Evaluations of Practices for Program Integrity and Fraud Prevention
🏛 Administration for Children and Families
✓ Free, no account · Source: Grants.gov · Last verified Jul 16, 2026
Can you apply?
This grant is for evaluations, research, and studies focused on program integrity and fraud prevention practices within child welfare, child care, and related social service programs administered by the Administration for Children and Families. Eligible applicants typically include nonprofits, universities, research institutions, and government entities with expertise in program evaluation, policy analysis, and fraud detection methodologies. The grant supports organizations that can conduct rigorous evaluations of existing practices or test new approaches to strengthen program integrity. Geographically, organizations serving U.S. jurisdictions and tribal entities are eligible. Activities supported include designing and implementing evaluation frameworks, collecting and analyzing data on fraud prevention interventions, and disseminating findings to improve practices across the child welfare and child care sectors.
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Key dates
- May 15, 2026 Applications open
- Aug 3, 2026 Application deadline in 17 days
- Sep 15, 2026 Award announced
- Sep 30, 2026 Project start
Program description
The Evaluations of Practices for Program Integrity and Fraud Prevention program supports partnerships between CCDF Lead Agencies and research organizations to identify promising strategies to prevent fraud and waste and examine how well these efforts work. A key goal of this program is to share promising practices with other states, territories, and Tribes and to guide child care policy decisions and program improvement efforts to improve program integrity and reduce waste and fraud, including through improved data systems.
Projects must be conducted through partnerships between CCDF Lead Agencies (i.e., states, territories, or Tribes) and researchers from institutions of higher education, state agencies, research organizations, and/or other organizations with expertise in policy research. Partnership teams are expected to work collaboratively throughout all phases of the project to ensure that the research addresses CCDF Lead Agency priorities and aligns with ACF priorities. These collaborations should be mutually beneficial, provide high-quality evidence to inform policy decisions, and build capacity for policy-relevant research. Partnerships will also strengthen the field’s ability to produce and use rigorous research to inform child care policies. Teams are expected to participate in a research consortium, attend ACF-sponsored meetings, and share research findings.
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
How to apply
Application links
Key dates & requirements
Required documents
- SF-424 (Application for Federal Assistance)
- SF-424 Supplement (Project Narrative)
- Detailed evaluation methodology and research design
- Budget narrative and detailed budget (SF-424 A)
- Letters of support/commitment from implementing partner agencies
- Organizational capacity documentation (relevant prior evaluations, staff qualifications, research infrastructure)
- Data access and human subjects protection plan (IRB approval or exemption letter if applicable)
- Dissemination and knowledge translation plan
Program contact
- 👤 Krystal Bichay-Awadalla
- 📧 Krystal.Awadalla@acf.hhs.gov
- 📞 877-350-5913
Funding track record
Recent awards under CFDA 93.575 from the last 3 years — real organizations that won funding through this same program.
Top 10 Largest Recent Awards
-
$2,312,899,777
-
$1,509,933,996
-
$1,443,293,123
-
$986,339,965
-
$967,844,677
-
$964,302,432
-
$952,960,797
-
$948,051,422
-
$869,050,233
-
$828,040,607
Top States by Funding
- CA 8 awards $8,003.2M
- FL 9 awards $5,564.7M
- TX 5 awards $4,008.1M
- GA 8 awards $3,519.3M
- OH 8 awards $2,935.2M
Source: USAspending.gov — federal spending transparency. Data covers last 3 years.
Funding history
Annual funding for this program — Federal obligations (CFDA 93.575). How funding has trended year over year.
| 2024 | $7,465,144,008 | |
| 2025 | $8,950,758,000 | |
| 2026 est. | $8,703,258,000 |
FAQ
Who is eligible to apply for this grant?
Eligible applicants typically include nonprofits, universities, research institutions, state and local government agencies, and tribal organizations with demonstrated capacity to conduct rigorous evaluations and research.
What types of projects does this grant support?
This grant supports evaluation and research projects focused on assessing program integrity and fraud prevention practices in child welfare, child care, and related social service programs.
What is the typical funding range for this grant?
While specific amounts vary by year, HHS research and evaluation grants typically range from $100,000 to $500,000, depending on project scope. Consult the Notice of Funding Opportunity for exact funding levels.
What makes an application competitive?
Strong applications demonstrate rigorous evaluation design, clear measurable outcomes, partnerships with implementing agencies, experience with similar populations or programs, and a clear plan to disseminate findings to stakeholders.
What is the application deadline?
The application open date is May 15, 2026. Check the Notice of Funding Opportunity for the specific submission deadline and any expedited review dates.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Clearly articulate the evaluation research questions and how findings will inform practice and policy changes in program integrity and fraud prevention
- Partner with child welfare or child care agencies that can provide access to data, program sites, and staff participation in the evaluation
- Design a rigorous evaluation framework using appropriate methodologies (RCT, quasi-experimental, case studies) that will produce credible evidence
- Include a dissemination plan that targets practitioners, policymakers, and child-serving organizations so findings reach intended audiences
- Budget realistically for data collection, analysis, evaluation staff, and stakeholder engagement; HHS reviewers scrutinize evaluation budgets carefully
⚠️ Common mistakes
Many applications fail because they lack a clear theory of change or fail to explain how evaluation findings will lead to actionable improvements in fraud prevention practices. Others underestimate the complexity of accessing real-world program data and don't have strong partnerships in place with implementing agencies. Lastly, weak applications often propose evaluation designs that are too ambitious for the funding level or timeline, making results unrealistic to achieve.
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