Foa_Content_of_HHS-2024-ACF-ACYF-CZ-0067.pdf

Administration for Children and Families

Administration on Children, Youth, and Families - Children's Bureau

National Tribal Child Welfare Center for Innovation and Advancement

HHS-2024-ACF-ACYF-CZ-0067

Application Due Date: 07/11/2024

Table of Contents Executive Summary

I. Program Description

II. Federal Award Information

III. Eligibility Information

III.1. Eligible Applicants

III.2. Cost Sharing or Matching

III.3. Other

IV. Application and Submission Information

IV.1. Address to Request Application Package

IV.2. Content and Form of Application Submission

Required Forms, Assurances, and Certifications

The Project Description

The Project Budget and Budget Justification

Application Submission Options

IV.3. Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) and System for Award Management (SAM)

IV.4. Submission Dates and Times

Explanation of Due Dates

Acknowledgement of Received Application

IV.5. Intergovernmental Review

IV.6. Funding Restrictions

IV.7. Other Submission Requirements

V. Application Review Information

V.1. Criteria

V.2. Review and Selection Process

V.3. Anticipated Announcement and Federal Award Dates

VI. Federal Award Administration Information

VI.1. Federal Award Notices

VI.2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements

VI.3. Reporting

VII. HHS Award Agency Contact(s)

VIII. Other Information

Reference Websites

Application Checklist

Appendix

Funding Opportunity Title:

National Tribal Child Welfare Center for Innovation and Advancement Announcement Type:

Initial Funding Opportunity Number:

HHS-2024-ACF-ACYF-CZ-0067

Assistance Listing Number:

93.658,93.648, 93.652 Due Date for Applications:

07/11/2024

Executive Summary Notice:

• Applicants are strongly encouraged to read the entire notice of funding opportunity (NOFO) carefully and observe the application formatting requirements listed in Section IV.2. Content and Form of Application Submission. For more information on applying for an award, please visit "Applying for an ACF Award" at https://www.acf.hhs.gov/grants/how-apply-grant.

The purpose of this funding opportunity announcement is to establish by cooperative agreement the National Tribal Child Welfare Center for Innovation and Advancement (Center). The Center will serve as the Children’s Bureau’s (CB) primary vehicle for delivering effective, high-quality technical assistance (TA) to Title IV-B and Title IV-E American Indian and Alaska Native Nations (AI/AN). TA provided will enhance organizational and system performance, and improve outcomes for tribal children, youth, and families by honoring Indigenous Ways of Knowing (IWOK) and working collaboratively to ensure the preservation of tribal cultures.

The Center will provide culturally relevant and responsive TA in these areas:

• Workforce Supports: Increase the knowledge, skills, and capacities of child welfare professionals in the tribal child welfare workforce

• Prevention Programs: Support for the development, enhancement, and expansion of tribal prevention programs

• Development of Tribal Child Welfare Programs in Support of Federal Requirements:

Support successful development, enhancement, expansion, and implementation of tribal programs in meeting federal requirements

• Tribal-State Collaboration: Develop and support meaningful state and tribal collaborations

• Data Management: Enhance capacity for data collection, analysis, visualization, and procurement of case management systems https://www.acf.hhs.gov/grants/how-apply-grant

CB's goals for the funding opportunity are: (1) to assist tribes in achieving sustainable, systemic change that results in greater safety, permanency, and well-being for children, youth, and families, (2) to dramatically improve the experiences of children, youth, and families when contact with the child welfare system is necessary, and (3) to deliver effective, high-quality TA to tribal child welfare agencies.

The funding ceiling for year 1 is $4,370,700, and for years 2-5 decreases to $4,070,700 each year.

I. Program Description

Statutory Authority

• Foster Care: Title IV, part E section 476(c)(1), (2)(A)(i)-(ii), and (2)(C) of the Social

Security Act (42 U.S.C. 676(c)(1), (2)(A)(i)-(ii) and (2)(C))

• Adoption Opportunities: Title II of the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment and

Adoption Reform Act of 1978 (42 U.S.C. 5113(b)(4))

• Child Welfare Research, Training, and Demonstration: Title IV, part B, subpart 1 -

Stephanie Tubbs Jones Child Welfare Services Program, section 426(a)(1)(A) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 626(a)(1)(A))

Description Background

Definitions For the purpose of this funding opportunity, the following terms are used and defined as:

Cultural humility - The term was introduced in 1998 as a dynamic and lifelong process focusing on self-reflection and personal critique, acknowledging one's own biases. It recognizes the shifting nature of intersecting identities and encourages ongoing curiosity rather than an endpoint. (Tervalon and Murray-Garcia,1998)

