The Children's Bureau (CB) has joined with the Grants Center of Excellence to provide logistical and technical support for
all aspects of CB's grant review process, from application submission and review to final funding decisions and awards.
CB provides discretionary funds competitively to state, tribal and local agencies, community organizations, and faith-based organizations to improve the safety, permanency and
well-being of our nation's children and families. CB provides support and guidance to programs that focus on:
- Strengthening families and preventing child abuse and neglect
- Protecting children when abuse or neglect has occurred
- Ensuring that every child and youth has a permanent family or family connection
CB seeks to improve outcomes in the following key areas:
- Safety—Preventing and responding to maltreatment of children
- Permanency—Stabilizing children's living situations and preserving family relationships and connections
- Well-Being—Enhancing families' capacity to meet their children's physical, mental health and educational needs
In general, each year CB reviews applications submitted competitively in response to 5 to 10 funding opportunity announcements. Most often, the grant review
process occurs between the months of May and August. To view the range of programs funded in recent years, click on the
link here: http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/cb/grants/discretionary-grant.
Grant reviewers play an essential role in the selection of the grants awarded. Reviewers are chosen for specific
grant programs based on their knowledge, education, and experience. Reviewers use their expertise to objectively evaluate and score applications
against published evaluation criteria.
CB's grant reviews use a teaming structure with 3 to 5 professionals assigned to the same
panel of reviewers. The reviews are usually held via the internet and panelists review and provide individual written, evaluative comments on the applications
assigned through a web-based computer platform. Deliberations on the applications are held via conference calls which typically occur during normal business
hours with flexibility to account for variability of panelists' time zones. The resulting panel reports inform the bureau's ultimate recommendations for
grant awards. A web-based grant review usually takes place over a 7 to 10 day period. In rare instances, CB will conduct face-to-face reviews in Washington,
D.C. Regardless of review type, each reviewer who participates and completes their assigned duties receives an honorarium. Reviewers are trained in the steps
of the review process and in the use of the web-based computer platform.
Participating in a grant review offers an opportunity for reviewers
to gain an understanding of the grant-making process and to communicate with colleagues that share common professional backgrounds and interests. In order to
be selected by CB to participate in a review, you must fully complete your registration in the Reviewer Recruitment Module (RRM). The more information you provide
on how to contact you and your knowledge, skills, and experience, the better we are able to determine what grants you are best suited to review. When registering
to be a CB reviewer in the RRM, you will need to complete the following steps:
- Create an RRM Account;
- Enter personal contact information;
- Select general descriptions to indicate areas of expertise;
- Answer several profile questions;
- Cut and paste your resume into a searchable text box; and
- Attach and upload your resume document.
Thank you for your interest in participating in the grant review process for CB. If you need further
information on our upcoming reviews, please contact CBReview@grantreview.org. If you
need support to complete your profile in RRM, please email: RRMSupport@grantreview.org.
