HHS – Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) CARES Act Rapid-Cycle Impact Projects (2021) *Forecasted*

To Be Posted: March 21, 2021

The Office of Community Services (OCS) within the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) plans to issue a funding opportunity announcement (FOA) for cooperative agreements for the Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) CARES Act Rapid-Cycle Impact Projects (RCIP). This new FOA will support the continuous progress toward the CSBG CARES Act RCIP goal of adapting current eligible entity service models to effectively respond to immediate community needs while also preparing for a future model that realigns local service based on those needs. The grantees under this cooperative agreement will be responsible for implementing community-based projects focused on priority areas to be specified by OCS. Examples include: Coordination with public health and emergency management to address urgent health and social outcomes for people with low-income; Adapting service delivery to a physical distancing environment to promote safety and effectiveness (including use of technology for remote service delivery or to coordinate services); Strengthening individual and family adaptive capacities (including two-generation and intergenerational service models); Making structural reforms at the community-level to reinvent the safety net; Innovations in supports for families affected by school changes and disrupted childcare services; and Identifying and training for high demand jobs in the post-COVID-19 economy. OCS will identify up to 20 regionally diverse projects focusing on one or more OCS priority areas to participate in a Rapid-Cycle Evaluation and Continuous Quality Improvement approach. Grantees will receive support from OCS on developing rapid-cycle evaluation methods and assist grantees with required reporting and data collection.

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 Grant information

Funding Title: Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) CARES Act Rapid-Cycle Impact Projects

Agency Name: Department of Health and Human Services

Funding Opportunity Number: HHS-2021-ACF-OCS-ET-1959

Funding Instrument Type: Cooperative Agreement

Express Language for Legal Aid: No, there isn’t express language for legal aid.

Target Population: Low-Income Individuals

Expected Number of Awards: 20

Cost Sharing or Matching Requirement:  No

Estimated Total Program Funding: $3,850,000

Award Ceiling: $250,000

Award Floor: $150,000

Current Closing Date for Applications: by May 20, 2021 at 11:59 p.m. ET.

Eligible Applicants: Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Others

For more information

Link to Full Announcement: Link to Grants.gov listing

Contact Information: Jolleen George
(855) 792-6551, OCSgrants@acf.hhs.gov



Categories: Department of Health and Human Services, Non-profit Organizations, Pass-Through Funds/ Block Grants, Public Benefits