Rigorous Evaluation of Community- and Societal-Level Primary Prevention Approaches to Prevent Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs): Expanding the Best Available Evidence

Overview

Adverse Childhood Experiences, or ACEs, are preventable, potentially traumatic events that occur in childhood (0–17 years). Examples of ACEs include neglect, experiencing or witnessing violence, or having a family member attempt or die by suicide. ACEs also include aspects of a child’s environment that can undermine their sense of safety, stability, and bonding, such as living in a household where a parent or caregiver is negatively affected by substance use or an ongoing serious mental health condition, or when a child experiences instability due to prolonged separation from a parent or caregiver.

The purpose of this research announcement is to support investigator-initiated research to rigorously evaluate policies or programs for the primary prevention of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs). In alignment with NCIPC’s ACEs Research Priorities, projects are expected to evaluate primary prevention approaches at the community- or societal-level that address the social or structural conditions that place some populations at greater risk for ACEs. Research conducted with these funds will rigorously evaluate existing primary prevention approaches (i.e., policies or programs that are already developed and implemented or have been shown to be ready for implementation in the community or population of interest) that have not yet undergone rigorous evaluation and are not currently undergoing rigorous evaluation for prevention of ACEs. 

Research funded under this announcement is intended to expand the evidence base for ACEs prevention in one or more of the following strategy areas identified in the CDC’s ACEs Prevention Resource for Action.

Purpose of Program
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Center for Injury Prevention and Control (NCIPC) is soliciting investigator-initiated research that will help expand and advance our understanding about what works to prevent ACEs. In alignment with NCIPC’s ACEs Research Priorities, this initiative is intended to support the evaluation of existing community- or societal-level primary prevention policies or programs that address social and health inequities that place some populations at greater risk for ACEs. 

There are three specific research objectives for this NOFO: 

1. Research Objective 1: Effectiveness research to evaluate existing primary prevention approaches that address societal- or community-level conditions and ensure a strong start for children.
2. Research Objective 2: Effectiveness research to evaluate existing primary prevention approaches that address societal- or community-level conditions and promote social norms and narratives that protect against violence and adversity.
3. 
   Research Objective 3: Effectiveness research to evaluate existing primary prevention approaches that address societal- or community-level conditions and strengthen economic supports to families.
4. 
   Applicants must clearly indicate which of these objectives the research proposal intends to address. Applicants must demonstrate that the selected approach is currently being implemented or ready for implementation in the community or population of interest (e.g., through formative research evidence, pilot data, or community letters of support) and is ready for rigorous evaluation. 
5. 
   Applicants must propose rigorous evaluation designs, which for the purposes of this funding opportunity can include those that utilize experimental designs (i.e., randomized controlled trials) or quasi-experimental designs (e.g., comparative interrupted time series design with multiple time points). 
6. 
   Applicants are required to address the prevention of at least one form of child abuse and/or neglect (CAN) and at least one additional ACE (additional details in Approach section). Applicants are strongly encouraged to evaluate impacts of the selected approach on several ACEs. 

All applicants are required to address how the selected approach will address the social or structural conditions that put some populations at greater risk for ACEs and to empirically examine the health equity implications of their selected approach.

You may not apply for both funding levels simultaneously.
You may submit multiple applications for separate and distinct projects under this notice.
Recipients of open Humanities Connections awards may apply.

An application may name more than one PD/PI; their names must appear on the face page of the application. However:

• One (1) principal investigator must be designated as the contact PD/PI for all correspondence related to the application.
• All PD/PIs must include their eRA Commons Identification in the Credential Field of the Senior/Key Person Profile Component of the SF-424 (R&R) Application Package.
• Institutions/organizations proposing multiple PDs/PIs must visit the Multiple Program Director/Principal Investigator Policy and submission details in the Senior/Key Person Profile (Expanded) Component of the SF-424 (R&R) Application Guide.

Performance Period: The period of performance for this award is expected to run from 9/30/2025 to 9/29/2028.

Budget and Period of Performance: The maximum award amount will be $450,000 per award for the first 12-month budget period. This includes both direct and indirect costs. An applicant may request a period performance of up to three years. The maximum total project funding amount is $1,350,000 (including both direct and indirect costs) over the expected period of performance length, with a maximum of $450,000 per award per year. 

Key Dates 
Letter of Intent Due Date: 11/01/2024 While a letter of intent is not mandatory, nor is it binding or a factor in the review of an application, the details it provides help NCIPC staff to plan for the scientific and technical merit peer review process. 
Application Due Date: 12/02/2024