Tribal Early Childhood and Family Economic Well-being Research Center (TRC)

The Administration for Children and Families’ Office of Planning, Research, and Evaluation (OPRE), part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, is forecasting a funding opportunity titled "Tribal Early Childhood and Family Economic Well-being Research Center (TRC)." This discretionary grant is planned for release under a cooperative agreement and is intended to support research that is both relevant and actionable, focusing on programs serving Native American communities. These include early childhood care programs, Head Start and Early Head Start, and Tribal TANF. The aim is to provide evidence-based insights into the effectiveness of such programs and contribute to their improvement. The TRC is envisioned as a research and knowledge-sharing hub that will facilitate collaboration and information exchange among tribal program administrators, tribal leaders, researchers, and federal staff. It is expected to engage in significant evaluation and measurement activities that will assess the impact of these federally funded programs on early childhood development and family economic well-being within Native American communities. The research conducted must align with the needs and perspectives of tribal communities and be informed by their input. Funding for the TRC is projected to total $1,000,000, with a single award being made. The cooperative agreement will range between $750,000 and $1,000,000. There is no cost-sharing or matching requirement for applicants. This grant falls under multiple assistance listings: Child Care and Development Block Grant (93.575), Head Start (93.600), and Social Services Research and Demonstration (93.647), indicating its comprehensive reach across key service areas. Eligible applicants include a wide array of entities such as state and local governments, public and private higher education institutions, nonprofits with or without IRS 501(c)(3) status, tribal organizations, school districts, and some for-profit organizations. Individuals and foreign entities are explicitly ineligible. Faith-based and community organizations are also eligible if they meet the general criteria, with specific legal protections in place to prevent religious discrimination in the application process. The forecasted opportunity is expected to be posted on June 16, 2025, with applications due by July 21, 2025, no later than 11:59 PM EST. The anticipated award date is September 19, 2025, with the project beginning on September 30, 2025. While the application package is not yet available, the opportunity includes typical cooperative agreement oversight and support from federal staff. Interested applicants should prepare for a competitive selection process and engage in early planning. For further inquiries, applicants are directed to contact Nicole Denmark at the Administration for Children and Families. She can be reached via email at nicole.denmark@acf.hhs.gov or by phone at 202-205-4653. This contact point is crucial for clarifications or additional guidance as the opportunity becomes active.