Technology Enhanced Adoptive Family Recruiting and Matching

The Technology Enhanced Adoptive Family Recruiting and Matching program is administered by the Administration for Children and Families within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. This program operates under the Adoption Opportunities assistance listing and is designed to improve outcomes for children in foster care who are awaiting adoption. The initiative reflects a federal priority to strengthen permanency outcomes by leveraging modern technology and data systems in child welfare practice. Funding will be distributed through cooperative agreements, indicating ongoing federal involvement in project implementation and oversight. The primary purpose of this opportunity is to support the development and deployment of technology-enabled strategies that enhance adoptive family recruitment, matching processes, and long-term permanency outcomes. Projects funded under this program will focus specifically on children who have an adoption permanency goal or who are legally free for adoption due to involvement in the child welfare system. Awardees will establish regional centers tasked with designing, implementing, and evaluating innovative approaches that improve how prospective families are identified and matched with children in need of permanent homes. Funding will support a wide range of activities including the creation of interoperable technology solutions, data infrastructure improvements, and tools such as artificial intelligence-assisted matching systems, predictive analytics, and data-informed recruitment strategies. These systems must be secure, accessible, and capable of integrating with existing state, tribal, and local child welfare systems. In addition to technology development, awardees will provide training, technical assistance, and continuous quality improvement support to partner agencies. The program emphasizes scalability, requiring that developed tools and practices be adaptable for use across jurisdictions nationwide. Eligible applicants include a broad array of entity types such as state, local, and tribal governments, nonprofit organizations, for-profit organizations other than small businesses, and institutions of higher education. However, applicants must demonstrate both technological expertise and experience in child welfare practice at the organizational level. Applications from individuals and foreign entities are explicitly excluded. The program does not require cost sharing or matching funds, which may broaden accessibility for eligible applicants with sufficient technical and programmatic capacity. The application process is expected to be conducted electronically through Grants.gov, with submissions due by the specified deadline. Applicants will likely need to prepare comprehensive proposals detailing their technical approach, partnerships, evaluation strategies, and expected outcomes. Evaluation will focus on the ability to demonstrate measurable improvements in key indicators such as match timeliness, placement stability, and adoption finalization rates. Federal program staff will maintain involvement throughout the project lifecycle given the cooperative agreement structure. The opportunity is currently forecasted, with an estimated posting date in late May 2026 and an application deadline in early July 2026. Awards are anticipated by the end of September 2026, with project activities expected to begin in October 2026. Four awards will be made to establish regional centers covering the entire United States. The total program funding is set at over ten million dollars, with individual awards ranging from approximately one and a half million to over two and a half million dollars. For additional information or inquiries, applicants may contact the program office via the provided email or phone number.

Focus on measurable improvements in match timeliness, placement stability, and adoption outcomes; ensure interoperability and scalability of technology solutions