HHS-2023-ACF-ACYF-CO-0039: National Center for Adoption Competent Mental Health Services
Closed
This grant is closed. Who won this program's grants before is below, and similar open grants are at the end of the page. It is in our archive of Administration for Children and Families - ACYF/CB notices from 2023.
Administration for Children and Families - ACYF/CB offered grants of up to $4.0 million (at least $3.8 million) to nonprofits, colleges and universities, state and local governments, tribes, small businesses and businesses. It expected to make one award worth $4.0 million in total. Applications closed on May 30, 2023.
From the official notice on Grants.gov, last changed April 6, 2023. Checked November 7, 2026.
- Award ceiling$4.0 million
- Award floor$3.8 million
- Total funding$4.0 million
- Expected awards1
- Cost sharingNot required
- Funding typeCooperative Agreement
Key dates
| Posted | March 29, 2023 |
|---|---|
| Deadline | May 30, 2023 |
| Archived by Grants.gov | June 29, 2023 |
Who can apply
This opportunity was open to nonprofits, colleges and universities, state and local governments, tribes, small businesses and businesses.
All 15 applicant types the notice lists
- State governments
- County governments
- City or township governments
- Special district governments
- Independent school districts
- Public and State controlled institutions of higher education
- Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized)
- Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities
- Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments)
- Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education
- Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education
- Private institutions of higher education
- For profit organizations other than small businesses
- Small businesses
- Others (see text field entitled "Additional Information on Eligibility" for clarification)
Per 42 U.S.C. 5113(b)(4), eligibility is open to public or private agencies or organizations, including adoptive family groups and minority groups.CB will accept applications that represent partnerships among organizations with relevant experience. Applicants may subcontract with organizations specializing in their assigned tasks. Applications from collaborations must identify a primary applicant responsible for administering the cooperative agreement. Applications from individuals (including sole proprietorships) and foreign entities are not eligible and will be disqualified from competitive 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. Faith-based organizations may apply for this award on the same basis as any other organization, as set forth at and, subject to the protections and requirements of 45 CFR Part 87 and 42 U.S.C. 2000bb et seq., ACF will not, in the selection of recipients, discriminate against an organization on the basis of the organization's religious character, affiliation, or exercise.
Is this a realistic fit?
- Past Adoption Opportunities awards averaged $7.9 million; this notice allows up to $4.0 million per award.
- Most of the program's money (89% over five years) went to nonprofits.
- No cost sharing or match is required.
What the grant funds
This NOFO is modified. Changes are made to Section I and Section V.1.The purpose of this funding opportunity will be to provide one grant to a recipient to create a National Center for Adoption Competent Mental Health Services (the Center) with the capacity to work with state child welfare systems to build the bridges with the mental health community for the further development and training of the mental health practitioners in issues related to separation, loss, grief and trauma and to develop strategies for making trauma-based competent mental health services consistently and comprehensively available throughout each state. All work of this entity will be accomplished utilizing a race equity lens. States struggle with providing comprehensive and adoption competent mental health services for children in foster care and adoptive/guardianship homes. Availability of mental health practitioners trained about the trauma-base experienced by these children is limited, yet these services are critical to the well-being and stability of children while in care and in adoptive/guardianship homes. Building bridges between the child welfare system and the state mental health systems is key to bringing about systemic change to increase and improve on the services provided to children/youth and their families. The development of a national center is expected to raise the level of utilization of existing evidence-informed, state-of-the-art adoption-competent training for mental health practitioners that will increase the access and availability of professionals with trauma informed competence. The Center will provide individual technical assistance to the child welfare systems of states, tribes, and territories in building alliances with the mental health community to build access to competent mental health services for children in care and in adoptive/guardianship homes.
Who has won Adoption Opportunities grants before
From fiscal 2021 to 2025, Adoption Opportunities (93.652) awarded $142 million across 18 grant awards, an average of $7.9 million per award.
| Recipient | State | Awards | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| National Adoption Association | Maryland | 2 | $47.8 million |
| Spaulding for Children | Michigan | 3 | $41.6 million |
| Center for Adoption Support & Education Inc | Maryland | 3 | $21.4 million |
| American Public Human Services Association | Virginia | 2 | $7.8 million |
| University of Maine System | Maine | 1 | $4.2 million |
Applying now
This notice no longer takes applications. Agencies often post the same opportunity again under a new number, so check the program's notices on Grants.gov and the similar open grants below.
The notice on Grants.gov keeps its full text and attachments, which is useful for planning a resubmission.
Questions people ask
Is HHS-2023-ACF-ACYF-CO-0039 still open?
No. It closed on May 30, 2023.
Who can apply for National Center for Adoption Competent Mental Health Services?
Administration for Children and Families - ACYF/CB accepted applications from nonprofits, colleges and universities, state and local governments, tribes, small businesses and businesses. The notice adds further conditions, so read its eligibility section.
What is the deadline for National Center for Adoption Competent Mental Health Services?
Closed May 30, 2023. Applications are no longer accepted; the program's newer notices are on this page when there are any.
How much funding is available?
Awards of up to $4.0 million each. About $4.0 million in total for one award.
Who has won Adoption Opportunities grants before?
The largest recipients over five fiscal years were National Adoption Association, Spaulding for Children, Center for Adoption Support & Education Inc. The program made 18 awards worth $142 million in that time.
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