Screening and Interventions for Adverse Childhood Experiences in Primary Care Settings Demonstration Project | HRSA 21 109

Opportunity Information: Apply for HRSA 21 109

The Screening and Interventions for Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) in Primary Care Settings Demonstration Project is a federal funding opportunity from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). It is designed to support a focused, real-world demonstration of how pediatric primary care practices can effectively identify and respond to adverse childhood experiences among children and adolescents. The central idea is not only to add an ACEs screener into routine care, but to learn what it actually takes to implement screening protocols alongside evidence-based interventions in busy primary care settings, in a way that is practical, trauma-informed, and centered on strengths rather than deficits.

The program’s purpose is to study the best methods for implementing ACEs screening and follow-up care within primary care. That includes understanding what works well, what does not, and why. The project specifically emphasizes examining strengths, limitations, and implementation challenges. In other words, it is meant to generate actionable knowledge about operational realities: how workflows change, how staff can be trained and supported, how families respond to screening, how referrals and services are coordinated, and what barriers arise when primary care teams attempt to connect patients to appropriate supports.

A key expected outcome is the production of a scalable model that pediatric providers can use to integrate ACEs screening with strength-based, trauma-informed services. The model is intended to be replicable across other primary care environments, meaning the project is not just about one clinic or one system improving its own approach, but about creating a framework others can adopt. The emphasis on strength-based and trauma-informed care signals that the project is meant to avoid approaches that re-traumatize patients or focus only on pathology, and instead promote supportive, evidence-based responses that recognize resilience, protective factors, and the importance of safe, trusting clinical relationships.

From an administrative standpoint, this opportunity is a discretionary grant using a cooperative agreement funding instrument, which typically means HRSA expects substantial involvement and collaboration during the project period rather than a purely hands-off grant. The opportunity number is HRSA-21-109, and the funding activity category is Health under CFDA 93.110. The project period is three years, with an award ceiling of $980,000, and HRSA anticipated making one award, indicating this was intended as a single-site or single-lead demonstration rather than a broad multi-award program. The original application closing date was May 17, 2021, and the opportunity was created on April 5, 2021.

Eligibility is listed broadly as "Others," with additional details referenced in the full eligibility section of the notice. That phrasing commonly suggests that eligible applicants may include certain types of organizations beyond standard categories, but the exact criteria would depend on the detailed eligibility language in the full announcement. Overall, the opportunity is best understood as an implementation and learning initiative: funding one cooperative demonstration to test, refine, and document how primary care can routinely screen for ACEs and deliver or connect patients to effective, trauma-informed interventions, culminating in a model that can be scaled and used by pediatric providers more widely.

• The Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Screening and Interventions for Adverse Childhood Experiences in Primary Care Settings Demonstration Project" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.110.
• This funding opportunity was created on Apr 05, 2021.
• Applicants must submit their applications by May 17, 2021. (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 $980,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).

Apply for HRSA 21 109

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