Opportunity Information: Apply for HHS 2026 ACF ACYF CA 0061
The Title IV-E Prevention Accelerator Grants (HHS-2026-ACF-ACYF-CA-0061) is a discretionary grant opportunity from the Administration for Children and Families, Children’s Bureau (ACYF/CB), designed to help public child welfare agencies move faster from planning to real, billable implementation of Family First Prevention Services Act (FFPSA) Title IV-E prevention services. Even though FFPSA expanded what agencies can claim under Title IV-E for prevention, prevention service claims remain very low (less than 2% of total program claims). The funding is meant to address the practical, on-the-ground barriers that keep agencies from fully launching and sustaining these services, such as weak administrative infrastructure, insufficient provider readiness, limited evaluation and continuous learning capacity, and complicated claiming and reimbursement rules.
At its core, the program funds projects that build the “backbone” needed to implement and sustain one or more Title IV-E eligible prevention services, with a clear emphasis on accelerating readiness so services can transition into routine Title IV-E claiming. Applicants must propose implementing at least one Title IV-E eligible prevention service that is either new to the jurisdiction or not yet fully operational within the agency’s existing Title IV-E prevention plan or statewide service array. In other words, these grants are not just for maintaining a mature prevention program; they are for pushing a jurisdiction past the hurdles that are preventing full operational launch, scale-up, and financial sustainability through Title IV-E.
The main types of activities supported focus on systems-building and implementation capacity. This includes developing or strengthening Title IV-E claiming, billing, and reimbursement systems so the agency can accurately document services, meet federal requirements, and draw down funds reliably. It also includes building provider capacity and practical referral pathways, which can involve preparing providers to deliver approved services at required fidelity, aligning contracts and payment approaches, clarifying eligibility and referral criteria, and ensuring families can actually access services without bottlenecks. A third major area is establishing data and reporting infrastructure, which typically means putting in place the tools and workflows to track service delivery, outcomes, and required reporting elements, and to use data for operational decision-making rather than only for compliance.
A key expectation is speed to sustainability: agencies must demonstrate how both the services and the enabling infrastructure will transition to Title IV-E claiming within 18 months. This requirement reinforces that the grant is intended as an implementation accelerator rather than an open-ended pilot. To support rapid improvement and practical learning, awardees must work with an internal or external evaluator who can provide rapid, real-time feedback during the preparation and early implementation phases. Recipients are also expected to share lessons learned with the broader field, so that other Title IV-E agencies can benefit from what worked, what did not, and what conditions made implementation easier or harder.
Eligibility is limited to public Title IV-E child welfare agencies at the state, territorial, or federally recognized tribal government level. Individuals (including sole proprietors) and foreign entities are explicitly not eligible and would be disqualified from merit review and funding consideration. The opportunity is listed under Assistance Listing (CFDA) 93.670 and falls under the Income Security and Social Services activity category.
From a funding standpoint, the Children’s Bureau anticipates making about 10 awards, with an award ceiling of $750,000 per project. The application closing date is August 17, 2026, and the opportunity was created on July 17, 2026. Overall, the grant is aimed at turning FFPSA prevention authority into routine practice by helping agencies build the operational, provider, data, and claiming machinery needed to deliver eligible prevention services at scale and successfully claim Title IV-E reimbursement on a near-term timeline.Apply for HHS 2026 ACF ACYF CA 0061
- The Administration for Children and Families - ACYF/CB in the income security and social services sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Title IV-E Prevention Accelerator Grants" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.670.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2026-07-17.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2026-08-17. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $750,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 10 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: State governments, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized).
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Title IV-E Prevention Accelerator Grants (HHS-2026-ACF-ACYF-CA-0061) FAQs
What is the Title IV-E Prevention Accelerator Grants program?
The Title IV-E Prevention Accelerator Grants (HHS-2026-ACF-ACYF-CA-0061) is a discretionary grant opportunity from the Administration for Children and Families (ACF), Children’s Bureau (ACYF/CB). It is designed to help public child welfare agencies move quickly from planning to real, billable implementation of Family First Prevention Services Act (FFPSA) Title IV-E prevention services.
What problem is this funding trying to solve?
Although FFPSA expanded what agencies can claim under Title IV-E for prevention, prevention service claims remain very low (less than 2% of total program claims). This program is meant to address the practical barriers that keep agencies from launching and sustaining Title IV-E prevention services, including weak administrative infrastructure, insufficient provider readiness, limited evaluation and continuous learning capacity, and complicated claiming and reimbursement rules.
