African American Child and Family Research Center | HHS 2021 ACF OPRE PH 1916

Opportunity Information: Apply for HHS 2021 ACF OPRE PH 1916

The African American Child and Family Research Center grant opportunity is a cooperative agreement from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families (ACF), specifically through the Office of Planning, Research, and Evaluation (OPRE). The goal is to fund a single, national research Center that can lead and strengthen research focused on the needs, experiences, and outcomes of African American children, families, and communities served by ACF programs, with a particular emphasis on low-income populations and approaches that can improve social and economic well-being. The Center is expected to function as a hub that coordinates high-quality, culturally competent research and helps translate that research into practical insights for policy and program decisions.

A central expectation of the award is that the Center brings together a diverse, inclusive, culturally sensitive, and interdisciplinary team. This could involve partnerships among universities, research organizations, community-based organizations, and other entities with relevant expertise and trusted connections to African American communities. OPRE is looking for leadership that not only produces rigorous research but also elevates culturally grounded approaches to studying African American populations across the United States, recognizing that the African American population is not monolithic and that experiences can vary substantially by region, community type, history, and local systems.

The scope of work combines three major functions: research, capacity building, and communication. On the research side, the Center is expected to address multiple lines of inquiry, including how to define and measure African American experiences in ways that are accurate and meaningful; what barriers and facilitators shape the use of human services and supports (for example, administrative burden, trust, stigma, access, and service design); what strategies appear most promising for improving outcomes for African American children and families; and how to evaluate interventions or programs that aim to serve African American populations effectively. The focus areas are broad but anchored in ACF priorities, including child care and early education, employment and workforce pathways, economic mobility and wealth, and children’s healthy development and learning.

The Funding Opportunity Announcement highlights several topics of particular interest that applicants may incorporate into their research agenda. These include educational and employment experiences and outcomes, experiences with discrimination in human services systems, the effects of criminal justice system involvement on children and families, and program evaluation that can identify what works, for whom, and under what conditions. Another explicit emphasis is on understanding distinctive experiences across rural, suburban, and urban contexts, acknowledging that place matters and that service systems and opportunity structures can look very different across geographies.

Beyond producing studies, the Center is expected to generate concrete research products and resources and to implement a comprehensive communication plan. The intent is to build research capacity in the broader field and improve shared understanding of African American populations in ways that are useful to policymakers, practitioners, and other stakeholders. In practice, this means the Center would likely produce a mix of publications, briefs, tools, convenings, and other dissemination efforts designed to make findings accessible and actionable, rather than leaving results only in academic formats.

Structurally, this is a discretionary funding opportunity using a cooperative agreement mechanism, which typically means ACF/OPRE anticipates substantial involvement in shaping or collaborating on the project’s direction over time. The project period is 60 months (five years), divided into five 12-month budget periods, running roughly from September 2021 through September 2026. The initial award can be up to $1,800,000 for the first year, with four annual continuation awards possible after that, contingent on available funds, satisfactory progress, and continued federal interest. Only one award is expected, indicating OPRE intends to select a single Center to carry out this national role.

Eligibility is broad and includes state, county, city, and special district governments; independent school districts; public and private institutions of higher education; federally recognized tribal governments and other tribal organizations; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status; for-profit organizations (other than small businesses); and small businesses. The opportunity is listed under CFDA numbers 93.575, 93.595, 93.600, and 93.647, and it falls within the income security and social services activity category. The original application deadline for electronically submitted applications was July 12, 2021, by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time, with the opportunity created on May 12, 2021, under Funding Opportunity Number HHS-2021-ACF-OPRE-PH-1916.

• The Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families - OPRE in the income security and social services sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "African American Child and Family Research Center" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.575, 93.595, 93.600, 93.647.
• This funding opportunity was created on May 12, 2021.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Jul 12, 2021 Electronically submitted applications must be submitted no later than 1159 p.m., ET, on the listed application due date.. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $1,800,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: 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.

Apply for HHS 2021 ACF OPRE PH 1916

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