Kinship Navigator Programs: Evaluations

This funding opportunity supports states and tribal communities in establishing and rigorously evaluating Kinship Navigator Programs to build the evidence base necessary for federal Title IV-E funding eligibility. Applicants must design and implement programs that deliver services to kinship caregivers and the children in their care, with a two-phase approach: a six-month planning period followed by a 2.5-year evaluation period focused on demonstrating measurable improvements in child safety, permanency, and well-being. The evaluation must meet high methodological standards, including randomized or quasi-experimental designs, to meet the Title IV-E Prevention Services Clearinghouse’s criteria for well-supported, supported, or promising evidence ratings. Proposals are scored on evaluation rigor and organizational capacity—each worth 30 points—followed by approach, purpose and need, and alignment with ACF’s mission and priorities, with a total of 100 base points available and an additional 10 bonus points for exceptional elements such as innovation or scalability. Awards range from $400,000 to $600,000 for the first budget period, with a three-year project period. Applicants must submit a comprehensive set of attachments including indirect cost agreements, proof of nonprofit or small business status, organizational charts, key personnel resumes, third-party partnership agreements, an ACF priorities attestation, and project site locations, all within a 100-page combined limit. A formal maintenance of effort certification is required to ensure federal funds supplement rather than replace existing state or tribal resources, and sustainability plans must demonstrate how the program will continue beyond federal funding. All applicants must register in SAM.gov and obtain a UEI, comply with 2 CFR Part 200 for financial and administrative oversight, and adhere to strict data privacy standards for personally identifiable information. The application must be submitted electronically through Grants.gov by August 7, 2026, with no paper submissions permitted unless an exemption is granted. Final selection will be based on a trade-off process evaluating merit, risk, strategic alignment with ACF goals, and geographic distribution of awardees, rather than a lowest-cost approach.