Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) Collaborative on Economic Mobility

The Office of Community Services (OCS) within the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) announces the availability of funds for one three-year cooperative agreement for the Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) Collaborative on Economic Mobility.The purpose of this cooperative agreement is to highlight emerging and promising practices for upward economic mobility, or the ability for a child or individual to move from a lower-income level to a higher-income level, and to expand the capacity of CSBG-eligible entities to implement economic mobility practices. These practices will increase the opportunities individuals and families with low-income have to access pathways out of poverty, address barriers to economic mobility strategies, and support continued investments in the upward mobility of future generations.The recipient of this award will work closely with OCS to implement training and technical (T/TA) consistent with the purposes of CSBG. The CSBG Collaborative on Economic Mobility will support innovative approaches to economic mobility, with a focus on service areas such as: workforce development, high-quality education, community-asset building, and two-generational and whole family approaches for increasing economic self-sufficiency. A primary focus will include strategies for effectively addressing inequity in access to services and opportunities for economic mobility.The T/TA provided through this cooperative agreement will be driven by a collection and analysis of emerging and promising practices in increasing economic mobility. The grant recipient will utilize this information to identify, develop, and disseminate high-quality T/TA resources for implementing and piloting effective practices and strategies for CSBG-eligible entities. T/TA will include the development and dissemination of resources and materials such as: webinars, training modules, presentations, manuals, and other learning activities on economic mobility strategies. The T/TA will include opportunities for peer-to-peer learning and one-on-one support. The deliverables from this work must be aligned closely with and promote promising practices in poverty reduction and the self-sufficiency of families and individuals with low-income. The grant recipient will assess the effectiveness of the T/TA provided through this cooperative agreement.The cooperative agreement will require OCS to have substantial involvement and a close working partnership with the recipient to implement training and technical assistance (T/TA) consistent with the purposes of CSBG. The technical assistance provider will communicate information about the implementation and progress of the initiatives throughout its duration.

As prescribed by section 678A(c)(2) of the CSBG Act (42 U.S.C. 9913(c)(2)), eligible applicants are CSBG-eligible entities, or statewide or local organizations or associations, with demonstrated expertise in providing training to individuals and organizations on methods of effectively addressing the needs of low-income families and communities. Applications from individuals (including sole proprietorships) and foreign entities are not eligible and will be disqualified from competitive review and funding under this funding opportunity. Faith-based and community organizations that meet the eligibility requirements are eligible to receive awards under this funding opportunity. Faith-based organizations may apply for this award on the same basis as any other organization, as set forth at and, subject to the protections and requirements of 45 CFR Part 87 and 42 U.S.C. 2000bb et seq., ACF will not, in the selection of recipients, discriminate against an organization on the basis of the organization's religious character, affiliation, or exercise.