Culturally relevant – This term means to incorporate awareness, understanding, and responsiveness to the beliefs, values, customs, and ethnic heritage of individuals (or those identified cultures of persons) into training, treatment, and services designed to impact upon, or meet the needs of individuals or groups. (Law Insider)

Decolonization - Decolonization is about shifting the way Indigenous peoples view themselves and the way non-Indigenous people view Indigenous peoples. Decolonization restores the Indigenous worldview, restores culture and traditional ways, and replaces Western interpretations of history with Indigenous perspectives of history. Through decolonization, Indigenous peoples are reclaiming the family, community, culture, language, history, and traditions that were taken from them under the federal government policies designed for assimilation. (Indigenous Corporate Training, Inc., 2017)

Indigenous Ways of Knowing (IWOK)- is a term that recognizes the beautiful complexity and diversity of Indigenous ways of learning and teaching. Many people continue to generalize Indigenous experience and lived realities. The intent of the phrase “Indigenous Ways of Knowing” is to help educate people about the vast variety of knowledge that exists across diverse Indigenous communities. It also signals that Indigenous Peoples don't just learn from human interaction and relationships. All elements of creation can teach us, from the plant and https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3834043/#:~:text=Cultural%20humility%20is%20a%20lifelong,Murray%2DGarcia%2C%201998 https://www.lawinsider.com/dictionary/culturally-relevant https://www.ictinc.ca/blog/a-brief-definition-of-decolonization-and-indigenization animal nations to the “objects” that many people consider to inanimate. (Ways of Knowing, Queens University)

Relational Worldview - The Relational Worldview model represents a combination of multiple tribal perspectives, as a response to western based model steeped in a tradition of education that reduces things to their smallest parts to understand them. The relational worldview, sometimes called the cyclical worldview, find its roots in tribal culture. It is intuitive, non-time-oriented, and fluid. The balance and harmony in relationships between multiple variables, including spiritual forces, make up the core of the thought system. (NICWA, Terry Cross, 2007)

Historical Context The United States has a unique legal and political relationship with tribal governments that is established through, and confirmed by, the Constitution of the United States, treaties, statutes, executive orders, and judicial decisions. Tribal child welfare has had a particularly painful history. CB acknowledges that past government policies and activities had a particularly devastating impact on tribal communities. From the 1870s through the 1930s, hundreds of thousands of Indian children were removed from their homes, families, and tribes and placed in boarding schools, often at a great distance from their homes. The boarding school policy of assimilation left them without access to family and unable to speak their native language or participate in their native culture. In addition, Native children were frequently taken from their homes without any investigation of maltreatment or well-being and without notice being provided to their families or tribes, which compounded the trauma of the Indigenous populations. Native customs and practices were outlawed in attempts to eliminate them, families were separated, and generations of Indigenous children transitioned into adulthood without the benefit of parenting or support from their families or tribes. The impact of this history has contributed to a great level of distrust, historical trauma, and unresolved grief and loss that continues to affect tribal families and how federal, state, and local governments and tribes interact.

When the CB was established in 1912, it began a critically important journey, working with other federal agencies, public and private entities, and tribal nations directly to address the needs of AI/AN children and families. Over the years, the CB has learned how these historical experiences of tribal people have impacted their communities both positively and negatively through governmental actions, regulations, and partnerships. Therefore, CB strives to develop the necessary understanding of the impacts resulting from these actions. It is within the unique and dynamic relationships between each tribal government, the states, and CB that we work to build unity, equality, and a path to healing for the benefit of the children and families we serve.

Resilience is one of the hallmarks defining the experience of North America’s Indigenous tribes.

These tribes predate the European exploration and colonization that led to the renaming of these inhabited lands to the United States of America. The ability to not only endure but to remain resilient, speaks to the strengths that exist within Native communities. CB supports and respects the sovereign rights of Native nations to govern themselves. Our work with tribal governments to ensure tribal children and families receive needed services and assistance is a priority, and we are committed to making equity a central part of how we operate and implement our mission.

