Tribal Court Improvement Program

The Tribal Court Improvement Program is administered by the Administration for Children and Families within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, specifically under the Administration on Children, Youth and Families and its Children’s Bureau. This program is part of a broader federal effort to strengthen child welfare systems and ensure the safety, permanency, and well-being of children, particularly within American Indian and Alaska Native communities. The initiative reflects a longstanding federal commitment to support tribal sovereignty and improve justice systems that handle sensitive family and child welfare cases. The primary purpose of this funding opportunity is to provide financial support to tribal courts so they can assess and improve their handling of child welfare cases. These cases include those related to family preservation, reunification, guardianship, and adoption. The program emphasizes strengthening court processes and legal representation to ensure that proceedings are timely, fair, and legally sound. By enhancing court effectiveness, the program aims to improve outcomes for children and families involved in tribal child welfare systems. Funding under this opportunity is intended to support activities such as evaluating court performance, identifying areas for procedural or structural improvement, and implementing strategies to enhance court operations. While specific allowable costs are not detailed in the forecast, they are expected to align with efforts that directly improve court systems and case handling. There is no cost sharing or matching requirement, which lowers the financial barrier for eligible applicants and encourages broader participation among tribal entities. Eligibility is restricted to federally recognized Native American tribal governments and tribal consortia. To qualify, applicants must meet at least one of several conditions, including operating an approved Title IV-E program, planning to operate such a program with prior development funding, or maintaining a court that handles foster care or adoption cases. Tribal consortia, defined as partnerships between two or more tribes working toward a shared objective, are also eligible. Individuals and foreign entities are explicitly excluded from eligibility and will not be considered for funding. The application process is expected to follow standard federal grant submission procedures through Grants.gov, requiring electronic submission by the specified deadline. While detailed application components are not provided in the forecast, applicants should anticipate requirements such as project narratives, budgets, and supporting documentation demonstrating eligibility and capacity. Applications must be submitted by 11:59 PM Eastern Time on the due date to be considered. The estimated timeline indicates that the opportunity will be posted on June 9, 2026, with applications due by July 24, 2026. Awards are expected to be announced by September 29, 2026, with project activities beginning the following day. The relatively short application window suggests that interested applicants should prepare in advance. No recurring cycle is explicitly stated, and the program appears to be a single-cycle discretionary funding opportunity for fiscal year 2026. For additional information or inquiries, applicants may contact Catherine Heath via phone at 888-203-6161 or email at cb@grantreview.org. As this is a forecasted opportunity, applicants are encouraged to monitor Grants.gov for updates and the official Notice of Funding Opportunity, which will provide comprehensive application instructions and requirements upon release.