FEDERAL AGENCY:

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

AUTHORIZATION:

Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1993, Section 13712, Public Law 103-66.

To assist State courts in performing their role in the continuum of care provided for families and children at risk. This program offers support for the implementation of alternatives and improvements as well as support for the expansion of successful court systems. It provides State courts with the flexibility to design assessments which identify barriers to effective decision-making, highlight practices which are not fully successful, examine areas they find to be in need of correction or added attention, and then implement reforms which address the State courts specific needs.

USES AND USE RESTRICTIONS:

Grants under the State Court Improvement Program may be used for assessment and improvement activities, broadly defined, of the child welfare functions of a court system.

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:

Applicant Eligibility:   The highest State courts in each of the 50 States, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico are eligible to apply for funding. The term "highest State court" means the judicial tribunal which is the ultimate court of appeals in the State.

Beneficiary Eligibility:   The State courts are eligible.

Credentials/Documentation:   All State courts which submit applications as per instructions released by the Children's Bureau, Administration on Children, Youth, and Families (ACYF) are eligible to receive Court Improvement Program grant funds.

Pre-application Coordination:   None. This program is excluded from coverage under E.O. 12372.

Application Procedure:   Standard Forms 424 and 424A are required. Further instructions can be obtained from the Children's Bureau, ACYF and the appropriate HHS Regional Offices.

Award Procedure:   Awards to approved applicants will be made from the Administration for Children and Families, Office of Administration, Office of Financial Services, Division of Formula, Entitlement and Block Grants.

Deadlines:   None.

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time:   Federal approval time will be between 30 and 120 days.

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

Renewals:   Applications for fiscal year 2002 and fiscal year 2003 funds will be requested and accepted based on guidance to State courts by the Children's Bureau.

ASSISTANCE CONSIDERATIONS:

Formula and Matching Requirements:   Each State court with an approved application is allotted $85,000 for fiscal year 2002 -2006. In addition to this base amount, the remainder of the amount appropriated for all State courts ($12,310,000 for fiscal year 2002) will be divided among those courts with approved applications according to each State's proportionate share of children under the age of 21. If any State courts do not apply for their share of these funds, the unclaimed amount will be reallocated each year to all other State courts with approved applications. Nonfederal share (or match) is required at the rate of 25 percent of the total budget.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance:   The U.S. Treasury will provide funds for this program.

POST ASSISTANCE REQUIREMENTS:

Reports:   Both fiscal and program reports are required annually and are due 90 days after the close of the grant year.

Audits:   In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A- 133, "Audits of State, local governments, and non-profit organizations" State and local governments that expend more than $300,000 in Federal awards within the State's fiscal year shall have an audit made in accordance with OMB Circular No. A-133, or in accordance with Federal laws and regulations governing the programs in which they participate. Other audits are conducted in accordance with the requirements of 45 CFR Part 92.

Records:   Records must be retained at least 3 years. Records shall be retained beyond the 3-year period if audit findings have not been resolved.

FINANCIAL INFORMATION:

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

Obligations:   (Grants) FY 01 $10,000,000; FY 02 est $12,310,000; and FY 03 est $12,310,000.

Range and Average of Financial Assistance:   From $3,000 to $200,000; Average: $192,308.

There were 52 grants awarded in fiscal year 2001. It is estimated that 52 grants will be awarded in fiscal years 2002 and 2003.

REGULATIONS, GUIDELINES, AND LITERATURE:

ACYF-PI-94-12 issued June 27, 1994 and ACYF-CB-PI-99-02 issued February 23,1999. It is anticipated that a new Program Instruction regarding FY 2002 funding will be issued in April, 2002. The Court Improvement Program is not regulated. Literature about court assessments and improvements can be found by contacting the National Center for State Courts at (775) 784-6012, the American Bar Association's Center for Children and the Law at (202) 662-1733, and the National Center for Juvenile and Family Court Judges at (775) 732-5300.

INFORMATION CONTACTS:

Regional or Local Office:   Please contact the ACF branch of the appropriate Regional Office. (See Appendix IV of the Catalog.)

Headquarters Office:   Emily Cooke, Children's Bureau, 330 C Street, SW., Washington, DC 20447. Telephone: (202) 205-8709.

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

EXAMPLES OF FUNDED PROJECTS:

Not applicable, this is a formula grant program.

CRITERIA FOR SELECTING PROPOSALS:

Not applicable. This is a formula grant program which does not receive discretionary grant proposals.