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Formula Grants

Federal Funding Primer: Formula Grants

Formula grants are funds distributed to states, territories, tribes, local governments, or intermediary entities non-competitively according to formulas prescribed by law or regulation.

Access the other parts of the Federal Funding Toolkit

Click a link below to learn more about a specific formula grant, or peruse the whole page.

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Child Welfare Services (Title IV-B, Subpart 1)

Department: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)
Agency: Administration for Children and Families (ACF)

Overview

The Stephanie Tubbs Jones Child Welfare Services Program (CWS), subpart 1 of title IV-B of the Social Security Act, provides funding to states, territories, and tribes to create and operate coordinated child and family services programs. The program emphasizes the prevention of child abuse and neglect; the preservation of families; family reunification, stability, and permanency; and training for child welfare professionals. CWS is often seen as the most flexible source of dedicated federal funding for child welfare.

Eligible Services

CWS is intentionally flexible to allow child welfare agencies discretion to create and operate coordinated programs of community-based services to promote the well-being of children. CWS spending is expected to align with the five stated goals of the program:

  1. Protecting and promoting the welfare of all children;
  2. Preventing the neglect, abuse, or exploitation of children;
  3. Supporting at-risk families through services that allow children, where appropriate, to remain safely with their families or return to their families in a timely manner;
  4. Promoting the safety, permanence, and well-being of children in foster care and adoptive families; and
  5. Providing training, professional development, and support to ensure a well-qualified child welfare workforce.

Though agencies have broad discretion to utilize CWS funds, some of the most common uses are:

  • Child Protective Services: Supporting efforts to investigate reports of child abuse and neglect, providing immediate protective interventions, and ensuring the safety of children at risk
  • Family Preservation Services: Offering services aimed at keeping families together safely, such as counseling, in-home support, and treatment for substance use, to prevent the unnecessary removal of children from their homes
  • Foster Care and Adoption Services: Enhancing foster care and adoption services, including recruitment, training, and support for foster and adoptive families, to ensure that children in need of out-of-home care have stable and loving placements
  • Prevention and Early Intervention: Implementing preventive and early intervention services that reduce the risk of child abuse and neglect, such as parent education programs, home visiting services, and mental health support for at-risk families
  • Workforce Training and Development: Providing ongoing training and professional development for child welfare staff, ensuring that the workforce is well-equipped to support the needs of children and families effectively

How Funds are Distributed

Every five years, states, territories, and tribes are required to submit a Child and Family Services Plan (CFSP), which articulates the jurisdiction’s objectives and goals for improving its child welfare system. The CFSP details the initiatives and activities to be implemented over a five-year period, including under CWS, the MaryLee Allen Promoting Safe and Stable Families Program (subpart 2 of title IV-B), the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act state grant, and the John H. Chafee Foster Care Program for Successful Transition to Adulthood. States, territories, and tribes are required to consult “with appropriate public and nonprofit private agencies and community-based organizations with experience in administering programs of services for children and families” in the development of their CFSP.

Following the CFSP, CWS funds are distributed to states, territories, and tribes on a complicated formula basis. The formula considers the number of children under 21 and the per capita income of the jurisdiction. States, territories, and tribes are required to provide a 25% match for all CWS funding.

Grantees partner with community-based organizations to deliver CWS services. Interested organizations should contact their local child welfare agency and respond to any competitive grants or requests for proposal.

Where to Find More Information

For more information about the Stephanie Tubbs Jones Child Welfare Services Program, interested individuals and entities should look to:

Community-Based Child Abuse Prevention

Department: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)
Agency: Administration for Children and Families (ACF)

Overview

The Community-Based Child Abuse Prevention (CBCAP) program, Title II of the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA), allocates funds to develop, operate, expand, improve, and coordinate community-based efforts aimed at preventing child abuse and neglect. The program focuses on strengthening families, promoting the well-being of children, and building resilient communities through the development of comprehensive and coordinated prevention strategies. The CBCAP program focuses upstream of the child welfare system, empowering communities to create supportive environments that reduce the risk of child abuse and improve outcomes for children and families.

Parent and kin caregiver participation and leadership are cornerstones of the CBCAP program, and lead agencies are expected to involve parents and caregivers in planning, implementing, and evaluating CBCAP activities. The Children’s Bureau has directly encouraged states “to consider how CBCAP funding can be used to conduct outreach and engage kinship caregivers in services that support them and the children in their care.”

