NC Family Support Program Services is sponsored by NC Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Social Services / Child Welfare Services / Community Prevention Programs. This opportunity supports mission-aligned projects and measurable outcomes.

North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services Division of Social Services State Fiscal Year 2027 – 2030 North Carolina Family Support Program Services Application Deadline Friday, January 16, 2026 by 5:00pm Funding Title North Carolina Family Support Program Services Funding Agency North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services Estimated Funding available $5,750,000 per year Assistance Listing Numbers 1. 93.

590 RFA issuing Agency Division of Social Services RFA Posted December 1, 2025 Technical Assistance Webinar December 5, 2025 Deadline for Questions December 10, 2025 Questions Posted December 15, 2025 Letter of Intent Due December 19, 2025 Period of Performance July 1, 2026 - June 30, 2028 with an option to renew July 1, 2028 – June 30, 2030 if conditions are met. E-mail Applications and Questions to family. support.

rfas@dhhs. nc. gov > The Request for Application (RFA) announces the availability of funding based on the Notice of Funding > Opportunity (NOFO), authorizing legislation and/or the budget.

The RFA requests all the pertinent information and requirements for an applicant to assess their eligibility, competency, and interest in the funding opportunity. NC Department of Health and Human Services Division of Social Services Raleigh, NC 27607 TABLE OF CONTENTS SECTION A. Funding Opportunity 3 SECTION B.

Application and Submission Specifications 8 SECTION C. Background Checks, Required Trainings, Peer Review, Prevention Action Network, & Child Safeguarding Policies SECTION D. Programmatic Requirements 14 SECTION E.

Risk Management and Performance Monitoring 18 SECTION F. Application Content and Instructions 20 Appendices A. Required Documents B.

Reference Materials & Online Resources D. Documents to be submitted if awarded funding 26 Section A -- Funding Opportunity A.

Purpose of Funding Opportunity The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, through the Division of Social Services (NCDHHS DSS), is seeking applications from qualified agencies to develop, operate and/or expand community-based, Family Support Program Services to reduce the risk of child abuse and neglect by promoting protective factors that strengthen and support families.

Applicants will demonstrate the capacity to achieve positive outcomes for children and families in communities with high rates of child maltreatment and/or other risk factors associated with the incidence of child maltreatment. North Carolina Family Support Program Services help to advance the NC DHHS DSS vision of advancing innovative solutions that foster independence, improve health and promote well-being for all North Carolinians.

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services is responsible for ensuring the health, safety and wellbeing of all North Carolinians. NCDHHS DSS has the following shared vision for the Family Support Program Services: Families increase protective factors to provide their children with safe, stable, nurturing relationships and environments to reach their full potential.

Research confirms child abuse has a long-term negative impact on a child’s life and the entire community, harming both quality of life and prosperity. Children who experience abuse and/or severe neglect often develop toxic levels of stress. If prolonged, this high level of stress can damage the developing architecture of a child’s brain, which may lead to significant behavioral changes.

In 2005, the Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) Study surveyed 17,000 adults about their childhood experiences and compared them with their health histories.

The research found that people who suffered more incidences of severe adversity in childhood, such as violence, poverty, substance abuse in the home, child abuse and neglect, were far more likely to suffer long-term intellectual, behavioral, and physical and mental health problems as adults.

Quality, trauma-informed prevention programs that strengthen family resilience and protective factors offer great promise for improving a child’s overall well-being. When delivered with model fidelity, evidence-based programs can increase the capacity of parents and caregivers to care for their children, help children develop healthy coping mechanisms, improve caregiver-child relationships, and reduce family stress.

Based on prevention research, NCDHHS DSS will fund family support models that provide community-based outreach, support and services to children and their families identified as being at-risk of compromised health and safety by promoting protective factors. C. Award Amount, Program Models, Concrete Supports and Grant Term Family Support Program Services Applicants may request up to $150,000 total per award.

Individual agencies may submit one application only. 1.

Agencies must select one or two of the following evidence-based or evidence-informed o Pre-School BASIC Parent Program for parents of children 3-6 o School-Age BASIC Parent Program for parents of children 6-12 • Parents as Teachers (PAT) • Stewards of Children - Darkness to Light Child Sexual Abuse Prevention Training o Level 3 Discussion Groups o Level 4 Standard Triple P * If selecting Triple P as an evidence-based model, agencies must select Level 4 Group and/or Standard and may supplement with Level 3 Group and/or Primary Care.

