Regional Partnership Grants

The Regional Partnership Grants Program is administered by the Administration for Children and Families within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, specifically through the Administration on Children, Youth, and Families and its Children’s Bureau. The program was established to address the fragmented coordination between child welfare systems, substance use treatment providers, and judicial systems. Since its inception in 2007, the program has supported numerous partnerships across states to improve outcomes for children and families impacted by substance use disorders, particularly those at risk of or experiencing out-of-home placements. The primary purpose of this funding opportunity is to support regional partnerships that deliver family-centered treatment and supportive services to families affected by substance use. These partnerships must include state child welfare agencies, substance abuse treatment agencies, and judicial representatives, with optional participation from additional public, private, or tribal entities. The program emphasizes improving child safety, permanency, and well-being, while also promoting adult recovery and strengthening family functioning. Funded projects are expected to expand access to evidence-based and evidence-informed services and improve coordination across systems serving vulnerable families. Funding is provided through cooperative agreements, with a total program allocation of eight million dollars and approximately eight awards anticipated. Each award ranges from a minimum of two hundred fifty thousand dollars to a maximum of one million dollars per year, with a five-year project period consisting of annual budget periods. Funds may be used for a wide range of services, including substance use disorder treatment, mental health services, parenting skills training, early intervention, and family support services. However, funds cannot be used for construction, real property acquisition, or major renovations, and at least twenty percent of the budget must be allocated to evaluation activities. A key requirement of this program is cost sharing, which increases over the life of the grant. Applicants must contribute fifteen percent of total project costs in the first two years, twenty percent in years three and four, and twenty five percent in the final year. Matching contributions may include both cash and in-kind resources from the applicant or partners. Applicants must also demonstrate strong partnership agreements and provide documentation such as memoranda of understanding to verify collaboration among required entities. The application process requires submission through Grants.gov and includes a comprehensive project narrative, budget, and supporting documentation. Applicants must also maintain active registrations in SAM.gov and Grants.gov prior to submission. The application must detail the proposed services, partnership structure, evaluation plan, and alignment with federal priorities. Reviewers evaluate applications based on objectives, approach, evaluation rigor, organizational capacity, budget justification, and alignment with agency priorities, with a total possible score of one hundred ten points. Applications are due by August 7, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time, with an expected project start date of September 30, 2026. Funded projects must complete a Planning Phase of up to eighteen months, followed by an Implementation Phase focused on service delivery and evaluation. Award recipients are required to submit semiannual performance and financial reports and collaborate closely with the Children’s Bureau on data collection and evaluation. Questions regarding the program can be directed to the Children’s Bureau via email or phone, as provided in the funding announcement.

Emphasize strong multi-agency partnerships; demonstrate data-driven evaluation capacity; clearly align with ACF priorities; ensure required cost sharing and evaluation budget allocation