Opportunity Information: Apply for HHS 2023 ACF ORR ZN 0018
The Employer Engagement Program is a discretionary federal grant opportunity administered by the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) within the Administration for Children and Families (ACF), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Its purpose is to deepen and formalize partnerships between refugee-serving organizations and employers so that refugees can move beyond initial employment and into stable career pathways that support long-term self-sufficiency and community integration. Rather than focusing only on job placement, the program emphasizes structured employer involvement in training, advancement, and credential attainment.
At the center of the program is the expectation that funded recipients will build formal relationships with employers to create practical, job-aligned supports for refugee participants. These partnerships are intended to produce concrete workplace and career development activities, including employer-informed training curricula, career counseling, and stronger access to work-based learning such as apprenticeships, internships, and other workplace-based training models. A key idea is that employers are not just hiring partners; they are active co-designers of pathways that help refugees learn job-specific skills, understand workplace culture, and progress into better roles over time.
Grant recipients are also expected to provide operational support that makes these employer partnerships function smoothly. This includes identifying and funding workplace instructors who can train participants on-site or in employer-aligned settings, and providing program liaisons who coordinate across employers and refugee employment services. These liaisons help design work-oriented language and training curricula (often meaning English instruction tailored to the vocabulary and tasks of specific occupations), organize schedules and announcements for services, and coordinate with employment case managers so refugees can be referred, enrolled, and supported in a way that fits both participant needs and employer workflows. The emphasis is on building a coordinated system where recruitment, training, placement, and advancement are connected rather than handled in isolation.
Another major feature is the focus on longer-term investment in participant advancement. Employer partnerships under this program can extend to sponsorships that cover costs tied to upward mobility, such as vocational certification and recertification fees or support for longer-term educational degrees. This component recognizes that many refugees arrive with prior education or work experience but face barriers such as licensing requirements, credential transfer issues, or the need for U.S.-recognized certifications. By helping participants access and pay for these credentials, the program aims to accelerate wage growth, improve job retention, and open doors to career-track employment.
In terms of basic grant details, this opportunity is listed as HHS 2023 ACF ORR ZN 0018 under CFDA 93.576, within the funding activity category of Income Security and Social Services. The award ceiling is $350,000, and ORR anticipated making about 22 awards. Eligible applicants include a wide range of entities such as state, county, and local governments; special district governments; independent school districts; public housing authorities; public and private institutions of higher education; federally recognized tribal governments and other tribal organizations; and nonprofit organizations with or without 501(c)(3) status (with additional eligibility clarifications referenced in the full notice). The original posting date was March 8, 2023, with an original closing date of May 7, 2023, and electronic submissions were due by 11:59 pm Eastern Time on the deadline date.
Overall, the Employer Engagement Program is designed to make employer partnerships a primary engine for refugee economic integration by combining employer-driven training design, coordinated case management, and tangible investments in credentials and education. The expected outcome is a stronger local ecosystem where refugees can enter employment faster, build occupational skills in real workplace settings, and advance into higher-quality jobs with recognized credentials and clearer career ladders.Apply for HHS 2023 ACF ORR ZN 0018
- 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 Mar 08, 2023.
- Applicants must submit their applications by May 07, 2023 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 $350,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 22 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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Employer Engagement Program (ORR) Grant FAQs
What is the Employer Engagement Program?
The Employer Engagement Program is a discretionary federal grant opportunity 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). It is designed to strengthen and formalize partnerships between refugee-serving organizations and employers to support refugee career advancement and long-term self-sufficiency.
What is the main purpose of this grant?
The main purpose is to deepen employer partnerships so refugees can move beyond initial employment into stable career pathways that support long-term self-sufficiency and community integration. The program emphasizes employer involvement in training, advancement, and credential attainment, not just job placement.
How is this program different from a typical job placement program?
Rather than focusing primarily on getting participants into their first job, this program prioritizes structured employer involvement in building career pathways. Employers are expected to help shape training, workplace learning opportunities, and advancement steps so participants can grow into better roles over time.
Which federal agency administers this opportunity?
