ACF News

In celebration of Community Economic Development Month, more than $16 million in new grant awards was awarded to support 22 Community Economic Development projects. Administered by the Administration for Children and Families’ (ACF) Office of Community Services (OCS), these new grants will create more than 630 new jobs in underserved communities. Seventy-five percent of the jobs created under each grant will be reserved for people with low income. These grants not only act as a pathway to economic stability through job creation and placement but will also provide access to other anti-poverty wraparound support services, such as financial literacy assistance, childcare services, transportation, substance use disorder treatment and English language education. Delivering the services together removes barriers to economic mobility and allow individuals to maintain long-term employment and achieve self-sufficiency.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Administration for Children and Families (ACF) awarded $11.2 million to one tribal and 13 state child support agencies to implement comprehensive domestic violence services to survivors who need assistance accessing child support.

Eighteen grants totaling $8.8 million were awarded to increase well-being, improve permanency and enhance the safety of children who are in, or at risk of, an out-of-home placement as a result of a parent’s or caregiver’s opioid or other substance misuse. Announced by the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the regional partnership grants will be cooperative agreements funded at a maximum of $600,000 annually for a five-year project period.

Today, during National Diaper Need Awareness Week , the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced a new pilot program to distribute diapers to low-income families and help reduce their economic burden. As part of this new program, HHS, through the Administration for Children and Families will award $8 million in funding to Community Service Block Grant state associations and tribes to provide diapers and diapering supplies to families in need through the Diaper Distribution Demonstration and Research Pilot.

Today, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) Administration for Children and Families (ACF) announced $300 million in new early childhood funds. ACF issued two Notice of Funding Opportunities (HHS-2022-ACF-OCC-TP-0180 and HHS-2022-ACF-OCC-TP-0001 ) this week which make $266 million available to states and territories for Preschool Development Grants 0-5. These funds can support early childhood workforce initiatives and other strategies to improve the quality of early childhood programs and service delivery for young children.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Administration for Children and Families’ (ACF) Assistant Secretary January Contreras was welcomed by the Pascua Yaqui Tribe last week as she congratulated them on their new Tribal Home Visiting grant. ACF recently announced $2.975 million dollars in awards to seven new tribes, including the Pascua Yaqui Tribe.

Today, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Deputy Secretary Andrea Palm visited the National Conference Center (NCC) Safe Haven to thank federal partners for their dedication and hard work to support the Biden-Harris Administration’s Operation Allies Welcome (OAW) initiative which has facilitated more than 80,000 Afghan nationals to join communities across the country.

In a recently issued joint letter to ACF colleagues, CB Associate Commissioner Aysha E. Schomburg and OCSE Commissioner Tanguler Gray, encouraged child welfare agencies to implement changes to their policies which automatically refer parents to child support agencies when a child enters foster care. Realizing the challenges associated with these changes, due to existing programs and data systems, both pledged support of their respective offices to help with the transitions for affected child welfare agencies.

Contrary to mass media portrayal, dads are more involved in their children's lives compared to past decades. Understanding that many dads face a variety of unique challenges that can impact their presence and contribution, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Administration for Children and Families (ACF), the National Responsible Fatherhood Clearinghouse and the Ad Council released a documentary today spotlighting the essential role that fathers play each day.

Today, agencies across the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) issued a joint letter to states, tribes, and jurisdictions encouraging them to prioritize and maximize their efforts to strengthen children’s mental health and well-being. The letter, signed by leaders of the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Administration for Children and Families (ACF), and the Administration for Community Living (ACL), outlines HHS’ plans to support and facilitate state-level coordination across federal funding streams to advance and expand mental health services for children.