Opportunity Information: Apply for HHS 2021 ACF ORR ZM 1920
The Refugee Career Pathways (RCP) Program is a discretionary federal grant opportunity offered by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Administration for Children and Families (ACF), through the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR). The main goal is to fund projects that help refugees and other ORR-eligible individuals overcome professional licensing and credentialing barriers so they can enter skilled employment, increase earnings, and move toward long-term self-sufficiency. In practical terms, the program focuses on helping people qualify for the licenses, certifications, and related requirements that are often mandatory for work in regulated fields, and it emphasizes that these project services should add to existing refugee services rather than replace what is already available in the community.
A central requirement of the program is partnership. Every funded project must include at least one educational institution as a partner, such as a university, college, community college, or another training provider with career and technical education expertise. The intent is to connect refugees to credible training pipelines, credential programs, and structured educational supports that can realistically lead to recognized qualifications. The program also sets a reciprocal expectation: if an educational institution is the lead implementer, it must partner with at least one refugee-focused entity, such as a resettlement office or another organization that already serves refugees and/or other eligible ORR populations. This structure is meant to combine the strengths of education and workforce training organizations with the specialized cultural, linguistic, and case management support typically provided by refugee-serving agencies.
The grant supports a range of career pathway services designed to reduce barriers and keep participants moving from intake through training and into employment. Allowable activities include case management to assess needs and build individualized plans, training and technical assistance that improves participants ability to navigate credentialing systems, specialized English language instruction targeted to workplace and occupational requirements, and mentoring that helps participants persist through complex training and licensing steps. ORR also allows grantees to provide direct financial assistance to eligible participants for costs tied to establishing or re-establishing credentials. This can include expenses such as obtaining educational credits, enrolling in required certification programs, and other credential-related costs that often prevent qualified individuals from re-entering their professions after displacement.
From a funding and administrative standpoint, the opportunity is listed under Funding Opportunity Number HHS-2021-ACF-ORR-ZM-1920 and CFDA (now Assistance Listing) 93.576, within the broader funding activity category of Income Security and Social Services. ORR anticipated making about 17 awards, with an award ceiling of $250,000 per award. The opportunity was posted March 17, 2021, and the original application due date was June 1, 2021, with electronic applications required by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on the deadline date.
Eligibility is broad and includes many public and nonprofit entities that are positioned to run workforce, education, or refugee support programs. Eligible applicants include state, county, city/township, and special district governments; independent school districts; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; federally recognized Native American tribal governments and other tribal organizations; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; and nonprofits both with and without 501(c)(3) status (as long as they are not institutions of higher education). The listing also notes an "Others" category subject to additional eligibility details in the full announcement, which typically covers special cases or clarifications. Overall, the RCP Program is designed to fund practical, partnership-driven projects that help refugees translate prior experience and potential into credentials and stable employment, while providing wraparound supports that address language, navigation, and cost barriers that commonly slow or stop career advancement.Apply for HHS 2021 ACF ORR ZM 1920
- The Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families - ORR in the income security and social services sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Refugee Career Pathways Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.576.
- This funding opportunity was created on Mar 17, 2021.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jun 01, 2021 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 $250,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 17 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Independent school districts, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, 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, Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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Refugee Career Pathways (RCP) Program - FAQs
1) What is the Refugee Career Pathways (RCP) Program?
The Refugee Career Pathways (RCP) Program is a discretionary federal grant opportunity from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Administration for Children and Families (ACF), through the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR). It funds projects that help refugees and other ORR-eligible individuals overcome professional licensing and credentialing barriers so they can enter skilled employment, increase earnings, and move toward long-term self-sufficiency.
2) What is the main goal of the grant?
The primary goal is to reduce licensing and credentialing barriers that prevent qualified refugees and other ORR-eligible individuals from working in skilled, regulated occupations. Projects are expected to help participants progress from intake, through training and credential steps, and into employment that supports long-term self-sufficiency.
3) What types of barriers does the program focus on?
The program focuses on barriers related to professional licensing and credentialing, including requirements commonly needed to work in regulated fields. This includes challenges such as obtaining necessary educational credits, enrolling in required certification programs, and navigating complex credentialing systems.
4) What is meant by “regulated fields” in this context?
Regulated fields are occupations where a license, certification, or other formal credential is often required to legally work in the profession. The RCP Program is intended to help participants meet those requirements.
5) Do RCP-funded services replace existing refugee services in the community?
No. The program emphasizes that project services should add to (supplement) existing refugee services, rather than replace what is already available in the community.