Agencies may not provide Level 3 alone with NCDHHS DSS grant funding. ** If funded to provide Triple P, agencies may serve families with teens with prior approval Program Model websites can be found in Appendix B: Reference Materials & Online Resources. 2.

Agencies may allocate up to $10,000 in their budget to provide Concrete Supports for families. Families may receive up to $500 for concrete supports per contract year. NCDHHS DSS will provide an Excel workbook for monthly tracking and reporting demographic information and types of concrete supports provided to families.

(Appendix B: Reference Materials & Online Resources) Please note that the total NCDHHS DSS grant amount shall not exceed $150,000. The grant cycle will be for four (4) years from July 1, 2026 until June 30, 2030. The initial contract period will be for two years (SFY27 and SFY28).

An additional two (2) year renewal contract will be for SFY29 and SFY30. Continued funding will be based on availability of funding, grantee performance and contractual compliance. All funds are distributed on a reimbursement-after-expenditure basis.

Funds from this grant may not be used to supplant other funds. Any tribal government, community–based, public or private nonprofit, tax-exempt organization (including faith-based), school system or local government agency that is duly incorporated and registered under NC Statutes is eligible to apply if they meet the following requirements: • Applicants have completed registration with the NC Secretary of the State .

• Applicants’ Employer Identification Number (EIN), IRS tax exemption status documents, and registration with the Secretary of State must be consistent with both the name of agency and the EIN provided on the Family Support Application.

• Applicants and subcontractors follow E-Verify requirements found in HB36 & HB786 , which requires employers with 25 or more employees to verify the work authorization of new employees working 9 months or more in a 12 month period through E Verify. This law also requires Grantees and Subcontractors of public agencies to comply with Article 2: Chapter 64 of the NC General Statutes: Verification of Work Authorization requirements. E.

Federal Award Information The following federal funding sources support the Family Support Program Services to protect children and strengthen safe, stable, and nurturing families: Federal Award Identification Number 1. 2403NCBCAP Federal Award Date 1. September 13, 2024 Federal Award Title 1.

Community-based Child Abuse Prevention 2. Child Abuse and Neglect State Grants 3. Stephanie Tubbs Jones Child Welfare Services Program 4.

MaryLee Allen Promoting Safe and Stable Families Program Federal Awarding Agency Administration for Children and Families Federal Award Project Description 1.

The objectives of the Community-based Child Abuse Prevention grants are 1) to support community-based efforts to develop, operate, expand, enhance, and coordinate initiatives, programs, and activities to prevent child abuse and neglect and to support the coordination of resources and activities to better strengthen and support families to reduce the likelihood of child abuse and neglect; and 2) to foster understanding, appreciation, and knowledge of diverse populations in order to effectively prevent and treat child abuse and neglect.

2. The objective of Child Abuse and Neglect State Grants is to assist States in the support and improvement of their child protective services systems. 3.

The purpose of the Stephanie Tubbs Jones Child Welfare Services Program is to promote state and tribal flexibility in the development and expansion of a coordinated child and family services program that utilizes community-based agencies and ensures all children are raised in safe, loving families. 4.

The objectives of the MaryLee Allen Promoting Safe and Stable Families Program (PSSF) are: 1) to prevent child maltreatment among families at risk through the provision of supportive family services; 2) to assure children’s safety within the home and preserve intact families in which children have been maltreated, when the family’s problems can be addressed effectively; 30 to address the problems of families who children have been placed in foster care so that reunification may occur in a safe and stable manner; 4) to support adoptive families by providing support services as necessary so that they can make a lifetime commitment to their children.

Total Amount of the Federal Award 1. $750,000 per year Expected number of Awards 30-40 Awards Assistance Listing (formerly CFDA) Name and Number: 5. 93.

590 Community-based Child Abuse Prevention 6. 93. 669 Child Abuse and Neglect State Grants 7.

93. 645 Stephanie Tubbs Jones Child Welfare Services Program 8. 93.

556 MaryLee Allen Promoting Safe and Stable Families Program Cost Sharing or Matching 3. 20% The State uses in-kind funds from the NC Partnership for Children to meet the match requirements listed above. Family Support grantees do not pay the match.

Allowable Costs Family Support Services contracts contain a budget that lists approved, allowable services and activities. • Subrecipients may claim reimbursement for the costs of purchasing allowable activities from another source. • In addition to allowable activities, Subrecipients may claim reimbursement for the purchase of any other services, with prior written approval from NCDHHS DSS.

• Subrecipients may claim reimbursement for travel costs to meetings and other events. • Purchase of equipment, travel, and training materials. All grantees that expend State funds (including federal funds passed through the N.

