Region XI American Indian Alaska Native (AIAN) Collaboration Office | HHS 2025 ACF OHS HC R11 0161

Opportunity Information: Apply for HHS 2025 ACF OHS HC R11 0161

The Region XI American Indian Alaska Native (AIAN) Collaboration Office grant is a discretionary federal funding opportunity from the Administration for Children and Families (ACF), Office of Head Start (OHS), offered as a cooperative agreement. Its main purpose is to strengthen how OHS Region XI works with the Head Start Training and Technical Assistance (T/TA) system, Head Start grant recipients, other early care and education providers, and additional partners who support the learning and healthy development of low-income children and families, including the staff who serve them. Because this is a cooperative agreement, the federal program office is expected to play an active role alongside the recipient in shaping and carrying out the work, rather than simply issuing funds and stepping back.

At the center of the project is a Region XI AIAN Collaboration Office, led by a Collaboration Office Director, that is expected to convene partners, align efforts, and push practical coordination across systems serving young children and families. A major emphasis is building partnerships with child care programs, with a specific focus on the Early Head Start-Child Care Partnership (EHS-CCP) initiatives. The collaboration office is also expected to collect and share data on early childhood programs and child outcomes, which can help identify gaps, track progress, and support better decision-making across the Region XI AIAN early childhood landscape.

Another key priority is improving access to high-quality workforce and career development opportunities for early childhood staff. This includes strengthening professional development pathways, supporting skills-building, and helping programs develop and retain qualified staff. The opportunity also highlights coordination with school systems to support continuity between Head Start and elementary school goals, which typically means improving alignment around early learning expectations, transitions into kindergarten, and shared approaches that reduce disruption for children and families. In addition, the collaboration office is expected to support broader regional priorities such as family and community partnerships and services connected to children and families health, mental health, and oral health, reinforcing the whole-child and whole-family approach that Head Start programs are known for.

Funding is capped at an award ceiling of $350,000, and OHS expects to make one award. The opportunity was created on November 19, 2024, with an original closing date of January 21, 2025. The program is listed under CFDA 93.600 and falls within the Income Security and Social Services activity category.

Eligibility is broad across public and private sectors, including state, county, and city governments; special districts; independent school districts; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; federally recognized tribal governments and other tribal organizations; public and private institutions of higher education; nonprofit organizations (both with and without 501(c)(3) status); and for-profit organizations other than small businesses. However, individuals, including sole proprietorships, are not eligible, and foreign entities are also not eligible; applications from either will be disqualified from merit review. Faith-based and community organizations may apply if they meet the standard eligibility requirements, and ACF states it will not discriminate based on an organization religious character or affiliation, consistent with applicable federal protections and rules (including 45 CFR Part 87 and relevant federal statutes).

• The Administration for Children and Families - OHS in the income security and social services sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Region XI American Indian Alaska Native (AIAN) Collaboration Office" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.600.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2024-11-19.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2025-01-21. (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 $350,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 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.

Apply for HHS 2025 ACF OHS HC R11 0161

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