FEDERAL AGENCY:

ADMINISTRATION FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

AUTHORIZATION:

Social Security Act, as amended, Title IV, Part B, Subpart 2; Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1993; Public Law 103-66; Social Security Amendments of 1994, Public Law 103-432; Adoption and Safe Families Act of 1997, Public Law 105-89.

To fund community-based family support services that promote the safety and well-being of children and families by enhancing family functioning and child development; to fund family preservation services that serve families at risk or in crisis, including the following services: reunification and adoption services, pre-placement/preventive services, follow-up services after return of a child from foster care, respite care, services designed to improve parenting skills; and infant safe haven programs; to fund time-limited family reunification services to facilitate the reunification of the child safety and appropriately within a timely fashion; and to fund adoption promotion and support services designed to encourage more adoptions out of the foster care system, when adoptions promote the best interests of children.

USES AND USE RESTRICTIONS:

Grantees must limit administrative expenditures to 10 percent of their allotment; all remaining funds must be spent for family preservation, family support services, time-limited family reunification services and adoption promotion and support services.

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:

Applicant Eligibility:   States, Territories and certain Indian Tribes are eligible applicants.

Beneficiary Eligibility:   Families and children who need services to assist them to stabilize their lives, strengthen family functioning, prevent out-of-home placement of children, enhance child development and increase competence in parenting abilities, facilitate timely reunification of the child, and promote appropriate adoptions.

Credentials/Documentation:   The State agency which administers the social services program under Title XX of the Social Security Act (Social Services Block Grant) must also be the agency which administers the Title IV-B Child and Family Services Subpart 1 and 2.

Pre-application Coordination:   Not applicable. This program is excluded from coverage under E.O. 12372.

Application Procedure:   A 5-year State plan must be submitted. The plan must be jointly developed by the Secretary and the State or Indian Tribe and written after consultation by the State agency with appropriate public and non-profit private agencies and community-based organizations. The plan must coordinate the provision services under Title IV-B with services under other Federal or federally-assisted programs serving the same populations.

Award Procedure:   Funds will be approved after the State plan, or annual update is submitted and approved.

Deadlines:   States, Territories and Indian Tribes are encouraged to submit applications in accordance with Departmental requirements. Contact Headquarters Office listed below for information.

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time:   Not applicable.

Appeals:   Appeals are processed in accordance with Departmental regulations at 45 CFR 16.

Renewals:   None.

ASSISTANCE CONSIDERATIONS:

Formula and Matching Requirements:   State allotments are computed based on the number of children receiving food stamps. Allotments to Indian Tribes are based on a percent set aside of the total appropriation in each fiscal year and computed based on the number of children in the Tribe compared to the total number of children in eligible Indian tribes. However, grants will not be made to Indian Tribes whose allotment is less than $10,000. Allotments to Territories are based on the formula in subpart 1 of Title IV-B. Match: FFP is 75 percent of expenditures for services; States must provide a 25 percent match.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance:   Grant awards will be made quarterly on a fiscal year basis through a letter of credit. The Electronic Transfer System will be used for monthly cash draws from Federal Reserve Banks.

POST ASSISTANCE REQUIREMENTS:

Reports:   After the end of each of the first four fiscal years, the States, Territories, and Indian Tribes must submit an interim review of progress toward accomplishment of the goals in the State or Tribal plan. After the end of the fifth fiscal year, the States and Indian Tribes must perform a final review of progress toward accomplishment of the goals.

Audits:   Audit are conducted in accordance with the requirement of 45 CFR 74.

Records:   States must maintain records which permit review of expenditures in accordance with the provisions of the law.

FINANCIAL INFORMATION:

Account Identification:   75-1512-0-1-506.

Obligations:   FY 01 $295,000,000; FY 02 est $305,000,000; and FY 03 est $305,000,000.

Range and Average of Financial Assistance:   From $2,999 to $5,119,421: Average of $2,322,835.

There were 127 grants awarded in fiscal year 2001. It is anticipated that 127 to 130 grants will be awarded in fiscal year 2002 and fiscal year 2003.

REGULATIONS, GUIDELINES, AND LITERATURE:

45 CFR 1355 and 45 CFR 1357.

INFORMATION CONTACTS:

Regional or Local Office:   Consult Regional Administrators, Administration for Children and Families. (See Appendix IV of the Catalog for listing.)

Headquarters Office:   Marianne Rufty, Acting Deputy Associate Commissioner, Children's Bureau, 330 C Street, SW., Washington, DC 20447. Telephone: (202) 401-2779. FTS is not available.

Web Site Address:   http://www.acf.dhhs.gov/programs/cb.

EXAMPLES OF FUNDED PROJECTS:

Not applicable.

CRITERIA FOR SELECTING PROPOSALS:

Not applicable.