Kinship Navigator Programs: Replication and Tribal Adaptation

The Kinship Navigator Programs: Replication and Tribal Adaptation opportunity is offered by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services through the Administration for Children and Families, specifically the Administration on Children, Youth and Families within the Children’s Bureau. This federal funding opportunity is designed to strengthen child welfare systems by expanding the availability and implementation of evidence-based Kinship Navigator Programs across states and tribal communities. These programs are intended to support relatives and caregivers who assume responsibility for children when parents are unable to care for them, ensuring that kinship families have access to critical services, resources, and guidance. The primary objective of this funding opportunity is to increase the number of child welfare agencies that successfully replicate and implement Kinship Navigator Programs that have been rated as promising, supported, or well-supported by the Title IV-E Prevention Services Clearinghouse. Tribal child welfare agencies are also encouraged to adapt these evidence-based models to reflect tribal values, policies, and cultural contexts while maintaining the integrity of the program’s core components. This dual focus on replication and culturally responsive adaptation reflects a broader federal priority to expand proven service models while ensuring relevance and effectiveness for diverse populations. Funding under this program is structured as cooperative agreements, indicating substantial involvement between the federal agency and award recipients throughout the project period. Applicants are expected to focus on one of two priority areas: either replicating an existing approved model or developing a tribal adaptation of such a model. A defined set of eligible evidence-based models is provided, including programs such as Ohio’s Kinship Supports Intervention, Arizona Kinship Support Services, and others. These models have demonstrated effectiveness in connecting kinship caregivers with services such as legal assistance, financial support, and social services. The opportunity includes a cost-sharing or matching requirement, meaning applicants must contribute non-federal resources to support the project. While specific matching ratios are not detailed in the forecast notice, the presence of this requirement indicates that applicants must plan for financial or in-kind contributions as part of their proposal. Award amounts are expected to range between 400000 and 500000 dollars, with a total program funding level of 5000000 dollars and approximately 10 awards anticipated. These funds are intended to support program implementation, adaptation, evaluation, and related administrative activities. Eligibility for this opportunity is broad and includes state governments, county and local governments, tribal governments and organizations, public housing authorities, institutions of higher education, nonprofit organizations, and for-profit entities. However, a key eligibility condition is that applicants who are not Title IV-E agencies must partner with such an agency in order to implement the program. Individuals and foreign entities are explicitly excluded. Priority consideration is given to agencies that do not currently operate a Title IV-E Kinship Navigator Program, encouraging expansion into underserved areas. The application process is expected to be conducted electronically through Grants.gov, with an estimated application due date of July 9, 2026. Applicants must submit complete proposals by 11:59 PM Eastern Time on the deadline. While this is currently a forecasted opportunity, the estimated posting date is May 25, 2026, at which point full application instructions and required components will be made available. Applicants should prepare for standard federal grant requirements, including detailed project narratives, budgets, and partnership documentation where applicable. The anticipated award date is September 29, 2026, with project activities expected to begin shortly thereafter on September 30, 2026. The performance period is not explicitly stated in the forecast but will likely be defined in the full funding announcement. For further information, applicants may contact the program office via the provided email or phone number. As a discretionary federal grant program, this opportunity may be offered on a recurring basis, though no explicit recurrence schedule is stated in the forecast notice.

Emphasize whether your agency currently operates a Title IV-E Kinship Navigator Program as priority is given to those that do not; ensure alignment with approved evidence-based models