Opportunity Information: Apply for HHS 2022 ACF ORR ZN 0072
The Employer Engagement Program is a discretionary grant opportunity from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR). Its purpose is to help eligible Afghan entrants build long-term stability in the United States by connecting them to employers in more structured, career-building ways than typical job placement efforts. The program emphasizes integration and self-sufficiency through employer-driven training and advancement pathways, not just rapid employment.
Funded projects are expected to form formal partnerships with employers and work side-by-side with them to create training curricula that match real workplace needs. Grantees will provide career counseling and expand access to workplace-based learning options such as on-the-job training, apprenticeships, and internships. A key feature is shared investment: programs are expected to help cover costs tied to workplace instruction, and they will provide dedicated liaisons who coordinate closely with employers. These liaisons help design work-oriented English language and training curricula, organize and publicize services, and coordinate with employment case managers so participants can be referred, enrolled, and supported in ways that lead to advancement rather than dead-end work.
Beyond short-term training, the program also encourages deeper, longer-term employer investment in participants. Employer partnerships may include sponsoring and paying for vocational certifications or recertifications, and in some cases supporting longer-term educational programs or degrees. This element is meant to address the common barriers newcomers face, such as needing U.S.-recognized credentials, updated licensing, or industry-specific training to move into higher-wage roles.
The population served is specific: the program must serve nationals of Afghanistan who are eligible for ORR refugee and entrant assistance and who entered the United States on or after July 31, 2021, as authorized under the Afghan Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2022. In practice, applicants should be prepared to demonstrate how they will identify, enroll, and support this group through coordinated services that link workforce preparation, language development, employer engagement, and career progression.
Eligible applicants cover a wide range of public and private entities, including state, county, and city governments; special district governments; independent school districts; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; federally recognized tribal governments and other tribal organizations; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; and nonprofit organizations with or without 501(c)(3) status (as long as they are not institutions of higher education). The program is listed under CFDA 93.576 and falls under the funding activity category of Income Security and Social Services.
The opportunity number is HHS 2022 ACF ORR ZN 0072. ORR anticipated making about 15 awards, with an award ceiling of $900,000 per award. The opportunity was originally posted on April 28, 2022, with an original application due date of June 27, 2022, and applications were required to be submitted electronically by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on the due date.Apply for HHS 2022 ACF ORR ZN 0072
- 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 "Employer Engagement 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 Apr 28, 2022.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jun 27, 2022 Electronically submitted applications must be submitted no later than 1159 pm Eastern Standard Time 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 $900,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 15 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.
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Employer Engagement Program (ORR) Grant FAQs
What is the Employer Engagement Program?
The Employer Engagement Program is a discretionary grant opportunity from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Administration for Children and Families (ACF), Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR). It is designed to help eligible Afghan entrants build long-term stability in the United States through structured, career-building connections with employers.
What is the main purpose of this grant opportunity?
The main purpose is to promote integration and self-sufficiency by connecting eligible Afghan entrants to employer-driven training and advancement pathways. The focus is on career progression and long-term stability, not just rapid placement into any available job.
How is this program different from typical job placement efforts?
Instead of emphasizing quick employment, this program prioritizes structured employer engagement and career-building pathways. Funded projects are expected to work directly with employers to develop training that matches real workplace needs and supports advancement over time.
Which federal office administers the program?
The program is administered by the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) within the Administration for Children and Families (ACF), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
Who must the program serve?
Programs must serve nationals of Afghanistan who are eligible for ORR refugee and entrant assistance and who entered the United States on or after July 31, 2021, as authorized under the Afghan Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2022.
What entry date requirement applies to participants?
Participants must have entered the United States on or after July 31, 2021.
What does it mean to be eligible for ORR refugee and entrant assistance?
The opportunity specifies that participants must be eligible for ORR refugee and entrant assistance. Applicants should be prepared to explain how they will identify and enroll individuals who meet this eligibility requirement.
What types of activities are funded under this program?
Funded projects are expected to build formal partnerships with employers, jointly develop training curricula aligned to workplace needs, provide career counseling, and expand workplace-based learning options such as on-the-job training, apprenticeships, and internships.
Are employer partnerships required?