Need for Support to Tribal Nations Through Culturally Responsive TA Since the passage of the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) in 1978, the development of tribal child welfare systems has been steadily growing, and several tribes have begun the process of https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.queensu.ca%2Findigenous%2Fways-knowing%2Fabout&data=05%7C02%7CTrilizsa.Trent%40acf.hhs.gov%7C5b22467fe22a48daec5b08dc693f3d55%7Cd58addea50534a808499ba4d944910df%7C0%7C0%7C638500967530085090%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=3j5gPqa84XxjNHwWTOBgw9AWQdZPMl%2Bv1l%2FyDpGo4AI%3D&reserved=0 https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.queensu.ca%2Findigenous%2Fways-knowing%2Fabout&data=05%7C02%7CTrilizsa.Trent%40acf.hhs.gov%7C5b22467fe22a48daec5b08dc693f3d55%7Cd58addea50534a808499ba4d944910df%7C0%7C0%7C638500967530085090%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=3j5gPqa84XxjNHwWTOBgw9AWQdZPMl%2Bv1l%2FyDpGo4AI%3D&reserved=0 https://www.snaicc.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/02242.pdf accessing federal foster care funds (Title IV-E) rather than receiving funding and services through state and county agencies. However, disparity continues in tribal access to federal funds and resources to support their child welfare systems. There are currently 574 federally recognized tribes and only about one-third of these tribes are taking advantage of Title IV-B funding for child welfare services and Promoting Safe and Stable Families. For those that do receive this federal funding, the amount of funding is often insufficient to support the tremendous need for services in the community. While the Title IV-B funds may not be sufficient to fund an entire tribal child welfare program, these tribal recipients are eligible to receive no-cost training and TA from the Center. Given the history of tribes being under-resourced, this type of TA and support to tribal programs could be an invaluable resource to tribes.

National Tribal Child Welfare Center for Innovation and Advancement

Program Goals and Objectives The purpose of this funding opportunity is to establish, by cooperative agreement, the Center.

The Center will serve as the CB’s primary vehicle for delivering effective, high-quality TA to support tribal child welfare and social services programs in Indian Country. The assistance provided will include a range of services, including the development of tools, products, and resources that will benefit all tribes. The Center will also provide specific peer support services and individualized TA, which may only be delivered to tribal Title IV-B or IV-E award recipients.

The goals of this funding are to:

1. Assist tribes in achieving sustainable, systemic change that results in greater safety, permanency, and well-being for children, youth, and families.

2. Dramatically improve the experiences of children, youth, and families when contact with the child welfare system is necessary.

3. Deliver effective, high-quality TA to tribal child welfare agencies that is aligned with tribal customs, traditions, and beliefs.

CB Tribal Foundational Equity Approach Below is the foundational equity approach developed by the CB Capacity Building team to guide the provision of tribal TA. We believe that sharing our vision and beliefs about tribal equity from our basic foundational approach may help inform our expectations for this cooperative agreement. All services carried out through this project must be delivered in alignment with these statements.

All tribal work must begin with an acknowledgment and understanding that:

• Tribes experienced historical trauma and cultural repression through forced assimilation, cultural genocide, boarding schools, and the unnecessary removal of Indian children.

• Tribes are governmental and political entities, and not merely a racial group. Being Native American/AI/AN goes beyond a racial category.

• Tribes are sovereign nations; they have the inherent right to govern themselves through self-determination.

• Tribal communities hold the knowledge of what is best for them and what they need for their children and families to thrive within their communities.

• Tribes must be engaged through a decolonized lens or mindset that includes neutralizing the power imbalance from the Western worldview. Decolonization is about shifting the way Indigenous peoples view themselves and the way non-Indigenous people view Indigenous peoples. Decolonization restores the Indigenous worldview, restores culture and traditional ways, and replaces Western interpretations of history with Indigenous perspectives of history. Through decolonization, Indigenous peoples are reclaiming the family, community, culture, language, history, and traditions that were taken from them under the federal government policies designed for assimilation.

• Tribal communities operate within a relational worldview, not a linear Western worldview.

Program Requirements

1. Engagement and Assessment

The Center will work with tribes to explore their need for individualized TA. Working with a tribe will require the development of a relationship and the demonstration of trust on the part of the Center. Tribes will make an initial request for services and the Center will respond quickly to facilitate an assessment of needs and services. The assessment should be completed within 15-30 days from the tribe’s request.

Assessments should be tribally driven, incorporate IWOK, and assist in focusing on the need(s) of most concern to the tribe. Through the assessment, the tribe will determine what they are interested in working on in the immediate future.

The assessment process should include exploration of tribal capacity, ensuring that services can be successfully implemented and will lead to enhanced capacity and future improvements. A good assessment will help the tribe define what assistance they are seeking and the tasks necessary to address the issue(s). A determination of the readiness and resources available will also be made to ensure the tribe can implement the changes they are seeking.

The identification of the impact sought by the tribe will be the basis for measuring success and will more specifically address the tribe’s definition of success. Information shared will be presented in an Indigenous style that the tribe can use to explain and garner support from their community and the Tribal Council.

2. Workplan Development

Once the assessment is completed, the Center will develop an individualized workplan. The workplan should be completed within 14 days of the assessment, which would be approximately 30 days from the tribe’s formal request for services. The TA must include a plan to engage leadership, provide services congruent with the beliefs and traditions of the tribe, and use methods to evaluate the work that is informed by IWOK and approved by the tribe. The Center and tribe must agree on, and commit to, the activities identified in the workplan.

