The Administration for Children and Families (ACF), under the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, is offering a cooperative agreement through its Office of Family Assistance (OFA) and the Family and Economic Stability Demonstration and Innovation Division. This funding opportunity supports tribal governments and consortia operating Tribal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) programs in their efforts to improve the coordination between TANF and child welfare systems. The primary aim is to explore and demonstrate effective service delivery models to prevent child abuse and neglect in tribal families through stronger interagency collaboration.
This opportunity, titled "Grants for Coordination of Tribal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) and Child Welfare Services to Tribal Families at Risk of Child Abuse or Neglect" (HHS-2025-ACF-OFA-FN-0015), funds projects that work to enhance case management, provide support for children in out-of-home placements, and offer preventative services to families at risk. Projects must focus on coordinating existing services, not creating entirely new programs, and are expected to contribute insights to the broader tribal human services community through a designated learning group. Awardees are required to participate in data collection and evaluation using tools like the Collaboration Assessment Tool and logic models, submit annual reports, and attend annual meetings.
The program provides a total of $1,720,000 in funding with eight awards anticipated. Each award for the initial budget year is fixed at $215,000. The project period spans five years, consisting of five one-year budget cycles. Continued funding beyond the initial year is contingent on the availability of federal funds, satisfactory performance, and continued relevance of the project. Matching funds are not required, although any voluntary match must be honored.
Eligibility is strictly limited to Indian tribes and Alaska Native regional nonprofits administering a Tribal TANF program at the time of publication of this Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO), as well as consortia of two or more such tribes. Individuals, sole proprietors, and foreign entities are ineligible. Applicants must be registered with SAM.gov and Grants.gov to apply. Applications must be submitted electronically by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on July 29, 2025. Paper submissions are permitted only with an approved exemption. If applying via paper, submissions must be received by 4:30 p.m. ET on the due date.
Applications require a complete package, including a project summary, project narrative, logic model, budget justification, and required standard forms. Specific questions applicants must answer include describing their coordination strategies, performance evaluation methods, project management plans, and sustainability strategies. Proposals are evaluated across four main criteria: need for assistance (25 points), approach (40 points), organizational capacity (20 points), and budget justification (15 points). No diversity, equity, or inclusion (DEI) costs are allowed.
For support, applicants may contact Program Officer Seth Chamberlain at OFA@grantreview.org and Grants Management Officer Telina Bennett-Reed at telina.bennett@acf.hhs.gov or 202-401-4609. A prerecorded webinar explaining the application process is available via the ACF Tribal TANF–Child Welfare Coordination Grants site. The expected project start date is September 30, 2025.
Watch the ACF pre-recorded webinar for guidance. Ensure file format and page limits are met.
