Collaborative Approaches to Adoption for Children with Complex Needs
This grant funds projects to test and evaluate collaborative strategies for recruiting, training, and supporting adoptive families for children with complex behavioral, medical, or emotional needs.
Funder: Administration for Children and Families - ACYF/CB
Due Dates (Anticipated): August 2026 (full application deadline, projected)
Funding Amounts: $1,500,000–$2,150,000 per award; up to 3 awards; total program funding $6,450,000 (projected, annual cycle)
Summary: Supports collaborative, evidence-building approaches to improve adoption permanency for children and youth with complex or high-acuity needs through system-level recruitment, training, and support of adoptive families.
Key Information: This is a forecasted opportunity; all deadlines and details are subject to change.
Description
This opportunity funds projects that test and build evidence for collaborative approaches to improving permanency through adoption for children and youth with complex or high-acuity needs (e.g., medically fragile children, those with significant behavioral, medical, or emotional needs). Projects must focus on system-level strategies to recruit, train, support, and retain families capable of meeting these children's specialized needs.
Funded activities may include:
- Recruitment and retention of specialized adoptive homes
- Specialized interventions and support services for children and families
- Respite care for adoptive families
- Training for caseworkers
- Collaborative, community-based services
- Coordination with state and local health and education agencies
Collaborations involving Medicaid Section 1115 Demonstration Projects and private adoption agencies are especially encouraged. Awardees are expected to conduct implementation studies and rigorous evaluations to assess approach effectiveness, guided by a strong theory of change.
