Kinship Navigators

CFDA 93.605 Active Cooperative Agreement
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Program Funding

Annual program obligations reported to SAM.gov.

Latest annual funding (estimated)
$600K FY2026
$600K
FY24
$600K
FY25
$600K
FY26*
* estimated

Who has received this funding

Organizations awarded under CFDA 93.605 (USAspending.gov).

  • Wayfinder Family Services $1,911,066

Program Objective

This program provides awards for the purpose of helping children who are in, or at risk of entering, foster care to reconnect with family members.

Eligibility

Eligible Applicants

  • Local
  • State
  • Tribal
  • Nonprofit Organization

State, local or tribal child welfare agencies, private nonprofit organizations. Private nonprofit organizations must have experience in working with foster children or children in kinship care arrangements. Institutions of higher education as defined under section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001).

Beneficiaries

  • Young Child (4–9)
  • Pre-Teen (10–12)
  • Teen (13–19)
  • Infant and Toddler (0–3)

Children at risk of entering foster care and their families.

How to Apply

Award Procedure

Each application is reviewed against four factors: eligibility, the application deadline, required electronic submission or waiver requested and approved, and the Award Ceiling. If the application does not meet all of these factors, then it is disqualified from the merit review process. After the initial review, applications are reviewed and evaluated by merit review panels using only the criteria described in the Application Review section of the NOFO. Each panel is composed of experts with knowledge and experience in the area under review. Generally, review panels include three reviewers and one chairperson. While merit review scores and their ranking are not binding, ACF does consider thm when selecting projects for funding. Scores and rankings are only one element used in the award decision-making process. Other criteria are explained in the Program Description section and in the Application Review section of the NOFO. For example, ACF may reserve the right to consider preferences to fund organizations serving emerging, unserved, or under-served populations, including those populations located in pockets of poverty. In addition, ACF reserves the right to evaluate applications in the larger context of the overall portfolio by considering the geographic distribution of federal funds (e.g., ensuring coverage of states, counties, or service areas) in its pre-award decisions. ACF may elect not to fund applicants with management or financial problems that would indicate an inability to successfully complete the proposed project. In addition, ACF may elect to not allow a prime recipient to subaward if there is any indication that they are unable to properly monitor and manage subrecipients. Applications may be funded in whole or in part. Successful applicants may be funded at an amount lower than requested

The range for approval/disapproval is 90 to 180 days.

Program details & compliance

Description

This program provides awards for the purpose of helping children who are in, or at risk of entering, foster care to reconnect with family members.

Mission Categories

Primary: Families and Child Welfare Services

Use of Funds

Allowed Uses

Discretionary awards are provided for services or activities that are consistent with the purpose of Public Law 118-258, Supporting America's Children and Families Act, Section 427 of the Social Security Act: a kinship navigator program to assist kinship caregivers in learning about, finding and using programs and services to meet the needs of the children they are raising and their own needs; and to promote effective partnerships among public and private agencies to ensure kinship caregiver families are served. Kinship navigator grants may include a description of how the funds will be used to evaluate the program to meet the requirements of section 471(e)(4)(C) or help the State transition to a program for which the State will seek reimbursement under section 474(a)(7), for the title IV-E Kinship Navigator program.

Required Documentation

Nonprofit agencies must submit proof of nonprofit status.

Matching Requirements

Recipients may use grant funds to pay no more than 75 percent of the cost of activities to be carried out under the grant (Section 427(d) of the Social Security Act). No more than 50 percent of the non-federal share may be in kind, as required by Section 427(e) of the Act.

Reporting & Compliance

Audit Required
Yes — Ad-hoc
Records Retention
3 years

Applicable 2 CFR 200 Subparts

  • Subpart B — General Provisions
  • Subpart C — Pre-Federal Award Requirements
  • Subpart D — Post-Federal Award Requirements
  • Subpart E — Cost Principles
  • Subpart F — Audit Requirements

Contacts

Janice Shafer — Director, Division of Program Innovation
202-205-8172
330 C Street SW, Room 3503, Washington, DC 20201
Data from SAM.gov Federal Assistance Listings. Source published: 2026-01-14. Spec v2.0. Last synced: 2026-05-30 02:31:42.