FEDERAL AGENCY:

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

AUTHORIZATION:

Social Security Act, Title IV-B, Subpart 1, as amended.

To establish, extend, and strengthen child welfare services provided by State and local, and Indian Tribal public welfare agencies to enable children to remain in their own homes, or, where that is impossible, to provide alternate permanent homes for them.

USES AND USE RESTRICTIONS:

The grants may be used for: cost of personnel to provide protective services to children; licensing of, and standard-setting for private child-caring agencies and institutions; and assisting with costs of homemaker services, return of runaway children, and prevention and reunification services. Funds for foster care maintenance, day care, and adoption assistance under this program are limited.

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:

Applicant Eligibility:   States, the District of Columbia, Indian Tribes, Puerto Rico, the Northern Marianas, the Virgin Islands, Guam, and American Samoa.

Beneficiary Eligibility:   Families and children in need of child welfare services will benefit.

Credentials/Documentation:   The State department which administers the services program under Title XX must be the designated single State agency to administer child welfare services. Costs will be determined in accordance with 45 CFR Part 92.

Pre-application Coordination:   State plans are covered under E.O. 12372, but Intergovernmental Review is excluded.

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 application in accordance with Department requirements. Contact Headquarters Office listed below for information.

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time:   Not applicable.

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

Renewals:   None.

ASSISTANCE CONSIDERATIONS:

Formula and Matching Requirements:   Each State receives $70,000 for child welfare services. The Federal child welfare services appropriation is allotted to states on a variable formula which takes into account the child population under 21 and the complement of the State per capita income compared to the U.S. per capita income. The statistical factors used for fund allocation are: (1) the population of children under 21 years of age by State and the source is "Current Population Reports", P-25, Bureau of the Census; and (2) 3-year average per capita income by State and the source is the Bureau of Economic Analysis, Department of Commerce. Income factors for eligibility do not apply to this program. States receive Federal matching at a rate of 75 percent of their expenditures up to the limit of each State's allocation.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance:   Grant awards are 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:   Audits are conducted in accordance with the requirements in 45 CFR 74 and 92.

Records:   States are required to maintain adequate fiscal records, and to make reports as required by DHHS.

FINANCIAL INFORMATION:

Account Identification:   75-1536-0-1-506.

Obligations:   (Grants) FY 01 $291,986,000; FY 02 est $291,986,000; and FY 03 est $291,986,000.

Range and Average of Financial Assistance:   From $118,319 to $21,465,358; Average: $4,351,818.

In fiscal year 2001, 184 grants were awarded. It is anticipated that 184 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:   Contact Regional Administrator, ACYF. (See Appendix IV of the Catalog for a list of addresses of the Regional offices.)

Headquarters Office:   Marianne Rufty, Acting Deputy Associate Commissioner, Children's Bureau, Administration for Children and Families, P.O. Box 1182, Washington, DC 20013. 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.