While the goal of the services described in the workplan is to create systemic change through improved service delivery and results, it must be done in a way that supports tribes without overburdening their limited resources. Systemic change hinges on factors such as adequate staff, dedicated time for the project, project prioritization, reasonable timelines, and realistic expectations. For true systemic improvement, all services, products, and resources provided by the Center will require an integrated and commentary blend of individualized, broad-based, and universal support to tribes at opportune times.

3. TA Service Provision

Tribal TA Provision Equity Approach Tribes naturally provide their communities with an inherent resilience to overcome trauma. This healing is achieved through their culture, language, teachings, practices, and ceremonies/rituals.

Therefore, all work with tribes through this project must be trauma-informed, resilience-focused, and grounded in the understanding that tribal communities' cultural practices serve as a protective factor.

CB expects TA services provided within the Center to be centered on anti-racist and de-colonizing child welfare practices and result in measurable improvement in the way that children and families are served in tribal child welfare systems. CB expects all chosen TA approaches to honor families, staff, and tribal child welfare programs by always leading with their expertise and acknowledging that they know best what they need. All work with tribal communities should be individualized to the unique needs and culture of the tribal community the TA provider is supporting. In addition, the Center should be prepared to use a variety of improvement methods and be able to adapt to the implementation model or framework tribes may already be utilizing.

TA Services and Delivery CB-supported TA services are typically delivered through three main service delivery methodologies comprised of tailored, targeted, and universal services. Tailored services are intended to increase the knowledge and skills of individuals and to foster improvements in tribal organizational and system capacity, tailored to the unique needs and conditions within a specific tribe or tribal child welfare program. Tailored TA varies in degree of intensity based on the needs of the tribe but should be designed to move a tribe toward achieving its program improvement goals.

There are two primary types of tailored TA, one is that of supporting the tribe through capacity building. This involves guiding and supporting tribes with the foundational knowledge necessary for them to develop and implement their programs and services. In this role, the Center serves more in the role of an advisor and assists in gathering information and providing the resources and tools necessary to support the tribes in doing the work themselves. While this is a valuable resource and will be what many tribes request, it may not be the right fit for all tribes, especially those with limited staff and human capital to do the work.

The second type of tailored TA is that of offering a tribe our fullest level of support through TA service delivery. This involves providing more of the hands-on work for the tribes with the tribes guiding and directing the work, but not being fully responsible for the hands-on development of the final product. The tribe directs the work as the “architect” – meaning they have a clear vision and know what they want and need, but they simply don’t have enough staff or human capital to do the work. This is when TA service delivery becomes a key resource for tribes with limited staff and resource capacity. The Center can then support the tribe as the “builder”, simply co-creating and constructing the work from the plans the tribe developed. This approach minimizes the strengths of the tribe but saves them time and resources and ultimately results in the fullest effort of both the Center and the tribe.

Targeted services are intended to increase the knowledge and skills of constituents on a topic or in a specific aspect of tribal child welfare practice. Targeted TA may also attempt to foster increased communication between tribal child welfare professionals and build relationships and networks that will support learning and expand leadership abilities, such as through coaching or peer networking activities.

• For example, the Center could host ad hoc constituency groups and other types of learning experiences. These would be targeted toward the topics and audiences of interest to the field of tribal child welfare. Some events could be held in conjunction with other collaborators and federal partners. These would generally be conducted under a community of practice approach or similar with substantial input and direction from participants. These will largely be virtual.

• Another example is that the Center could facilitate requests for peer-to-peer engagements made by the tribes. These would largely be requests from tribes to speak directly to other tribes who have more experience or direct practice with a specific topic or process that the tribe is seeking to learn more about.

Finally, universal services are intended to increase awareness, understanding, engagement, access, and/or use of a broad audience of tribal child welfare professionals and others in the broader child welfare community. Universal TA activities may include, but are not limited to, the following: reviewing and distilling research, gathering and organizing information and resources, making information more accessible for broader consumption, developing products and tools, and strategically disseminating information to the general public or target audiences.

Tribal TA Provision Approach CB is seeking to change the TA service delivery provided through this project into a more integrated approach. While universal, targeted, and tailored services are still necessary, they have historically been delivered in a siloed approach. Whether it is universal products for all tribes, peer constituency services, or individualized tribal capacity building and service deliveries, all are intended to promote the successful implementation of federal child welfare policies and programs. Together, services should increase the knowledge and skills of tribal child welfare professionals and build organizational capacity to increase tribal child welfare program’s ability to meet federal requirements and improve outcomes for children, youth, and families.

The Center’s TA provision should involve communication between a subject-matter expert and the tribe. The expert must be aware of the tribe’s organizational culture and any specific circumstances related to their development needs, as determined in the assessment process.

