Children and Families
The U.S. Dept. of Health & Human Services, the U.S. Dept. of Education, and the U.S. Dept. of Housing & Urban Development fund programs to support families in gaining economic security and improving their overall quality of life.
At the same time, transportation emerges as a critical thread that weaves together the stories of countless individuals and families. It’s the means by which parents can take their children to daycare, enabling them to work. It’s the route to recreational facilities, where families can access nature and physical activity. In essence, transportation is the lifeline that connects families to the essential services and resources they need to realize their potential and lead fulfilling lives, making the dreams of countless children attainable.
Identifying the value of transportation
Begin with the mission of the CCAM-funded agency and ask, “How can transportation access contribute to the success of that mission?” For agencies serving children and families, the importance of transportation may be tied to one or more of these value statements, which can serve as starting discussion points:
When families have access to transportation. . .
- It allows children to attend activities that support their healthy development and well-being.
- It allows children to become more involved in after-school activities and social opportunities.
- It makes access to child care opportunities easier, and thus allows parents to pursue job and training that support the family’s financial independence.
- They are better positioned to build up job experience and income, as well as access training to gain skills that lead to progress in their careers and embark on newer, more fulfilling jobs.
- They can take steps to stabilize their home environment and access essential services.
- They have more reliable access to sources for health food, leading to improved nutrition and overall health.
- It can support family members’ mental well-being by allowing them to engage in activities that they choose and that are meaningful to them.
Program Listing
Below is a detailed description of programs relating to children and families. Each listing contains what type of transportation support is allowable, a brief program description, and ways for both mobility management professionals and program staff from other agencies to connect.
Listing Key
Direct Support
Funding for transportation on an individual basis. This includes things like transit passes or gas vouchers.
Direct Service
Program staff provide transportation services directly or can contract for services.
Local Match Eligible
Program’s funds can be used as federal match to FTA transportation grants or other federal programs.
Table of Contents
U.S. Dept. of Health & Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Office of Child Care
Program Description:
Title IV of the Social Security Act appropriates funds (Mandatory and Matching Funds) for the purpose of providing child care assistance. Lead Agencies must use Mandatory and Matching Funds for child care services on a sliding fee scale basis, activities that improve the quality or availability of such services, and other activities that realize the goals of the CCDBG (Child Care and Development Block Grant) Act. Lead Agencies must ensure that not less than 70% of the total amount of Mandatory and Matching Funds are used to provide child care assistance to families who are receiving assistance under the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program, families who are attempting through work activities to transition off of temporary assistance programs, and families who are at risk of becoming dependent on temporary assistance programs.
Distribution of funds:
Project grants are provided directly to public (state and local) and private nonprofit entities (including faith-based and community organizations) and coordinated networks of such entities. Those that are already part of the juvenile justice system are not eligble to apply. Notice of Funding Opportunities (NOFO) for this listing will be posted on Grants.gov.
Transportation Support:
Mobility management professionals:
Program staff:
U.S. Dept. of Health & Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Office of Child Care
Program Description:
Community Services Block Grant Discretionary Awards includes Community Economic Development (CED) and Rural Community Development (RCD). Through a network of community action agencies (CAAs) and other neighborhood-based organizations, this program works to 1) reduce poverty, revitalize low-income communities, and empower of low-income families and individuals; and 2) provide services and activities having a measurable major impact on causes of poverty in a community or areas of the community where poverty is a particularly acute problem.
Services apply to a) securing and retaining meaningful employment; (b) attaining an adequate education; (c) making better use of available income; (d) obtaining and maintaining adequate housing and a suitable living environment; (e) obtaining emergency assistance through loans or grants to meet immediate and urgent individual and family needs; (f) removing obstacles and solving problems which block the achievement of self-sufficiency; (g) achieving greater participation in the affairs of the community; and (h) making more effective use of other related programs. The grants can also be used 1) to provide supplies and services on an emergency basis to address starvation and malnutrition; and 2) to coordinate and establish linkages between governmental and other social services programs to assure the effective delivery of such services to low-income individuals
Distribution of funds:
Provides discretionary project grants. Applicants applying for CED funding must be a private, nonprofit community development corporation with 501(c)(3) status with a principal purpose of planning, developing, or managing of low-income housing or community development projects. Applicants applying for RCD activities must be a multistate, regional, or private nonprofit organization that can provide training and technical assistance to small, rural communities in meeting their community facility needs. Notice of Funding Opportunities (NOFO) for this listing will be posted on Grants.gov.
Transportation Support:
Transportation may be provided through this program if it is a community need. Funds may be used as local match for other federal programs if the recipient program guidance explicitly allows it.
Mobility management professionals:
Program staff:
U.S. Dept. of Housing & Urban Development, Office of Special Needs Assistance Programs
Program Description:
To promote community-wide commitment to the goal of ending homelessness; provide funding for efforts by nonprofit providers, states, and local governments to quickly house homeless individuals and families; promote access to and effective utilization of mainstream programs by homeless individuals and families; and optimize self-sufficiency among individuals and families experiencing homelessness.
