Tribal Adult Protective Services Demonstration

The Tribal Adult Protective Services Demonstration grant, issued by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services through the Administration for Community Living (ACL), specifically the Administration on Aging (AoA), is a two-year cooperative agreement aimed at enhancing the capacity of Tribal communities to address elder abuse, neglect, and exploitation. This funding opportunity reflects the growing need for robust Adult Protective Services (APS) systems in American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian (AI/AN/NH) communities due to the rising elder population and the lack of sufficient protective frameworks in these regions. The grant seeks to bolster the infrastructure of current Title VI grantees by providing the resources and support needed to improve elder justice services across Indian Country. Through this program, ACL will award up to five cooperative agreements, with each grantee receiving between $150,000 and $200,000 annually over a 24-month period. The total program funding available is $750,000, contingent on annual appropriations. This initiative is designed not only to support services that respond to elder abuse, but also to build out prevention strategies, develop tribal APS codes, engage multidisciplinary teams, and foster community education. Grantees are expected to collaborate with national resource centers and/or the aging network to access expert guidance, share data, and enhance their service delivery through culturally competent and coordinated strategies. Eligibility for this grant is restricted to current Title VI grantees under the Older Americans Act. No cost-sharing or matching requirement is mandated, although applicants may voluntarily include non-federal resources. The program encourages applicants to submit a Letter of Intent by June 30, 2025, although this is not required. Final applications must be submitted electronically via Grants.gov by July 30, 2025. All applicants must be registered in the System for Award Management (SAM) and have a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI). ACL recommends submitting applications at least 3–5 days before the deadline to avoid technical issues. Applications will be evaluated based on relevance to the program goals, organizational capacity, budget justification, strategic approach, and outcomes and evaluation methods. Each proposal must demonstrate experience working with AI/AN communities in elder justice, outline partnerships, specify measurable outcomes, and include a project narrative, budget narrative, and work plan. Letters of commitment from partners should be on official letterhead and specify roles in the project. The anticipated project start date is September 30, 2025. The grant does not allow for construction costs, basic scientific research, or the continuation of current projects without expansion or innovation. Meals and travel must meet strict federal criteria to be reimbursed. All awarded projects must submit final versions of any developed materials, include appropriate disclaimers, and report outcomes per ACL’s policies. Reporting requirements will be outlined in the Notice of Award. For inquiries, applicants may contact Kari Benson at elderjustice@acl.hhs.gov or (202) 401-4634. The project is authorized under Section 2042(b) of Title XX of the Social Security Act, the Elder Justice Act, and Title VII, Section 751 of the Older Americans Act.

Submit application early (3–5 days prior), use the sample Budget Narrative and Work Plan templates, ensure letters of support are specific and on letterhead.