Enhance Safety of Children Affected by Substance Abuse

This program is designed to increase well-being, improve permanency outcomes, and enhance safety of children affected by opioid or other substance abuse. This program specifically focuses on children who are in, or at risk of being in, an out-of-home placement, due to parent’s or caretaker’s substance abuse. Services and activities are provided through interagency collaboration.

The Secretary has the authority to make awards to Regional Partnerships (RPs). Applicants must be: one of the entities below and able to fulfill all the requirements of the Notice of Funding Opportunity. Mandatory Partners: (1) The state child welfare agency unless it is an RP entered into by Indian tribes or tribal consortia; (2) The state agency responsible for administering the substance abuse prevention and treatment block grant; and (3) The appropriate Court. Optional Partners: (1) An Indian tribe or tribal consortium (federally recognized); (2) Child welfare service providers; (3) Community health or mental health service providers; (4) Law enforcement agencies; (5) School personnel (including institutions of higher education); (6) Tribal child welfare agencies (or a consortium); (7) Any others related to the provision of child and family services. Faith-based organizations that meet the eligibility requirements are eligible to receive awards.
Applications from individuals (including sole proprietorships) and foreign entities are not eligible and will be disqualified from the merit review and funding under this funding opportunity.
Faith-based and community organizations that meet the eligibility requirements are eligible to receive awards under this funding opportunity.

Agencies or organizations serving children and families who have experienced or are at risk of experiencing an out of home placement as a result of a parent's or caregiver's opioid or other substance abuse.

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 them 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 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.

90 to 180 days.