Opportunity Information: Apply for HHS 2020 ACF OFA ZD 1838
The Relationships, Education, Advancement, and Development for Youth for Life (READY4Life) opportunity is a competitive discretionary grant program run by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Administration for Children and Families (ACF), Office of Family Assistance (OFA). Its purpose is to fund "healthy marriage promotion" efforts authorized under federal law (42 U.S.C. 603(a)(2)), with a specific focus on youth-facing services that strengthen future family formation and relationship stability. In practice, the program is looking for projects that teach skills for healthy relationships and marriage, reinforce the value of marriage as a future option for family life, and pair those relationship-focused services with practical supports that help young people build stability in other parts of their lives.
A defining feature of READY4Life is that it is targeted exclusively to youth. The eligible participant group is clearly defined as individuals in high school (grades 9 to 12) as well as those who are high-school aged or in late adolescence and early adulthood, generally ages 14 through 24. Applicants are expected to design proposals specifically for this youth range rather than broadly serving all ages. The program also strongly encourages applicants to keep their design focused by choosing one program model aimed at one specific service population. For example, a project might focus on youth in a general high school setting, youth aging out of foster care, or youth who are already parents, but applicants are discouraged from proposing multiple distinct models for multiple populations within one application.
Funded projects may deliver one or more of three legislatively recognized healthy marriage promotion approaches. These include marriage and relationship education and skills (often referred to as MRES), education delivered in high schools, and public advertising campaigns. While the relationship and marriage education component is central, the grant is also intended to support related activities that strengthen young peoples readiness for adulthood and family life. That can include parenting education or supports (as relevant for young mothers and fathers), financial management education, job and career advancement activities, and other aligned services that help youth develop the tools to form and maintain healthy relationships and more stable households over time.
ACF signals that it is open to a range of project sizes and levels of intensity, from high-impact initiatives to more moderate or smaller-scope projects, suggesting flexibility in how applicants structure their programming as long as it fits within the core goals and allowable activity categories. At the same time, applicants are expected to demonstrate organizational capacity, meaning they need to show they have the staffing, partnerships, experience, systems, and management ability to carry out the proposed work effectively and responsibly.
From an administrative standpoint, this is a grant (not a contract) under the Income Security and Social Services activity category and is listed under CFDA number 93.086. The funding opportunity number is HHS-2020-ACF-OFA-ZD-1838. A wide range of organizations may apply, including state, county, city, and special district governments; independent school districts; public and private institutions of higher education; federally recognized tribal governments and other tribal organizations; public housing authorities; nonprofit organizations with or without 501(c)(3) status; for-profit organizations (including small businesses); and other eligible entities as clarified in the full notice. The notice indicates an award ceiling of $1,500,000, with an expectation of 27 awards. The opportunity was posted on June 1, 2020, with an original closing date of July 1, 2020, and it required electronic submission by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on the due date.Apply for HHS 2020 ACF OFA ZD 1838
- The Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families - OFA in the income security and social services sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Relationships, Education, Advancement, and Development for Youth for Life (READY4Life)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.086.
- This funding opportunity was created on Jun 01, 2020.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jul 01, 2020 Electronically submitted applications must be submitted no later than 1159 p.m., ET, on the listed application due date.. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $1,500,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 27 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Independent school districts, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments), Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, For profit organizations other than small businesses, Small businesses, Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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READY4Life Grant Opportunity FAQs
What is the READY4Life grant opportunity?
READY4Life (Relationships, Education, Advancement, and Development for Youth for Life) is a competitive discretionary grant program administered by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Administration for Children and Families (ACF), Office of Family Assistance (OFA). It funds youth-focused healthy marriage promotion efforts authorized under federal law (42 U.S.C. 603(a)(2)).
What is the main purpose of READY4Life?
The program is designed to support projects that teach skills for healthy relationships and marriage, reinforce the value of marriage as a future option for family life, and pair relationship-focused services with practical supports that help young people build stability in other areas of life.
Who is the target population for READY4Life services?
READY4Life is targeted exclusively to youth. The eligible participant group is defined as individuals in high school (grades 9 to 12) and youth who are high-school aged or in late adolescence and early adulthood, generally ages 14 through 24.
Can applicants propose services for people outside the 14 to 24 age range?
