Fingerprinting Infrastructure Modernization for Child Welfare
🏛 Administration for Children and Families - ACYF/CB (HHS-ACF-CB)
✓ Free, no account · Source: Grants.gov · Last verified Jul 15, 2026
Can you apply?
This grant is for state and tribal child welfare agencies seeking to modernize fingerprinting and background check infrastructure. Eligible applicants include state agencies responsible for child welfare services and tribal nations operating child welfare systems. The program supports infrastructure investments such as mobile fingerprinting units and Live Scan stations that integrate into existing child welfare workflows. Activities must directly advance placement timelines and caregiver approval processes within child welfare operations.
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Key dates
- Jul 6, 2026 Applications open
- Aug 4, 2026 Application deadline in 19 days
- Sep 29, 2026 Award announced
- Sep 30, 2026 Project start
Program description
This program supports state and tribal child welfare agencies in modernizing fingerprinting and background check infrastructure to accelerate the safe placement of children into family homes. By investing in mobile fingerprinting and office-based Live Scan stations, the initiative addresses critical delays that prevent timely caregiver approval and placement.
Funded activities focus on expanding access to fingerprinting services while integrating fingerprint collection into existing child welfare workflows such as home visits and office-based licensing processes. In parallel, the program supports system modernization efforts that reduce or eliminate barriers in background check processing. These improvements are designed to enhance efficiency, ensure compliance with federal requirements, and reduce administrative burden.
The expected measurable outcomes include significantly reduced turnaround times for fingerprint-based background checks, increased availability and accessibility of qualified caregivers, and improved capacity for agencies to place children more quickly in safe, stable, and nurturing homes. This program supports the ACF’s A Home for Every Child initiative by aligning infrastructure investments with operational needs, advancing broader efforts to strengthen child welfare systems, increasing placement stability, and expanding the pool of approved kinship, foster, and adoptive families.
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
How to apply
Application links
Key dates & requirements
Required documents
- SF-424 (Federal Application for Assistance)
- Project Narrative
- Budget and Budget Narrative
- Organizational Capacity Statement
- Implementation Timeline
- Outcome Measurement Plan
Program contact
- 👤 Brian Lerner
- 📧 cb@grantreview.org
- 📞 (888) 203-6161
Funding track record
Recent awards under CFDA 93.648 from the last 3 years — real organizations that won funding through this same program.
Top 10 Largest Recent Awards
-
$28,626,203
-
$16,173,579
-
$6,007,525
-
$3,750,000
-
$3,750,000
-
$3,747,698
-
$3,745,588
-
$3,741,662
-
$2,283,340
-
$2,267,112
Top States by Funding
- NY 2 awards $30.9M
- PA 2 awards $19.9M
- CA 2 awards $7.0M
- KY 1 awards $3.8M
- KS 1 awards $3.7M
Source: USAspending.gov — federal spending transparency. Data covers last 3 years.
Funding history
Annual funding for this program — Federal obligations (CFDA 93.648). How funding has trended year over year.
| 2024 | $2,198,400 | |
| 2025 | $2,198,400 | |
| 2026 est. | $2,198,400 |
FAQ
Who can apply for this grant?
State child welfare agencies and tribal nations operating child welfare systems are eligible. Applicants must manage fingerprinting and background check processes for caregiver approval.
What is the funding range?
Awards typically range from $50,000 to $200,000. Total program funding is $4,000,000.
What activities can I fund?
Mobile fingerprinting units, Live Scan stations, and system modernization to reduce background check processing delays. Improvements must integrate into existing child welfare workflows.
Is cost sharing required?
No. This grant does not require matching funds or cost sharing.
What are the key outcomes measured?
Reduced turnaround times for background checks, expanded caregiver availability, and faster child placements into safe homes.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Clearly document current fingerprinting bottlenecks and timeline delays in your application. Quantify specific pain points affecting placement timelines.
- Align your infrastructure plan with existing child welfare workflows. Reviewers want to see how new systems integrate seamlessly into current operations.
- Include measurable outcomes tied to placement speed and caregiver pool expansion. Concrete metrics strengthen competitiveness.
- Demonstrate how your modernization effort supports the ACF's "A Home for Every Child" initiative. Link to broader child welfare system strengthening.
- Plan for sustainability beyond the grant period. Show how your agency will maintain and support the new infrastructure long-term.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Vague descriptions of current inefficiencies without baseline data or timeline metrics. Proposal focuses solely on equipment purchase without planning integration into workflows. Insufficient detail on how project supports broader child welfare outcomes beyond fingerprinting.
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