Distribution of funds:
Provides project grants and direct payments for specified use in some cases. Applicants can be states, local governments, other governmental entities and nonprofit organizations. Information on funding is available in a Notice of Funding Opportunity in the Federal Register and at www.hudexchange.info/coc.
Transportation Supports:
Transportation support may be allowed under “supportive services to assist program participants obtain and maintain housing.”
Mobility management professionals:
Program staff:
U.S. Dept. of Education ,Office of Elementary and Secondary Education
Program Description:
To ensure that all homeless children and youth have equal access to the same free, appropriate public education available to other children, the Education for Homeless Children and Youth program provides assistance to states to: (1) establish or designate an Office of Coordinator for Education of Homeless Children and Youths; (2) develop and carry out a State plan for the education of homeless children; and (3) make subgrants to local educational agencies (LEAs) to support the education of those children.
Distribution of funds:
A noncompetitive formula grant program. Eligible applicants include states (includes District of Columbia, public institutions of higher education and hospitals), which then award subgrants competitively to LEAs.
Transportation Support:
Local school districts must appoint Education Liaisons to ensure that school staff are aware of the individual’s rights, to provide public notice to homeless families, and to facilitate access to school and transportation services. Those transportation services include 1) transportation to and from school and extracurriculars free of charge; and 2) ensuring specific busing for homeless students so they can stay at the school they were attending before they became homeless.
Mobility management professionals:
Program staff:
U.S. Dept. of Health & Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Children's Bureau Regional Child Welfare
Program Description:
Funded by the Social Security Administration, this program helps states and tribal nations provide safe and stable out-of-home care for children under the jurisdiction of the state or tribal child welfare agency until the children are returned home safely, placed with adoptive families, or placed in other planned arrangements for permanency. Provides “family preservation services,” designed to stabilize families in crisis such as transportation, assistance with housing and utility payments, and access to adequate health care; as well as “family support services,” which are community-based services to promote the well-being of children and families.
Distribution of funds:
A noncompetitive formula grant program that also provides discretionary grants. Funds are available to states (including the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, and American Samoa) and to tribes with approved Title IV-E plans.
Transportation Supports:
Family support services may include . . . “Transportation, information and referral services to afford families access to other community services, including child care, health care, nutrition programs, adult education literacy programs, legal services, and counseling and mentoring services.”
Mobility management professionals:
Program staff:
U.S. Dept. of Health & Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Children's Bureau Regional Child Welfare
Program Description:
Head Start programs promote school readiness by enhancing the cognitive, physical, behavioral, and social-emotional development of children through the provision of educational, health, nutritional, social, and other services to their enrollees – low-income children and families. Programs deliver child development services in center-based, home-based, or family child care settings. The program is designed to involve parents in their child’s learning and development, and to help parents make progress toward their educational, literacy, and employment goals. Head Start services are available at no cost to children ages birth to 5 in eligible families. Early Head Start services work with families with children ages birth to 3, and many also serve expectant families. Many programs operate both Head Start preschool and Early Head Start services.
Distribution of funds:
Project grants and direct payments are provided to any government, federally-recognized Indian tribe, or public or private nonprofit or for profit agency that meets the requirements listed in a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) may apply for an award. Faith-based and community organizations that meet the eligibility requirements are eligible to receive awards. However, applications will be considered only when submitted in response to a specific opportunity, published at http://www.grants.gov.
Transportation Supports:
Head Start programs are not required to provide transportation services. However, when they do provide those services, they must comply with key regulations. Explore these resources to support programs in the safe and efficient movement of children from one point to another. Find materials [https://eclkc.ohs.acf.hhs.gov/transportation]on transportation services, coordination options, vehicles, child safety restraints, and other requirements. Because of the vehicle and other requirements for transporting children alone, it is difficult for public transit to coordinate with Head Start. However, mobility managers can work with the local public transit system to assist parents traveling with their children to Head Start locations.
Mobility management professionals:
Program staff:
U.S. Dept. of Housing & Urban Development, Office of Community Planning and Development
Program Description:
To address the housing needs of low-income individuals living with HIV/AIDS and their families. Funds may be used for a wide range of housing, supportive services, program planning, and development costs. Supplemental funds made available under the CARES Act are to be used similarly, but specifically to prevent, prepare for, and respond to coronavirus. Supportive services include case management, mental health services, drug and alcohol abuse treatment and counseling, day care, nutritional services, transportation, employment training, benefits counseling, etc.
Distribution of funds:
A noncompetitive formula grant program that also provides discretionary grants. Formula Program: Eligible applicants include cities in metropolitan statistical areas with > 500,000 people and at least 2,000 HIV/AIDS cases and states with > 2,000 HIV/AIDS cases outside of eligible metropolitan statistical areas. Competitive Program: Eligible applicants include states, units of general local government, and nonprofit organizations.
Transportation Supports:
Transportation support may be allowable as a supportive service.
Mobility management professionals:
Program staff:
U.S. Dept. of Health & Human Services, Administration for Children and Families
Program Description:
To assist states and eligible Indian tribes in establishing and carrying out programs designed to assist youth who experienced foster care at age 14 or older, youth who leave foster care for adoption or kinship guardianship after attaining age 16, youth likely to remain in foster care until age 18, and former foster care recipients between 18 and 21 years, to make a successful transition to adulthood and self-sufficiency. Activities and programs include, but are not limited to, help with education, employment, financial management, housing, emotional support and assured connections to caring adults.
