National Technical Assistance Center on Kinship and Grandfamilies

The purpose of this project, as outlined in Section 2922 of the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), is to establish and operate a new National Technical Assistance Center on Kinship and Grandfamilies (NTAC). The project will consist of tasks associated with identifying existing evidence-based, evidence informed, and exemplary practices or programs; developing new evidence-based, evidence informed, and exemplary practices or programs; and supporting the implementation of the evidence-based, evidence-informed, and exemplary practices or programs. The project will also include tasks associated with developing and providing training and technical assistance to State, territorial, Tribal (including urban) agencies and programs; other government, non-profit and community-based organizations; and to such sectors as may play a key role in the lives of kin and grandparent caregivers; other professionals, policymakers, and advocates, as appropriate. The primary target population for this project, per Section 2922, is State, territorial, Tribal (including urban) agencies and programs; other government, non-profit and community-based organizations; secondary sectors (e.g., education systems, foster care, criminal justice, etc.); and other professionals, policymakers, and advocates. The secondary target population for this project, per Section 2922, is grandparent and kinship caregivers (55+) and grandchildren and/or children with disabilities. The NTAC on Kinship and Grandfamilies will be the nationally recognized source of expert policy and programmatic training and technical support on kinship and grandfamily policy issues and concerns. The NTAC shall operate on a national scale and, from the outset, serve all target audiences as defined in Section 2922 of the ARPA and by ACL. In this regard, training and technical assistance shall be provided via a range of modalities, including a dedicated website and both virtual and in-person (where/when feasible and safe to do so) learning, training and technical assistance opportunities. The grantee will carry out all activities associated with designing, developing, staffing, managing and maintaining a National Technical Assistance Center on Kinship and Grandfamilies. In so doing, the grantee's tasks will include: Data collection, information gathering, research and analysis to identify existing evidence-based, evidence informed, and exemplary practices or programs; Fostering development of new evidence-based, evidence informed, and exemplary practices or programs; Encouraging and supporting the implementation of the evidence-based, evidence-informed, and exemplary practices or programs; promoting coordination of services for grandfamilies and kinship families across systems that support them; Facilitating learning across States, territories, Indian Tribes, Tribal organizations, and urban Indian organizations; providing technical assistance, resources, and training related to health promotion (including mental health and substance use disorder treatment), education, nutrition, housing, financial needs, legal issues, disability self-determination, caregiver support, and other issues to individuals and entities across systems; Helping government programs, nonprofit and other community-based organizations, and Indian Tribes, Tribal organizations, and urban Indian organizations, serving grandfamilies and kinship families plan and coordinate responses to assist grandfamilies and kinship families during national, State, Tribal, territorial, and local emergencies and disasters; and Promoting equity and implementing culturally and linguistically appropriate approaches across all technical assistance and support activities and with all target audiences.