Based on the information provided, applicants are expected to design proposals specifically for the defined youth range (generally ages 14 through 24), rather than broadly serving all ages.
Does READY4Life expect applicants to focus on a specific youth group?
Yes. The program strongly encourages applicants to keep the project design focused by choosing one program model aimed at one specific service population, rather than proposing multiple distinct models for multiple populations within one application.
What are examples of a single service population an applicant might choose?
Examples mentioned include youth in a general high school setting, youth aging out of foster care, or youth who are already parents. The overall expectation is to select one specific population and build one model around it.
What kinds of program approaches can be funded under READY4Life?
Funded projects may deliver one or more of three legislatively recognized healthy marriage promotion approaches: (1) marriage and relationship education and skills (MRES), (2) education delivered in high schools, and (3) public advertising campaigns.
Is marriage and relationship education required, or can projects focus only on other supports?
The relationship and marriage education component is described as central to the program. Other supportive activities may be included, but the core emphasis is on healthy relationship and marriage-related education and skill-building.
What kinds of supportive or related activities are aligned with READY4Life?
In addition to relationship-focused services, the opportunity indicates support for aligned activities that strengthen youth readiness for adulthood and family life. Examples listed include parenting education or supports (as relevant for young mothers and fathers), financial management education, and job and career advancement activities, along with other aligned services that help youth build tools for stable relationships and households.
Can a READY4Life project include parenting supports?
Yes. Parenting education or supports are specifically noted as allowable when relevant, including for young mothers and fathers.
Can READY4Life include financial education and career supports?
Yes. Financial management education and job/career advancement activities are listed as examples of aligned services that can complement the relationship-focused programming.
What size or intensity of projects is ACF looking for?
ACF indicates it is open to a range of project sizes and intensity levels, from high-impact initiatives to more moderate or smaller-scope projects, as long as they fit the program goals and allowable activity categories.
What does READY4Life require regarding organizational capacity?
Applicants are expected to demonstrate organizational capacity, including staffing, partnerships, relevant experience, systems, and management ability to carry out the proposed work effectively and responsibly.
Is this opportunity a grant or a contract?
This opportunity is a grant, not a contract.
What is the activity category for this funding opportunity?
The opportunity is listed under the Income Security and Social Services activity category.
What is the CFDA number associated with READY4Life?
The CFDA number provided for this opportunity is 93.086.
What is the funding opportunity number?
The funding opportunity number is HHS-2020-ACF-OFA-ZD-1838.
Which federal offices administer READY4Life?
READY4Life is run by HHS through ACF, specifically the Office of Family Assistance (OFA).
What types of organizations are eligible to apply?
A wide range of organizations may apply, including state, county, city, and special district governments; independent school districts; public and private institutions of higher education; federally recognized tribal governments and other tribal organizations; public housing authorities; nonprofit organizations with or without 501(c)(3) status; for-profit organizations (including small businesses); and other eligible entities as clarified in the full notice.
Are nonprofits required to have 501(c)(3) status to apply?
No. The opportunity states that nonprofit organizations with or without 501(c)(3) status may apply.
Can for-profit organizations apply?
Yes. For-profit organizations, including small businesses, are included in the listed eligible applicant types.
Are tribal governments and tribal organizations eligible?
Yes. Federally recognized tribal governments and other tribal organizations are included among eligible applicants.
Are schools and higher education institutions eligible applicants?
Yes. Independent school districts and both public and private institutions of higher education are listed as eligible applicant types.
Are public housing authorities eligible to apply?
Yes. Public housing authorities are included in the list of eligible organizations.
What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?
The notice indicates an award ceiling of $1,500,000.
How many awards are expected?
The opportunity indicates an expectation of 27 awards.
When was the READY4Life opportunity posted?
The opportunity was posted on June 1, 2020.
What was the original application deadline?
The original closing date was July 1, 2020.
How were applications required to be submitted?
The opportunity required electronic submission.
What time were applications due on the deadline date?
Applications were due by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on the due date.
What kinds of outcomes is READY4Life trying to support for youth?
Based on the described purpose, READY4Life supports youth gaining skills for healthy relationships and marriage, strengthening future family formation and relationship stability, and building practical stability through aligned supports like parenting resources, financial education, and career advancement activities.
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