Opportunity Information: Apply for HHS 2023 ACF OPRE YE 0154
The Early Care and Education Research Scholars: Child Care Dissertation Grants program is a discretionary grant opportunity from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families (ACF), through its Office of Planning, Research, and Evaluation (OPRE). The purpose is to fund dissertation research by advanced doctoral students whose work directly informs child care policy and administration, especially as it relates to the Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF). A core expectation is that the dissertation is not developed in isolation; instead, the student and their academic mentor build the project in partnership with a CCDF agency or administrator so that the research addresses real, decision-relevant questions faced by child care leaders and program staff.
The program is designed as a capacity-building investment in the early care and education research field. OPRE is trying to strengthen the pipeline of researchers who can do high-quality, applied, policy-relevant work in child care systems. To do that, the grants emphasize three main outcomes: producing research that can support child care policy decision-making and program administration; giving doctoral students hands-on experience collaborating with CCDF agencies on applied research (including practical constraints like data access, timelines, and implementation realities); and encouraging strong, structured mentoring relationships between faculty researchers and doctoral students. OPRE signals particular interest in studies aligned with CCDF goals that can inform actionable policy solutions, especially research that centers populations that are underserved or understudied, and research that uses the most rigorous methods appropriate for the question (whether that is strong quasi-experimental design, mixed methods, qualitative approaches with careful sampling and analytic rigor, or robust secondary data analysis).
A defining feature of this opportunity is the required partnership with a CCDF agency or administrator. Applicants are expected to consult the CCDF partner throughout the life of the project, starting at the earliest stages of shaping and refining the research questions, continuing through data collection or secondary data analysis, and extending to interpretation and dissemination of findings. In practice, that means the CCDF partner is not just a letter of support; they are expected to have a meaningful role in ensuring the research is relevant, feasible, and useful to the child care system, and that findings are communicated in ways that can be used by administrators and policymakers.
Applications are submitted by an organization rather than by the student alone. The applicant organization must be capable of managing federal funds and research compliance, with a demonstrated history of research activity and federal funding oversight, as well as the internal resources needed to support the doctoral student (for example, grants management, IRB capacity, data security infrastructure, and administrative support). While a broad set of entity types may be eligible (including various levels of government, institutions of higher education, nonprofits, for-profits, small businesses, tribes and tribal organizations, and others as described in the eligibility section), OPRE specifically encourages applications from eligible Tribally Controlled Land Grant Colleges and Universities, Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Hispanic Serving Institutions, and faith-based institutions of higher education.
The faculty mentor plays a formal leadership role and serves as the principal investigator, which signals that OPRE expects experienced research leadership and accountability for the project. The mentor must hold a Ph.D. (or equivalent) in the relevant field and conduct research as a primary professional responsibility. OPRE also emphasizes that the mentor must be positioned to provide active supervision, quality control, and appropriate oversight of both the research work and the relationship with the CCDF partner agency, helping ensure the dissertation is completed successfully and meets high standards while staying focused on policy questions that matter to the local CCDF partner(s) and to ACF.
A key eligibility and timing detail in this cycle is that the doctoral student must submit evidence of an approved dissertation proposal at the time of application. This is explicitly noted as a change from prior years, when applicants could submit proof of proposal approval after the application deadline. For the 2023 competition, the application due date and the due date for proof of an approved dissertation proposal are the same, and the exact date is set in the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO). Applicants should plan accordingly, since this requirement effectively shifts work earlier in the dissertation timeline and may affect departmental approval scheduling.
In terms of funding specifics from the opportunity listing, awards have a ceiling of $25,000, and OPRE anticipates making about six awards. The opportunity is listed under Assistance Listing/CFDA 93.575 and is categorized under Income Security and Social Services. The original closing date shown is May 19, 2023, with electronic submissions due no later than 11:59 pm Eastern Time on the deadline date. Because this is a federal grant, applicants must be registered in SAM.gov and have a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI). The listing includes an operational warning that SAM.gov entity validation has been experiencing delays due to high demand, so organizations are advised to start SAM registration or updates early to avoid last-minute submission problems.
For additional context, OPRE points applicants to information on prior Child Care Research Scholars awards and to OPRE and Office of Child Care (OCC) resources for understanding CCDF and the policy environment the research is meant to serve. The opportunity also encourages prospective applicants to follow the forecast on Grants.gov to receive updates as details are finalized or modified.Apply for HHS 2023 ACF OPRE YE 0154
- The Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families - OPRE in the income security and social services sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Early Care and Education Research Scholars: Child Care Dissertation Grants" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.575.
- This funding opportunity was created on Mar 16, 2023.
- Applicants must submit their applications by May 19, 2023 Electronically submitted applications must be submitted no later than 1159 pm Eastern Standard Time on the listed application due date.. (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 $25,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 6 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, Small businesses, Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the Early Care and Education Research Scholars: Child Care Dissertation Grants program?
The Early Care and Education Research Scholars: Child Care Dissertation Grants program is a discretionary grant opportunity from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Administration for Children and Families (ACF), through the Office of Planning, Research, and Evaluation (OPRE). It provides funding to support dissertation research by advanced doctoral students focused on child care policy and administration, especially research related to the Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF).
What is the main purpose of this grant opportunity?
