To provide, through interagency collaboration and integration of program activities and services that are designed to increase well-being, improve permanency outcomes, and enhance the safety of children who are in an out-of-home placement or are at risk of being placed in out-of-home care as a result

credit: Wikimedia Commons

of a parent's or caretaker's substance abuse.

Selected Recipients for this Program

Fiscal Year 2016: 21 non-competing continuation grants were awarded. Fiscal Year 2017: It is anticipated that 4 non-competing continuation grants will be awarded and 17 new grants will be awarded. Fiscal Year 2018: It is anticipated that 21 non-competing continuation grants will be awarded.

Uses and Use Restrictions

Grants are provided for services or activities that are consistent with the purpose of section 437(f) of Title IV-B of the Social Security Act and may include the following: (1) family-based comprehensive long-term substance abuse treatment services; (2) early intervention and preventative services; (3) children and family counseling; (4) mental health services; (5) parenting skills training; and (6) replication of successful models for providing family-based comprehensive long-term substance abuse treatment services.

Other suggested activities and services are listed in the program announcement.

One hundred percent of funds are set-aside for discretionary activities.

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Eligibility Requirements

Applicant Eligibility

State governments, county governments, local governments, city or township governments, regional organizations, U.S.

territory or possession, independent school districts, public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, Indian/Native American tribal governments (federally recognized), Indian/Native American tribal organizations (other than federally recognized), Indian/Native American tribally designated organizations, public/Indian housing authorities, non-profits with 501(c)(3) IRS status (other than institutions of higher education), non-profits without 501(c)(3) IRS status (other than institutions of higher education), private institutions of higher education, for-profit organizations (other than small businesses), small businesses, Hispanic-serving institutions, historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs), tribally controlled colleges and universities (TCCUs), Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian serving institutions, and special district governments.

Foreign entities are not eligible under this announcement.

Applications must represent regional partnerships formed by a collaborative agreement.

Applications must identify a primary applicant responsible for administering the grant.

The primary applicant must be one of the regional partnership organizations listed above.

The primary applicant cannot be an individual.

The regional partnership must include either the state child welfare agency that is responsible for the administration of the state plan under title IV-B or title IV-E of the Social Security Act or an Indian tribe or tribal consortium but the regional partnership may not consist of only state entities.

Beneficiary Eligibility

Agencies or organizations serving children and families who have experienced or are at risk of experiencing an out of home placement as a result of a parent's or caregiver's substance abuse.

Credentials/Documentation

Non-profit agencies must submit proof of nonprofit status. Applicable costs and administrative procedures will be determined in accordance with 45 CFR Part 75. 2 CFR 200, Subpart E - Cost Principles applies to this program.

Aplication and Award Process

Preapplication Coordination

Standard application forms as furnished by DHHS must be used for this program.

Environmental impact information is not required for this program.

This program is eligible for coverage under E.O.

12372, 'Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs.' An applicant should consult the office or official designated as the single point of contact in his or her State for more information on the process the State requires to be followed in applying for assistance, if the State has selected the program for review.

Application Procedures

2 CFR 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards applies to this program. Announcement of availability of funds is posted to grants.gov. Eligible applicants submit applications by specified deadlines.

Award Procedures

Grant applications are reviewed by a panel of non-federal professionals with expertise in the fields of child welfare and substance abuse treatment. Final decisions are made by the Commissioner, Administration on Children, Youth and Families (ACYF).

Deadlines

Contact the headquarters or regional office, as appropriate, for application deadlines.

Authorization

Social Security Act, as amended, Title IV, Part B, Section 437(f), 42 U.S.C 629g.

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time

Three to six months.

Appeals

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

Renewals

Projects are awarded with a provision for non-competitive renewal during the selected award period (5 years).

Assistance Considerations

Formula and Matching Requirements

Statutory formulas are not applicable to this program. Matching Requirements: The required match must increase over the course of the grant period, such that grantees must contribute 15 percent of the costs of grant-funded services and activities in year 1 and year 2, 20 percent of such costs in year 3 and year 4, and 25 percent of such costs in year 5. MOE requirements are not applicable to this program.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance

Grants were available for a 60-month period. Renewal funding for multiple-year grants is dependent upon grantee performance and availability of funds. See the following for information on how assistance is awarded/released: Grant awards are managed by a payment management system that manages grant payment requests, drawdowns, and disbursements.

Post Assistance Requirements

Reports

Grantees must select and track performance indicators that measure the extent to which grant-funded activities and services enhance the safety, permanency, and well-being of children and their families.

Financial reporting is conducted via the PSC 272.

Program progress reports are required semiannually with a final report at completion of the project.

Financial expenditure reports are required semiannually with a final report at completion of the project.

Grantees must select, track and semi-annually report on performance indicators that measure the extent to which grant-funded activities and services enhance the safety, permanency, and well-being of children and their families.

In addition, grantees are required to have a local evaluation that is of sufficient rigor to assess impacts on service delivery and outcomes, as well as participate in the national cross-site evaluation.

Audits

In accordance with the provisions of 2 CFR 200, Subpart F - Audit Requirements, non-Federal entities that expend financial assistance of $750,000 or more in Federal awards will have a single or a program-specific audit conducted for that year. Non-Federal entities that expend less than $750,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in 2 CFR 200.503. Audits are conducted in accordance with requirements in 45 CFR 75 Subpart F.

Records

All financial records are to be maintained for 3 years after termination of the project or until audit is completed, whichever comes first.

Financial Information

Account Identification

75-1512-0-1-506.

Obigations

(Project Grants (Discretionary)) FY 16 $14,148,747; FY 17 est $14,100,000; and FY 18 est $14,100,000

Range and Average of Financial Assistance

For FY 2016, the range of grants were from $500,000 to $1,000,000 with an average grant of $672,124.

Regulations, Guidelines, and Literature

45 CFR 1340.

Information Contacts

Regional or Local Office

None.

Headquarters Office

Jean Blankenship Office on Child Abuse and Neglect, Children's Bureau 330 C Street SW, Room 3418C, Washington, District of Columbia 20201 Email: jean.blankenship@acf.hhs.gov Phone: (202) 401-2887

Criteria for Selecting Proposals

Applications are evaluated on the basis of the degree to which proposals meet specific objectives defined in the program announcement including, but not limited to: (1) demonstration of regional impact of methamphetamine or other substance abuse; (2) organizational capacity to collaborate with other service providers; and (3) relevance of proposed services and activities in enhancing the well-being of children in foster care or at risk of foster care due to a parent's or caretaker's substance abuse.