C. Department of Health and Human Services) are required to comply with the cost principles described in the N. C.

Administrative Code at 09 NCAC 03M . 0201. Indirect Cost De Minimis Indirect Cost Rate 15% of the Modified Total Direct Cost (MTDC) Family First Prevention Services Act In addition to the above funding sources, NCDHHS DSS has sought to align community-based family support services with the Family First Prevention Services Act (Family First).

This federal law transforms the child welfare system and informs NCDHHS DSS strategic investments in child maltreatment prevention across the child welfare continuum. Family First aims to prevent children from entering foster care by allowing federal Title IV-E reimbursement for selected mental health services, substance use treatment, and in-home parenting skill training.

The North Carolina Title IV-E Prevention Services Plan draws upon the state’s prevention and treatment systems for the implementation of evidence-based and trauma informed services. For more information, click on the following link: North Carolina’s Title IV-E Prevention Services Plan . F.

Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act (FFATA) As an applicant of federal funds, each selected applicant will be required to provide certain information required by the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act (FFATA), including the organization’s Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) number. Please see www. sam.

gov for free registration. Additional information about FFATA is available at https://www. fsrs.

gov/ Applicants must register annually with the System for Award Management (SAM) https://sam. gov/content/home to obtain and maintain their agency’s Unique Entity Identifier (UEI). Section B - Application and Submission Specifications The RFA and instructions can be obtained by going to https://www.

ncdhhs. gov/about/grant- opportunities/social-services-grant-opportunities . Applications must be typed and presented with the same topic headings and in the same order as set forth in Section F (Application Contents and Instructions) of this RFA.

B. Deadline for Submission The closing date for submission of applications is January 16, 2026, by 5:00 p. m .

Please note that Applications received after 5:00 p. m. will be classified as late and will not be considered for funding.

No mailed, hand delivered, or faxed applications will be accepted. Since applications must be submitted electronically, please allow additional time for any computer issues that may occur. NCDHHS DSS will provide an Acknowledgement of Receipt for all applications received.

One complete application, including all signed certifications, attachments, and a signed cover letter on agency letterhead must be emailed to family. support. rfas@dhhs.

nc. gov . Each document must be named with the name of agency followed by name of attachment.

Example: Happy Family Resource Center_Cover Letter Example: Happy Family Resource Center_Board Member Profile Example: Happy Family Resource Center_Federal Certs. Additional specific instructions regarding electronic submission of the application can be found in the NCDHHS DSS Family Support Application Checklist (Appendix A: Required Supporting Documents). • Type should be Arial 11-point font size and single spaced.

• Add a footer that includes the agency name and page number. • Adhere to page limits. Points will be deducted for every section that exceeds the page limits.

• Respond to each section listed in this RFA thoroughly and concisely, in the order requested. Include section headings as listed in the Family Support Application Checklist. D.

Letter of Intent All applicants must submit a signed letter of intent by email to family. support. rfas@dhhs.

nc. gov by December 19, 2025, by 5:00pm on agency letterhead.

This letter must include the following information: • Legal name of the agency that matches IRS letter; • Mailing address and phone number of the agency; • Intent to submit a Family Support application to this RFA; • Name of the proposed program model(s) and if your agency will provide concrete supports; • County(ies) and NCDHHS DSS Region(s) to be served (see NCDHHS DSS Regional Support Map – Appendix B Reference Materials & Online Resources); and • Name, title, phone number, and email address of the person who will coordinate application submission.

If the applicant does not submit a letter of intent by the deadline, two points will be deducted from their overall score. All inquiries regarding the funding opportunity must be submitted in writing to the following email address: family. support.

rfas@dhhs. nc. gov by 5:00pm on December 10, 2025.

The Subject line of the email should read “Family Support RFA Question(s)/Name of Agency. ” NCDHHS DSS will post responses to questions at https://www. ncdhhs.

gov/about/grant-opportunities/social- services-grant-opportunities by 5 PM on December 15, 2025. F. Technical Assistance Webinar NCDHHS DSS will sponsor a technical assistance webinar to discuss the application in greater detail on December 5, 2025, from 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm.

The webinar can be accessed through the following link: Family Support RFA Technical Assistance Webinar Participation in the technical assistance webinar is highly encouraged . Contractual services for purchases of goods or services may be allowed to achieve the goals of the project. Subawards for subrecipients may also be allowed.

