Welfare Reform Research, Evaluations and National Studies

Welfare Research (WR) funds were authorized as a set-aside of the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) block grant to support research, evaluation, and technical assistance related to the TANF program. The legislation states that WR funds s

Awards made under this Assistance Listing support research and evaluation activities related to the TANF program that meet the stated objectives of the legislation authorizing Welfare Research funding. The Center for Research on Hispanic Children & Families and the Center for Research on African American Children & Families support these directives by carrying out research on the experiences and outcomes of Hispanic and African American populations, respectively, served by TANF, to strengthen the efficiency and effectiveness of TANF-funded services for these populations; and by developing and implementing a dissemination strategy to communicate findings from this research to a wide audience. In FY25, award recipients of the Family Self-Sufficiency Demonstration Development Phase 2 Awards, which will support award recipients in advancing the implementation and formal testing of the approaches to improve economic self-sufficiency among TANF and TANF-eligible families that they developed under their initial award are eligible for their second year of their awards. The objectives of the TANF Data Collaborative Analysis Awards are to support State, and local TANF agencies in conducting data analyses of their TANF and other human services data to support program improvement and inform policymaking.

Awards and cooperative agreements may be made to or with governmental entities, colleges, universities, nonprofit and for-profit organizations (if fee is waived), and faith- and community-based organizations. Awards cannot be made directly to individuals or sole proprietorships. Faith-based and community organizations that meet the eligibility requirements are eligible to receive awards.

Children, youth, and families, especially low-income families, will benefit.

Grants and cooperative agreements are awarded for innovative research, demonstrations, and evaluations that are responsive to the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) program priorities. All applications must meet standards of excellence in research, demonstration, or evaluation design.

See NOFO.

Funds are awarded on a 1- to 5-year basis, with support beyond the first year contingent upon acceptable evidence of satisfactory progress, continuing program relevance, and availability of funds.

See specific information in NOFO.

The criteria for selecting proposals will be published in the NOFO(s).

Each application is reviewed against four factors: eligibility, the application deadline, required electronic submission or waiver requested and approved, and the Award Ceiling. If the application does not meet all of these factors, then it is disqualified from the merit review process. After the initial review, applications are reviewed and evaluated by merit review panels using only the criteria described in the Application Review section of the NOFO. Each panel is composed of experts with knowledge and experience in the area under review. Generally, review panels include three reviewers and one chairperson. While merit review scores and their ranking are not binding, ACF does consider them when selecting projects for funding. Scores and rankings are only one element used in the award decision-making process. Other criteria are explained in the Program Description section and in the Application Review section of the NOFO. For example, ACF reserves the right to evaluate applications in the larger context of the overall portfolio by considering the geographic distribution of federal funds (e.g., ensuring coverage of states, counties, or service areas) in its pre-award decisions. ACF may elect not to fund applicants with management or financial problems that would indicate an inability to successfully complete the proposed project. In addition, ACF may elect to not allow a prime recipient to subaward if there is any indication that they are unable to properly monitor and manage subrecipients. Applications may be funded in whole or in part. Successful applicants may be funded at an amount lower than requested.

From 60 to 365 days. Generally, solicited applications will be acted upon within 120 days.

Non-competing continuations will be issued based on availability of funds, satisfactory progress, compliance with terms and conditions and a determination that continuation funding is in the best interest of the federal government.

There is no appeal process for unsuccessful applicants. For existing recipients, appeals regarding disputes may take place in accordance with 45 CFR Part 16, subject to the limitations of the Appendix A.