On September 2, 2026, the Department of Health and Human Services, specifically the Administration for Children and Families' Children's Bureau, announced a significant federal action with far-reaching implications for child welfare. The agency declared its intent to award a single-source cooperative agreement valued at up to $1 million to Spaulding for Children, an organization based in Southfield, Michigan. This funding is explicitly designated to support the ongoing implementation and expansion of the National Training and Development Curriculum for Foster/Adoptive Parents, or NTDC. This development underscores the federal government's continued commitment to strengthening the support systems for children in foster care and those awaiting adoption by enhancing the capabilities of their caregivers.
The National Training and Development Curriculum
The NTDC represents a state-of-the-art training program developed to equip foster, adoptive, and kinship caregivers with the necessary skills to effectively parent children who have experienced trauma or displacement. It also provides ongoing skill development crucial for understanding and promoting healthy child development within these vulnerable populations. Initiated in 2017 under a previous cooperative agreement with the Children's Bureau, the NTDC was designed by Spaulding for Children as a free, high-quality resource. It allows child welfare and adoption agencies across the nation to integrate standardized, evidence-based training into their preparation programs for new and existing caregivers. The curriculum's foundational premise is that well-prepared caregivers are essential for creating stable, nurturing environments, which in turn fosters better outcomes for children.
Rationale for a Single-Source Award
The decision by the Children's Bureau to issue a single-source award, rather than engaging in a competitive bidding process, is rooted in Spaulding for Children's singular position relative to the NTDC. The Federal Register notice explicitly states that Spaulding for Children is the only entity capable of carrying out this work because it owns and manages the curriculum. This exclusive ownership extends to hosting the materials and maintaining the intellectual property associated with NTDC. Furthermore, Spaulding for Children is recognized as a national leader in foster and adoptive parent training, possessing established relationships with state, tribal, and territorial child welfare and adoption agencies. These existing networks are vital for the efficient dissemination and scaling up of the program. The agency noted that no other organization has ever implemented the NTDC, reinforcing Spaulding's unique expertise and institutional knowledge.
This justification is critical for understanding the mechanics of federal funding. Single-source awards are typically reserved for situations where only one entity can perform the work, often due to proprietary rights, unique expertise, or continuity of essential services. In this instance, the Children's Bureau deemed Spaulding for Children's role indispensable for the continued success and expansion of the NTDC, thereby ensuring that agencies receive consistent, high-quality training support without interruption or fragmentation of the program's core components.
Broader Implications for Child Welfare
The continuation and expansion of the NTDC through this federal funding have significant implications for the broader child welfare system. Effective and relevant training for caregivers is consistently identified as a cornerstone of successful foster care, adoption, and kinship care. It contributes directly to the development of robust resource homes, which are essential for addressing the ongoing need for placements for children in state care. Critically, high-quality training also plays a pivotal role in enhancing placement stability for children, reducing the likelihood of disruptions that can further traumatize vulnerable youth. By providing caregivers with advanced skills in areas such as trauma-informed care, attachment, and child development, the NTDC empowers them to better meet the complex needs of the children in their care. The proposed period of performance for this agreement runs from September 30, 2026, to September 29, 2027, signaling a commitment to sustained support for these initiatives.
Statutory Framework
The legal authority for this cooperative agreement is grounded in the Adoption Opportunities Program, specifically section 203(b) (42 U.S.C. 5113(b)(4)) of the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment and Adoption Reform Act of 1978 (CAPTA). This act was subsequently amended by the CAPTA Reauthorization Act of 2010 (Pub. L. 111-320, Section 301(b)). These legislative frameworks provide the mandate for federal agencies like the Children's Bureau to support programs that promote adoption and improve the well-being of children and families involved in the child welfare system. The funding aligns with the long-standing federal policy to strengthen the capacity of caregivers and the agencies that support them.
