Early Childhood Comprehensive Systems SEED Project: Scaling Effective Early Childhood Systems Development (ECCS SEED)

The Early Childhood Comprehensive Systems SEED Project: Scaling Effective Early Childhood Systems Development (ECCS SEED) is a federal funding opportunity administered by the Health Resources and Services Administration within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, specifically through the Maternal and Child Health Bureau’s Division of Home Visiting and Early Childhood Systems. This initiative is designed to improve access to coordinated, high-quality health and human services for families from pregnancy through age five. The program builds on over two decades of ECCS investments aimed at strengthening statewide early childhood systems and now emphasizes scalable, community-level implementation supported by state leadership. The primary purpose of ECCS SEED is to promote healthy early childhood development and prevent chronic disease by connecting families to evidence-based services and strengthening systems coordination. The initiative focuses on four core areas: establishing or expanding Coordinated Intake and Referral Systems (CIRS), implementing evidence-based early childhood health models in high-need communities, leading state-level coordination across sectors, and achieving long-term sustainability of early childhood systems. These activities aim to improve outcomes such as developmental screening rates, timely well-child visits, and overall child and family well-being. Funding under this opportunity supports cooperative agreements rather than traditional grants, meaning awardees will work closely with HRSA throughout the project period. Funds may be used for system development, service coordination, technical assistance, data systems, workforce development, and implementation of evidence-based models. Applicants must align all proposed activities with federal regulations and program priorities. Importantly, there is no cost-sharing or matching requirement, although voluntary contributions are permitted but not considered in review. Eligible applicants include a wide range of domestic public and private entities, such as state and local governments, tribal organizations, institutions of higher education, nonprofits, and for-profit organizations. Individuals are not eligible. Applicants must demonstrate the capacity to lead cross-sector collaboration, engage families in program design, and implement statewide and community-level strategies. Projects must focus on a defined geographic community and include partnerships across health, early childhood education, and human services sectors. Applications must be submitted electronically through Grants.gov and require completion of standard federal forms along with detailed narratives, budget documentation, and supporting attachments such as staffing plans, work plans, partnership agreements, and organizational charts. The application process includes strict formatting and submission requirements, and late or incomplete submissions will not be considered. Evaluation criteria include need, response strategy, performance measurement, sustainability, organizational capacity, and budget justification. The application deadline is July 10, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time. Awards are expected to begin on September 30, 2026, with a five-year period of performance through July 31, 2031. HRSA anticipates making approximately eight awards with funding distributed across five 12-month budget periods. Applicants are encouraged to begin registration processes early, including SAM.gov and Grants.gov, as these can take several weeks to complete. For questions regarding the program, applicants may contact the Division of Home Visiting and Early Childhood Systems via email at HomeVisiting@hrsa.gov or by phone at 301-443-1440. Additional support is available through HRSA’s contact center. The ECCS SEED program represents a significant federal investment in early childhood systems, emphasizing long-term sustainability, cross-sector integration, and measurable improvements in child and family health outcomes.

Align proposal with ECCS SEED objectives; demonstrate strong cross-sector partnerships; provide clear data and evaluation strategy; emphasize sustainability and statewide scalability