Eligible Services

CBCAP funds are used to develop and operate a wide range of community-based prevention activities and services for families before they reach a point of crisis. The specific services and activities funded in each jurisdiction are meant to be tailored to the unique needs of the population. Services are meant to be culturally appropriate, accessible, strengths-based, and effective. Some services eligible for funding under CBCAP include:

  • Voluntary evidence-based home visiting
  • Family resource centers
  • Parent and kin caregiver skill programs, including peer-delivered parenting support
  • Crisis intervention services
  • Referral and coordination for services related to substance use; domestic violence; or mental health, including early childhood mental health
  • Fatherhood initiatives
  • Early childhood development supports, safe sleep, and infant safety education

How Funds are Distributed

Funds for the CBCAP Program are distributed to states and territories based on a formula that considers factors such as population and the number of children living in poverty. In their annual CBCAP applications, states must detail how they will collaborate with different federal, state, local, and private agencies and organizations. This application must describe the criteria that the state will use to develop or select and fund programs and activities to strengthen and support families, including an inventory of unmet needs and the outreach strategies that will be utilized to ensure that underserved populations benefit from CBCAP funds.

Funds are distributed to lead agencies, which are different in every state. According to the FRIENDS National Center for Community-Based Child Abuse Prevention, the federally mandated technical assistance and training center for CBCAP lead agencies, the breakdown of lead agencies is as follows:

  • Child Welfare Agency: 26 states
  • Children’s Trust Fund: 24 states
  • State Health Department: 2 states
  • Early Childhood: 5 states
  • Other Nonprofit: 9 states

CBCAP lead agencies partner with community-based organizations to deliver services in the community. They are encouraged to build on existing partnerships and establish new collaborative efforts with government agencies and local public, private, and faith-based organizations to ensure they are meeting the full continuum of needs in the community, with a particular focus on underserved populations.

There is a 20% match for CBCAP funding, which must be provided in cash. Lead agencies are also required to advocate for systemic change at the state level in policy, practice, procedure, and regulation.

Additionally, 1% of CBCAP funding is set aside for Tribal and Migrant Grantees. These funds are delivered as competitive grants to tribes, tribal organizations, and migrant programs. Awardees are meant to deliver CBCAP services with a special emphasis on the unique cultural practices of their communities.

Where to Find More Information

For more information about the Community-Based Child Abuse Prevention (CBCAP) Program, interested individuals and entities should look to:

Enhanced Mobility of Seniors & Individuals with Disabilities Program (Section 5310)

Department: U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT)
Agency: Federal Transit Administration (FTA)

Overview

The Enhanced Mobility of Seniors & Individuals with Disabilities Program (Section 5310) allocates funds to states, local government authorities, and designated recipients for services and programs meant to improve mobility for seniors and individuals with disabilities. The program aims to enhance transportation options and accessibility, ensuring that these populations can live independently and participate fully in their communities. The funds support both capital and operating expenses to deliver effective transportation solutions.

Eligible Services

Section 5310 funds can be used to support transportation services designed to meet the unique needs of seniors and individuals with disabilities. These services may include, but are not limited to:

  • Vehicle Acquisition: Purchase of accessible vehicles such as vans and buses equipped with wheelchair lifts and ramps
  • Transportation Services: Operating costs for transportation services, including driver salaries, fuel, and maintenance
  • Mobility Management: Coordination of transportation services to improve efficiency and effectiveness, including travel training and trip planning assistance
  • Volunteer Driver Programs: Coordination of programs where volunteers use their own vehicles to transport seniors and individuals with disabilities to essential destinations such as medical appointments, grocery stores, and social activities
  • Travel Training: Operation of programs to educate seniors and individuals with disabilities on how to use public transportation independently and safely

How Funds are Distributed

States receive Section 5310 funds based on a statutory formula that considers the population of seniors and individuals with disabilities. These funds are then allocated to direct recipients. In rural and small urban areas, the direct recipient will be the Department of Transportation. In large urban areas the direct recipient is designated by the governor.

Direct recipients have flexible authority to select subrecipient projects for funding but must coordinate with regional planning bodies and stakeholders to ensure that funds are used effectively to address local transportation needs and must clearly describe their decision process in their program management plan. Subrecipients can include public agencies, nonprofit organizations, or operators of public transportation.

Where to Find More Information

For more information about the Enhanced Mobility of Seniors & Individuals with Disabilities Program, interested individuals and entities should look to:

National Family Caregiver Support Program

Department: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)
Agency: Administration for Community Living (ACL), Administration on Aging (AOA)

Overview

The National Family Caregiver Support Program (NFCSP), a component of the Older Americans Act, provides grants to states and territories to support a range of services that help family and informal caregivers continue to provide care at home. The program recognizes the vital role of family caregivers and offers services to four caregiver populations:

  1. Adult family members or other informal caregivers age 18 and older providing care to individuals 60 years of age and older;
  2. Adult family members or other informal caregivers age 18 and older providing care to individuals of any age with Alzheimer’s disease and related disorders;
  3. Older relatives (not parents) age 55 and older providing care to children under the age of 18; and
  4. Older relatives, including parents, age 55 and older providing care to adults ages 18-59 with disabilities.

