the eligibility requirements are eligible for awards under this funding opportunity.
Actions
View on Grants.gov
Funding Details
Award Floor
$1,500,000.00
Award Ceiling
$2,150,000.00
Total Estimated Funding
$6,450,000.00
Expected Awards
3
Key Dates
Posted
July 27, 2026
Closes
August 26, 2026 25d
Archive Date
September 25, 2026
Agency Information
Agency Name
Administration for Children and Families - ACYF/CB
Agency Code
HHS-ACF-CB
Funding Instrument
Other