Technology Enhanced Adoptive Family Recruiting and Matching

The Technology-Enhanced Adoption Recruitment and Matching Innovation Hubs program is administered by the Administration for Children and Families within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, specifically through the Administration on Children, Youth, and Families and its Children’s Bureau. This initiative reflects a federal effort to modernize child welfare systems by improving how adoptive families are recruited and matched with children awaiting permanency. The program is grounded in longstanding federal priorities to improve child well-being and permanency outcomes, particularly for children in foster care whose adoption processes are often delayed by outdated systems and fragmented data. The primary purpose of this funding opportunity is to establish regional innovation hubs that will design, implement, and evaluate technology-enabled solutions to enhance adoptive family recruitment and matching. These hubs are expected to use advanced tools such as data integration platforms, predictive analytics, and artificial intelligence to support caseworkers in making more informed and timely placement decisions. By focusing on scalable and human-centered solutions, the program aims to improve the speed, quality, and stability of adoptive placements while reducing administrative burden on child welfare staff. Funding is provided through cooperative agreements, with a total expected program funding of ten million dollars and three anticipated awards, one per geographic region. Each award will support a five-year project period, beginning with a first-year funding range between three million and three million three hundred thirty three thousand three hundred thirty three dollars, with increased ceilings in subsequent years. Funds may be used for applied research, technology development, training and technical assistance, interoperability improvements, and dissemination of best practices. However, funds cannot be used for construction, real property acquisition, or major renovations, and there are explicit restrictions on certain programmatic uses in alignment with federal policy. Eligibility for this opportunity is broad and inclusive, encompassing state, territorial, local, and tribal child welfare agencies, as well as nonprofit organizations, for-profit entities, community-based organizations, and institutions of higher education with relevant expertise. Applicants must demonstrate both technological capacity and child welfare practice knowledge, and they must partner with at least one pilot jurisdiction at the time of application, with plans to engage additional jurisdictions shortly after award. Individuals, foreign entities, and federal agencies are not eligible to apply. The application process requires submission through Grants.gov and includes multiple components such as a project narrative, budget justification, organizational documentation, and letters of commitment. Applicants must also demonstrate alignment with federal priorities, including evidence-based practices, performance measurement, and continuous quality improvement. Evaluation criteria emphasize the feasibility and innovation of the proposed approach, organizational capacity, and alignment with agency priorities, with a structured merit review process used to score applications. Key deadlines include an application submission deadline of August 21, 2026, with an expected project start date of September 30, 2026. Applications must be submitted electronically by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on the due date unless an exemption is granted. The program is not described as recurring, and awards are contingent upon federal appropriations and satisfactory application review outcomes. Successful applicants will receive a formal Notice of Award and must comply with all federal regulations and reporting requirements throughout the project period. Overall, this funding opportunity represents a significant federal investment in modernizing adoption systems through technology and collaboration. By fostering regional hubs of innovation, the program seeks to generate scalable tools and practices that can be adopted nationwide, ultimately improving outcomes for children in foster care and strengthening the child welfare system’s ability to serve families effectively.

Focus on demonstrating strong pilot jurisdiction partnerships and clear implementation strategy; align closely with ACF priorities and measurable outcomes; emphasize technology integration with child welfare practice