Opportunity Information: Apply for HHS 2026 ACF ACYF CF 0004
The Kinship Navigator Programs: Evaluations grant (HHS 2026 ACF ACYF CF 0004) is a discretionary cooperative agreement offered by the Administration for Children and Families (ACF), within ACYF/Children's Bureau, to help jurisdictions run and rigorously evaluate existing Kinship Navigator Programs (KNPs). The central aim is to grow the number of KNPs that can ultimately draw down ongoing federal Title IV-E Kinship Navigator funding by strengthening the evidence that these programs measurably improve outcomes for kinship caregivers and the children they are raising. In practical terms, the opportunity is designed to move programs from being helpful in concept to being demonstrably effective according to federal evidence standards, so they can be reviewed favorably by the Title IV-E Prevention Services Clearinghouse.
This funding is specifically geared toward states and tribal communities that are not currently operating a Title IV-E Kinship Navigator Program, but that have a KNP they can implement and evaluate to a rigorous standard. The work is framed as a three-year effort focused on four major components: delivering KNP services to kinship families, doing collaborative planning with key partners, conducting a formal evaluation of the program, and producing a final evaluation report that shows positive outcomes for kinship families. The emphasis on a final report with demonstrated positive outcomes signals that the grant is not only about service delivery; it is equally about building the kind of credible, well-documented evidence needed to satisfy Clearinghouse expectations and support a future transition into Title IV-E reimbursement.
A key compliance point is the relationship with the Title IV-E child welfare agency. If the applicant is not itself the Title IV-E agency, the application must include a letter of commitment from the Title IV-E child welfare agency agreeing to implement a Title IV-E Kinship Navigator program that meets Clearinghouse requirements, with the intent that by the end of the project period the program would be positioned to be rated as promising, supported, or well-supported. This requirement underscores that ACF is looking for projects that have a realistic pathway to sustainability through Title IV-E financing after the grant ends, rather than one-off pilots without a long-term funding plan.
Eligibility is broad across public, nonprofit, and private sectors, including state, county, and local governments; special districts; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; federally recognized tribal governments and certain tribal organizations; public and private institutions of higher education; nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status; for-profit organizations (including small businesses); and other eligible entities as specified. However, individuals (including sole proprietorships) and foreign entities are explicitly ineligible and would be disqualified from merit review and funding, which is an important screening factor for any prospective applicant structuring a consortium or deciding on an applicant-of-record.
From an award and timing standpoint, the opportunity has an expected total of 8 awards, with an award ceiling of $600,000 per award. The original application deadline is August 7, 2026, and the notice was created July 8, 2026. The CFDA/Assistance Listing associated with the program is 93.605, and the funding activity category is Income Security and Social Services. Because the instrument is a cooperative agreement, applicants should expect substantial federal involvement compared to a standard grant, meaning closer coordination with the federal project officer and clearer expectations around evaluation design, milestones, and reporting.
Overall, this opportunity is best understood as an evidence-building pathway: it funds jurisdictions to operate a kinship navigator service model while simultaneously producing rigorous evaluation findings that can stand up to Clearinghouse review. The intended end state is a KNP with documented, positive, measurable impacts for kin caregivers and children, and a credible case for ongoing Title IV-E support once the three-year project concludes.Apply for HHS 2026 ACF ACYF CF 0004
- The Administration for Children and Families - ACYF/CB in the income security and social services sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Kinship Navigator Programs: Evaluations" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.605.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2026-07-08.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2026-08-07. (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 $600,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 8 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, Others.
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Kinship Navigator Programs: Evaluations (HHS 2026 ACF ACYF CF 0004) - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Kinship Navigator Programs: Evaluations grant?
The Kinship Navigator Programs: Evaluations grant (HHS 2026 ACF ACYF CF 0004) is a discretionary cooperative agreement from the Administration for Children and Families (ACF), within ACYF/Children's Bureau. It is intended to help jurisdictions operate and rigorously evaluate an existing Kinship Navigator Program (KNP) so the program can build evidence of measurable, positive outcomes for kinship caregivers and the children they are raising.
What is the main purpose of this funding opportunity?
