Parents Lead: Assessment and Train-the-Trainer Curriculum Development Grant Program

The Parents Lead: Assessment and Train-the-Trainer Curriculum Development funding opportunity is administered by the North Dakota Department of Health and Human Services as part of the broader Rural Health Transformation Program, a federally funded initiative authorized by Congress to strengthen rural health systems and improve health outcomes. This program reflects a statewide strategy to modernize care delivery, expand access to services and empower communities, particularly those in rural and tribal areas, to address persistent behavioral health challenges. The Parents Lead program itself is an evidence-based prevention initiative focused on strengthening parent-child relationships to reduce risks such as substance use, depression and anxiety among youth. The purpose of this funding opportunity is to support a single applicant in conducting a comprehensive statewide needs assessment and developing a standardized train-the-trainer curriculum that expands the reach and effectiveness of Parents Lead programming. The needs assessment is intended to identify behavioral health information gaps, preferred communication channels and barriers faced by parents, caregivers and professionals. The curriculum component is designed to translate those findings into a scalable training system that enables organizations and professionals to deliver consistent, high-quality programming aligned with the Parents Lead model across diverse settings. Funding for this opportunity is competitive and supported through federal Rural Health Transformation Program resources administered at the state level. Approximately five hundred thousand dollars is available for the initial year, with one award anticipated. The performance period begins upon execution of the agreement and ends on September 30, 2027, with all funds required to be expended by that date. While there is potential for continuation funding in subsequent years, such continuation is contingent upon availability of funds, satisfactory progress and compliance with reporting requirements. Funds must be used to expand or enhance services and cannot duplicate existing funded activities. Certain costs are explicitly prohibited, including participant incentives, construction, vehicle purchases and other unallowable expenditures defined under federal regulations. Eligible applicants include nonprofit organizations, higher education institutions and other entities capable of serving rural or tribal North Dakota populations. Applicants must demonstrate the ability to engage key audiences including parents, caregivers and professionals working with families. Projects must include collaboration with the state agency and alignment with program goals. The selected applicant is responsible for delivering multiple outputs including data collection, analysis, reporting, curriculum design, material development and evaluation frameworks, all grounded in evidence-based practices and adult learning principles. The application process requires submission through a Qualtrics platform by the stated deadline. Applicants must complete multiple components including organizational background information, a detailed project narrative, strategies and measurable outcomes, an action plan with timelines and milestones, key personnel descriptions and a fully itemized budget using a provided template. Applications must clearly demonstrate how proposed activities align with program objectives and avoid duplication of existing efforts. Evaluation is based solely on the content submitted and is guided by a formal scoring tool provided by the agency. The timeline for this opportunity includes a posting date in mid July 2026 and a firm application deadline of August 8, 2026 at 5 pm Central Time. A technical assistance call was held on July 21, 2026, with additional guidance provided through frequently asked questions. Applicants are encouraged to submit questions in advance of the deadline, though responses may be limited closer to the closing date. Award notifications are expected following the review process, with agreements issued for signature thereafter. Reporting requirements include ongoing progress updates, reimbursement documentation and potential long-term reporting obligations extending up to five years depending on federal requirements. Overall, this funding opportunity is designed to strengthen behavioral health prevention efforts across North Dakota by equipping communities with data-driven insights and a scalable training infrastructure. By focusing on rural and tribal populations, the program aims to address disparities in access and outcomes while building sustainable systems that extend beyond the initial funding period.

Ensure strong alignment with statewide needs assessment and curriculum goals clearly define measurable outcomes and avoid duplication of existing programs demonstrate rural and tribal impact