The budget narrative should include justification for the contractual services or subawards. H. Application Selection and Scoring An evaluation/selection committee will review and score all applications received by 5pm on Friday January 16, 2026.

Scoring chart is provided below: 1. Cover Letter / Proposal Summary 5 POINTS 2. Organization Background and Capacity 15 POINTS 3.

Needs Assessment (Problem Statement) 15 POINTS 4. Project Design 35 POINTS 5. Sustainability Plan 10 POINTS 6.

Financial Assistance Contract Package A (Face Sheet/Budget) 15 POINTS 7. Supporting Documentation 5 POINTS All applications received by the deadline will be reviewed to ensure all required attachments and documentation are complete and included in submitted applications. Once an application has been submitted, the applicant cannot modify it.

Applications will then be forwarded to the evaluation/selection committee who will review and score the applications. Please see Appendix B (Reference Materials & Online Resources) to view the Family Support Application Review Tool.

Although a primary factor, score alone will not be the sole determinant for awards, NCDHHS DSS staff will also consider factors, such as regional distribution, program variety, target population, community needs, and previous program history when determining final award decisions.

At the discretion of NCDHHS DSS, applicants may be required to respond in writing to additional questions and/or participate in an oral interview and/or a site visit as part of the final award decision making process. Upon completion of review, NCDHHS DSS will post award notices on the NCDHHS DSS public notice site. Awards will be deemed final.

The funding agency reserves the right to not award any grants if determined to be in its best interest. I. Required Documentation If an applicant is awarded a Family Support grant, they must provide the following documents: 1.

Proof of Non-Profit Status (IRS Tax Exempt Letter) & Annual Verification Form, if applicable 2. Conflict of Interest Policy & Annual Acknowledgement 3. Signed Federal Certifications 4.

Signed State Certification 5. Certification of No Overdue Taxes 6. Signature Authority on agency letterhead and signed by the agency’s board chair.

7. Proof of automobile insurance and a copy of policy (if providing participant transportation) 8. Documentation of the agency’s Unique Entity ID (UEI) number from the Systems Award Management (SAM) website.

To register for a free UEI number please follow the instructions on the www. SAM. gov website.

9. Upon award, all agencies are required to be registered as a vendor (at no cost) in the NC e-Procurement system. Please visit https://eprocurement.

nc. gov , click on Vendor Login and scroll down to “Register”. For questions/guidance, please contact the e-Procurement Help Desk at 888-211-7440.

J. NCDHHS DSS reserves the right to: 1. Modify the application and budget after consulting with the applicant.

Items that may be modified include, but are not limited to goals, costs, program models, performance, and reporting requirements. 2. Allow or disallow budget amendments during the performance period of the project.

3. Monitor the program based on the Division’s Subrecipient Monitoring plan. 4.

Implement any change or requirement mandated by State or Federal government during the life of the project. K. Applicant Financial Capacity Applicants must have the financial capacity to operate without reimbursement for at least 90 days of the project period.

Applicants funded through this grant must submit all requests for payment and expenditure reports by the 10th of each month following the month of service. • Initial Contract: July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2028 • Renewal Contract: July 1, 2028, through June 30, 2030 Allowable and appropriate costs must be reasonable and necessary to provide the services.

Upon execution of the contract, the Grantee must submit via email one signed DSS-1571 III (Administrative Costs Report) to the NCDHHS DSS Program Consultant by the 10 th of each month for services provided in the prior month. Please note that the person preparing the invoice must be different from the person authorized to sign it. The DSS-1571 III reports must be accompanied by supporting general ledger documentation.

DSS-1571 III reports must be submitted even when no services are provided in a given month. Failure to submit monthly reports may delay receipt of reimbursement. NCDHHS DSS will have no obligation for payments based on expenditure reports submitted later than 30 days after termination or expiration of the contract period.

All payments are contingent upon fund availability. Section C – Background Checks, Required Trainings, Peer Review, Positive Childhood Alliance & Child Safeguarding Policies The Grantee will conduct a criminal history background check and a check of the National Sex Offender Registry for all new and existing staff and volunteers having direct contact with children or families.

The agency must document in writing any prior felony convictions or other abnormalities and include a justification for employment. This written documentation must be kept within the volunteer or employee personnel file to be reviewed during a monitoring visit. The following trainings are required of Family Support Program Services Grantees: a.

All program staff and/or facilitators must be trained in their approved program model prior b. All direct service staff and their supervisors listed in the contract budget, who have not already done so, must complete the Connecting with Families: Family Support in Practice six-day curriculum for working with families in center-based programs, support groups, and home visiting. For more information, see NCSW Learn .