In 2020, Congress removed the cap that limited the amount of NFCSP funds each state could devote to services for grandparents and older relatives raising relatives’ children. This reform allows communities to respond to their unique needs.

Eligible Services

States and territories can use NFCSP funds to provide five categories of support services:

  1. Information to caregivers about available services
  2. Assistance to caregivers in gaining access to the services
  3. Individual counseling, organization of support groups, and caregiver training to assist the caregivers in the areas of health, nutrition, and financial literacy and in making decisions and solving problems relating to their caregiving roles
  4. Respite care to enable caregivers to be temporarily relieved from their caregiving responsibilities
  5. Supplemental services, on a limited basis, to complement the care provided by caregivers

These categories are written to be flexible and respond to the needs of the caregivers in the area being served. The fifth category, supplemental services, is particularly broad.

How Funds are Distributed

The federal government distributes NFCSP funds directly to states and territories on a formula basis, related to the distribution of the population age 70 and older.

States and territories then allocate the funding to Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs) that coordinate the provision of services using NFCSP, often through subgrants or contracts with community-based service providers. Some of the most successful AAAs that serve these families are those that have collaborations with a broad range of community-based organizations, including institutions and organizations associated with serving children, such as schools and Head Start programs.

While individual practices vary, many AAAs will share requests for proposals or other funding opportunities. Community-based organizations interested in providing services to the NFCSP target populations should contact their local AAA for more information.

Where to Find More Information

For more information about the National Family Caregiver Support Program, interested individuals and entities can look to:

  • Administration for Community Living (ACL):  Detailed information about NFCSP, relevant guidance, and up-to-date contact information is available at https://acl.gov/programs/support-caregivers/national-family-caregiver-support-program.
  • Area Agencies on Aging (AAA): To get more information about NFCSP funding in your community and opportunities for collaboration, contact your local AAA. ACL maintains lists of these entities at eldercare.gov.
  • USAging: As the national association representing and supporting AAAs, USAging has resources and experts that can support community-based organizations looking to learn more about NFCSP at usaging.org.
  • USAging Poll Report: As part of its role with the Grandfamilies & Kinship Support Network, USAging conducted a poll to learn how the Aging Network supports kinship/grandfamilies and to assess their technical assistance and training needs and interests. A report detailing findings can be found at gksnetwork.org/resources/usaging-topical-poll.

Example

When kin caregivers in rural Tennessee were struggling with virtual learning during COVID, their AAA, the Southeast Tennessee Area Agency on Aging and Disability (SETAAAD), partnered with a local tutoring service to support these children academically and give their kin caregivers much needed respite. Personalized learning plans, customized to each child’s needs, were developed. In its first year, the program supported 30 kin caregivers and 42 children with more than 1,400 hours of tutoring. Kin caregivers reported that being part of the program helped reduce their stress, improve their relationships with the children in their care, give them some time for themselves, and lessen feelings of isolation.

While the program was initially funded using time-limited Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act funding, SETAAAD has continued the program using NFCSP funds.

Nita M. Lowey 21st Century Community Learning Centers

Department: U.S. Department of Education
Agency: Office of Elementary and Secondary Education (OESE)

Overview

The Nita M. Lowey 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21st CCLC) program offers funding to establish community learning centers. These centers provide educational opportunities outside of school hours, specifically for children attending low-performing and high-poverty schools. The program’s goal is to support students in achieving state and local academic standards, provide a safe environment for extended learning, offer enrichment activities, and engage families in their children’s education.

Eligible Services

Funds from the 21st CCLC program can be used to support educational and enrichment services designed to enhance student educational development. These services include:

  • Academic Enrichment: Tutoring and homework help, including from volunteers who are older adults, in core academic subjects, such as reading, math, and science, to improve student performance
  • STEM Activities: Programs focused on science, technology, engineering, and mathematics to foster critical thinking and problem-solving skills
  • Recreational Activities: Physical activities and sports programs to promote health and fitness
  • Life Skills and Leadership Development: Programs aimed at developing students’ social, emotional, and leadership skills, including through mentorship
  • Caregiver Involvement: Engaging families in their children’s education through workshops, family nights, and other activities to support learning at home

Programs can also provide certain services, including literacy and educational development programs, to the families of children served by the community learning center.