CB expects that each of the following components is included as part of the proposed TA service provision:

1. Outcome-focused and data-informed: Using tribally appropriate research, data, evidence, and needs assessments to guide plans, set goals, monitor progress, and adapt, as needed.

2. Equity-driven and focused: Delivering services with an equity lens to support tribes in the integration of equity throughout all service delivery. Refer to the Tribal TA Provision Equity Approach in Section 1. Program Description, TA Service Provision.

3. Culturally responsive: Delivering services in a manner that respects the culture of service recipients and agency staff.

4. Collaborative: Working jointly with the organization’s staff to identify underlying needs.

Build partnerships with CB and CB-supported partners, such as the Child Welfare Information Gateway, the Center for States, Center for Courts, Center for Workforce Equity and Leadership, Quality Improvement Center for Workforce Analytics, states, other tribes, Chafee program and ETV award recipients, youth, and young adults.

5. Tailored and customized: Customizing its services to meet tribes “where they are” and determine where TA will have the greatest impact. TA services will take on different forms, ranging from intensive hands-on service delivery and capacity building in partnership with tribes to more immediate ad hoc information requests and short-term capacity enhancements.

6. Proactive, innovative, and continuously improving: Anticipating emerging needs and operating as a learning organization with an emphasis on creative solutions and continuous improvement.

7. Systematic: Using an orderly approach.

8. Adaptive: Being flexible.

9. Results-driven: Identifying data and other measures that indicate improvement.

The structure of how TA is delivered can vary. It can be delivered through one-on-one consultation or small group facilitations, also known as coaching or mentoring. Time spent in person with the tribe is a crucial element in building and sustaining a trusting relationship. For this reason, it will be important to ensure that TA is delivered on-site and in person.

While the collaborative work with tribes starts with listening and supporting change initiatives that they have identified for themselves, the recipient must strategize a continuation of this partnership. The recipient will be expected to develop a sustainable partnership with tribes that focuses on supporting their self-identified change initiatives. We aim to sustain this collaboration long-term, bolster current changes, and devise unique methods for improving services for tribal children and families.

TA Outcomes and Expectations The CB expects the Center to deliver a full range of services that enhance tribal capacity and produce meaningful and culturally aligned outcomes for tribal children and families. Outcomes and expectations for these services include:

• Services for children who are temporarily out of their family home (e.g., foster care, kinship care, etc.) with a focus on remediating the conditions/behaviors that caused concern that children could be harmed and exploring the extended and community family

• Services that ensure the placement of the child with family and within the tribe and maintain the relationship between child and family with frequent contact and visits at least weekly

• Services that promote the safety and well-being of children, involving family as frequently as possible (e.g., parents involved in medical, dental mental health visits, and cultural connections)

• Services that ensure the child is connected to tribal customs, practices, language, and history

• Services to support families with financial support to reduce the need for out-of-home care – a child should never be denied return to their family solely because of a lack of resources

• Services to identify extended family and community support for each child to create a permanent home for the child that is part of their extended family and within their tribal community

• Services to children, youth, and families to help with their understanding and engagement in their case-planning processes

• Services to provide ongoing support for the child and caregivers/relatives to address issues quickly and promote success for this family in the long-term

• Services to identify and address the strengths and needs of children and families

4. Workstreams and Areas of Focus

Tribes will rely on the Center for expert-level subject matter expertise in child maltreatment; the full continuum of child welfare practices; and a range of topics related to safety, permanency, and child and family well-being. The Center will also have extensive knowledge of practice and administration in tribal child welfare agencies across the country and an in-depth understanding of federal laws, funding, monitoring, and requirements related to tribal child welfare.

CB expects the successful applicant to provide culturally relevant and responsive TA in the following areas. A full description of each focus area, including goals and requirements, is included below.

• Workforce Supports: Increase the knowledge, skills, and capacities of child welfare professionals in the tribal child welfare workforce

• Prevention Programs: Support the development, enhancement, and expansion of tribal prevention programs

• Development of Tribal Child Welfare Programs in Support of Federal Requirements:

Support successful development, enhancement, expansion, and implementation of tribal programs in meeting federal requirements

• Tribal-State Collaboration: Develop and support meaningful state and tribal collaborations

• Data Management: Enhance capacity for data collection, analysis, visualization, and procurement and implementation of case management systems

Workstream 1 - Workforce Supports Tribal Child Welfare programs face unique and complex workforce challenges. Many tribes are small, and staff serve dual or multiple roles in child welfare. Living and working in small, rural, closely knitted communities requires specific preparation. Tribal hiring preferences are valuable to the tribe but may limit the number of candidates available. In addition, when hiring non-tribal staff, if hired, need to have a deep understanding of IWOK and the critical nature of respecting and honoring tribal culture.

