Early Childhood Developmental Health Systems: Evidence to Impact

This notice announces the opportunity to apply for funding under the Early Childhood Developmental Health Systems (ECDHS): Evidence to Impact program. The purpose of this program is to advance statewide systems of comprehensive early childhood developmental promotion, screenings, and interventions that improve outcomes and reduce disparities in early developmental health and family well-being for communities with high levels of childhood poverty. These statewide systems will be referred to as early childhood development (ECD) systems throughout this notice of funding opportunity (NOFO).

One award will be made, in the form of a cooperative agreement, to establish an Early Childhood Evidence to Impact Center, hereby referred to as the Center. The goals of the Center are to: 1) increase the implementation and evaluation of evidence-informed, equity-focused strategies among states by providing national technical assistance (TA) and supporting the implementation and evaluation of ECD systems-building efforts; and

2) strengthen the evidence base in support of ECD systems-building.

In pursuit of these goals, the Center will advance the following objectives:

1. Build, compile, and disseminate the ECD systems evidence base through the development and advancement of a learning agenda.

2. Advance statewide reach and impact of ECD systems through support of implementation and evaluation of evidence-informed, equity-focused strategies in at least three states with Early Childhood Comprehensive Systems (ECCS) initiatives.

3. Increase the number of early childhood and health system leaders in at least 25 states receiving targeted or universal TA, to build capacity to implement and evaluate statewide ECD systems.

4. Improve the adaptability and ease of use of at least 10 resources and/or tools to accelerate ECD systems development.

5. Generate at least one comprehensive model for ECD systems-building for testing and use.

This NOFO also describes an opportunity for additional funding to advance the specific strategy of improving delivery of high-quality ECD promotion and support services in pediatric settings. With this funding, the recipient will expand activities under the core ECDHS: Evidence to Impact program to provide national leadership, TA, and coordination in support of the anticipated Transforming Pediatrics for Early Childhood (TPEC) program (see Appendix D and HRSA-22-141 for details). Through this additional TPEC TA Activity, the Center will:

1. Provide TA and build the capacity of TPEC-funded state-level resource hubs, early childhood and health systems leaders, and other related efforts that will sustainably integrate ECD experts into pediatric practices that serve a population with a high percentage of Medicaid and Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) patients.

2. Accelerate and sustain the spread and impact of ECD integration in pediatric practices through evidence-building, coordination, and field leadership.

The TPEC program and associated TA will improve equitable access to a continuum of ECD services and improve the capacity of pediatric practices and workforce to deliver high-quality ECD services that address the holistic needs of children and families.

The application's overall score will be based on the response to all information requested in this NOFO, including the additional TPEC TA Activity; therefore, all applicants are expected to respond to this opportunity for additional funding, as well as the core program elements.

Please note that this NOFO uses several acronyms recurrently; further information can be found in Appendix A.

For more details, see Program Requirements and Expectations.