A State Advocacy Grant Opportunity from the Child Welfare Advocacy Hub
State Advocacy Matters Now
Advocacy plays a decisive role in shaping how child welfare policies are implemented nationally and in states, and whether reforms translate into better outcomes for children and families. While federal policy sets important parameters, state-level decisions about funding, eligibility, and program design ultimately determine families’ access to support.
This Child Welfare Advocacy Hub Request for Proposal (RFP) is issued at a pivotal moment. Federal policy continues to evolve, and states are responding to concurrent changes across child welfare, Medicaid, nutrition, education, and workforce systems. These shifts are occurring amid constrained budgets and growing pressures on families, creating a complex and fast-moving policy environment. In this context, strategic state and federal advocacy is essential to ensure that policy and programming decisions are grounded in an understanding of families’ needs and informed by evidence, best practice and lived experience.
Grants awarded to advocacy organizations through this RFP are intended to provide flexible, timely support for advocacy efforts that respond to state-specific and/or federal opportunities and challenges. Proposed activities may focus on state-level advocacy, federal-level advocacy, or a combination of both, depending on where applicants identify opportunities for impact.
Proposals may address a single priority or multiple related issues, provided the scope of work is feasible and includes clear intended outcomes. The Hub recognizes that advocacy impact can take many forms – advancing new policies or practices, strengthening implementation, or preventing harmful proposals from moving forward.
Keep scrolling to learn more about the RFP!
Click one of the links below to share this page, download a copy of the RFP, or register/submit your proposal.
Issue Areas
Applicants are invited to submit proposals aligned with their organization’s priorities. Examples include, but are not limited to:
Prevention and early support, including Family First prevention program implementation; reforms to child abuse registries; and policy initiatives related to neglect definitions, reporting and investigating maltreatment
Implementation of Title IV-B reforms, including leveraging federal grant opportunities, increasing court improvement efforts, support for the child welfare workforce, and peer support and navigation.
Medicaid and health policy, including state-level program changes in response to federal eligibility and financing shifts
Nutrition and economic security, including SNAP policy changes affecting families and former foster youth
Kinship caregiving, for children who are in the child welfare agency’s custody or in a kinship diversion arrangement, including access to financial assistance, increasing kinship placements, kinship navigators, and caregiver support
Education, including K–12 stability and postsecondary access for youth in foster care
Cross-system issues related to housing, early childhood services/child care, behavioral health, employment, income support, and family stability
Applicants are encouraged to describe the policy landscape they are operating in and why the proposed advocacy is timely and strategic.
Organizations led by people with lived experience in the child welfare system, and those centering family and community voices, are encouraged to apply.
Eligible states:
All states, including the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands
Grant size:
Flexible awards based on scope (typically ranging $10,000-$40,000)
Duration:
Typically 12 months, with flexibility based on project needs
Allowable uses:
Staff time
Coalition coordination
Communications and media activities; policy and program analysis
Travel for advocacy, events, and engagements
Other costs directly tied to the proposed work
Eligible applicants include:
State-based or national nonprofit advocacy or policy organizations
Coalitions or collaboratives anchored by a state-based nonprofit entity
Priority will be given to applicants that:
Demonstrate credibility with policymakers and key stakeholders
Have experience advancing policy, budget, administrative, or systems change
Have experience shaping program implementation efforts
Identify opportunities to use data and evidence in advocacy and messaging
Center family and youth voice, as appropriate to the advocacy strategy
Are prepared to coordinate with relevant state partners, including public agencies and other stakeholders
Propose advocacy that is feasible and has the potential for impact
Tailored Support
In addition to grant funding, grantees may access tailored support from the Hub based on their needs and priorities. Support may include:
Research and data analysis
Policy and program analysis and solution development
Strategic communications and messaging
Coalition-building and stakeholder engagement
Advocacy strategy and government relations guidance
The Hub will also facilitate opportunities for peer learning and connection among grantees and with a broader national network of advocates.
Once you register to apply online, the grant application form will guide you to submit the information required by the RFP, including:
Organizational overview and relevant child welfare advocacy experience
Description of the advocacy goal and proposed activities
Intended outcomes and indicators of impact or progress
Tailored support requested from the Hub
Timeline and brief budget summary