ACF Announces Grants for Family First Prevention Program Evaluation Study

The Administration for Children and Families (ACF) Office of Planning, Research, and Evaluation (OPRE) is soliciting applications for Prevention Services Evaluation Partnerships. These grants aim to support summative (i.e., impact) randomized control trial or quasi-experimental evaluations of a mental health, substance abuse prevention and/or treatment, in-home parent skill-based, or kinship navigator program or service. The grants will support collaborations among evaluators and partnering Title IV-E agencies, community entities, and/or researchers that have experience in working with foster children or children in kinship care arrangements to conduct well-designed and rigorous summative evaluations of programs and services intended to provide enhanced support to children and families, including pregnant and parenting youth in foster care, as well as prevent child abuse and neglect and foster care placements.

Grant recipients are expected to conduct a randomized control trial or quasi-experimental evaluation design that aligns with Title IV-E Prevention Services Clearinghouse (the Clearinghouse) Design and Execution Standards for Moderate or High Support of Causal Evidence and may contribute to the research systematically reviewed by the Clearinghouse. Grant recipients may collect and analyze primary data or leverage existing data for the proposed evaluation. ACF is particularly interested in evaluations of programs or services that are eligible for review by the Clearinghouse but which are not yet rated; programs and services with a rating of “does not currently meet criteria” by the Clearinghouse, and programs and services that have been designed for or adapted for specific cultural, ethnic, or racial groups, or programs and services that aim to serve other populations that have been historically marginalized and/or have historic or ongoing disproportionate representation in the child welfare system.

Estimated Total Funding:
$8,900,000

Expected Number of Awards:
12

Award Ceiling:
$1,500,000
Per Project Period

Award Floor:
$250,000
Per Project Period

Average Projected Award Amount:
$750,000
Per Project Period

Anticipated Project Start Date:
10/01/2023

View the funding summary announcement for more details. Any questions regarding this announcement should be directed to the federal Administration for Children and Families contacts outlined in the announcement.