National Technical Assistance Center on Kindship and Grandfamilies

The National Technical Assistance Center on Kinship and Grandfamilies is a federal funding opportunity administered by the Administration for Community Living within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. This initiative is part of the agency’s broader mission to enhance services for older adults and vulnerable populations through the National Aging Services Network. The funding is delivered as a cooperative agreement, indicating substantial involvement between the federal agency and the selected recipient in carrying out program activities. The opportunity is designed to strengthen national capacity to support kinship caregivers and grandfamilies, a growing population that includes grandparents and other relatives raising children. The primary purpose of this funding is to establish and operate a National Technical Assistance Center that will expand the availability and quality of services provided to kinship and grandfamilies. The center will focus on improving the health and well-being of caregivers, children, and their parents by equipping service providers with tools, knowledge, and evidence-based practices. The initiative aligns with the National Strategy to Support Family Caregivers and emphasizes scaling proven models that can be replicated across different communities and systems. By doing so, the program seeks to create sustainable improvements in how services are delivered nationwide. Funding will support a wide range of activities centered on technical assistance, training, and systems coordination. Allowable uses include collaborating with subject matter experts, developing and disseminating resources, facilitating peer-to-peer learning opportunities, and supporting cross-system coordination. The center is also expected to assist in planning and responding to emergencies and disasters that affect kinship and grandfamilies. While specific restrictions are not detailed in the forecast notice, as a federal cooperative agreement, funds are typically expected to be used strictly for programmatic purposes aligned with the stated objectives and federal cost principles. The eligibility for this opportunity is broadly defined as unrestricted, allowing a wide range of domestic entities to apply, including nonprofits, government agencies, educational institutions, and private organizations. However, foreign entities are explicitly excluded from eligibility. Faith-based and community organizations are permitted to apply provided they meet all stated requirements. This inclusive eligibility framework is intended to encourage diverse applicants with the capacity to operate a national-level technical assistance center. The application process will follow standard federal grant submission procedures, likely requiring registration in federal systems such as SAM.gov and Grants.gov, and submission of a full application package by the stated deadline. While the forecast notice does not detail specific application components, applicants can expect to provide program narratives, budgets, and organizational information. Evaluation criteria will likely focus on organizational capacity, technical expertise, proposed approach, and alignment with program goals. The cooperative agreement structure suggests that collaboration with the funding agency will be an important evaluation factor. The timeline for this opportunity indicates that it is currently in a forecast stage, with an estimated posting date of June 30, 2026, and an application due date of July 30, 2026. Awards are expected to be made by August 1, 2026, with project activities beginning immediately thereafter. Only one award is anticipated, with total program funding of $3,000,000 and individual award amounts ranging from $750,000 to $1,000,000. A cost sharing or matching requirement is indicated, though the specific amount or percentage is not provided in the forecast. Applicants are encouraged to monitor the official opportunity posting for full details and updates.