A Network for Connection, Healing, and Ongoing Resources

The Administration for Children and Families (ACF), within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, through its Children’s Bureau, has announced a forecasted discretionary funding opportunity titled A Network for Connection, Healing, and Ongoing Resources. This initiative is part of the Adoption Opportunities program and reflects the agency’s broader mission to promote the social and emotional well-being of children, youth, and families. The Children’s Bureau has a longstanding role in supporting adoption services and strengthening post-adoption outcomes, and this funding opportunity continues that work by focusing specifically on the needs of birth parents following voluntary private domestic adoption placements. The primary purpose of this cooperative agreement is to support the development, implementation, and evaluation of a demonstration program that provides post-adoption support services to birth parents. The program recognizes that adoption affects multiple parties and emphasizes the importance of addressing the emotional and psychological well-being of birth parents after placement. Funded activities are expected to include the creation and facilitation of support groups, provision of supportive services, and dissemination of resources that promote healing and long-term well-being. The initiative also aims to identify effective service delivery models that can be replicated nationwide. Funding for this opportunity is structured as a single cooperative agreement with an estimated total program funding amount of 1,000,000 dollars. The award ceiling is 1,000,000 dollars and the award floor is 500,000 dollars, indicating that only one award will be made within this funding range. There is no cost-sharing or matching requirement, allowing eligible organizations to apply without providing additional financial contributions. As a cooperative agreement, the funding mechanism implies substantial involvement from the federal agency in program implementation and evaluation. Eligible applicants include nonprofit organizations both with and without 501(c)(3) status, provided they are not institutions of higher education. Applicants must demonstrate the capacity to provide or coordinate technical assistance related to adoption services, including planning, improving, developing, and implementing programs. The eligibility criteria emphasize organizations that can work with adoptive family groups, minority communities, and other relevant stakeholders to promote professional leadership training and enhance adoption-related services. Individuals and foreign entities are explicitly excluded from eligibility, while faith-based and community organizations are permitted to apply if they meet the stated requirements. The application process will be conducted electronically, with submissions required through the designated federal grants system by the stated deadline. The estimated application due date is July 9, 2026, with submissions required by 11:59 PM Eastern Time. While specific application components are not detailed in the forecast notice, applicants can expect to provide comprehensive program plans, evaluation strategies, and organizational capacity documentation consistent with federal grant requirements. The opportunity is currently in forecast status, with an anticipated posting date of May 25, 2026, at which time full application instructions and requirements will be released. The anticipated award date is September 29, 2026, with a project start date of September 30, 2026, indicating a rapid transition from award to implementation. A central component of the funded project will be a rigorous evaluation framework designed to measure program effectiveness and generate evidence-based models for broader replication. For additional information, interested applicants may contact Jan Shafer via email at cb@grantreview.org or by phone at 888-203-6161. This funding opportunity represents a significant federal investment in advancing post-adoption support services and improving outcomes for birth parents nationwide.