Goal: Increase the capacity of tribes to recruit, retain, onboard new staff, and develop the leadership skills of the workforce. The Center should be prepared to:

• Develop tools, resources, and TA for tribal programs in implementing culturally relevant and responsive strategies to support the well-being of the tribal child welfare workforce using culturally responsive frameworks designed for tribes.

• Support the development of consortium or inter-tribal solutions around the workforce.

• Support the spread of evidence-supported strategies tested in other CB initiatives such as the National Child Welfare Workforce Institute (NCWWI - https://ncwwi.org), Quality Improvement Center for Workforce Development (QIC-WD - https://www.qic-wd.org), and Center for Native Child and Family Resilience (CNCFR -https://cncfr.jbsinternational.com) to develop and implement workforce strategies for tribal programs.

• Support tribal child welfare programs in identifying and addressing secondary-traumatic stress.

• Support strategies to reduce workload/caseload and provide adequate compensation for staff.

• Support the development of clinical supervision and coaching programs that are culturally responsive and resonate with tribal values and beliefs.

• Support tribes in developing customized training for staff based on their practice models.

• Develop methods to create and sustain strong tribal child welfare staff and leaders who can meet the unique challenges of the job with strategies for developing resilient programs that can survive turnover at the leadership level. Strategies can include ensuring strong practice models, policies, and procedures, developing succession plans and strong leaders at all levels of staff.

• Support tribal child welfare leaders in developing and implementing change initiatives, including how to conduct their own needs assessments.

Workstream 2 – Prevention Programs It is the goal of the CB for states and tribes to prevent any child from coming into foster care if they can be safely cared for at home with their families. Prevention services support families and help them build the capacity to care for their children by identifying and bringing the family back into balance. They should support traditional practices without fear of further system involvement; must be developed and aligned with traditional customs and beliefs of the tribe;

and should include cross-program collaboration efforts with mental health, behavioral health, substance abuse, domestic violence, educational programs, and other children-, family-, and youth-serving agencies.

Cultural values serve as the threads weaving together the practices of a tribe or village with those of other Indigenous communities, forming vital connections between the past and the present. Aligned with effective prevention strategies as evidenced by research, these values are evident in tribal gatherings where traditions of generosity and belonging are upheld. Interactions bridging generations, such as activities involving youth and elders, exemplify the importance of respecting and cherishing the wisdom and historical knowledge held by elders, while simultaneously fostering a sense of belonging for younger members. Through storytelling and communal narratives, traditional wisdom is honored individuals are provided with the platform to express their truths, affirm their identities, and acquire values and skills conducive to self-efficacy. The transmission of these values underpins the resilience of the community, underscoring the preventive power of culture.

https://ncwwi.org https://www.qic-wd.org https://cncfr.jbsinternational.com

The following categories have been identified as key protective factors for AI/AN youth. These factors greatly influence health and social outcomes:

• Personal Wellness: Promotes individual health

• Positive Self-Image: Supports self-esteem

• Self-Efficacy: Fosters confidence in their capabilities

• Family and Non-Family Connectedness: Strengthens relationships and networks of support

• Positive Opportunities: Enhances experiences and horizons

• Positive Social Norms: Encourages acceptance and inclusivity

• Cultural Connectedness: Preserves heritage and understanding of roots

These factors have a positive impact on issues such as alcohol, tobacco, and substance use;

delinquent and violent behavior; mental health (including depression and suicide attempts);

resilience; and academic success among AI/AN adolescents.

Goal: To support the development, enhancement, and expansion of tribal prevention programs

• Develop culturally responsive tools and resources to assist tribes with all aspects of their prevention program

• Conduct tribal community needs assessments and gap analysis related to prevention

• Identify and direct available resources and programs toward prevention

• Establish and prioritize prevention goals and efforts and services needed to meet those goals

• Identify the role of the community and families in addressing community prevention needs and services

• Collaborate with the tribal community to identify urgent and emerging prevention issues

• Develop a comprehensive and coordinated strategy that contains goals, anticipated outcomes, activities, responsibilities, and assessments

• Share information about existing tribal prevention programs, frameworks, interventions, and practice models

• Design and develop prevention programs that increase protective factors, community connectedness, and positive social bonding through cultural practices that focus on tribal values.

• Assist Tribal Title IV-E agencies in considering how existing prevention services can be bolstered and supported through the Title IV-E prevention program 5-year plan.

• Support tribes in their needs related to IV-E prevention programs, including:

o Developing a 5-year plan, o Selecting evidence-based programs, o Developing an evaluation strategy for one or more programs, o Determining if evaluation waivers are needed, and o Reviewing any compelling evidence of effectiveness.