6) Is a partnership required to apply?
Yes. Partnership is a central requirement. Every funded project must include at least one educational institution as a partner (for example, a university, college, community college, or another training provider with career and technical education expertise).
7) What qualifies as an “educational institution” partner?
Examples provided include universities, colleges, community colleges, and other training providers that have career and technical education expertise. The intent is to connect participants to credible training pipelines and credential programs that lead to recognized qualifications.
8) What if an educational institution is the lead applicant or lead implementer?
If an educational institution is the lead implementer, it must partner with at least one refugee-focused entity, such as a resettlement office or another organization that already serves refugees and/or other eligible ORR populations.
9) Why does the program require partnerships between education and refugee-serving organizations?
The partnership structure is intended to combine strengths: education and workforce training organizations provide training pipelines and credential supports, while refugee-serving agencies typically provide specialized cultural and linguistic support and case management.
10) What types of services and activities can the grant support?
The grant supports career pathway services intended to reduce barriers and keep participants moving from intake through training and into employment. Allowable activities include case management, training and technical assistance to help participants navigate credentialing systems, specialized English language instruction focused on workplace and occupational requirements, and mentoring to help participants persist through training and licensing steps.
11) Can projects include case management?
Yes. Case management is an allowable activity, including assessing needs and developing individualized plans to support participants as they move through credentialing and training steps.
12) Does the program allow English language instruction?
Yes. The opportunity allows specialized English language instruction that is targeted to workplace and occupational requirements.
13) Is mentoring an allowable activity?
Yes. Mentoring is included as an allowable activity, particularly to help participants persist through complex training and licensing processes.
14) Can grant funds be used for direct financial assistance to participants?
Yes. ORR allows grantees to provide direct financial assistance to eligible participants for costs tied to establishing or re-establishing credentials.
15) What kinds of participant costs may be covered through direct financial assistance?
The opportunity lists examples of credential-related costs such as obtaining educational credits, enrolling in required certification programs, and other credential-related expenses that can prevent qualified individuals from re-entering their professions after displacement.
16) What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FON) for this grant?
The Funding Opportunity Number is HHS-2021-ACF-ORR-ZM-1920.
17) What is the Assistance Listing (CFDA) number for the RCP Program?
The program is listed under CFDA (now called Assistance Listing) 93.576.
18) What is the broader funding activity category for this opportunity?
The opportunity falls under the funding activity category of Income Security and Social Services.
19) How many awards were expected to be made?
ORR anticipated making about 17 awards.
20) What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?
The award ceiling was $250,000 per award.
21) When was the opportunity posted?
The opportunity was posted on March 17, 2021.
22) What was the application due date and time?
The original application due date was June 1, 2021. Electronic applications were required by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on the deadline date.
23) Are electronic applications required?
Yes. The announcement specifies that electronic applications were required by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on the deadline date.
24) Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility includes a broad range of public and nonprofit entities positioned to run workforce, education, or refugee support programs. Eligible applicants include state, county, city/township, and special district governments; independent school districts; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; federally recognized Native American tribal governments and other tribal organizations; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; and nonprofits (both with and without 501(c)(3) status) as long as they are not institutions of higher education.
25) Can nonprofits without 501(c)(3) status apply?
Yes. The eligibility list includes nonprofits with or without 501(c)(3) status, provided they are not institutions of higher education.
26) Are institutions of higher education eligible applicants?
Yes. Both public/state-controlled institutions of higher education and private institutions of higher education are listed as eligible applicants.
27) Are tribal governments and tribal organizations eligible?
Yes. Federally recognized Native American tribal governments and other tribal organizations are included in the eligibility list.
28) Are public housing authorities eligible to apply?
Yes. Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities are included as eligible applicants.
29) What does the “Others” eligibility category mean?
The listing notes an “Others” category that is subject to additional eligibility details in the full announcement. This typically covers special cases or clarifications not fully captured in the summarized eligibility list.
30) What types of participants are intended to be served?
The program is designed to serve refugees and other ORR-eligible individuals, with a focus on those facing professional licensing and credentialing barriers that prevent entry into skilled employment.
31) What is the expected outcome for participants?
Projects are intended to help participants qualify for required licenses or certifications, enter skilled employment, increase earnings, and progress toward long-term self-sufficiency.
32) What makes a project a “career pathways” project under this program?
In practical terms, it means providing a structured set of supports that help participants move from intake to training and credential completion and into employment, including wraparound services such as case management, targeted English instruction, mentoring, and navigation assistance for credentialing systems.
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