Preventing Drug Overdoses: Community Prevention and Response

The Regional Pediatric Prevention Network grant is administered by the Health Resources and Services Administration within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services through its Maternal and Child Health Bureau. This federal funding opportunity supports the development and expansion of a coordinated national network of children’s hospitals and affiliated university pediatric partners focused on improving pediatric emergency preparedness and response. The program builds upon prior federal investments in pediatric disaster readiness and reflects a national priority to strengthen prevention, preparedness, and resilience for children, particularly those in vulnerable and underserved populations. The primary purpose of the program is to establish a Regional Pediatric Prevention Network that enhances local, regional, and national capacity to care for children during disasters and public health emergencies. The network must include at least ten children’s hospitals or affiliated partners organized into two regional hubs, each consisting of a primary recipient and at least four sub-awardee centers. These entities collaborate to improve pediatric readiness in emergency departments and emergency medical services, expand telehealth capabilities, and ensure the application of research-informed pediatric care during crises. Special emphasis is placed on children with higher risks, including those with special health care needs, those living in poverty, and those in rural, remote, or tribal communities. Funding supports a wide range of activities including coordination of national network governance, development of pediatric emergency plans, training and technical assistance, data system development, and dissemination of best practices. Awardees are expected to manage both administrative functions and subawards, ensuring equitable distribution of funds across participating centers after a capped administrative allocation. Allowable uses include staffing, program operations, telehealth expansion, training initiatives, and data analytics systems. The program explicitly prohibits the use of funds for activities that violate federal laws or policies as outlined in the notice. Eligibility is limited to domestic children’s hospitals as defined by federal statute or their affiliated university pediatric partners. Applications must be submitted by a single lead institution serving as the primary recipient, which will coordinate a network of at least five centers across different HHS regions. Individuals are not eligible to apply. Applicants must demonstrate strong partnerships, provide letters of commitment from participating centers, and outline detailed governance, operational, and evaluation plans. The program requires significant coordination across institutions and mandates participation in a unified national network structure. The application process requires submission through Grants.gov and includes a comprehensive project narrative, budget and budget narrative, work plans, staffing plans, and multiple required attachments such as letters of commitment and organizational charts. Applicants must also complete standard federal forms including SF-424 and SF-424A. The application deadline is July 17, 2026, with awards expected by August 15, 2026 and project start beginning September 1, 2026. The period of performance spans five years, structured as five 12-month budget periods. Applications are evaluated based on criteria including need, response strategy, performance measurement, impact, organizational capacity, and budget justification. Reviewers assess the extent to which proposals address pediatric preparedness challenges, demonstrate strong partnerships, and provide feasible and scalable solutions. Successful applicants must implement robust data collection and evaluation frameworks, contribute to national performance measurement systems, and participate in ongoing reporting and governance activities. Following award, recipients are required to comply with federal reporting, financial management, and program integrity standards. This includes quarterly and annual reporting, participation in national meetings, and adherence to federal regulations governing grants management. The program emphasizes sustainability, requiring applicants to plan for continued impact beyond the federal funding period. Overall, this funding opportunity represents a significant federal investment in strengthening pediatric health system resilience and ensuring that children receive appropriate care during emergencies and disasters.

Align proposal tightly with evaluation criteria especially network coordination and measurable outcomes; Demonstrate strong multi-institution partnerships; Provide detailed data and performance measurement plans