ACL National Chronic Disease Self-Management Education Resource Center

The Administration for Community Living within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is offering a cooperative agreement to establish and support a National Chronic Disease Self-Management Education Resource Center. ACL is a federal agency focused on maximizing the independence, well-being, and health of older adults and people with disabilities. Through this initiative, ACL seeks to strengthen national infrastructure supporting chronic disease self-management education programs, which are evidence-based interventions designed to help individuals better manage ongoing health conditions and improve quality of life. The purpose of this funding opportunity is to designate a single organization to serve as a centralized national resource hub for Chronic Disease Self-Management Education programs. This Resource Center will function as a connector across the aging services network, supporting both discretionary and formula-funded programs. The funded entity will provide technical assistance, training, and educational resources tailored to varying levels of program maturity, ensuring that organizations can effectively deliver and expand evidence-based self-management interventions to older adults and individuals with disabilities. Funding will support activities that enhance program reach, quality, and sustainability. Allowable uses include developing and disseminating educational materials, providing individualized and tiered technical assistance, supporting data collection and reporting efforts, and facilitating stakeholder engagement. The Resource Center is also expected to foster partnerships across healthcare, community-based organizations, and aging networks to promote integration and long-term viability of these programs. There is no cost-sharing or matching requirement associated with this cooperative agreement. Eligible applicants include a wide range of public and nonprofit entities, such as state and local governments, tribal governments and organizations, public housing authorities, school districts, and both public and private institutions of higher education. Nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status are also eligible. Foreign entities are explicitly excluded from eligibility, although faith-based and community organizations that meet eligibility requirements may apply. The broad eligibility criteria reflect the federal intent to engage diverse organizations capable of supporting nationwide program coordination. The application process will be administered through a formal Notice of Funding Opportunity expected to be posted in late April 2026, with applications due in late June 2026. Applicants will need to prepare a comprehensive proposal outlining their organizational capacity, technical assistance approach, partnership strategy, and plans for data reporting and performance measurement. While specific evaluation criteria are not detailed in the forecast, federal cooperative agreements typically assess technical merit, organizational experience, and alignment with program goals. The anticipated award date and project start date are both September 1, 2026, indicating a rapid transition from selection to implementation. Only one award will be made, with total program funding and the award amount set at 992,562 dollars. The cooperative agreement mechanism implies ongoing federal involvement in project implementation. For additional information, applicants may contact the listed program officer by phone. This opportunity does not explicitly state recurrence, suggesting it may be a one-time or periodically reissued funding announcement depending on federal priorities.