The Early Childhood Comprehensive Systems SEED Project: Scaling Effective Early Childhood Systems Development (ECCS SEED), issued under the funding opportunity number HRSA-26-057, is a forecasted discretionary cooperative agreement opportunity managed by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services through the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). The ECCS SEED initiative seeks to build and scale sustainable early childhood systems across the United States by partnering with states and communities to implement evidence-based strategies that improve health, development, and well-being for children from the prenatal period through age five.
The primary goal of this program is to address the underlying causes of chronic diseases by enhancing families’ access to healthcare and developmental services in early childhood. By focusing on early screenings for physical and mental health needs, and linking families with services that bolster parenting and caregiving capacity, the ECCS SEED Project supports foundational developmental milestones and long-term health outcomes. The program emphasizes a system-wide approach to ensure that the early childhood development framework is not fragmented but rather integrated across multiple community and health agencies.
Funding is provided through cooperative agreements with an anticipated total program funding of $7 million, with an estimated 8 awards expected. Each award may be up to $875,000, although specific floor amounts were not defined in the forecast. These funds will be used to support coordinated systems that leverage existing federal, state, and local resources and prioritize preventive care and early intervention. No cost-sharing or matching requirements are stipulated, allowing a broad range of eligible entities to participate without additional financial burden.
Eligible applicants include a wide array of entities such as state, county, and city governments; public and private institutions of higher education; Native American tribal governments and organizations; nonprofits (with or without 501(c)(3) status); independent school districts; for-profit entities including small businesses; and special district governments. Individuals are specifically excluded from eligibility. Notably, eligibility is open to domestic applicants from all U.S. states and territories, including Puerto Rico, Guam, and other insular areas, thereby supporting a nationwide scope.
Applications are expected to open on March 2, 2026, with a final submission deadline of May 1, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. ET. Awards will likely be issued by July 1, 2026, with funded projects beginning on August 1, 2026. The opportunity is expected to recur, suggesting a multi-year engagement for grantees. There are currently no stated pre-application requirements such as Letters of Intent or Concept Papers. The application submission will likely be electronic, via Grants.gov, though specific components or forms have not yet been disclosed in this forecast notice.
For more information, applicants may contact the Maternal and Child Health Bureau’s Division of Home Visiting and Early Childhood Systems at (301) 443-2170. No PDF guidelines were found at this time, as the opportunity remains in the forecast stage. As this program is expected to be released officially in early 2026, organizations interested in applying should monitor Grants.gov and HRSA’s website for updates and prepare to engage with state and community stakeholders in system design and development.