This grant is administered by the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) within ACF, which is part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
What kinds of partnerships are expected between grantees and employers?
Funded recipients are expected to build formal relationships with employers that result in practical, job-aligned supports for refugee participants. These partnerships should produce concrete workplace and career development activities such as employer-informed training curricula, career counseling, and expanded access to work-based learning.
What role do employers play in this program?
Employers are expected to be active partners and co-designers of pathways. The program frames employers as more than hiring partners: they help shape job-specific training, support learning about workplace culture, and contribute to advancement structures that help participants progress into higher-quality roles.
What activities or services are encouraged under this grant?
The opportunity highlights workplace and career development activities such as employer-informed training curricula, career counseling, and stronger access to work-based learning models, including apprenticeships, internships, and other workplace-based training.
Does the program support work-based learning like apprenticeships or internships?
Yes. The grant emphasizes stronger access to work-based learning opportunities, including apprenticeships, internships, and other workplace-based training models aligned with employer needs.
What operational support is expected from grant recipients?
Grant recipients are expected to provide operational support to make employer partnerships run smoothly. Examples described include identifying and funding workplace instructors and providing program liaisons who coordinate across employers and refugee employment services.
What are workplace instructors, and why are they included?
Workplace instructors are individuals who train participants on-site or in employer-aligned settings. The program anticipates recipients will identify and fund these instructors to deliver job-aligned instruction connected to employer needs.
What do program liaisons do under this model?
Program liaisons coordinate between employers and refugee employment services. They help design work-oriented language and training curricula, organize schedules and announcements for services, and coordinate with employment case managers so participants can be referred, enrolled, and supported in ways that align with employer workflows and participant needs.
Does the program include English or language training?
It can. The description references "work-oriented language" curricula, including English instruction tailored to the vocabulary and tasks of specific occupations, as part of the coordinated training approach.
How does the grant connect recruitment, training, placement, and advancement?
The program emphasizes building a coordinated system where recruitment, training, placement, and advancement are connected rather than handled in isolation. Liaisons and coordination with employment case managers are described as key mechanisms to create that connected pathway.
Is participant advancement and long-term mobility a major focus?
Yes. A core feature is longer-term investment in participant advancement, including activities and supports that help participants move into better jobs over time and build recognized credentials that support career-track employment.
Can employer partnerships include support for certifications or education costs?
Yes. The opportunity describes employer partnerships that can extend to sponsorships covering costs tied to upward mobility, such as vocational certification and recertification fees or support for longer-term educational degrees.
Why does the program emphasize credentials and recertification?
The program recognizes that many refugees arrive with prior education or work experience but face barriers such as licensing requirements, credential transfer issues, or the need for U.S.-recognized certifications. Supporting access to credentials is intended to accelerate wage growth, improve job retention, and open doors to career-track employment.
What is the funding opportunity number and CFDA listing?
The opportunity is listed as HHS 2023 ACF ORR ZN 0018 and is associated with CFDA 93.576.
What is the funding activity category for this grant?
The funding activity category is Income Security and Social Services.
What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?
The award ceiling is $350,000.
How many awards did ORR anticipate making?
ORR anticipated making about 22 awards.
Who is eligible to apply for this grant?
Eligible applicants include state, county, and local governments; special district governments; independent school districts; public housing authorities; public and private institutions of higher education; federally recognized tribal governments and other tribal organizations; and nonprofit organizations with or without 501(c)(3) status (with additional eligibility clarifications referenced in the full notice).
Are nonprofits without 501(c)(3) status eligible?
Yes. The eligibility list includes nonprofit organizations with or without 501(c)(3) status, with additional eligibility clarifications referenced in the full notice.
What were the posting date and closing date for this opportunity?
The original posting date was March 8, 2023, and the original closing date was May 7, 2023.
What was the electronic submission deadline time zone?
Electronic submissions were due by 11:59 pm Eastern Time on the deadline date.
What outcomes is the program designed to achieve?
The program is designed to strengthen local ecosystems for refugee economic integration by using employer partnerships to support faster entry into employment, workplace-based skill building, and advancement into higher-quality jobs with recognized credentials and clearer career ladders.
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