Workstream 3 – Development of Tribal Child Welfare Programs in Support of Federal Requirements TA services are intended to promote the successful implementation of federal child welfare policies and programs. TA should support tribes in the development, enhancement, or expansion of tribal child welfare services and programs to meet federal requirements. To do so the Center will be:

• Providing foundational knowledge of CB programs for tribes

• Supporting tribes in applying for CB programs for tribes

• Developing tribal child welfare capacity to support program development

• Developing and implementing practice models and supporting policy and procedures

• Supporting tribal child welfare programs in building cross-system collaborative partnerships with other tribal programs, agencies, community partners, and providers to support prevention and engage the community in supporting families, including the boundaries and flexibility of various federal funding streams and how tribal child welfare programs can use them to engage other child-serving systems (e.g., mental health;

behavioral health; substance abuse; domestic violence; Medicaid; housing; Temporary Assistance for Needy Families; Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children;

Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program; and Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting)

• Supporting federal grant-management and the intersection between program and finance

• Increasing knowledge and understanding of Title IV-E requirements o General and foundational knowledge and learning o Program development and pre-print support o Development and/or review of policy and procedures o Development and/or review of tribal code o Development and/or review of forms o Development and/or review of court orders o Development of Families First Prevention and Services Act (FFPSA) o Understanding and support of claiming all IV-E administrative costs o Understanding and support of claiming all IV-E training costs and developing and developing an IV-E training plan o Understanding and support of claiming for legal representation by the agency or independent legal representation.

o Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System (AFCARS) reporting o Development and/or review of cost allocation methodologies

• Increasing knowledge and understanding of Title IV-B requirements o Program development and support o Development and/or review of policy and procedures o Development and/or review of necessary forms

• Supporting tribes in developing kinship and guardianship programs, licensing standards, and other necessary supports

• Supporting tribal strategic planning efforts - To receive federal funding under Title I, section 106 of the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act, and title IV-B of the Social Security Act, eligible jurisdictions are required to submit five-year plans.

Developed in partnership with CB regional office staff, the Child and Family Services Plan (CFSP) is the principal strategic planning document that describes the jurisdiction’s key goals and objectives for strengthening its child welfare system. The CFSP outlines the initiatives and activities that jurisdictions will implement within the next 5 years to administer and integrate their child welfare programs, interventions, and services in efforts to improve the safety, permanency, and well-being outcomes of children and families. The Annual Progress and Services Report (APSR) provides an annual update on the progress made by jurisdictions toward the goals and objectives of their CFSPs and outlines the planned activities for the upcoming fiscal year. (For more information about the CFSP and APSR, see https://www.acf.hhs.gov/cb/tribal-cfsps-apsrs

• Increasing knowledge and understanding of the Chafee and ETV programs o Ensuring youth leave care with preparation and connections o Establishing and supporting youth boards o Establishing and supporting programs to support youth and young adults

Workstream 4 - State and Tribal Collaborations An important collaborative partner for accessing many key programs and services for tribal communities is the state child welfare agency. The Center will support efforts between states and tribes to develop and implement tribal-state agreements that support the working relationship, accessing services, sharing of resources, and passing through federal funds, etc.

Some tribe’s Title IV-E foster care funds through tribal-state agreements but report having found the agreements to be challenging to navigate because of tribal and state relations and a lack of understanding of federal and /or state program requirements.

Goal: Develop and support meaningful state and tribal collaborations

• Supporting tribal child welfare programs in elevating the tribal voice and developing and supporting meaningful state and tribal collaborations including the following specific areas of focus (ICWA, IV-E agreements, and other tribal-state agreements)

• Ensuring there is clarity of roles and responsibilities when supporting state-tribal collaborations

• Increasing number of tribes having access to pass through federal funding

Workstream 5 - Data Management Native communities need accurate and comprehensive data to measure progress and better understand areas needing improvement. Historically, sharing their data raises risks to the tribe.

Tribal governments seek to re-establish authoritative property rights over their data to mitigate the risk of data being used in ways counter to their interests. Data sovereignty ensures the tribe’s right to use, control, and transfer data to serve their communities on their terms.

TA to tribes around data analytics and data visualization will seek to simplify the process of analysis to help them make informed decisions. Data analytics is important as it will help tribes understand trends and patterns from the large amounts of data that are being collected. Data visualization helps the tribes to relate information into a visual context, such as a map or graph, with the goal of making data easier to understand, pull insights from, and share with leadership and the community.

More tribes are seeking to procure case management/information systems to track and store information about the children and families they serve. CB supports the development of tribal child welfare reporting systems to enable the collection and analysis of important information about children and families, as well as improve case practice and management. Child welfare https://www.acf.hhs.gov/cb/tribal-cfsps-apsrs information systems are case management systems that serve as the record hubs for all children and families receiving child welfare support. Federal funding is available to tribal Title IV-E agencies to develop and maintain these automated systems.

