Engaging Families and Young Adults Program

The Arizona Engaging Families and Young Adults Program is administered by the Arizona Department of Health Services through its Bureau of Women’s and Children’s Health. The program builds upon a long-standing commitment to family engagement that began in 2017 with the establishment of a Family Advisor Program within the Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs initiative. That earlier effort demonstrated that integrating lived experience from families directly into policy and program design leads to more effective health systems. The current program expands that model across all maternal and child health populations in Arizona. The primary purpose of this funding opportunity is to strengthen authentic partnerships between public health systems and the families, youth, and young adults they serve. By embedding individuals with lived health care experience into advisory and leadership roles, the program aims to ensure that public health policies, service delivery systems, and program strategies are informed by real-world perspectives. This aligns with the Title V Maternal and Child Health Block Grant framework, which emphasizes collaborative partnerships between families and professionals to improve outcomes across the life course. Funding for this opportunity totals 250000 dollars and is expected to support one award. The funds are intended strictly for programmatic activities that advance engagement, leadership development, and system improvement. Allowable uses include activities that facilitate family and youth participation in policy development, program design, and evaluation. However, there are strict funding restrictions. Funds may not be used for religious activities, lobbying efforts, land acquisition, construction, or retroactive expenses incurred prior to the award. Additionally, funds cannot replace existing funding sources or support routine operational activities unrelated to the program’s objectives. Eligibility is limited to nonprofit organizations and similar entities capable of carrying out the program’s objectives. Eligible applicants include universities, educational institutions, tribal entities, and nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status. Applicants must demonstrate the ability to manage funds responsibly and ensure that expenditures align with program requirements. The opportunity also includes broader eligibility categories such as consortia, schools or school districts, and state government entities, though all must meet the nonprofit or qualifying organizational criteria outlined. The application process is structured with a defined submission window opening on July 1, 2026 and closing on August 12, 2026. There is no indication of a pre-application requirement such as a letter of intent. Applicants are expected to submit proposals directly to the Arizona Department of Health Services, with procurement managed through the Office of Procurement. A pre-application conference is scheduled for July 20, 2026, providing an opportunity for applicants to receive clarification and ask questions, although attendance is not indicated as mandatory for eligibility. Evaluation criteria are not explicitly detailed in the provided materials, but based on the program’s goals, proposals are likely assessed on their ability to demonstrate meaningful engagement strategies, organizational capacity, alignment with maternal and child health priorities, and measurable outcomes. The program emphasizes the integration of lived experience into decision-making processes, suggesting that strong applications will clearly outline mechanisms for incorporating family and youth voices into program activities. Program administration and applicant support are coordinated through a designated procurement officer, Kailee Gray, who serves as the primary contact for questions and submissions. The program is not described as recurring, and no future cycle information is provided. As such, this appears to be a single-cycle funding opportunity tied to the current fiscal year, with implementation expected to follow award decisions after the application period closes.