Rehabilitation Research and Training Center (RRTC) on Community Living and Participation Among Transition Age Youth with Serious Mental Health Conditions From Disadvantaged, Vulnerable, or Marginalized Backgrounds | HHS 2023 ACL NIDILRR RTCP 0050

Opportunity Information: Apply for HHS 2023 ACL NIDILRR RTCP 0050

The Rehabilitation Research and Training Center (RRTC) on Community Living and Participation Among Transition Age Youth with Serious Mental Health Conditions From Disadvantaged, Vulnerable, or Marginalized Backgrounds is a federal grant opportunity from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), specifically the Administration for Community Living (ACL) through the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR). It is offered as a discretionary cooperative agreement, meaning the awardee is expected to work collaboratively with the federal funder and align closely with NIDILRR priorities during the life of the project. The overall RRTC program exists to strengthen the goals of the Rehabilitation Act by supporting high-quality research, training, technical assistance, and broad dissemination in targeted topic areas that matter to disability communities and the systems that serve them.

This particular RRTC competition is centered on improving community living and participation outcomes for transition age youth who have serious mental health conditions (SMHC). The focus is not only on youth mental health in general, but specifically on the period of transition into adulthood, when young people are often navigating big shifts such as finishing high school, entering higher education or the workforce, moving toward independent living, and interacting with adult service systems. The grant’s defining requirement is that the center’s work must concentrate on transition age youth with SMHC who come from disadvantaged, vulnerable, or marginalized backgrounds. In practice, that means applicants are expected to prioritize research questions and project activities that reflect the realities of youth facing structural barriers and inequities, and to generate knowledge that can be used to improve outcomes in real-world settings.

The funded center is expected to produce new, research-based knowledge that helps the field better understand what supports or interventions improve community living and participation for these youth. Alongside research, the RRTC model also emphasizes training, technical assistance, and dissemination, so the work is not meant to sit in academic journals alone. The intent is for findings, tools, and lessons learned to reach and be usable by multiple audiences, including people with disabilities themselves, families and caregivers, rehabilitation and behavioral health providers, policymakers, and other stakeholders who shape services and systems. In other words, the center should function as both a research hub and a practical resource for translating evidence into improved practices and policies.

From a funding and administrative standpoint, NIDILRR planned to make a single award under this opportunity in FY 2023, making it a highly competitive, single-recipient national center. The maximum annual funding amount listed is $875,000 (award ceiling), and the project period is 60 months total, organized into five separate 12-month budget periods. This structure typically means the awardee must demonstrate strong progress and performance each year while maintaining a coherent five-year plan. Applications were due July 10, 2023, by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time for electronic submission.

Eligibility is broad and includes many types of entities that could realistically run a national research and training center. Eligible applicants include state, county, and local governments; special district governments; public and private institutions of higher education; federally recognized tribal governments and other tribal organizations; nonprofit organizations both with and without 501(c)(3) status (excluding higher education institutions in those categories as specified); for-profit organizations other than small businesses; small businesses; and other applicants as further clarified in the notice. The opportunity is categorized under Science and Technology and other Research and Development, with CFDA number 93.433, reflecting its research and capacity-building orientation.

In summary, this grant is designed to establish one national RRTC dedicated to advancing practical, equity-focused research and knowledge translation aimed at helping transition age youth with serious mental health conditions, especially those from marginalized backgrounds, achieve better community living and participation. The center is expected to combine rigorous research with training, technical assistance, and dissemination so that the results influence services, supports, and policy in ways that are measurable and meaningful over a five-year period.

• The Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Community Living in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Rehabilitation Research and Training Center (RRTC) on Community Living and Participation Among Transition Age Youth with Serious Mental Health Conditions From Disadvantaged, Vulnerable, or Marginalized Backgrounds" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.433.
• This funding opportunity was created on May 10, 2023.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Jul 10, 2023 Electronically submitted applications must be submitted no later than 1159 p.m., ET, 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 $875,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), 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).

Apply for HHS 2023 ACL NIDILRR RTCP 0050

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