Goal: Enhanced capacity for data collection, analysis, visualization, data-sharing, and procurement of case management systems

• Supporting tribes with data identification, collection, analysis, and visualization

• Supporting tribes in their efforts to share data with agency partners who they are engaging in cross system collaboration efforts

• Supporting tribes with the procurement of case management systems

• Supporting tribes in collecting and reporting AFCARS information

• Supporting tribes in collecting and reporting FFPSA data

5. Collaboration with CB and Other CB-Funded Partners

The Center will be expected to leverage resources from other CB-funded projects to have a range of support related to training, TA, and professional development. Professional development should improve child welfare practice and skills including, but not limited to, family engagement, cultural and linguistic competence, safety assessment, and trauma-informed care.

To successfully fulfill the project goals and to effectively integrate service delivery consistent with CB expectations, the Center must effectively partner and collaborate. This will necessitate teaming with CB staff as well as other CB-supported entities. The importance of joint planning, clear communication, and partnership cannot be overstated. In many instances, the completion of deliverables will rely on effective partnerships. Furthermore, outcomes of child welfare systems do not exclusively rely on the decisions and actions of the tribal child welfare agency and organizations providing services on its behalf. Training, coaching, and consultation delivered to tribal child welfare agencies, courts, tribal child welfare agencies, and community-based providers or prevention services must align with the services delivered by the Center.

The Center shall meet regularly with CB, other CB-supported entities, and relevant groups to facilitate sound and efficient Center management. Each of the Center’s tasks and service components (tailored, targeted, and universal) will require substantial planning, coordination, and collaboration. The Center shall produce reports for CB and other targeted audiences to ensure accountability, track progress, and respond to requests for information.

In consultation and collaboration with CB and other CB-supported projects, the Center shall develop plans for marketing, outreach, and dissemination that are consumer-centered, multifaceted, research-informed, and reflect industry best practices.

6. Innovation

The Center’s service delivery strategies and outcomes must be informed by practical and current data about how its service recipients access resources, learn, and apply information. The Center must be capable of gathering and using information about the behaviors of its audiences to design products and services that are likely to be read, heard, viewed, understood, and used. The Center is also expected to investigate, propose, and pilot creative strategies that capitalize on information about professional behavior patterns and that leverage new technologies and other innovations to increase participation, learning, and use. In some cases, multiple strategies may be necessary to reach and engage different subgroups of audiences. CB strongly encourages innovative approaches to service delivery, but they must also be supported by sound rationales and justifications for implementation.

7. Dissemination

The Center will produce a broad range of universal products throughout the project. These may be traditional publications, webinars, podcasts, social media platforms, or in other formats as the development process determines. All these publications share several requirements: They can leverage information collected in the regular course of tailored and targeted; they will require input and feedback from CB and many of the other collaborators and partners; they all should have strong considerations of the workstreams described in Section I. Program Description; and they all should be tailored to the tribal child welfare audience or audiences, as determined by Federal Project Officers (FPO) feedback during development. The Center will also need to develop and host a website to showcase products developed by the Center as well as make linkages to other important websites or products of interest to the tribal child welfare audience.

8. Accessibility

Ensuring the accessibility of products, learning experiences, and recorded peer networking activities created under the cooperative agreement is a priority and must become part of standard business. The Center will be knowledgeable and adhere to Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. 749d). Unless otherwise directed by the FPO, all products, training resources, and any other materials will be made available to the public (rather than for internal planning and use by the Center and CB) and must meet Section 508 compliance rules before being approved for transfer/release by the FPO and accepted as a completed deliverable under this contract. This includes all Web content or communications materials produced for publication on or through the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) websites, including, but not limited to, the ACF and CB Web pages and CB’s information clearinghouse.

Time frames in the Center’s work plan must consider the time necessary to meet Section 508 compliance standards. The Center should use the Section 508 Tips for Document Creation found at https://www.acf.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/documents/cb/508_tip_sheet.pdf to guide 508 compliances. Please reference the Award Terms and Conditions on Requirements for Recipient Electronic and Information Technology on the ACF Administrative and National Policy Requirements website for further requirements involving recipient electronic and information technology.

9. Continuous Quality Improvement

CB anticipates that continuous quality improvement (CQI) will be a major focus of the Center’s service delivery to tribes. The concept of routinely gathering and reviewing available data to assess progress, identify successes, investigate problems, and implement solutions for the purpose of improving performance is equally applicable to the Center and its activities. The Center will work with CB to identify those areas that require the greatest attention, and it will collect, monitor, and report on key service indicators on an ongoing basis. Improvement strategies will be discussed with CB and implemented as necessary. CB and the Center will strive for consistent and high-quality service provision.

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