Prevention Services Evaluation Partnerships: Supporting Adoptive Families

The Administration for Children and Families (ACF), through its Office of Planning, Research, and Evaluation (OPRE), is forecasting a grant opportunity titled "Prevention Services Evaluation Partnerships: Supporting Adoptive Families." This opportunity is part of the Adoption Opportunities program under Assistance Listing 93.652. The ACF is a division of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), committed to promoting the economic and social well-being of families, children, individuals, and communities through partnerships, funding, and research. The OPRE specifically supports rigorous evaluations and research to inform policy and practice in human services programs. The primary objective of this funding opportunity is to support rigorous research—either randomized control trials or quasi-experimental evaluations—of programs that serve adoptive families at risk of disruption or dissolution. Such family breakdowns often result in foster care placements, which the program aims to prevent. The evaluations must meet the Design and Execution Standards for Moderate or High Support of Causal Evidence as required by the Title IV-E Prevention Services Clearinghouse. Evaluations may involve collecting new data or analyzing existing data and should focus on services such as mental health support, substance abuse prevention and treatment, in-home parent skill-building, or kinship navigator programs. Eligible applicants include a broad range of entities such as state and local governments, tribal organizations, public and private institutions of higher education, nonprofits (both with and without IRS 501(c)(3) status), small and for-profit businesses, and special district governments. Applications from individuals or foreign entities are explicitly ineligible. Faith-based and community organizations that meet the eligibility requirements are encouraged to apply under the same criteria as secular organizations. This funding opportunity encourages collaborations between researchers, Title IV-E agencies, and community organizations with relevant experience. The evaluation must involve close cooperation with federal staff and the current Prevention Services Evaluation Partnerships (PSEP) cohort. Programs or services evaluated should either be ready for rigorous research or currently lack a favorable rating in the Clearinghouse but are eligible for review. Applications must be submitted electronically by July 28, 2025, no later than 11:59 pm EST. The estimated post date is June 9, 2025, with an expected award date of August 29, 2025, and the project is set to begin on September 30, 2025. The total estimated program funding is $1,800,000, with one cooperative agreement award anticipated. The project will span four years, within one budget period. For more information, applicants may contact Alysia Blandon at 202-205-8386 or via email at psep@acf.hhs.gov. Additional details can be found at https://www.acf.hhs.gov/opre.

Applicants should ensure evaluations meet Title IV-E Prevention Services Clearinghouse standards and focus on services either eligible for review or not yet favorably rated.