Family Self-Sufficiency Demonstration Development Grants

The Office of Planning, Research, and Evaluation (OPRE) within the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) anticipates soliciting applications for the Family Self-Sufficiency Demonstration Development Projects to support planning for and execution of evaluation-related activities by eligible entities that serve low-income families with children. These cooperative agreements are intended for entities looking to strengthen and evaluate coordinated, client-centered approaches to improving family self-sufficiency. Participating organizations will not only contribute to the evidence base on interventions serving low-income families with children but also increase their capacity to conduct research and evaluation, use data to improve program outcomes, and demonstrate the value of their program to stakeholders. OPRE seeks grantees who aim to develop and assess multi-faceted approaches to improve family self-sufficiency and well-being and who are part of the network of services available to families eligible for or at risk of becoming eligible for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF). Interventions should target outcomes related to employment (e.g., removing barriers to employment, increased earnings, career advancement) and at least one other outcome related to family well-being, such as education, health, food security, financial security, or social capital. The goal of this funding is to help grantees advance toward developing comprehensive evidence-informed interventions that improve client outcomes. Funds may not be used for program services (i.e., cash assistance, support services, etc.). Grantees should, at minimum, have conceptualized an intervention to improve self-sufficiency among low-income families, including TANF eligible families, and have an interest in ultimately evaluating that intervention. Grantees will work with a federally funded, third-party evaluation technical assistance provider who will provide tailored support to recipients to further develop and move toward evaluating their interventions. For example, grantees who are in the early stages of designing an intervention may receive support to create a program logic model, while grantees who have already implemented an intervention may receive support to design and execute a pilot evaluation. These 24-month cooperative agreements, with two 12-month budget periods, can fund program design, evaluation planning, and small-scale studies to assess demonstrations' implementation or effectiveness.