If you have questions regarding these grant announcements, please email [email protected] or [email protected], respectively, or call 1-877-350-5913.

The Office of Planning, Research and Evaluation (OPRE) in the Administration for Children and Families, US Department of Health and Human Services, recently published two discretionary research funding announcements titled “Early Care and Education Research Scholars: Head Start Graduate Student Research Grants” and “Early Care and Education Research Scholars: Child Care Research Scholars,” which are summarized below.

Head Start and Child Care Graduate Student Research Grants

The full announcements for “Early Care and Education Research Scholars: Head Start Graduate Student Research Grants” is available at: www.acf.hhs.gov/grants/open/foa/view/HHS-2014-ACF-OPRE-YR-0785

The full announcement for “Early Care and Education Research Scholars: Child Care Graduate Student Research Grants” is available at: www.acf.hhs.gov/grants/open/foa/view/HHS-2014-ACF-OPRE-YE-0775
The purpose of these grants is to support dissertation research addressing issues of significance related to Head Start, Early Head Start, and Child Care Development Fund, that will inform policy decisions and solutions. The grants are expected to utilize the most rigorous research methodology and promoting mentor-student relationships that support students’ strong policy focused work.

Who is eligible to apply? Funds for Head Start and Child Care Graduate Student Research Grants are available to accredited public, state-controlled, and private institutions of higher education acting on behalf of a doctoral-level graduate student. All eligible applicants must have a faculty mentor, who has a PhD or equivalent in the respective field, and conducts research as a primary professional responsibility in their university/institution. Eligible US institutions may also apply on behalf of their own university faculty who will serve as Principal Investigator for an international non-US citizen who is an advanced graduate student enrolled in their program.

What is the funding award limit and project period? Applicants may apply for project periods up to 24 months with two 12-month budget periods. Up to $25,000 may be awarded for each budget period.

What types of research are supported? Proposed projects must address applied research questions that will inform and improve Head Start, Early Head Start, and/or child care policies and practice on topics of current interest. For suggestions of topics that may be of interest to ACF, please see each full announcement. For information about previous Head Start and Child Care Graduate Student Research Grants, see www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/opre/research/project/head-start-graduate-student-research-program-0 or www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/opre/research/project/child-care-research-scholars-0, respectively.

When is the application deadline? Letters of intent (optional) are due May 15, 2014 and applications are due June 16, 2014. If you have questions regarding these grant announcements, please email [email protected], [email protected], or call 1-877-350-5913.