Staff must complete this training within the first fiscal year of funding. Child Care Providers and Stewards of Children trainers are exempt from this requirement. c.

All direct service staff and their supervisors listed in the contract budget, who have not already done so, must complete the free online Bringing the Protective Factors Framework to Life in Your Work – A Resource for Action training course within the first six months of funding. Child Care Providers and Stewards of Children staff are exempt from this requirement. d.

All direct service staff and their supervisors listed in the contract budget, who have not already done so must complete the following two Prevent Child Abuse North Carolina’s self-guided online courses within the first fiscal year of funding: a. Recognizing and Responding to Suspicions of Child Maltreatment e.

All direct service staff, supervisors, childcare providers, and volunteers who have direct contact with children or families on an ongoing basis must review the DHHS mandated Civil Rights annual training. NC DSS Annual Mandated Civil Rights Webinar Training for Contractors and County Social Services f.

NCDHHS DSS, in partnership with PCANC, FRIENDS National Resource Center, and other experts, will provide ongoing training and technical assistance on various topics, such as prevention, contract requirements, model fidelity, resilience, and implementation science, throughout the award cycle. As a part of Continuous Quality Improvement practice, Grantees should encourage ongoing staff development and budget accordingly.

Grantees must have copies of staff certificates of completion for required trainings available for review during monitoring visits. Grantees will be required to participate in a peer review process once during the 4-year grant cycle. This process is a continuous quality improvement strategy to enhance service delivery and is not part of contract monitoring.

4. Positive Childhood Alliance (formerly known as Prevention Action Network ) The Positive Childhood Alliance is an affiliation of organizations, professionals and concerned citizens who are committed to strengthening and supporting families. Members represent diverse fields such as early childhood, education, public health, mental health, child protection, medicine, domestic violence prevention, law, and family support.

The Prevention Action Network offers members access to training, resources, and networking opportunities to help them strengthen their capacity to serve North Carolinians. NCDHHS DSS will provide all Family Support Program Services Grantees with an annual Positive Childhood Alliance membership. 5.

Child Safeguarding Policies Sexual abuse can be prevented. It is the responsibility of all adults in our communities to protect children from child sexual abuse.

Using the Child Sexual Abuse Prevention Starter Kit (Appendix B: Reference Materials & Online Resources) developed by Positive Childhood Alliance North Carolina, all Grantees will be required to develop and adopt a Child Safeguarding Policy within the first year of the grant cycle. Grantees who have an existing Child Safeguarding Policy will be required to review and/or update their policy, if needed.

Section D – Program Requirements North Carolina Family Support Program Services applicants shall meet all seven of the following requirements to be eligible for funding: 1. North Carolina Division of Social Services Prevention Framework (Appendix B: Reference Materials & Online Resources) NC DHHS DSS recognizes the importance of creating a child welfare system that works with families to ensure safety, permanency, and well-being.

In partnership with state and county child welfare employees, representatives from public and private family support agencies and people with lived experience, NCDHHS DSS developed a comprehensive Prevention Framework. This Framework provides a roadmap for the state, regional organizations, and local communities to support, empower, protect and strengthen families.

The Prevention Framework includes five (5) shared principles that include goals and actionable strategies for child-serving systems use on the community, programmatic, and family levels. Principle 1: Professionals, community members, and families work together in relationships based on mutual respect.

Principle 2: Families are valued as experts and resources to support the development of their own members, other families, programs and communities. Principle 3: Families have access to quality trauma-informed services and systems to prevent initial child abuse and neglect, repeat child maltreatment incidents, and entry of children into out-of-home placement.

Principle 4: Prevention programs are flexible and continually responsive to emerging family and community strengths and needs. Principle 5: Community members value positive parenting and know how to support families to prevent child abuse and neglect. 2.

Family Engagement and Leadership Developing strong relationships between families and staff is an essential ingredient in the program’s ability to succeed. When parents and other caregivers feel valued and supported, they are more likely to accept and use new information. Caregivers offer unique perspectives to improve the quality of services and ensure the programming meets the community’s needs.

3. Levels of Prevention and Target Population NCDHHS DSS Family Support Program services must be primary or secondary child abuse prevention services since the goal is to provide services prior to the incidence of abuse and neglect. Levels of Prevention are defined as follows: Primary Prevention activities are directed at the general population to stop maltreatment before it occurs.

All community members have access to and may benefit from these services. Primary prevention activities may raise the awareness of the general public, service providers, and decision-makers about child maltreatment.

