Refugee Family Child Care Microenterprise Development Program | HHS 2024 ACF ORR RG 0023

Opportunity Information: Apply for HHS 2024 ACF ORR RG 0023

The Refugee Family Child Care Microenterprise Development Program (RFCCMED) is a discretionary grant opportunity offered by the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) within the Administration for Children and Families (ACF), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The program is designed to help refugees move toward economic self-sufficiency by supporting them in starting and operating licensed family child care (FCC) businesses. At the same time, it aims to expand access to reliable, licensed child care options that are responsive to the needs of refugee families, including the early learning and developmental needs of refugee children.

Funded projects are expected to deliver a structured mix of training, hands-on coaching, and practical support. Grantees will provide refugee participants with training and technical assistance in three core areas: professional child care practices, microenterprise and small business development, and financial literacy. A major emphasis is helping participants successfully navigate the child care licensing process, which often involves meeting health and safety standards, understanding regulations, completing required coursework, and preparing for inspections. The program also allows for direct financial assistance when necessary, specifically to help participants make needed home preparations so their residences can meet licensing and operational requirements for a family child care business.

ORR identifies three main objectives for RFCCMED. First, the program should help refugees establish licensed FCC businesses as a pathway to stable income and self-employment. Second, it should increase the availability of licensed FCC providers who can serve refugee families and provide care that supports children developmentally in their early years. Third, it should help refugees better understand and access mainstream child care systems, which can include learning how child care markets operate, how subsidy systems work, and how to connect families to regulated care options.

Applicants are expected to demonstrate that they have the capacity to run the program effectively, including the staffing and organizational know-how to deliver training and individualized technical assistance, as well as partnerships that strengthen service delivery. In practice, this often means relationships with child care licensing agencies, early childhood education and quality improvement resources, small business development or microenterprise experts, and community-based organizations that serve refugee populations. The goal is not only to train participants, but to help them complete the steps required to become licensed and operational, and to position them to sustain their businesses over time.

Eligibility is limited to public and private nonprofit organizations; individuals (including sole proprietorships) and foreign entities are explicitly ineligible and will be disqualified from merit review. Faith-based and community organizations may apply as long as they meet the eligibility requirements, and the announcement notes that ACF will not discriminate in award decisions based on an organization religious character or affiliation, consistent with applicable federal regulations and protections.

Key opportunity details include the funding opportunity number HHS 2024 ACF ORR RG 0023 and CFDA number 93.576. The application closing date listed is June 28, 2024. The award ceiling is $250,000, and ORR expects to make approximately 8 awards. Eligible applicant types listed span a range of governmental and nonprofit entities, including state and local governments, tribal governments and tribal organizations, public housing authorities, public and private institutions of higher education, and nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status (excluding individuals and foreign entities).

• The Administration for Children and Families - ORR in the income security and social services sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Refugee Family Child Care Microenterprise Development Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.576.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2024-04-19.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2024-06-28. (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 $250,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 8 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, Others.

Apply for HHS 2024 ACF ORR RG 0023

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