Title IV-E Prevention Accelerator Grants

The Title IV-E Prevention Accelerator Grants program is administered by the Administration for Children and Families within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services through the Children’s Bureau. This initiative is designed to address persistent challenges in the implementation of prevention services authorized under the Family First Prevention Services Act. Despite expanded authority, participation in Title IV-E prevention services has remained low, representing a small fraction of total program claims. The program is intended to help eligible agencies overcome systemic barriers and accelerate the adoption and sustainability of prevention services within child welfare systems. The primary purpose of this funding opportunity is to support state, territorial, and federally recognized tribal Title IV-E agencies in building the infrastructure necessary to implement evidence-based prevention services. These services are intended to reduce the need for foster care placements by supporting families before removal becomes necessary. Applicants must propose projects that introduce at least one prevention service that is either new or not yet fully operational within their existing Title IV-E prevention plans. The program emphasizes readiness, scalability, and sustainability of services within the broader child welfare framework. Funding may be used to support a range of core activities that strengthen implementation capacity. These include the development of Title IV-E claiming and reimbursement systems, enhancement of provider capacity, creation of referral pathways, and establishment of robust data collection and reporting infrastructure. Award recipients are expected to demonstrate how these foundational elements will transition into fully operational Title IV-E claiming within an 18-month timeframe. This requirement ensures that funded projects lead to long-term integration into existing funding streams rather than remaining temporary pilot efforts. A key component of the program is the requirement for evaluation and continuous improvement. Grantees must partner with either an internal or external evaluator to generate rapid-cycle feedback and real-time insights during implementation. This evaluation component is intended to inform program adjustments and contribute to a broader knowledge base by sharing lessons learned with the field. The emphasis on evaluation reflects the program’s goal of not only supporting individual jurisdictions but also advancing national understanding of effective prevention service implementation. Eligibility is limited to public child welfare agencies that administer Title IV-E programs at the state, territorial, or tribal level. Applications from individuals, private entities, or foreign organizations are not permitted and will be disqualified. There is no cost sharing or matching requirement associated with this opportunity, lowering financial barriers for eligible agencies. The program anticipates making approximately ten awards, with funding levels designed to support substantial infrastructure development efforts. The application process will require electronic submission through standard federal grant systems, with a firm deadline specified for submission. Applications must be submitted by the stated due date and time, and late submissions are not accepted. While specific application components are not detailed in the forecast, applicants can expect to provide detailed project plans, implementation timelines, and evaluation strategies. Awards are expected to be announced shortly after the application deadline, with project activities beginning soon thereafter. This funding opportunity follows a structured timeline, beginning with an estimated posting date in early July and an application deadline in mid-August. Awards are expected by late September, with project start dates immediately following. As a forecasted opportunity, applicants are encouraged to begin preparation in advance of the official notice of funding opportunity release. The program does not explicitly state recurrence, but similar federal initiatives may be reissued in future cycles depending on program priorities and funding availability.