FEDERAL AGENCY:

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

AUTHORIZATION:

Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment and Adoption Reform Act of 1978, Title II, Section 203, as amended, Public Law 95- 266; Child Abuse Prevention, Adoption and Family Services Act of 1988, as amended, Title II, Section 201, Public Law 100-294; Public Law 102- 295; 43 U.S.C. 5113 et seq.

To provide financial support for demonstration projects to improve adoption practices; to gather information on adoptions; and to provide training and technical assistance to improve adoption services.

USES AND USE RESTRICTIONS:

Grants are for: (1) Special demonstration projects in the field of special needs adoption which are of regional or national significance, and (2) projects which demonstrate new methods showing promise of substantial contribution to the advancement in the field of special needs adoption.

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:

Applicant Eligibility:   Grants or Contracts: State,local government entities, public or private nonprofit licensed child welfare or adoption agencies or community based and other organizations, or adoptive family groups.

Beneficiary Eligibility:   Children requiring adoptive services and family benefits.

Credentials/Documentation:   Nonprofit organizations which have not previously had Office of Management Services or ACF support must submit proof of nonprofit status. Applicable costs and administrative procedures will be determined by 45 CFR 74 and 92.

Pre-application Coordination:   Limited consultation available at Headquarters Office. The standard application forms as furnished by DHHS must be used for this program. This program is excluded from coverage under E.O. 12372.

Application Procedure:   Applications must be submitted to The Administration on Children, Youth and Families Headquarters Office listed below.

Award Procedure:   After review and recommendation by a nonfederal panel, the Commissioner, ACYF, makes final decision.

Deadlines:   Determined annually and specified in the annual program announcement which appears in the Federal Register.

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time:   From 90 to 180 days.

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

Renewals:   Renewals are available for multi-year grants through formal submission of progress reports and continuation applications. Funding for multi-year grants is provided on an annual basis.

ASSISTANCE CONSIDERATIONS:

Formula and Matching Requirements:   This program has no statutory formula or matching requirements; however, administratively-required matching is described in the annual program announcement.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance:   Grants may extend from 1 to 5 years. Average duration is expected to be 3 years.

POST ASSISTANCE REQUIREMENTS:

Reports:   Financial reports, semi-annual financial reports and biannual progress reports. Final progress report, financial report due 90 days after completion of grant.

Audits:   Audits are conducted in accordance with the requirements in 45 CFR 74 and 92.

Records:   Grantees are required to keep financial and other grant records for 3 years after the completion of the grant or completion of audit whichever occurs first.

FINANCIAL INFORMATION:

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

Obligations:   (Grants and Contracts) FY 01 $27,379,000; FY 02 est $27,385,000; and FY 03 est $27,405,000. (Note: The funds in this program are also available for program contracts. The amounts that can be used for contracts cannot be predetermined.)

Range and Average of Financial Assistance:   From $120,000 to $500,000; Average: $271,432.

In fiscal year 2001, 89 grants were awarded. It is anticipated that 83 grants will be awarded in fiscal year 2002 and 84 grants in fiscal year 2003.

REGULATIONS, GUIDELINES, AND LITERATURE:

Priority statements, application information and submission deadline available at no charge.

INFORMATION CONTACTS:

Regional or Local Office:   Not applicable.

Headquarters Office:   Children's Bureau, Administration for Children and Families, 330 C Street, SW., Washington, DC 20447. Contact: Sally Flanzer. Telephone: (202) 205-8914.

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

EXAMPLES OF FUNDED PROJECTS:

Innovations for Increasing Adoptions of Minority Children Targeted Field-Initiated Research and Service Demonstrations Support for Improving Implementation of the Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children Collaborative Planning to Increase Inter-jurisdictional Adoptions.

CRITERIA FOR SELECTING PROPOSALS:

An assessment is made of: (1) The degree to which proposal shows promise of meeting specific objectives defined in a program announcement; (2) innovation and advancement of the field, (3) reasonableness of cost; and (4) qualification of staff.