FOSTER AND FAMILY SUPPORT GRANT PROGRAM

The Florida Department of Children and Families is establishing the Foster and Family Support Grant Program pursuant to section 409.1475, Florida Statutes. This initiative seeks nonprofit applicants to expand community-based recruitment and sustained support for foster, adoptive, and kinship caregivers, with a strategic priority on underserved and rural communities and the engagement of faith-based organizations. The program focuses on increasing the pool of licensed families through outreach and education, while improving placement stability and caregiver retention via trauma-informed training, mentoring, peer support, and volunteer-based wraparound services. Total available funding for State Fiscal Year 2026-2027 is up to 5,000,000 dollars, with the Department anticipating multiple grant awards. The resulting contracts will operate on a fixed-price unit cost basis, with an anticipated initial term from January 1, 2027, through December 31, 2030. Providers are required to submit monthly requests for payment by the 15th of the following month, contingent upon the acceptance of deliverables by the Department's Contract Manager. Performance is evaluated through qualitative reviews of organizational capacity, demonstrated need, and financial management, with specific quality standards tied to caregiver retention targets and satisfaction surveys. Providers must adhere to strict data security and confidentiality requirements under Florida's Public Records Law and maintain comprehensive liability insurance, including cyber and network security coverage.