The Office of Planning, Research, and Evaluation (OPRE) within the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) is soliciting applications for an African American Child and Family Research Center (hereafter referred to as "Center"), to lead and support research on the needs of African American

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populations served by ACF and promising approaches to promote social and economic well-being among low-income African American populations.

This research Center would ideally bring together a diverse, inclusive, culturally sensitive, and interdisciplinary team of academic and organizational partners to provide leadership on culturally competent research that can inform policies concerning low-income African American populations and to foster significant scholarship regarding the needs and experiences of the diverse African American population throughout the nation.

Through a combination of research, capacity building, and communication activities, this Center will ideally address a range of relevant issues including, but not limited to:
a) definition and measurement of the experiences of African American individuals, families, and communities; b) identification of barriers and facilitators of service utilization by African American populations; c) examination of strategies to promote the social and economic well-being of African American children and families; and d) evaluation of promising approaches for serving African American populations.

The Center will be expected to develop research products, resources, and a comprehensive communication plan that aims to build research capacity in the field and improve understanding of African American populations in order to inform policy development and programmatic responses.

The Center will focus broadly on child care and early education, employment, economic mobility, wealth, and children's healthy development and learning.

Key topics of interest are identified below in the Funding Opportunity Announcement and include, but are not limited to, research regarding:
educational and employment experiences and outcomes; experiences with human services; discrimination; effects of criminal justice system involvement; program evaluation; and distinctive experiences in rural, suburban and urban areas.

This award would be for a 60-month project period with five 12-month budget periods (i.e., September 2021 - September 2026).

Initial awards of up to $1,800,000 will be made for the first 12-month budget period; annual continuation awards for the four remaining 12-month budget periods will be awarded subject to the availability of funds, satisfactory progress by the grantee, and a determination that continued funding would be in the interest of the federal government.