How Funds are Distributed

Funds for the Nita M. Lowey 21st Century Community Learning Centers program are distributed to State Education Agencies (SEAs) through a formula grant process. These SEAs then allocate funds to Local Education Agencies (LEAs), school districts, community-based organizations, and other eligible entities to implement the program. SEAs are required to prioritize applications jointly submitted by LEAs and community-based organizations.

Grantees can also subcontract with other partner organizations to provide services and operate the 21st Century Community Learning Center in a way that meets the specific needs of the individual community. On average, grantees work with nine partner organizations.

Where to Find More Information

For more information about the Nita M. Lowey 21st Century Community Learning Centers program, interested individuals and entities should look to:

Note

It is unlikely that an organization focused only on supporting kinship families would receive 21st CCLC funds. However, by partnering with LEAs and education-focused organizations, kin-serving organizations can provide specialized services for kinship families as part of a broader 21st CCLC program.

Older Americans Act, Title III-B: Support Services and Senior Centers

Department: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)
Agency: Administration for Community Living (ACL), Administration on Aging (AOA)

Overview


The Older Americans Act (OAA) serves to promote the well-being of older adults by providing services and programs that support their independence, dignity, and health. Title III of the OAA offers grants to states for the development of comprehensive and coordinated service delivery systems for older adults. Within Title III of the OAA, Part B focuses on providing supportive services for family caregivers, including grandparents and other older individuals who are raising children. Title III-B funds are distributed to state and local aging agencies to support a range of services that help older individuals maintain their independence and support kinship families.

Services funded under the program are available to individuals 60 years of age and older. Means testing for Title III programs is prohibited, but states are expected to target programs toward individuals with the “greatest economic need” and “greatest social need.”

Eligible Services

Funding under Title III-B is flexible,
with 25 authorized services plus allowance for “any other services necessary
for the general welfare of older individuals,” so the array of services offered
using Title III-B funds can be designed to effectively meet the needs of
individual communities. Some examples of authorized services include:

  • Caregiver Support Services: Respite care, counseling, training, and supplemental services to help older caregivers better care for the children in their care
  • Housing Services: Assistance obtaining housing, residential repair and renovation to remain in an established home, and chore and homemaking services
  • Legal Assistance: Legal services and advocacy for custody or guardianship, tax and financial counseling, and retirement planning
  • Information and Referral Services: Resource and service navigation and lifelong learning programs
  • Health Services: Nutrition programs, programs promoting physical and mental well-being, and health screenings (including mental and behavioral health)
  • Community Building: Peer support groups and services to combat isolation among older individuals

Services that assist older adults in accessing other available services, including transportation, case management, and legal assistance, are also eligible for funding under Title III-B.

How Funds are Distributed

Funding for Title III programs are distributed on a formula basis to State Units on Aging (SUAs). Funds are then distributed to Area Agencies on Aging that coordinate provision of services using Title III funds, often through subgrants or contracts with community-based service providers. While individual practices vary, many AAAs will release requests for proposals or other funding opportunities.

Additionally, states are required to create and submit a State Plan on Aging that outlines how OAA funds will be used to meet community needs. States are required to incorporate public input into the development of their State Plans on Aging to ensure that the needs and preferences of older adults and other stakeholders are adequately addressed. Community-based service providers can participate in public review and comment periods to advocate that specific needs and populations, including older adults who are kin caregivers, be included in the state plan, including in the definition of “greatest social need.”

Where to Find More Information

For more information about Title III-B of the Older Americans Act, individuals and organizations should look to:

  • Administration for Community Living (ACL): Detailed information about OAA programs, including Title III-B, relevant guidance, and contact information is available at acl.gov. 
  • State Units on Aging and Area Agencies on Aging: To get more information about OAA Title III-B programs in your community and opportunities for collaboration, contact your local SUA and AAA. ACL maintains lists of these entities at www.Eldercare.gov.

Additionally, the Network and USAging have produced a resource about including kin caregivers in State Plans on Aging that is available at https://www.gksnetwork.org/resources/including-kinship-grandfamilies-in-state-and-area-plans-on-aging/.

Older Americans Act, Title III-C: Nutrition Services

Department: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)

Agency: Administration for Community Living (ACL), Administration on Aging (AoA)

Overview

The Older Americans Act (OAA) serves to promote the well-being of older adults by providing services and programs that support their independence, dignity, and health. Title III of the OAA offers grants to states for the development of comprehensive and coordinated service delivery systems for older adults. Within Title III of the OAA, Part C provides funding for two essential nutrition services for older adults: congregate meal services and home-delivered meal services. The goal of Title III-C is to address food insecurity, promote health and wellness, and reduce social isolation among older adults by ensuring consistent access to nutritious meals. Title III-C services are especially valuable for older kinship caregivers, as they provide critical nutrition support, either through community meal sites or by delivering meals directly to seniors who may face mobility challenges.

