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This serves as the official notice of consultation for the Administration for Children and Families' (ACF) Annual Tribal Consultation, which will be held on August 25–26, 2026.
The consultation will be held in a hybrid format, allowing Tribal leaders and their designees to participate either in person at the Mary E. Switzer Building, 330 C Street SW, Washington, DC, or virtually. Tribes are also invited to register for one-on-one meetings in conjunction with the consultation.
During the consultation, ACF leadership will engage with Tribal leaders to discuss issues important to Tribal Nations and ACF program priorities. Please share this information with your Tribal leadership.
Agenda Planning
The final agenda for the ACF Tribal Consultation will be informed by Tribal input and ACF priorities. I invite Tribal leaders or their designee to participate in the planning call to identify topics for discussion during the consultation.
ACF Tribal Consultation Agenda Planning Call
Monday, July 27, 2026, at 3:00–4:00 p.m. EDT
Meeting ID: 165 722 7712
Passcode: 715490
Access the call by clicking the blue button below.
If Tribal leaders are unable to attend the planning call, they may submit topics for consideration during the registration process or by emailing Kim Kovol, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Tribal Affairs, ACF, and Principal Deputy Director, Administration for Native Americans (ANA), at tribalaffairs@acf.hhs.gov. Please include the subject line “ACF Tribal Consultation Planning Agenda” with your submission.
The final agenda may be revised based on feedback received during the planning call and through registration. The agenda will be distributed to registered participants via email prior to the consultation.
Potential discussion topics include:
- Reducing Administrative Burden and Deregulatory Opportunities
- A Home for Every Child — ACF's child welfare initiative announced in November 2025 to improve outcomes for children in foster care, strengthen foster home capacity nationwide, and support the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Making America Healthy Again (MAHA) priorities. Consultation discussions will focus on opportunities, challenges, and priorities affecting Native children, families, kinship caregivers, and Tribal child welfare systems.
- Public Law 102-477 Modernization — ACF's ongoing efforts to advance the modernization and transition of Public Law 102-477 implementation responsibilities. Discussions will explore opportunities to reduce administrative burden, improve service delivery, and strengthen Tribal self-determination through more coordinated program administration.
One-on-One Meetings with ACF Program Offices
The ACF Annual Tribal Consultation includes an opportunity for interested Tribes to meet one-on-one with ACF officials to discuss Tribal-specific priorities, program needs, and policy recommendations. These 30-minute sessions will provide dedicated time for engagement with ACF leadership and program staff.
Representatives from ACF program offices will be available to listen, answer questions, and contribute to the discussion. To request a one-on-one meeting, please indicate the ACF office or offices you would like to meet with during the registration process.
Please note that one-on-one meetings will be available in both in-person and virtual formats. Requests for one-on-one meetings must be received by 5:00 p.m. ET on August 12, 2026. Additional information regarding meeting schedules and logistics will be provided following registration.
Registration
Registration is required for all participants, regardless of whether they plan to attend in person or virtually. If you would like to attend the ACF Tribal Consultation Agenda Planning Call, please register by clicking the blue button below.
For Tribes unable to attend in person, ACF will provide a virtual participation option. Tribal leaders or their designees may request an opportunity to speak and provide input and testimony virtually. Individuals participating virtually must register in advance to receive access information and be included in the meeting schedule.
If you need assistance with registration, please contact the ANA Help Desk at 1-833-262-4636 (833-ANA-INFO).
Written Comment Period
To further the meaningful impact of Tribal feedback on ACF programs, policies, and priorities, ACF will accept written comments for the consultation record. Tribes are encouraged to submit written comments by email to Alex Adams, Assistant Secretary, at tribalaffairs@acf.hhs.gov no later than September 25, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. ET.
Written comments received by the deadline will be included in the consultation record and considered as part of ACF's ongoing efforts to strengthen partnerships with Tribal Nations and improve programs and services affecting Tribal communities.
Please include the subject line "ACF Tribal Consultation Testimony" with your submission.
Should you have any questions regarding the consultation, please contact the ANA at tribalaffairs@acf.hhs.gov or 1-833-262-4636 (833-ANA-INFO).
I look forward to our continued partnership as we work together to build healthy, safe, and thriving Tribal communities.
Kim Kovall
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Tribal Affairs
Principal Deputy Director
Administration for Native Americans
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