Standing Announcement for Tribal Title IV-E Plan Development Grants

The Administration for Children and Families, through its Children’s Bureau, has released a Notice of Funding Opportunity for the Standing Announcement for Tribal Title IV-E Plan Development Grants. This funding opportunity, listed under opportunity number HHS-2025-ACF-ACYF-CS-0067, is designed to assist federally recognized Indian tribes, tribal organizations, and tribal consortia in developing an approvable Title IV-E plan. The plan is a required component for tribes that wish to operate the Title IV-E Foster Care and Adoption Assistance programs directly, as authorized by the Social Security Act. Applications are due on January 12, 2026, with future submission dates in April 2027 and April 2028, and projects are expected to begin on April 1, 2026. The purpose of the program is to ensure that tribes are able to build the necessary administrative, legal, and financial frameworks required to meet federal Title IV-E requirements. Funds may be used for a wide range of activities, including developing data collection systems, cost allocation methodologies, case review systems, financial controls, and court procedures to ensure compliance with federal child welfare laws. Recipients must submit their completed Title IV-E plan within 24 months of the award date or face repayment requirements under statute. Each tribe is eligible for only one Title IV-E plan development grant. The funding details indicate that a total of $600,000 is available, with two awards anticipated. The minimum award per recipient is $150,000, and the maximum is $300,000. The funding will support a two-year project period with one budget period. These awards are subject to the availability of federal funds. Notably, there is no cost-sharing requirement under this program, though applicants that propose to contribute additional funds will be held accountable for their commitments. Restrictions include a prohibition on using funds for construction, real property purchases, or major renovations. Eligibility is restricted exclusively to federally recognized American Indian and Alaska Native tribes, tribal organizations, and tribal consortia. The definition of eligible entities includes any recognized governing body of a tribe or legally established organization of Indians sanctioned or chartered by such a governing body. Collaborations must designate a primary applicant, and if multiple tribes benefit, approval from each must be provided. Individuals, for-profit entities, and foreign organizations are ineligible. Applications without required tribal resolutions authorizing participation will be disqualified. The application process requires submission through Grants.gov, unless an exemption for paper submission has been granted. Applicants must complete standard federal forms, a project narrative, a line-item budget with justification, and provide required attachments such as tribal resolutions, organizational charts, key personnel resumes, and third-party agreements. Applications must adhere to page limits and formatting standards. The review process will score submissions on objectives and need, approach, organizational capacity, and budget justification, totaling 100 points. Successful applicants will be notified via a formal Notice of Award. Important dates include the application close date of January 12, 2026, for the FY 2026 cycle, with subsequent cycles in April 2027 and April 2028. Recipients will be required to attend meetings in Washington, D.C., as part of the project requirements. Post-award, recipients must submit quarterly performance and financial reports using designated federal forms. Program contacts include Carlette Randall for program questions and Sarah Viola for grants management, both reachable at 888-203-6161 or CB@grantreview.org. This opportunity provides a pathway for tribes to strengthen their child welfare systems and assume direct responsibility for Title IV-E program administration within their communities.