Eligible Services

Title III-C funds support two main types of nutrition services for older adults:

  • Congregate Nutrition Services (Title III-C1): This service provides nutritious meals in group settings, such as senior centers, community centers, and other locations accessible to older adults. Congregate meals not only address nutritional needs but also foster socialization and reduce isolation by creating opportunities for older adults to connect with peers. Meals are primarily for adults aged 60 and over and their spouses, but younger caregivers or individuals with disabilities may also participate in some locations, particularly if they are accompanying a senior.
  • Home-Delivered Nutrition Services (Title III-C2): This service delivers nutritious meals to the homes of eligible older adults who are unable to attend congregate meal sites due to physical limitations, illness, or lack of transportation. Meals are provided to adults aged 60 and older who are homebound or have limited mobility are eligible. In some cases, their caregiver or individuals with disabilities may also qualify.

All meals must meet quality standards outlined in the OAA, including adhering to food safety requirements and the current Dietary Guidelines for Americans. Each meal must provide one third of the Dietary Reference Intakes established by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine.

How Funds are Distributed

Funds for Title III-C are allocated by AoA to state agencies and territories, on the basis of a formula that considers each entity’s proportion of the total number of adults over age 60. These agencies then distribute funds to local Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs) who partner with nonprofit organizations, senior centers, and other community providers to provide congregate and home-delivered meals.

States are required to provide a 15% match for Title III-C funds.

AoA also distributes funds through the Nutrition Services Incentive Program (NSIP) to help cover the costs of running Title III-C programs. These funds are awarded to states, territories, and tribal organizations on a formula basis that considers the total number of meals the entity served in the previous fiscal year as a portion of all meals served. Awardees can choose to receive their NSIP award in the form of cash, USDA-provided food commodities, or a combination of both. There is no matching requirement for NSIP.

To encourage development of innovative practices, AoA also provides Innovations in Nutrition grants. Grants support research into new program models and promising practices and replication models shown to have success in previous rounds of grants. Entities interested in applying for Innovations in Nutrition grants should look to an annual notice of funding opportunity published to grants.gov and the Federal Register.

Where to Find More Information

  • Administration for Community Living (ACL): Detailed information about OAA programs, including Title III-C, relevant guidance, and contact information is available at acl.gov. 
  • State Units on Aging and Area Agencies on Aging: To get more information about OAA Title III-B programs in your community and opportunities for collaboration, contact your local SUA and AAA. ACL maintains lists of these entities at Eldercare.gov.
  • Meals on Wheels America: Resources and support for organizations providing home-delivered meal services mealsonwheelsamerica.org/

Promoting Safe and Stable Families Program (Title IV-B, Subpart 2)

Department: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)

Agency: Administration for Children and Families (ACF)

Overview

The MaryLee Allen Promoting Safe and Stable Families Program (PSSF), subpart 2 of title IV-B of the Social Security Act, provides funding to states, territories, and tribes for community-based services to prevent child maltreatment, keep families safely together, and achieve permanency for children in foster care. The program offers flexible funding to establish, expand, and administer coordinated systems for child and family well-being. While some PSSF funds are reserved for dedicated purposes, including Regional Partnership Grants, the Court Improvement Program, and Monthly Caseworker Visits, the majority of PSSF funds are devoted to formula grants, which fund services related to family preservation, family support, family reunification, and adoption promotion and support. While administered by child welfare agencies, PSSF funds can be used for services to support and strengthen families outside of the child welfare system. 

Eligible Uses

PSSF formula funds are dedicated to four broad categories of services: Family preservation, family support, family reunification, and adoption promotion and support, with a minimum of 20% of expenditures devoted to each category.

Family Preservation Services help families (including kinship families) at risk or in crisis, including:

  • Prevention services to help children remain safely with their families
  • Respite services for parents and other caregivers (including kin)
  • Services to reinforce or improve parenting (caregiving) skills, especially in areas related to child development coping with stress, health, nutrition, and financial well-being
  • Services to support children who have been reunited with their parents

Family Support Services promote the safety and well-being of children and families (including kinship families) that are not already in crisis, including services focused on:

  • Increasing the strength and stability of families
  • Supporting and retaining foster families
  • Increasing parents’ confidence and competence
  • Affording children a safe, stable, and supportive environment
  • Enhancing child development, including through mentoring programs
  • Strengthening parental relationships

Family Reunification Services help children return home to their parents or primary caregivers and ensure the strength and stability of the reunification, including:

  • Individual, group, and family counseling
  • Substance use treatment services
  • Mental health services
  • Domestic violence services
  • Peer-to-peer mentoring and support groups
  • Services and activities to facilitate visitation of children by parents and siblings

Adoption Promotion and Support Services encourage more adoptions out of foster care, including by providing pre- and post-adoptive services to facilitate adoption and support adoptive families.

