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Grants for the Rural Veterans Coordination Pilot
The objective of the pilot is to assess the feasibility of using community-based organizations and local, State, and Tribal government entities to determine best practices in successfully coordinating multi-sector benefits for Veterans and their families who reside in rural or underserved communities.
Fiscal Year 2015: The Maine Department of Labor connects Veterans with career counselors who help identify opportunities, arrange training and translate military skills to civilian jobs, especially for thousands of Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom Veterans returning home.
A portion of the funding also helps Easter Seals expand their Veteran outreach services deeper into rural Maine.
The Nebraska Association of Local Health Directors trains local health departments and community organizations to address Veteran-specific needs, so they can provide more comprehensive, patient-centered care to Veterans and their families.
Project coordinators also link Veterans to other benefits.
The New Mexico Department of Veteran Services arranges job counseling, benefits advice, and free mental health services to transitioning Veterans and their families.
They host benefits fairs and are establishing Veteran and family transition centers in four regions of the state.
This growing network of VA and community partners means more access points for Veterans to connect with health care and services.
The Volunteers of America of North Louisiana organizes telemedicine care and works to prevent homelessness among rural Veterans and their families in parts of Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma and Texas.
They also coordinate transportation for rural Veterans and use telehealth technology to increase access to health providers.
WestCare Washington, Inc.
provides health services, benefits advice, and phone counseling to Veterans and their families in Washington and Oregon.
Boots-on-the-ground ?navigators,? many of whom served in the military themselves, conduct personalized outreach to other Veterans in their rural communities.
Fiscal Year 2016: No Current Data Available Fiscal Year 2017: No Current Data Available
The Department of Veterans Affairs strives for excellence in patient care and veteran's benefits for its constituents through high quality, prompt and seamless service to United States veterans.
Janice Garland 202-382-2301; rvcp@va.gov.
Selected Recipients for this Program
| Recipient | Amount | Start Date | End Date | |
| Westcare Washington | $ 2,000,000 | 2014-09-15 | 2016-09-14 | |
| Volunteers Of America Of North Louisiana | $ 1,796,211 | 2014-09-15 | ||
| Labor, Maine Department Of | $ 1,732,442 | 2014-09-15 | ||
| Nebraska Association Of Local Health Directors | $ 1,999,723 | 2014-09-15 | ||
| New Mexico Department Of Veterans Services | $ 1,814,463 | 2014-09-15 | ||
| $ 0 | ||||
| $ 0 | ||||
| $ 0 | ||||
| $ 0 | ||||
| $ 0 |
Program Accomplishments
Not Applicable.
Uses and Use Restrictions
The pilot required the program be carried out in five locations for a two year period in accordance with 38 CFR 64.6.
The pilot requires that the program be carried out in five locations and the grants are for a two year period.
The locations that must be considered shall be rural areas with high proportions of minorities in the population with limited access to health care and not in close proximity to an active duty military installation.
Eligibility Requirements
Applicant Eligibility
The eligible entities that applied for the grant were (1) Private non-profit organizations with tax exempt status (501 (C) 3) and (2) local, state and tribal government entities.
Beneficiary Eligibility
Eligible Veterans for the program are limited to Veterans and their accompanying families who are transitioning from military service to civilian life in rural areas. According to Federal Register (78 FR 12617) on February 25, 2013, which is codified at 38 CFR part 64, an eligible Veteran means a person who served in active military, naval, or air service, who was discharged or released under conditions other than dishonorable. A Veteran who is transitioning from military service to civilian life means a veteran who is separating from active military, naval, or air service in the Armed Forces to return to life as a civilian, and such veteran's date of discharge or release from active military, naval, or air service was not more than 2 years prior to the date on which the RVCP grant was awarded. A Veteran's family means those individuals who reside with the veteran in the veteran's primary residence. These individuals include a parent, a spouse, a child, a step-family member, an extended family member, and individuals who reside in the home with the veteran but are not a member of the family of the veteran.
Credentials/Documentation
No Credentials or documentation are required. This program is excluded from coverage under 2 CFR 200, Subpart E - Cost Principles.
Aplication and Award Process
Preapplication Coordination
Preapplication coordination is not applicable.
Environmental impact information is not required for this program.
This program is excluded from coverage under E.O.
12372.
Application Procedures
This program is excluded from coverage under 2 CFR 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards. The VA published a Notice of Fund Availability soliciting applications for the grant program and information on applications for requesting eligibility to receive grant funds on February 25, 2013 in the Federal Register. RVCP grants were publicized through a Notice of Funding Availability published in the Federal Register.
Award Procedures
Applicants were notified on September 2, 2014 of the funding decisions by letter.
Deadlines
Contact the headquarters or regional office, as appropriate, for application deadlines.
Authorization
The Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus Health Services Act of 2010, Public Law 111-163.
Range of Approval/Disapproval Time
Not Applicable.
Appeals
Appeals for non-selection may be made in writing to the RVCP Program Office within 30 days of notice of non-selection. If an applicant would have been selected but for a procedural error committed by VA, VA may select that applicant for funding when sufficient funds become available if there is no material change in the information that would have resulted in the applicant?s selection. A new application will not be required for this purpose.
Renewals
RVCP grants are limited to a two year period and are not renewable.
Assistance Considerations
Formula and Matching Requirements
Statutory formulas are not applicable to this program. Matching requirements are not applicable to this program. MOE requirements are not applicable to this program.
Length and Time Phasing of Assistance
RVCP grants are limited to two years. Grantee programs are operational. Method of awarding/releasing assistance: lump sum. Method of awarding/releasing assistance: lump sum.
Post Assistance Requirements
Reports
Not Applicable.
Audits
This program is excluded from coverage under 2 CFR 200, Subpart F - Audit Requirements. This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-133. Grantees must comply with applicable requirements of the Single Audit Act Amendments of 1996 (31 U.S.C. 7501-7507) and revised OMB Circular A-133, ?Audits of States, Local Governments, and Non-Profit Organizations,? codified by VA at 38 CFR Part 41.
Records
Grantees must ensure that records are maintained for at least three years beyond the close of RVCP to document compliance with this part. Grantees must produce such records at VA?s request.
Financial Information
Account Identification
36-0160-0-1-703.
Obigations
(Project Grants) FY 15 $0; FY 16 est $0; and FY 17 est $0 - FY14: Project grants obligated in the amount of $2 million for each of the 5 grants. FY15-17: No further obligations (see FY14).
Range and Average of Financial Assistance
VA is to carry out the program in five locations to be selected by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs. Two million dollars will be allocated for the five grantees, a total of 10 million dollars for a time period of two years.
Regulations, Guidelines, and Literature
Federal Register Volume 78, No 37, Monday February 25, 2013, Rules and Regulations, page 12617
Information Contacts
Regional or Local Office
None. Janice Garland 202-382-2301; rvcp@va.gov.
Headquarters Office
Michelle Staton 810 Vermont Ave., Washington, District of Columbia 20420 Email: michelle.staton@va.gov Phone: 202-461-4178
Criteria for Selecting Proposals
Applications were scored utilizing the criteria outlined in the Notice of Funding Availability released in the Federal Register, February 25, 2013.
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