Best Practices for Reintegration Programming for Returning Spouses and Children | DHS ST 21 108 FR04

Opportunity Information: Apply for DHS ST 21 108 FR04

Best Practices for Reintegration Programming for Returning Spouses and Children (Funding Opportunity Number DHS ST 21 108 FR04) is a discretionary research and development grant from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), run through the DHS Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) under the Public Safety and Violence Prevention (PSVP) program within the Office of Mission and Capability Support (MCS). The core purpose is to fund evidence-based work that strengthens public safety and reduces the risk of violence by improving how communities, agencies, and service providers understand and respond to complex social and behavioral threats. In practical terms, this opportunity focuses on generating usable, science-informed guidance on reintegration programming specifically for returning spouses and children, with an emphasis on identifying what works, under what conditions, and how those practices can be applied by stakeholders who are actually delivering or overseeing reintegration services.

The grant sits within DHS broader mission to make the United States safer by applying scientific, engineering, analytic, and innovative approaches to operational needs across homeland security. PSVP, as described in the solicitation, is oriented toward building high-quality data and credible evidence that can directly inform policy and frontline practice. The program frames reintegration programming as part of a prevention architecture: research findings are meant to help decision-makers divert vulnerable individuals from pathways to harm, prevent potential offenders from progressing toward violence, mitigate vulnerabilities in communities and systems, and ultimately improve community resilience. The solicitation emphasizes that DHS expects outputs that are actionable for federal, state, local, tribal, and territorial partners, as well as relevant non-governmental and private-sector organizations involved in prevention, preparedness, and community safety.

A notable feature of this opportunity is its explicitly multidisciplinary approach. DHS signals that it is looking for proposals grounded in rigorous social and behavioral science and evaluation methods, drawing on fields such as psychology, economics, criminology, political science, sociology, biostatistics, and related disciplines. The underlying expectation is that reintegration challenges cannot be addressed with a one-size-fits-all lens, and that effective programming depends on understanding risk, protective factors, family dynamics, trauma and mental health considerations, social networks, service access, and the local contexts that shape outcomes. The goal is not just to describe the problem, but to develop and share tools, techniques, and best-practice recommendations that practitioners and policymakers can apply.

The solicitation also makes clear that DHS cares about knowledge transfer and real-world uptake. Research results are intended to be translated and disseminated so they can support education, awareness, and coordinated prevention efforts across a whole-of-society framework. The description highlights empowering local efforts that may include peers, teachers, community leaders, and law enforcement, reflecting an emphasis on community-based prevention and improved preparedness, protection, and response. In other words, a successful project would not only produce findings, but would package those findings in ways that help communities implement or improve reintegration programming for returning spouses and children.

From a strategic alignment standpoint, the opportunity supports the DHS Strategic Plan 2020-2024, specifically Goal 1 (Counter Terrorism and Homeland Security Threats) and Goal 5 (Strengthen Preparedness and Resilience). It also aligns with the DHS Strategic Framework for Countering Terrorism and Targeted Violence (CTTV) (2019) and its Implementation Plan (2020). This framing indicates the work is expected to contribute to prevention-oriented capabilities that reduce the likelihood of targeted violence and strengthen community resilience, rather than focusing solely on enforcement or incident response.

Administratively, the funding instrument is a grant under CFDA 97.108, categorized under Science and Technology and other Research and Development. The award ceiling listed is $850,000. Eligible applicants include public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status, for-profit organizations (other than small businesses), and small businesses, indicating DHS is open to universities, research organizations, evaluators, and other capable entities that can credibly execute applied research and translate it into practice. The opportunity was issued by the Office of Procurement Operations, Grants Division, with a posted creation date of April 15, 2021 and an original closing date of May 28, 2021.

• The Office of Procurement Operations - Grants Division in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Best Practices for Reintegration Programming for Returning Spouses and Children" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 97.108.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2021-04-15.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2021-05-28. (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 $850,000.00 in funding.
• Eligible applicants include: Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, 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 DHS ST 21 108 FR04

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