How Funds are Distributed

Every five years, states, territories, and tribes are required to submit a Child and Family Services Plan (CFSP), which articulates the jurisdiction’s objectives and goals for improving its child welfare system. The CFSP details the initiatives and activities to be implemented over a five-year period, including under the PSSF program, the Stephanie Tubbs Jones Child Welfare Services Program (subpart 1 of title IV-B), the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act State Grant, and the John H. Chafee Foster Care Program for Successful Transition to Adulthood. States, territories, and tribes are required to consult “with appropriate public and nonprofit private agencies and community-based organizations with experience in administering [a] program of services for children and families” in developing their CFSP.

Following the CFSP, PSSF funds are distributed on a formula basis to states and tribes. Tribes receive a 3% set aside of PSSF funds, which is distributed to tribes based on each Tribe’s share of the total number of children in tribes with submitted and approved CFSPs. States and territories receive funding based on their jurisdiction’s proportion of the total number of children receiving SNAP benefits. States, territories, and tribes must provide a 25% match for all PSSF expenditures.

Following receipt of PSSF funds, states, territories, and tribes contract with community-based organizations to deliver eligible services.

Where to Find More Information

For more information about the MaryLee Allen Promoting Safe and Stable Families Program and opportunities to support kinship families, interested individuals and entities should refer to:

Examples

Each year since 2018, $20 million in title IV-B, part 2 funds have been distributed to title IV-E agencies to develop, enhance, or evaluate kinship navigator programs. Many of these child welfare agencies have contracted with nonprofit service providers for their kinship navigator programs. While that $20 million is a specific allocation for these purposes, title IV-B has also been used to fund other supports for the families. 

In Massachusetts, its State Commission on the Status of Grandparents Raising Grandchildren uses title IV-B, part 2 funds to pay for its activities on behalf of the families.  In Georgia, Project GRANDD (Grandparents Raising And Nurturing Dependents with Disabilities) at Innovative Solutions for Disadvantage & Disabilities (ISDD) applies for and receives title IV-B, part 2 funds annually as part of its diversified funding. ISDD has been awarded two separate contracts for kinship family support services under both the Family Preservation and Adoption Promotion and Support models. ISDD notes that the annual application process in Georgia for these funds is complicated and time consuming, but the almost $150,000 annually it receives (with a 25% non-federal match) is an important component of this community non-profit’s budget. The services funded through these federal monies include case management (broken down into service coordination, information and referral, and advocacy), Intake assessments, exit assessments, health education, parent education, educational supports, life skills, support groups (adults, children, teens – all separate services), childcare, transportation assistance, emergency aid, enrichment, respite, and legal services. 

Title VI Native American Aging Programs

Department: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)

Agency: Administration for Community Living (ACL), Administration on Aging (AOA)

Overview

Title VI Native American Aging Programs, a component of the Older Americans Act, provide resources to support Native elders living on tribal lands to help them age in place in their homes and communities. They include myriad services to support the engagement, health, and well-being of Native elders. Title VI programs consist of three parts:

  • Part A (Indian Program) provides funding for nutrition and supportive services to federally recognized tribes and tribal consortia.
  • Part B (Native Hawaiian Program) provides funding for nutrition and supportive services to organizations providing services to Native Hawaiians.
  • Part C (Native American Caregiver Support Program) provides funding for caregiver support programs, supporting American Indian and Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian family caregivers, including kin caregivers.

To qualify for funding, tribes and tribal consortia must represent at least 50 Native Americans ages 60 and over. In order to receive funding for caregiver support services (Part C), a program must offer nutrition and supportive services (Parts A/B).

Eligible Services

Title VI programs fund a myriad of services intended to support the healthy aging, independence, and well-being of Native elders, while remaining responsive to the specific needs of Native communities.

Nutrition and Support Services

Title VI Parts A and B provide grants for a wide range of nutrition and support programs for Native elders, including:

  • Home-delivered and congregate meals
  • Transportation
  • Information, referral, and outreach
  • In-home services including personal care and chores
  • Health promotion and disease prevention
  • Other supportive services

Native American Caregiver Support Program

Title VI Part C provides grants to offer services to American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian family caregivers of older relatives with chronic illness or disability and family caregivers of grandchildren or other related children. Allowable services under the program mirror the National Family Caregiver Support Program (Title III of the Older Americans Act), including:

  1. Information to caregivers about available services
  2. Assistance to caregivers in gaining access to the services
  3. Individual counseling, organization of support groups, and caregiver training to assist the caregivers in the areas of health, nutrition, and financial literacy and in making decisions and solving problems relating to their caregiving roles
  4. Respite care to enable caregivers to be temporarily relieved from their caregiving responsibilities
  5. Supplemental services, on a limited basis, to complement the care provided by caregivers

These categories are written to be flexible and respond to the needs of the caregivers in the area being served. The fifth category, supplemental services, is particularly broad.

