Regional Partnership Grants

The Regional Partnership Grants program is administered by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services through the Administration for Children and Families, specifically the Administration on Children, Youth and Families, Children’s Bureau. This federal initiative is designed to address the intersection of child welfare and substance use disorders by supporting collaborative, cross-system partnerships. The program reflects a long-standing federal priority to improve outcomes for children and families impacted by parental substance abuse, particularly those involved in or at risk of entering the child welfare system. The purpose of the program is to fund regional partnerships that bring together child welfare agencies, substance abuse treatment providers, and juvenile or family courts to deliver integrated, family-centered services. These partnerships are expected to improve safety, permanency, and well-being outcomes for children who are either in out-of-home care or at risk of placement due to caregiver substance use. The program emphasizes the expansion and replication of evidence-based practices and encourages the development of coordinated service delivery systems that address both parental recovery and child welfare needs simultaneously. Funding supports a wide range of allowable activities focused on comprehensive, long-term treatment and prevention. These include medication-assisted treatment, in-home substance use disorder services, recovery support services, early intervention and prevention programs, mental health services, parenting skills training, and family counseling. Grantees may also use funds to replicate successful service delivery models and strengthen system coordination. Projects must incorporate both planning and implementation phases and are expected to demonstrate measurable outcomes through established performance indicators. A cost-sharing or matching requirement is explicitly required under this program, meaning applicants must contribute non-federal resources to support project implementation. The total estimated program funding is eight million dollars, with individual awards ranging from a minimum of two hundred fifty thousand dollars to a maximum of one million dollars. Approximately eight awards are expected to be made. The project period spans sixty months, consisting of five twelve-month budget periods, and includes both a planning phase and an implementation phase. Eligibility is broad but structured around the requirement to form a regional partnership. Eligible applicants include state, county, and local governments, nonprofit organizations with or without 501(c)(3) status, federally recognized tribal governments, tribal organizations, and certain for-profit entities. However, applications must be submitted by a lead entity representing a partnership that includes required members such as a state child welfare agency, a substance abuse agency, and a judicial entity overseeing child welfare cases. Additional partners may include community organizations, tribes, and other stakeholders. Individuals and foreign entities are explicitly excluded. The application process is expected to open following the estimated posting date and will require electronic submission through the designated federal portal. Applications must be submitted by the specified deadline and include all required components demonstrating partnership structure, program design, and compliance with federal requirements. Awards are anticipated to be announced in early September 2026, with project activities beginning later that month. This opportunity is forecasted and may be released annually or periodically, though recurrence is not explicitly confirmed.