HHS-2025-ACL-AOA-OIRC-0033
U.S. Administration on Aging, National Resource Centers on Older Indians, Alaska Natives and Native Hawaiian Programs
Summary
Native American Resource Centers (NARC)
This program funds centers dedicated to advancing knowledge and service delivery for older adults in American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian communities. The NARC will address critical health disparities and aging-related challenges—including geriatric health issues, long-term care and in-home care models, elder abuse prevention, and other pressing concerns specific to these populations. Centers are expected to integrate three core functions: information gathering, research performance, and dissemination of findings paired with technical assistance and training to service-delivery organizations. The program emphasizes measurable outcomes and explicit success metrics tied to improved elder services in tribal and Native communities.
At a glance:
- Who can apply: Entities serving American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian older adult populations with capacity to establish a national-focus resource center
- Funding & project length: Not stated
- Award / mechanism: Resource center (NARC)
- Key dates: Not stated
- Best fit for: Gerontology, public health, and health services research teams working on health disparities, aging services, and implementation science in Native American communities
Insights (6)
Indigenous health expertise and community partnerships are foundational competitive advantages
This opportunity explicitly requires deep knowledge of AI/AN/NH aging populations and service delivery systems. Applicants with established relationships in these communities, prior research on indigenous elder health, or staff with cultural competency will be substantially more competitive. Preliminary data demonstrating community engagement or pilot technical assistance activities would significantly strengthen an application.
Multi-sector partnerships with service providers are essential, not optional
The mechanism requires applicants to work directly with entities providing services to AI/AN/NH elders—this is core to the NARC mission, not a supplementary activity. Strong applications will demonstrate formal partnerships with tribal health systems, long-term care facilities, or aging service organizations, ideally with letters of commitment showing how technical assistance will be integrated into existing workflows.
Program leadership experience in aging services or technical assistance preferred
This is a resource center mechanism focused on dissemination, training, and technical assistance rather than primary research discovery. Applicants with prior experience managing training programs, operating help lines, or leading technical assistance initiatives will be more competitive than those with only bench research backgrounds. Early-stage investigators may be disadvantaged unless they have co-investigators with established track records in these areas.
Measurable outcomes and evaluation frameworks are explicitly required and heavily weighted
The opportunity text emphasizes that applicants must articulate 'anticipated program outcomes, how outcomes will be measured, and how overall success will be determined.' This suggests evaluation rigor is a primary review criterion. Applications lacking a detailed logic model, specific metrics (e.g., number of service providers trained, uptake of technical resources), or evaluation methodology will be at a disadvantage.
National scope requirement may limit organizational capacity for some applicants
The NARC must have a 'national focus' serving AI/AN/NH communities across the United States, which is geographically and logistically complex. Smaller organizations or those with regional expertise may struggle to demonstrate capacity to serve this broad population. Applicants should clarify how they will achieve national reach (e.g., through partnerships, virtual platforms, or regional hubs) or risk appearing under-resourced.
Specificity of scope and technical assistance focus suggests moderate to high competition
The program targets a well-defined population and mechanism (resource centers for technical assistance), which typically attracts experienced applicants. However, the intersection of indigenous aging expertise with technical assistance capacity is relatively specialized, potentially limiting the applicant pool. Applicants without prior work in Native American health or aging services should expect strong competition from those with established credibility in these communities.
Key Facts
Deadline
—
Posted
Wed, July 31, 2024
Award Range
$112,000 – $340,000
Expected Awards
3
Keywords
Research Areas