According to the Administration for Community Living: “A core value of the Native American Caregiver Support Services, as expressed by tribal leaders, is that the program should not replace the tradition of families caring for their elders. Rather, it provides support that strengthens the family’s caregiver role.”

How Funds are Distributed

Funds for Title VI programs are awarded directly from the Administration for Community Living to Indian tribal, public, or nonprofit organizations representing federally recognized tribes, Alaskan villages, and Native Hawaiians. Following an application process to determine eligibility, funds are distributed based on a formula that considers the share of the American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian population over the age of 60 in each awardee’s service area. Separate formula grants are made for Part A/B and Part C programs.

Once awarded funds under Title VI, tribal organizations have broad discretion to determine who qualifies as an elder for purposes of service eligibility and to determine the balance of funds allocated to the different eligible services. Tribal organizations can partner with other community-based programs to offer Title VI services.

Where to Find More Information

For more information about Title VI programs, interested individuals and entities can look to:

  • Administration for Community Living (ACL): Detailed information about Title VI programs, relevant guidance, and up-to-date contact information is available at https://acl.gov/programs/services-native-americans-oaa-title-vi.
  • USAging: As the national association representing and supporting AAAs and advocating for Title VI programs, USAging has resources and experts that can support community-based organizations looking to learn more about Title VI programs, including a comprehensive report on fund usage available at usaging.org.
  • USAging Poll Report: As part of its role with the Grandfamilies & Kinship Support Network, USAging conducted a poll to learn how the Aging Network supports kinship/grandfamilies and to assess their technical assistance and training needs and interests. A report detailing findings can be found at gksnetwork.org/resources/usaging-topical-poll.

Tribal Victim Services Set-Aside

Department: U.S. Department of Justice
Agency: Office for Victims of Crime (OVC)

Overview

The Tribal Victim Services Set-Aside (TVSSA) provides essential support to American Indian and Alaska Native tribes to address the needs of victims of crime within their communities. This set-aside ensures that tribes receive dedicated funding to develop, enhance, and sustain programs that cater specifically to the unique needs of crime victims within tribal communities.

Like the broader Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) allocations, the TVSSA draws from the Crime Victims Fund (CVF) to support various victim assistance services. These funds, sourced from fines, penalties, and other financial obligations levied on offenders, allow tribes to address the impacts of crime at no cost to federal taxpayers.

Eligible Services

Tribes can utilize TVSSA funds for a broad range of services to support victims of crimes, including:

  • Legal and Advocacy Services: Providing legal representation and advocacy for victims, supporting them through the judicial process
  • Mental Health Support: Offering counseling, peer support, and other mental health services tailored to the cultural context of tribal communities
  • Crisis and Safety Services: Implementing crisis intervention, emergency shelter, and safety planning for victims
  • Transitional Housing: Facilitating housing support, relocation assistance, and associated services to help victims rebuild their lives
  • Culturally Specific Programs: Developing and implementing culturally relevant services that resonate with the traditions and values of the tribal communities

Funding can be used to purchase tangible items to aid in supporting victims. Additionally, funds from the TVSSA can be used to in relation to Missing or Murdered Indigenous Persons (MMIP), including:

  • Services for the families of MMIP victims, including financial support; counseling; legal aid; and exhumation, repatriation, and burial costs
  • Public education campaigns about MMIP, including activities to raise awareness of individual, ongoing MMIP cases
  • Interjurisdictional collaboration between government entities (tribal, federal, state, and local) in response to MMIP

A key element of the TVSSA is its emphasis on cultural relevance. Tribes are encouraged to design programs that integrate traditional practices and cultural values, ensuring that services resonate with and are effective for their communities.

How Funds are Distributed

The OVC allocates TVSSA funds based on a formula that considers the population and specific needs of tribal communities. Tribes and tribal consortia apply directly to the OVC for these funds through a notice of funding opportunity posted annually to grants.gov. If TVSSA funds are unclaimed, the OVC re-allocates those funds to other tribal programs. Tribes can choose to operate their own services for victims of crime or can subcontract with local public and private organizations.

There is no match requirement for TVSSA funds. Unlike VOCA, TVSSA does not have specific mandates requiring a significant portion of funds be allocated to particular categories of crime victims.

