# Tribal Court Improvement Program

Source: https://welltoldgrants.com/grants/hhs-2026-acf-acyf-cs-0020-tribal-court-improvement-program/  
Official notice: https://www.grants.gov/search-results-detail/361970

> Administration for Children and Families - ACYF/CB offered grants of up to $250,000 (at least $50,000) to tribes. It expected to make about 7 awards worth $943,000 in total. Applications closed on August 7, 2026.

| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Opportunity number | HHS-2026-ACF-ACYF-CS-0020 |
| Agency | Administration for Children and Families - ACYF/CB |
| Status | Forecast |
| Deadline | August 7, 2026 |
| Award ceiling | $250,000 |
| Award floor | $50,000 |
| Expected awards | 7 |
| Total funding | $943,000 |
| Cost sharing | not required |
| Assistance Listings | 93.586 |

## Who can apply

- Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized)
- Others (see text field entitled "Additional Information on Eligibility" for clarification)

Eligible applicants are Indian tribes, as defined by subsections (E) and (I) of section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304), or tribal consortia that meet one of the three conditions below: Operating an approved title IV-E program in accordance with section 479B of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 679c).Plans to operate a title IV-E program and have received a Tribal Title IV-E Plan Development Grant, as authorized by section 476 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 676).Have a court that handles foster care or adoption cases.A tribal consortium is a partnership between two or more tribes that work together to achieve a common objective. 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.

## What the grant funds

This Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) provides funding to tribal courts to assess the effectiveness of and support improvements to how these courts and/or legal representation handle American Indian and Alaska Native child welfare cases. This includes cases involving family preservation, family reunification, guardianship, and adoption. The Tribal Court Improvement Program (TCIP) supports the Administration for Children and Families' (ACF) mission to foster health and well-being by providing partnership and effective delivery of human services. Through this program, ACF partners directly with tribes to strengthen tribal court systems that oversee child welfare matters, helping ensure that children are safe, families are supported, and court proceedings are timely, fair, and legally sound.

## Questions people ask

### Is HHS-2026-ACF-ACYF-CS-0020 still open?

No. It closed on August 7, 2026.

### Who can apply for Tribal Court Improvement Program?

Administration for Children and Families - ACYF/CB accepted applications from tribes. The notice adds further conditions, so read its eligibility section.

### What is the deadline for Tribal Court Improvement Program?

Closed August 7, 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 $250,000 each. About $943,000 in total across about 7 awards.

### Who has won State Court Improvement Program grants before?

The largest recipients over five fiscal years were Judicial Council of California, The State of Florida Judiciary Courts, Supreme Court of Texas. The program made 431 awards worth $139 million in that time.