Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and Other Related Disabilities (LEND)

The Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and Other Related Disabilities (LEND) program is administered by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), an agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. HRSA is responsible for improving access to healthcare services for people who are uninsured, isolated, or medically vulnerable. Through its Maternal and Child Health Bureau (MCHB), HRSA supports training and workforce development programs aimed at improving care systems for children and youth with special healthcare needs. The LEND program is part of the Autism Collaboration, Accountability, Research, Education, and Support initiative and reflects a longstanding federal commitment to enhancing interdisciplinary training and service delivery. The primary purpose of the LEND program is to improve the quality of care for children and youth with autism and other developmental disabilities by training healthcare professionals and related specialists. The program emphasizes building leadership capacity across disciplines to ensure that professionals are equipped to screen, diagnose, and provide coordinated services throughout the lifespan. LEND programs are designed to support interdisciplinary training environments that include fields such as medicine, psychology, social work, education, and public health. The overall objective is to strengthen systems of care and improve health outcomes for individuals with developmental disabilities. Funding under this opportunity is intended to support comprehensive training programs and related activities. Allowable uses of funds include trainee stipends, curriculum development, faculty support, and program administration necessary to deliver interdisciplinary education and clinical experiences. The program does not require cost sharing or matching contributions from applicants, which lowers the financial barrier to participation and encourages broader institutional engagement. Awards are expected to support ongoing program operations that align with federal guidelines and HRSA’s programmatic priorities. Eligibility for this opportunity is broad but limited to domestic public or nonprofit organizations. Eligible entities include state and local governments, tribal governments and organizations, public and private institutions of higher education, and nonprofit organizations with or without 501(c)(3) status. Individuals are explicitly excluded from applying. The definition of domestic eligibility includes all U.S. states and territories, as well as certain freely associated states, ensuring nationwide applicability. Applicants must demonstrate the organizational capacity to implement interdisciplinary training programs consistent with LEND objectives. The application process is conducted electronically, and all submissions must be completed through the designated federal grants platform by the specified deadline. Applications must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on the due date. While specific application components are not detailed in the forecast notice, applicants should expect to provide program narratives, budgets, and supporting documentation typical of HRSA funding opportunities. There is no indication of a required pre-application or letter of intent phase for this funding cycle. The timeline for this opportunity indicates that the funding announcement is currently in a forecast stage, with an estimated posting date of May 1, 2026. Applications are expected to be due by June 1, 2026, with awards anticipated to be made by July 1, 2026. The project start date is also projected for July 1, 2026, suggesting a rapid transition from award to implementation. The program is expected to distribute approximately $38.3 million across an estimated 60 awards, with individual award amounts ranging from $460,000 to $734,000. For additional information, applicants may contact the Maternal and Child Health Bureau via email or phone as provided in the opportunity listing. As a forecasted opportunity, applicants are encouraged to monitor updates and prepare in advance for the official notice of funding opportunity. While recurrence is not explicitly stated, the structured nature of the program and its alignment with federal funding cycles suggest that similar opportunities may be issued periodically.