# Collaborative Approaches to Adoption for Children with Complex Needs

Source: https://welltoldgrants.com/grants/hhs-2026-acf-acyf-co-0055-collaborative-approaches-to-adoption-for-children-with/  
Official notice: https://www.grants.gov/search-results-detail/362891

> Administration for Children and Families - ACYF/CB offered grants of up to $2.1 million (at least $1.5 million) to nonprofits, colleges and universities, state and local governments, tribes, small businesses and businesses. It expected to make about 3 awards worth $6.5 million in total. Applications closed on August 26, 2026.

| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Opportunity number | HHS-2026-ACF-ACYF-CO-0055 |
| Agency | Administration for Children and Families - ACYF/CB |
| Status | Forecast |
| Deadline | August 26, 2026 |
| Award ceiling | $2.1 million |
| Award floor | $1.5 million |
| Expected awards | 3 |
| Total funding | $6.5 million |
| Cost sharing | not required |
| Assistance Listings | 93.652 |

## Who can apply

- 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)

N/A 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 for awards under this funding opportunity.

## What the grant funds

This funding opportunity aims to support innovations that build evidence on how to help children and youth with complex or high-acuity needs achieve permanency through adoption. The projects will focus on collaborative, system-level efforts to recruit, train, support, and retain families who can meet these children's needs. Projects must be led by researchers who work within a child welfare agency or work in close partnership with one or more child welfare agencies. Together, researchers and child welfare program staff will identify and evaluate promising collaborative approaches. Collaborations that include Medicaid Section 1115 Research and Demonstration Projects, private adoption agencies, or community- or faith-based organizations are of particular interest. You'll be expected to: (1) Study how the model works in practice (i.e., implementation study). (2) Evaluate the effectiveness of the approach. (3) Use the most rigorous research designs, methods, and analytic techniques that are appropriate and sufficient to address the research questions of interest. Projects are expected to build on the existing research evidence and contribute generalized knowledge.

## Questions people ask

### Is HHS-2026-ACF-ACYF-CO-0055 still open?

No. It closed on August 26, 2026.

### Who can apply for Collaborative Approaches to Adoption for Children with Complex Needs?

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 Collaborative Approaches to Adoption for Children with Complex Needs?

Closed August 26, 2026. 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 $2.1 million each. About $6.5 million in total across about 3 awards.

### 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.