A Network for Connection, Healing, and Ongoing Resources

The Administration for Children and Families within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, through its Administration on Children, Youth and Families and the Children’s Bureau, is offering a funding opportunity titled A Network for Connection, Healing and Ongoing Resources. This initiative reflects the agency’s broader mission to promote the social and emotional well-being of families and individuals, particularly those involved in adoption. The program specifically recognizes the often overlooked needs of birth parents following voluntary placement of their children for private domestic adoption and seeks to build structured, evidence-informed support systems to address those needs. The purpose of this funding opportunity is to support the development, implementation, and evaluation of a demonstration program that provides post-adoption support services to birth parents. The selected organization will design a comprehensive support model that includes services such as professionally facilitated support groups, access to counseling resources, peer mentorship opportunities, and curated informational materials. A key objective is not only to deliver services but also to rigorously evaluate their effectiveness and produce a replicable model that can be used by other adoption-focused organizations nationwide. Funding will be provided through a cooperative agreement, indicating substantial federal involvement in project oversight and implementation. The total available funding is one million dollars, with a single award expected. The project period is two years under one budget period, and the funding is considered full funding for the project duration. Allowable activities include program implementation, evaluation, dissemination of findings, and coordination with federal partners, while prohibited costs include construction, real property acquisition, and major renovations. There is no cost-sharing or matching requirement for applicants. Eligibility is limited to nonprofit organizations that are adoption-focused and have demonstrated experience supporting birth parents who have voluntarily placed children for private domestic adoption. Individuals, federal entities, and foreign organizations are not eligible. Applicants must demonstrate strong organizational capacity, relevant expertise, and the ability to carry out program implementation, evaluation, and dissemination activities. Faith-based and community organizations may apply if they meet all eligibility requirements. The application process requires submission through Grants.gov and includes two primary files: a narrative file and an attachments file, along with standard federal forms. The narrative must include a project summary, detailed project narrative, and budget justification, while attachments must include documentation such as proof of nonprofit status, organizational capacity materials, and third-party agreements. Applications are due by August 6, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time, and applicants must maintain active registrations with SAM.gov and Grants.gov prior to submission. Applications will be evaluated based on merit review criteria including purpose and need, approach, evaluation plan, organizational capacity, budget, and alignment with agency priorities. Emphasis is placed on evidence-based practices, measurable outcomes, and the ability to create a scalable and replicable model. The selected recipient will be required to submit semiannual performance and financial reports and participate in ongoing coordination with federal project officers. The expected project start date is September 30, 2026, and the initiative is structured as a one-time demonstration program rather than a recurring funding opportunity. For questions, applicants may contact program and grants management staff via cb@grantreview.org or by phone at 888-203-6161. The program includes ongoing federal involvement, including review and approval of project activities, coordination support, and enhanced monitoring to ensure alignment with program goals and federal requirements.

Focus on strong evaluation design with measurable outcomes; demonstrate adoption-specific expertise; align clearly with ACF priorities; ensure replicability of model