The central purpose is to increase the number of Kinship Navigator Programs that can eventually access ongoing federal Title IV-E Kinship Navigator funding. The grant does this by supporting both service delivery and a rigorous evaluation designed to meet federal evidence standards and position the program for favorable review by the Title IV-E Prevention Services Clearinghouse.
What does ACF mean by an "evidence-building pathway" in this grant?
This opportunity is designed to move a KNP from being helpful in concept to being demonstrably effective according to federal evidence standards. In practice, that means delivering KNP services while producing credible evaluation findings that show positive, measurable impacts for kinship families, consistent with Clearinghouse expectations.
Who is this grant especially geared toward?
The funding is specifically geared toward states and tribal communities that are not currently operating a Title IV-E Kinship Navigator Program, but that have a KNP they can implement and evaluate to a rigorous standard.
What is the project period and overall structure of the work?
The work is framed as a three-year effort with four major components: (1) delivering KNP services to kinship families, (2) collaborative planning with key partners, (3) conducting a formal evaluation of the program, and (4) producing a final evaluation report demonstrating positive outcomes for kinship families.
Is this grant only about providing services to kinship families?
No. The opportunity emphasizes that service delivery and rigorous evaluation are equally important. A key deliverable is a final evaluation report that shows positive outcomes, supporting the goal of meeting federal evidence standards and strengthening the case for Title IV-E reimbursement after the project ends.
What role does the Title IV-E Prevention Services Clearinghouse play in this opportunity?
The evaluation focus is intended to produce evidence that can stand up to Clearinghouse review. The goal is for the KNP to be positioned to be rated as promising, supported, or well-supported by the end of the project period.
What is the required relationship with the Title IV-E child welfare agency?
If the applicant is not the Title IV-E child welfare agency, the application must include a letter of commitment from the Title IV-E child welfare agency. The letter must agree to implement a Title IV-E Kinship Navigator program that meets Clearinghouse requirements, with the intent that by the end of the project period the program would be positioned for a promising, supported, or well-supported rating.
Why is the Title IV-E child welfare agency commitment letter important?
This requirement signals that ACF is prioritizing projects with a realistic pathway to sustainability through Title IV-E financing after the grant ends, rather than stand-alone pilots without a long-term funding plan.
What type of funding instrument is this, and what does that imply for recipients?
This opportunity uses a cooperative agreement. Compared to a standard grant, a cooperative agreement generally means substantial federal involvement, including closer coordination with the federal project officer and clearer expectations related to evaluation design, milestones, and reporting.
How many awards does ACF expect to make?
The opportunity anticipates a total of 8 awards.
What is the maximum amount available per award?
The award ceiling is $600,000 per award.
What is the application deadline?
The original application deadline is August 7, 2026.
When was the notice created?
The notice was created on July 8, 2026.
What is the Assistance Listing (CFDA) number for this opportunity?
The associated Assistance Listing (CFDA) number is 93.605.
What is the funding activity category?
The funding activity category is Income Security and Social Services.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broad and includes: state, county, and local governments; special districts; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; federally recognized tribal governments and certain tribal organizations; public and private institutions of higher education; nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status; for-profit organizations (including small businesses); and other eligible entities as specified.
Who is not eligible to apply?
Individuals (including sole proprietorships) and foreign entities are explicitly ineligible and would be disqualified from merit review and funding.
How does ineligibility affect consortia or applicant-of-record decisions?
Because individuals (including sole proprietorships) and foreign entities are disallowed, applicants need to structure any partnership or consortium so the applicant-of-record is an eligible entity and does not fall into an excluded category that would trigger disqualification.
What outcomes is the grant trying to demonstrate?
The program is intended to generate evidence that KNPs measurably improve outcomes for kinship caregivers and the children they are raising, with the final evaluation report showing positive outcomes.
What is the expected end state at the conclusion of the three-year project?
The intended end state is a KNP with documented, positive, measurable impacts for kin caregivers and children, along with a credible evidence base and implementation pathway that supports ongoing Title IV-E Kinship Navigator funding after the grant period.
Does this opportunity support jurisdictions already operating a Title IV-E Kinship Navigator Program?
The information provided indicates the funding is specifically geared toward states and tribal communities that are not currently operating a Title IV-E Kinship Navigator Program, but that have a KNP they can implement and evaluate rigorously.
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