The Administration for Children and Families (ACF) is soliciting applications from tribes and tribal consortia on behalf of tribal courts for grants under the Court Improvement Program. Tribes were formerly not eligible for funding under this program but The Child and Family Services Improvement and Innovation Act of 2011 (PL 112-34) allocated $1 million for tribes (out of $30 million total) in mandatory funding each fiscal year for FYs 2012 through 2016. See our General Memoranda 11-115 of October 14, 2011, and 11-150 of December 16, 2011.
Funds are to be used to assist courts in the handling of child abuse and neglect cases; to train judges and other personnel in the handling of child welfare cases; to improve the data surrounding child welfare cases; and to engage the entire family in court processes relating to child welfare. Tribal courts are to be engaged in meaningful, ongoing collaboration with tribal social service agencies.
To be eligible for funding a tribe or tribal consortia must: 1) be operating a Title IV-E Foster Care/Adoption Assistance program; or 2) be seeking to operate a Title IV-E program and have an implementation grant for this purpose; or 3) have a court responsible for proceedings related to foster care or adoption.
ACF expects to make ten awards, ranging from $50,000 to $150,000 annually. The projects are for 36 months, in three 12-month budget periods. The deadline for receipt of applications is April 20, 2015.
The application may be accessed at:
http://www.acf.hhs.gov/grants/open/foa/files/HHS-2015-ACF-ACYF-CS-0973_0.pdf
Please let us know if we may provide additional information or assistance regarding the Court Improvement Program.