The purpose is to fund dissertation research that directly informs child care policy decision-making and program administration. A central expectation is that the dissertation research is developed and carried out in partnership with a CCDF agency or administrator so the work addresses real, decision-relevant questions faced by child care leaders and staff.
Who is this grant designed to support?
This opportunity is designed to support advanced doctoral students conducting dissertation research, while also strengthening the pipeline of researchers who can produce high-quality, applied, policy-relevant research in child care systems. It also places strong emphasis on structured mentoring by an experienced faculty researcher.
Is a partnership with a CCDF agency required?
Yes. A defining feature of this opportunity is the required partnership with a CCDF agency or administrator. The CCDF partner is expected to be meaningfully involved throughout the project, not only providing support but helping ensure the research is relevant, feasible, and useful to child care policy and administration.
What does OPRE mean by a “meaningful” CCDF partnership?
Based on the program description, the CCDF partner should be consulted throughout the life of the project: during early research question development, during data collection or secondary data analysis, and during interpretation and dissemination of findings. The partnership is intended to ensure the research is grounded in real operational constraints (such as data access and timelines) and produces findings that administrators and policymakers can use.
What types of research topics are a good fit for this program?
Projects should directly inform child care policy and administration, particularly as it relates to CCDF. OPRE signals interest in studies aligned with CCDF goals that can inform actionable policy solutions, including research that centers populations that are underserved or understudied.
Does the program require specific research methods?
The program emphasizes using the most rigorous methods appropriate for the research question. Examples mentioned include strong quasi-experimental designs, mixed methods, qualitative approaches with careful sampling and analytic rigor, and robust secondary data analysis.
What are the main outcomes OPRE is trying to achieve through these dissertation grants?
The program emphasizes three outcomes: (1) producing research that supports child care policy decision-making and program administration, (2) giving doctoral students hands-on experience collaborating with CCDF agencies on applied research in real-world conditions, and (3) encouraging strong, structured mentoring relationships between faculty researchers and doctoral students.
Can a doctoral student apply directly for this funding?
No. Applications are submitted by an organization, not by the student alone. The organization must be capable of managing federal funds and supporting the research and compliance requirements connected to a federal award.
What kinds of organizations can apply?
The opportunity describes eligibility broadly, including various levels of government, institutions of higher education, nonprofits, for-profits, small businesses, tribes and tribal organizations, and other entity types as described in the eligibility section of the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO).
Are any specific types of institutions encouraged to apply?
Yes. OPRE specifically encourages applications from eligible Tribally Controlled Land Grant Colleges and Universities, Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Hispanic Serving Institutions, and faith-based institutions of higher education.
What capabilities should the applicant organization have?
The applicant organization is expected to be able to manage federal funds and research compliance and to have a demonstrated history of research activity and federal funding oversight. The description also highlights the need for internal resources to support the doctoral student, such as grants management, IRB capacity, data security infrastructure, and administrative support.
What is the role of the faculty mentor in this program?
The faculty mentor plays a formal leadership role and serves as the principal investigator (PI). This reflects OPRE’s expectation of experienced research leadership and accountability for the project, including oversight of research quality and the working relationship with the CCDF partner.
What qualifications are expected for the faculty mentor/PI?
The mentor must hold a Ph.D. (or equivalent) in the relevant field and conduct research as a primary professional responsibility. The mentor is expected to provide active supervision, quality control, and appropriate oversight to help ensure the dissertation is completed successfully and meets high standards while staying focused on policy-relevant questions.
Does the doctoral student need an approved dissertation proposal before applying?
Yes. In this cycle, the doctoral student must submit evidence of an approved dissertation proposal at the time of application. This is explicitly noted as a change from prior years, when proof could be submitted after the application deadline.
How does the dissertation proposal approval requirement affect timing?
For the 2023 competition, the application due date and the due date for proof of an approved dissertation proposal are the same date (as set in the NOFO). This effectively shifts work earlier in the dissertation timeline and may require applicants to plan around departmental proposal approval schedules.
How much funding is available per award?
The award ceiling is $25,000.
How many awards does OPRE expect to make?
OPRE anticipates making about six awards.
What is the Assistance Listing (CFDA) number for this opportunity?
The opportunity is listed under Assistance Listing/CFDA 93.575.
What category is this funding opportunity listed under?
It is categorized under Income Security and Social Services.
What was the deadline listed for the 2023 competition?
The original closing date shown is May 19, 2023, with electronic submissions due no later than 11:59 pm Eastern Time on the deadline date.
Where are applications submitted?
The listing references federal electronic submission and encourages applicants to follow the forecast on Grants.gov for updates as details are finalized or modified.
Do applicants need SAM.gov registration and a UEI to apply?
Yes. Because this is a federal grant, applicants must be registered in SAM.gov and have a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI).
Is there any warning about SAM.gov registration timelines?
Yes. The opportunity includes a warning that SAM.gov entity validation has been experiencing delays due to high demand. Organizations are advised to start SAM registration or updates early to avoid last-minute submission problems.
What resources does OPRE point applicants to for additional context?
OPRE points applicants to information on prior Child Care Research Scholars awards and to OPRE and Office of Child Care (OCC) resources for understanding CCDF and the policy environment the research is meant to serve.
How can prospective applicants stay updated about changes or final details?
Prospective applicants are encouraged to follow the forecast on Grants.gov to receive updates as details are finalized or modified.
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