Yes. Funded projects are expected to form formal partnerships with employers and collaborate closely to develop training and advancement pathways that reflect real workforce needs.
What does "formal partnerships with employers" imply in this opportunity?
The opportunity describes formal partnerships where grantees work side-by-side with employers to create training curricula and coordinate services. The partnership is meant to be structured and employer-driven, rather than informal referrals.
What is meant by "employer-driven training and advancement pathways"?
It refers to training and career steps designed with employer input so that instruction matches workplace requirements and supports progress into better roles, rather than leading to short-term or dead-end employment.
What workplace-based learning options are emphasized?
The program emphasizes workplace-based learning such as on-the-job training, apprenticeships, and internships.
Is career counseling part of the expected services?
Yes. Grantees are expected to provide career counseling as part of the overall approach to support advancement and long-term stability.
What role do dedicated liaisons play in the program model?
Grantees are expected to provide dedicated liaisons who coordinate closely with employers. These liaisons help design work-oriented English language and training curricula, organize and publicize services, and coordinate with employment case managers to support referrals, enrollment, and participant success.
How does the program address English language and workplace training needs?
The opportunity highlights designing work-oriented English language and training curricula in coordination with employers, with liaisons playing a key role in aligning instruction to workplace needs.
What is meant by "shared investment" in this program?
A key feature described is shared investment, where programs are expected to help cover costs tied to workplace instruction and to coordinate closely with employers through dedicated liaisons.
Are projects expected to help cover training-related costs?
Yes. The opportunity states that programs are expected to help cover costs tied to workplace instruction as part of the shared investment approach.
How are participants referred and supported through the program?
Liaisons are expected to coordinate with employment case managers so participants can be referred, enrolled, and supported in ways that lead to advancement.
Does the program support certifications or recertifications?
Yes. The program encourages deeper employer investment that may include sponsoring and paying for vocational certifications or recertifications.
Does the program support longer-term education such as degrees?
In some cases, employer partnerships may support longer-term educational programs or degrees. This is described as an encouraged element to help participants overcome barriers to higher-wage roles.
What barriers is this program designed to address for newcomers?
The opportunity notes barriers such as needing U.S.-recognized credentials, updated licensing, or industry-specific training to move into higher-wage roles.
What kinds of applicants are eligible to apply?
Eligible applicants include state, county, and city governments; special district governments; independent school districts; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; federally recognized tribal governments and other tribal organizations; public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities; and nonprofit organizations with or without 501(c)(3) status (as long as they are not institutions of higher education).
Can nonprofit organizations apply if they do not have 501(c)(3) status?
Yes. Nonprofit organizations with or without 501(c)(3) status are listed as eligible applicants, as long as they are not institutions of higher education.
Are institutions of higher education eligible?
Yes. Both public and state-controlled institutions of higher education and private institutions of higher education are listed among eligible applicants.
Can tribal entities apply?
Yes. Federally recognized tribal governments and other tribal organizations are included in the list of eligible applicants.
Are public housing authorities eligible to apply?
Yes. Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities are included in the list of eligible applicants.
What is the CFDA number for this program?
The program is listed under CFDA 93.576.
What is the funding activity category for this opportunity?
The opportunity falls under the funding activity category of Income Security and Social Services.
What is the opportunity number?
The opportunity number is HHS 2022 ACF ORR ZN 0072.
How many awards did ORR anticipate making?
ORR anticipated making about 15 awards.
What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?
The award ceiling is $900,000 per award.
When was the opportunity originally posted?
The opportunity was originally posted on April 28, 2022.
What was the original application due date?
The original application due date was June 27, 2022.
How were applications required to be submitted?
Applications were required to be submitted electronically.
What was the submission deadline time zone and cutoff time?
Applications were due by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on the due date.
What should applicants be prepared to demonstrate in their proposals?
Applicants should be prepared to demonstrate how they will identify, enroll, and support eligible Afghan entrants through coordinated services that link workforce preparation, language development, employer engagement, and career progression.
What is the overall program emphasis in terms of outcomes?
The overall emphasis is on integration, self-sufficiency, and advancement pathways that help participants move toward long-term stability and higher-wage opportunities when possible.
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