Universal approaches to primary prevention might include: • Parent education programs and support groups that focus on child development, age-appropriate expectations, and positive discipline • Family support and strengthening programs that enhance the parents’ ability to access existing services and support positive interactions among family members Secondary Prevention activities are offered to populations that have one or more risk factors associated with child maltreatment.

While not predictive, risk factors identify common features of families, parents/caregivers, children and their environment where abuse or neglect most often occur. Secondary prevention programs may target services for individuals, neighborhoods, or communities that have a high incidence of these risk factors.

Secondary prevention programs might include: • Parent education programs located in high schools for teen parents or those within substance abuse treatment programs for families with young children • Home visiting programs that provide support and assistance to expecting and new mothers in their homes If providing secondary prevention programming, applicants must demonstrate that they intend to target one or more of the following populations: • Families and children living in poverty • Parents/caregivers abusing substances • Young parents and/or parents of young children (birth through 5 years) • Families experiencing domestic violence • Parents/caregivers and/or children with disabilities or mental illness • Fathers, non-custodial parents, and parent companions • Former adult victims of child abuse and neglect • Homeless youth and families experiencing homelessness • Victims of Human Trafficking Tertiary prevention consists of activities targeted to families that have substantiated child abuse and neglect reports.

These families have already demonstrated the need for intervention, either with or without court supervision. Tertiary prevention services will not be funded under this Request for Application. 4.

Promoting Protective Factors NCDHHS DSS is committed to achieving safety, permanency and well-being for North Carolina’s children and their families. Although secondary prevention targets populations with risk factors, participating families respond better when their strengths, instead of deficits, are emphasized.

The Center for the Study of Social Policy (CSSP) conducted research suggesting that a Strengthening Families Framework that identifies protective factors can significantly reduce incidences of childhood maltreatment and trauma.

The Strengthening Families Protective Factors Framework offers an intentional focus on optimal family and child development that identifies five protective factors that are relevant for the continuum of child welfare services.

North Carolina Family Support Program Services agencies’ outcomes should support the strengthening of the following five protective factors: • Parental Resilience - A parent’s ability to cope effectively with the various challenges of parenting and everyday life and their ability to overcome life’s challenges.

Examples include services that help caregivers establish relationships with friends, family, and professionals that provide on-going encouragement and knowledge of accessible community resources. • Social Connections - Positive relationships with friends, family members, neighbors, and others who can provide concrete and emotional support to parents and caregivers.

Examples include services that strengthen family relationships, friendships, and formal support. • Knowledge of Parenting and Child Development - Accurate information about raising children and appropriate expectations for their behavior. Examples include parenting education through parent support groups, education classes, or home visitation.

• Concrete Support in Times of Need – Support may include financial, transportation, and food assistance, job training, and/or mental health services. Examples include services that provide immediate, tangible resources to families in crisis. • Children’s Social and Emotional Development - A child’s ability to interact effectively with others positively and articulate their feelings.

Examples include services that provide children and caregivers a safe and nurturing place to “practice” normal roles and behaviors, strengthening a positive parent-child relationship. For more information, click on Strengthening Families and Protective Factors Framework 5.

Model Fidelity and Implementation Support Model fidelity is a critical component to successfully implementing evidence-based programs, ensuring that the program is delivered consistently as the developer intended to achieve desired outcomes. All Grantees will be required to maintain model fidelity. Research shows that programs are most effective when providers receive regular, on-going implementation support.

Agencies benefit from specific implementation support around developing recruitment plans to enroll and retain eligible program participants; hiring skilled and experienced staff; delivering curricula content; strengthening adherence to model fidelity; making program material relevant to participants and increasing practitioners’ confidence and competence in delivering programs.

All Family Support Grantees must obtain and participate in implementation support during each grant year to ensure continued model fidelity and program sustainability. Each Grantee must budget for and use implementation support provided by Positive Childhood Alliance North Carolina (PCANC).

PCANC will provide tailored technical assistance to support DSS Family Support Grantees in strengthening both programmatic implementation and organizational capacity.

Applicants are encouraged to contact PCANC staff and visit their website at Positive Childhood Alliance NC to access program specific information regarding NCDHHS DSS implementation support expectations, including required agency leadership involvement and cost of program implementation support. Grantees providing Triple P will be required to coordinate with the Lead Implementing Agency (LIA) in their Triple P Region.

The LIAs provide implementation support for practitioners on training and coaching; community outreach and communications; and data collection, reporting and