Who is offering this grant?
The grant is offered by the Administration for Children and Families (ACF), Children’s Bureau (ACYF/CB).
What is the goal of the grant?
The goal is to fund projects that build the operational "backbone" needed to implement and sustain one or more Title IV-E eligible prevention services, with a strong emphasis on accelerating readiness so services can transition into routine Title IV-E claiming.
Is this grant intended to maintain an already mature prevention program?
No. The opportunity emphasizes acceleration and readiness. Applicants must propose implementing at least one Title IV-E eligible prevention service that is either new to the jurisdiction or not yet fully operational within the agency’s existing Title IV-E prevention plan or statewide service array.
What is required regarding the prevention services proposed in an application?
Applicants must propose implementing at least one Title IV-E eligible prevention service that is either new to the jurisdiction or not yet fully operational within the agency’s existing Title IV-E prevention plan or statewide service array. The grant is focused on helping jurisdictions push past hurdles preventing full operational launch, scale-up, and financial sustainability through Title IV-E.
What kinds of activities does the grant support?
The grant supports systems-building and implementation capacity activities that help agencies implement and sustain Title IV-E eligible prevention services. The main activity areas described include strengthening claiming/billing systems, building provider capacity and referral pathways, and establishing data and reporting infrastructure.
Does the funding support improving Title IV-E claiming, billing, and reimbursement systems?
Yes. A major focus is developing or strengthening Title IV-E claiming, billing, and reimbursement systems so the agency can accurately document services, meet federal requirements, and draw down funds reliably.
How does the grant address provider capacity and referrals?
The opportunity supports building provider capacity and practical referral pathways. Examples described include preparing providers to deliver approved services at required fidelity, aligning contracts and payment approaches, clarifying eligibility and referral criteria, and ensuring families can access services without bottlenecks.
Is data and reporting infrastructure an eligible focus area?
Yes. The grant can support establishing data and reporting infrastructure, including tools and workflows to track service delivery, outcomes, and required reporting elements, and to use data for operational decision-making rather than only for compliance.
How quickly do projects need to become financially sustainable through Title IV-E claiming?
A key expectation is "speed to sustainability." Agencies must demonstrate how both the services and the enabling infrastructure will transition to Title IV-E claiming within 18 months.
Why is the 18-month transition requirement important?
The 18-month timeline reinforces that this is an implementation accelerator rather than an open-ended pilot. The intent is to move services and the supporting infrastructure into routine Title IV-E claiming on a near-term timeline.
Is evaluation required as part of the project?
Yes. Awardees must work with an internal or external evaluator who can provide rapid, real-time feedback during preparation and early implementation phases.
What is meant by "rapid, real-time feedback" from an evaluator?
The opportunity describes an expectation for practical learning during preparation and early implementation. The evaluator is expected to support rapid improvement by providing timely feedback that can be used to adjust implementation as it is being built and launched.
Do awardees have to share lessons learned?
Yes. Recipients are expected to share lessons learned with the broader field so other Title IV-E agencies can benefit from what worked, what did not, and what conditions made implementation easier or harder.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is limited to public Title IV-E child welfare agencies at the state, territorial, or federally recognized tribal government level.
Are individuals eligible to apply?
No. Individuals (including sole proprietors) are explicitly not eligible and would be disqualified from merit review and funding consideration.
Are foreign entities eligible to apply?
No. Foreign entities are explicitly not eligible and would be disqualified from merit review and funding consideration.
How many awards does the Children’s Bureau expect to make?
The Children’s Bureau anticipates making about 10 awards.
What is the maximum award amount?
The award ceiling is $750,000 per project.
What is the application closing date?
The application closing date is August 17, 2026.
When was this opportunity created?
The opportunity was created on July 17, 2026.
What is the Assistance Listing (CFDA) number for this grant?
The opportunity is listed under Assistance Listing (CFDA) 93.670.
What activity category does this opportunity fall under?
It falls under the Income Security and Social Services activity category.
What does "discretionary grant" mean in this context?
The opportunity is described as a discretionary grant, meaning it is a competitively awarded funding opportunity offered by the federal agency (as opposed to an entitlement or formula allocation).
What is the overall intended impact of this grant program?
The overall aim is to turn FFPSA prevention authority into routine practice by helping agencies build the operational, provider, data, and claiming systems needed to deliver eligible prevention services at scale and successfully claim Title IV-E reimbursement on a near-term timeline.
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