Distribution of funds:
A noncompetitive formula grant program. Application is made through submission of the five-year Child and Family Services Plan by states and eligible Indian tribes, Indian tribal organizations, or Indian tribal consortia.
Transportation Supports:
Funds may be used to purchase transit fares/vouchers, and to purchase vehicles ($5,000 vehicle purchase limit before needing ACF approval)
Mobility management professionals:
Program staff:
Program Description:
To link elderly or disabled non-elderly assisted housing and neighborhood residents to supportive services in the general community; to prevent premature and unnecessary institutionalization; and to assess individual service needs, determine eligibility for public services and make resource allocation decisions which enable residents to stay in the community longer. The Service Coordinator Program provides funding for the employment of Service Coordinators in insured and assisted Multifamily Housing designed for the elderly and persons with disabilities. The service coordinator is a social service staff person hired by the development owner/management company to arrange a broad spectrum of services for residents which include, but are not limited to, the following: the provision of formal case management (i.e., the evaluation of health, psychological or social needs); educate residents and development management staff on issues related to aging-in-place and service coordination; monitor the provision of services, and act as an advocate for the resident in dealing with community service providers.
Distribution of funds:
Project grants to owners of Section 8 developments and Section 202 developments.
Transportation Supports:
Coordinator may have flexibility to help support transportation costs for individuals in public housing. Mobility managers could be helpful in supporting work of these service coordinators.
Mobility management professionals:
Program staff:
Program Description:
To address the economic and housing self-sufficiency needs of public and Indian housing residents by providing grant-funded service coordinators who link residents to the supportive services they need in order to achieve economic and housing self-sufficiency; and for elderly/disabled residents to continue to age/reside in place and avoid costlier forms of care. Grant funds may be used for the salary of Service Coordinator positions, with some administrative and training funds. Only residents of conventional public housing may benefit from this program. ROSS coordinators work directly with individuals, provide case management services, and collaborate and form partnerships.
Distribution of funds:
Project grants to Public Housing Authorities (PHAs), Tribes and Tribally Designated Housing Entities (TDHEs), resident councils, and 501(c)(3) nonprofit entities supported by residents, PHAs, or tribes. Applicants must demonstrate a 25% match or in-kind donations from applicant or partner organizations.
Transportation Supports:
A ROSS Coordinator may have flexibility to help support transportation costs for individuals in public housing. Mobility managers could be helpful in supporting work of ROSS coordinators.
Mobility management professionals:
Program staff:
Program Description:
A flexible funding source that allows states and territories to tailor social service programming to their population’s needs. Through the SSBG, states provide essential social services that help achieve a myriad of goals to reduce dependency and promote self-sufficiency; protect children and adults from neglect, abuse, and exploitation; and help individuals who are unable to take care of themselves to stay in their homes or to find the best institutional arrangements.
Distribution of funds:
Formula grants provided to states and territories, which then distribute them to counties.
Transportation Supports:
There are 29 categories for social services allowable under the SSBG program, including “transportation services.” Under Title XX of the Social Security Act, each eligible jurisdiction determines the services that will be provided and the individuals that will be eligible to receive services.
Mobility management professionals:
Program staff:
Program Description:
To provide grants to states, U.S. territories, and tribal nations to assist needy families with children so that children can be cared for in their own homes or in the homes of relatives; end the dependence of needy parents on government benefits by promoting job preparation, work, and marriage; prevent and reduce the incidence of out-of-wedlock pregnancies; and encourage the formation and maintenance of two-parent families.
Distribution of funds:
Formula grants provided to states and territories and tribal nations.
Transportation Supports:
Authorized under §260.31(a)(3), “Assistance under this program includes supportive services such as transportation and child care provided to families who are not employed. This type of assistance is prohibited under § 260.31(b) to families who are employed.
Mobility management professionals:
Program staff:
U.S. Dept. of Health & Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Family and Youth Services Bureau
Program Description:
To help runaway and homeless youth and/or pregnant or parenting runaway and homeless youth ages of 16-21 establish sustainable living and well-being for themselves and if applicable, their dependent child(ren). Youth are enrolled in Transition Living Programs (TLPs) or Maternity Group Homes programs (MGHs), which safe, stable, and appropriate shelter and comprehensive services. These services may include case management, transitional living plan, basic life skills resources, counseling services, educational advancement, job attainment skills, physical and behavioral health care, and aftercare services.
Distribution of funds:
Project grants are provided directly to public (state and local) and private nonprofit entities (including faith-based and community organizations) and coordinated networks of such entities. Those that are already part of the juvenile justice system are not eligble to apply. Notice of Funding Opportunities (NOFO) for this listing will be posted on Grants.gov.
Transportation Supports:
Comprehensive services may include case management . . . and aftercare services, to help youth who are homeless develop the skills necessary to make a successful transition to self-sufficient living. Mobility managers could be helpful in orienting youth to available transportation services.