Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and Other Related Disabilities (LEND)

The Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and Other Related Disabilities (LEND) program is a grant initiative from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), an agency under the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. HRSA works to improve access to healthcare services for underserved and vulnerable populations. Through its Maternal and Child Health Bureau (MCHB), HRSA is issuing this discretionary grant opportunity, reflecting the federal commitment to advancing health equity, workforce training, and improved care systems for children and youth with autism and other developmental disabilities (DD). The LEND program aims to enhance the quality of care for individuals with autism and DD by providing advanced interdisciplinary training to professionals from various health and related disciplines. These professionals are prepared to diagnose, assess, and provide high-quality, evidence-based services for children and youth with developmental disabilities across the lifespan. The program places a strong emphasis on leadership education, family-centered care, cultural competence, and interdisciplinary collaboration. Funding is designed to support the development and sustainability of LEND programs, which typically exist within institutions of higher education or large medical centers. Funds are to be used for training activities, curriculum development, clinical care integration, and partnerships with community-based organizations. The total anticipated funding for this round is approximately $38.3 million, with individual awards ranging from $460,000 to $734,000. Cost sharing or matching is not required for applicants under this opportunity. Eligibility for the LEND program includes a wide range of entities: public or private nonprofit agencies, including institutions of higher education, state and local governments, tribal entities, and other eligible domestic organizations. Individuals are not eligible. The term "domestic" encompasses all U.S. states, territories, and associated jurisdictions such as the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam, and others. Applications must be submitted electronically by May 1, 2026, no later than 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time. The estimated post date is April 1, 2026, and awards are expected to be made by July 1, 2026, which also serves as the anticipated project start date. The application process requires electronic submission via Grants.gov. While the forecast does not detail specific application components or evaluation criteria, standard federal grant practices imply the inclusion of narratives on project design, budget justifications, letters of support, institutional capacity, and alignment with program goals. No pre-application such as a Letter of Intent or Concept Paper is required as a gating step for submission. The opportunity does not currently provide a link to a formal Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) PDF. For more information, applicants are directed to contact MCHB at 301-443-2170 or via email at [email protected]. This opportunity is recurring, and based on the May 1, 2026 application due date, future cycles are anticipated to follow an annual cadence with the next expected application round opening in May 2027. HRSA encourages early engagement from prospective applicants to prepare for upcoming deadlines.