Where to Find More Information

For more information about the Tribal Victim Services Set Aside program and related opportunities, interested individuals and entities should look to:

Victims of Crime Act

Department: U.S. Department of Justice
Agency: Office for Victims of Crime (OVC)

Overview

The Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) was established by Congress in 1984 to offer federal aid to state and local programs that support crime victims. VOCA utilizes funds from the Crime Victims Fund (CVF) to finance programs that help crime victims, at no cost to federal taxpayers. These funds—generated through fines and penalties imposed on individuals and companies convicted of federal crimes, forfeited bail bonds, and forfeiture of assets seized from criminal activities—ensure that those who commit crimes contribute directly to the recovery and support of their victims.

Each year millions of crime victims receive services funded by VOCA to help them recover from the physical, emotional, and financial impacts of crime. Additionally, state and territorial victim compensation programs funded by VOCA support victims for expenses incurred as a result of crime, including medical costs, counseling, funeral and burial expenses, and lost wages.

Eligible Services

Victim assistance programs can use VOCA funds to provide a wide range of direct services and activities to help address the physical, emotional, and financial impacts of crime. These services include:

  • Legal Services: Legal assistance, advocacy on behalf of victims, accompaniment and support of victims in court
  • Mental Health Services: Mental health counseling, peer mentorship programs, peer support groups
  • Immediate Health and Safety Services: Crisis intervention services; hotline counseling and safety planning; emergency food, shelter, clothing, and transportation; in-home care and supervision services for children and adults who remain in their homes when the offender is removed
  • Transitional Housing and Relocation: Transitional housing, travel, rental assistance, security deposits and utilities, moving expenses, voluntary support services provided in a transitional housing setting
  • Personal Advocacy and Emotional Support: Case management; resource referrals and advocacy; identification, assessment, and management of victim’s needs
  • Forensic Services: Forensic medical evidence collection examinations, forensic interviews

How Funds are Distributed

The OVC allocates VOCA funds to state and territorial agencies on a formula basis. Each state and territory designates a State Administering Agency (SAA), often located within a department of public safety, health, or criminal justice, to manage the distribution of funds. SAAs provide sub-grants to local public and private nonprofit organizations that deliver direct services to crime victims. While individual practices vary, many SAAs publish requests for applications or notices of funding opportunity that detail steps to apply for VOCA funds. 

VOCA mandates that a significant portion of funds be allocated to programs serving victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, and child abuse. States are also encouraged to support underserved populations, including victims of human trafficking, elder abuse, and other violent crimes. While some exceptions and waivers are available, most victim assistance programs are expected to provide a match of 20% of the project cost in cash or in-kind contributions.

Where to Find More Information

For more information about the Victims of Crime Act program and related opportunities, interested individuals and entities should look to:

  • VOCApedia: The Office for Victims of Crime maintains a comprehensive FAQ regarding questions of allowability related to VOCA which covers general provisions, match requirements, indirect cost rates, volunteers, pass-through entities, supplanting, subrecipient monitoring, reporting, allowable expenses, and more.
  • State VOCA Program: The Office for Victims of Crime maintains an up-to-date directory of Victim Compensation and Assistance programs.

Examples

The Kinship Care Project at Atlanta Legal Aid Society, Inc. uses VOCA funds alongside other public and private funding to provide free legal representation to kin caregivers in the Atlanta area. Legal professionals and volunteer attorneys support kin caregivers in obtaining custody, adoption, and guardianship in order to “stabilize the legal relationship between the caregiver and the child.” The Kinship Care Project also provides wraparound legal services to support the stability and well-being of kinship families, including support accessing housing, special education services, and public benefits, along with other legal services needed by the family.

Missouri’s kinship navigator program is funded, in part, using VOCA funds. Central Missouri Foster Care & Adoption Association, and FosterAdopt Connect both receive VOCA funds to provide kinship navigator program services to kinship families. In 2020, the Missouri Department of Social Services issued a VOCA notice of funding opportunity NOFO) tor kinship navigators making the connection between the importance of kin caregivers supporting child abuse and neglect victims. The NOFO language does not mean that each child has to be shown to have been abused and/or neglected and is not limited to children who are placed with relatives through the child welfare system. As the NOFO states, “[r]esearch has found there are many benefits to placing children with relatives or other kinship caregivers, including increased stability and safety, as well as the ability to maintain family connections and cultural traditions. The program helps families connect to necessary resources and expand family support services, thus ensuring placement is successful and the child abuse and neglect victim receives necessary support and care. KN programs assist grandparents and other relatives who take primary responsibility for the care of children who are in need of a safe and stable placement.”  

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