Expanding the National Capacity for Person-Centered, Trauma-Informed (PCTI) Care: Services and Supports for Holocaust Survivors and Other Older Adults with a History of Trauma and Their Family Caregivers | HHS 2025 ACL AOA HSSG 0011

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1) What is this funding opportunity trying to accomplish?

This opportunity funds a single, three-year cooperative agreement to expand national capacity for person-centered, trauma-informed (PCTI) care within aging services. The focus is on improving how agencies across the aging network recognize trauma histories, reduce re-traumatization, and deliver supportive services that reflect each individual’s preferences, culture, and lived experience.

2) Who is the primary population this project is meant to serve?

The project is designed to strengthen services for Holocaust survivors in the United States, other older adults who have experienced significant trauma, and the family caregivers who support them.

3) What does “person-centered, trauma-informed (PCTI) care” mean in this program context?

In this announcement, PCTI care refers to approaches that more deeply embed principles such as dignity, choice, safety, trust, collaboration, empowerment, and cultural responsiveness into supportive services. It also emphasizes recognizing the long-term effects of trauma on health, functioning, and how people engage with services.

4) What are the three main goals of the project?

The NOFO describes three connected goals:

• Further develop and more deeply embed PCTI principles into supportive services for Holocaust survivors and other trauma-affected older adults and caregivers.
• Make sub-grants to agencies positioned to improve and advance PCTI service delivery locally (on the ground).
• Fully establish and operate a national resource center focused on PCTI care to share best practices and provide training and technical assistance to the aging services network.

5) How many awards does ACL expect to make?

ACL anticipates making one award under this funding opportunity.

6) What is the project period (how long is the award)?

The opportunity funds a single, three-year cooperative agreement.

7) What is the maximum amount of funding available?

The award ceiling (maximum funding level) is $8,500,000.

8) Is this a standard grant or a cooperative agreement?

This award will be made as a cooperative agreement, not a standard grant. The NOFO notes that this typically means ACL expects to have substantial involvement as the work is carried out.

9) What kind of organization is this opportunity designed for?

The project is structured around one national-level recipient with the expertise, staffing, partnerships, and infrastructure to coordinate a multi-site effort, manage a sub-grant program, and deliver high-quality training and technical assistance at scale.

10) Why does the NOFO emphasize national reach and infrastructure?

The intent is to move PCTI care from a set of promising ideas into something consistently built into real-world aging services nationwide. The national recipient is expected to coordinate efforts, operate a national resource center, and accelerate local adoption through sub-awards.

11) What are sub-grants (sub-awards) expected to support?

Sub-awards are intended to accelerate adoption and improvement of trauma-informed practices in settings that directly serve older adults. The goal is to translate national guidance into local action by supporting agencies that can improve and advance PCTI service delivery on the ground.

12) What is the national resource center expected to do?

The initiative is intended to fully establish and operate a national resource center focused on PCTI care. The center is expected to share best practices and provide training and technical assistance to agencies across the aging services network serving older adults living with enduring trauma impacts.

13) What outcomes is ACL aiming for through this initiative?

The intended outcome is a measurable improvement in how aging-service providers understand trauma, tailor services around each older adult and caregiver, and deliver supports that are effective and emotionally safe for people living with long-term trauma impacts.

14) What does “trauma-informed” mean for aging-service providers in practice, according to the NOFO?

Based on the description provided, trauma-informed practice here includes better recognition of trauma histories, intentional steps to reduce re-traumatization, and supportive services aligned with the individual’s preferences, culture, and lived experience.

15) What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FON)?

The Funding Opportunity Number is HHS 2025 ACL AOA HSSG 0011.

16) What is the original application closing date?

The original application closing date listed is July 30, 2025.

17) What is the CFDA number and program classification?

The opportunity is listed as a discretionary grant program under CFDA 93.048 (Income Security and Social Services).

18) Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is listed as unrestricted, meaning a wide range of domestic entities may apply if they meet standard federal requirements. The announcement also explicitly states that faith-based and community organizations are eligible, provided they meet applicable eligibility requirements.

19) Are foreign organizations eligible to apply?

No. Foreign entities are explicitly not eligible to apply for or receive an award under this announcement.

20) How competitive is this opportunity likely to be?

Because only one award is expected, applicants should anticipate a competitive process. The description notes that ACL may favor organizations with demonstrated national reach, strong program management and evaluation capacity, and credible experience with trauma-informed services in aging, caregiving, and community-based support systems.

21) What does it mean to “embed” PCTI principles into supportive services?

In the context provided, embedding PCTI principles means building them into routine aging services so they are consistently applied in real-world settings, rather than remaining informal or optional practices.

22) What kinds of capabilities should the lead recipient have?

The NOFO highlights the need for national coordination capacity, the ability to manage a sub-grant program, and the ability to deliver training and technical assistance at scale. It also emphasizes staffing, partnerships, infrastructure, program management, evaluation capacity, and experience with trauma-informed aging and caregiving services.

23) Is the focus limited only to Holocaust survivors?

No. While Holocaust survivors are a named focus population, the program also targets other older adults who have experienced significant trauma and the family caregivers who support them.

24) What is the broader purpose of building a national PCTI infrastructure?

The NOFO frames this as creating sustainable national capacity: refining and promoting PCTI principles, seeding local implementation through sub-grants, and operating a national resource center that can train and support the broader aging network.