Tribal Early Childhood and Family Economic Well-being Research Center (TRC)

The Tribal Early Childhood and Family Economic Well-being Research Center (TRC) is a forecasted discretionary funding opportunity under the United States Department of Health and Human Services, specifically through the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) and its Office of Planning, Research, and Evaluation (OPRE). This initiative is designed to enhance understanding and promote research that informs the planning and implementation of programs supporting the well-being of Native American families, with a particular focus on early childhood services and economic self-sufficiency. The TRC will serve as a centralized hub for actionable research, evaluation, and data measurement activities related to ACF-funded initiatives operating within Native American communities. These include child care programs, Head Start and Early Head Start programs in both center- and home-based models, and Tribal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (Tribal TANF). The Center’s work will be directly informed by engagement with stakeholders such as Tribal leaders, program providers, researchers, and federal staff. Its mission is to conduct rigorous research that is culturally and contextually relevant to Tribal communities while simultaneously fostering information sharing and peer-learning among stakeholders. Funding for the TRC is expected to reach up to $1,000,000 for fiscal year 2025, with an award floor of $750,000. The program is anticipated to issue one cooperative agreement award. Eligible applicants include a wide array of organizational types, such as city and county governments, Native American tribal organizations (both federally recognized and others), state and local public institutions, nonprofit and for-profit entities (excluding small businesses), school districts, housing authorities, and educational institutions. Faith-based and community organizations may also apply if they meet the eligibility requirements outlined in federal regulations. Individuals and foreign entities are specifically excluded from eligibility. This opportunity is currently in the forecasted stage, with an expected funding announcement on June 16, 2025. Applications must be submitted electronically by July 21, 2025, no later than 11:59 PM Eastern Standard Time. The projected award date is September 19, 2025, with a project start date scheduled for September 30, 2025. As this is a forecasted opportunity, no pre-application deadlines, Q&A webinars, or draft application processes have been announced yet. The funding opportunity is not offered on a rolling basis but is recurring, as indicated by its version history and previous forecasts. The cooperative agreement will be administered by OPRE, which oversees a variety of research and evaluation activities for ACF. Interested applicants are encouraged to prepare for a formal solicitation based on the forecast details. The primary contact for inquiries is Nicole Denmark, who can be reached by phone at 202-205-4653 or via email at nicole.denmark@acf.hhs.gov. All applications must be submitted electronically through Grants.gov by the published deadline.