Abstinence Education (93.235)

Program

93.235 Abstinence Education

Federal Agency

Agency: Department of Health and Human Services
Office: Administration For Children And Families

Authorization

Title V, Section 510 of the Social Security Act.

Program Number

93.235

Last Known Status

Active

Objectives

To enable States to provide abstinence education, and at the option of the State, where appropriate, mentoring, counseling, and adult supervision to promote abstinence from sexual activity, with a focus on those groups which are most likely to bear children out-of-wedlock.

Types of Assistance

FORMULA GRANTS

Uses and Use Restrictions

Pursuant to Section 510(b)(2) of Title V of the Social Security Act, the term "abstinence education" means an educational or motivational program that:
(A) has as its exclusive purpose, teaching the social, psychological, and health gains to be realized by abstaining from sexual activity;
(B) teaches abstinence from sexual activity outside marriage as the expected standard for all school age children;
(C) teaches that abstinence from sexual activity is the only certain way to avoid out-of-wedlock pregnancy, sexually transmitted diseases, and other associated health problems;
(D) teaches that a mutually faithful monogamous relationship in the context of marriage is the expected standard of human sexual activity;
(E) teaches that sexual activity outside of the context of marriage is likely to have harmful psychological and physical effects;
(F) teaches that bearing children out-of-wedlock is likely to have harmful consequences for the child, the child�s parents, and society;
(G) teaches young people how to reject sexual advances and how alcohol and drug use increases vulnerability to sexual advances; and
(H) teaches the importance of attaining self-sufficiency before engaging in sexual activity.

Eligibility Requirements

Applicant Eligibility

The Governor of each State shall determine which agency will administer the Section 510 Abstinence Education program in each State. A letter from the Governor, or a designee within the Governor's office, must accompany each application. The application may be developed in consultation with the State Maternal and Child Health Services (MCHS) Agency as outlined by (Sec 505 (a)(5)(F)) or soley by a social services agency within the State that is identified and designated by the Governor. No funding will be awarded unless the State "has transmitted an application for the fiscal year under section 505(a)" of the Social Security Act, as required by section 510(a).

Beneficiary Eligibility

School-age girls and boys, adolescents, at-risk populations subject to out-of-wedlock births, parents, youth serving professionals and families.

Credentials/Documentation

The authorized representative, established under State law, shall apply for and administer the Section 510 State Abstinence Education Program. A signed letter from the authorized representative must accompany each application; it should include documentation establishing the authorized representative�s authority to apply for and administer State Abstinence Education Grant Program funds on behalf of the State.

The application may be developed solely by the authorized representative or in consultation with the State Maternal and Child Health Services Agency (as outlined by Sec. 505(a)(5)(F) of the Social Security Act) and/or other relevant State agencies such as the State Department of Education.

A total of 59 States and Territories are eligible. Eligible entities include all 50 States, the District of Columbia, American Samoa, Guam, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, the Republic of Palau, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands [45 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 96.2]. OMB Circular No. A-87 applies to this program. OMB Circular No. A-87 applies to this program.

Application 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 Procedure

OMB Circular No. A-102 applies to this program. This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-110. OMB Circular No. A-102 applies to this program. This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-110. The most recent program announcement (Funding Opportunity Number HHS-2008-ACF-ACYF-AEGP-0125) instructs States in how to apply for funding for FY 2009; awards are contingent upon Congressional re-authorization or the continued extension of the authorization and funding of the program. The program announcement can be found here: http://www.acf.hhs.gov/grants/open/HHS-2008-ACF-ACYF-AEGP-0125.html

Under this program announcement, States are applying for funds for FY 2009 through FY 2013 and will not be required to submit applications for the years FY 2010 through FY 2013 unless there are material changes made to the program. The program announcement provides additional details.

Award Procedure

ACF will recruit and train Federal staff and contractors to review State applications. Program administrators will review observations and comments of reviewers to assure they are in compliance with guidelines and Federal law.

Applications will be rated �Approved,� �Approved with Conditions,� or �Approval Pending.�

States that submit applications that are �Approved� will receive grant awards and will not need to send further information.

States that submit applications that are �Approved with Conditions" will receive grant awards with descriptions of weaknesses and subsequent conditions that must be met in order to receive �Approved� status. The applicants will be given a set time period to send to ACF a response that addresses the conditions.

States that submit applications that are rated �Approval Pending� will receive a list of weaknesses cited by the reviewer and directions for submitting an amended application that addresses the weaknesses. The State will not receive a grant award until the State submits a satisfactory application. The applicants will be notified of a final due date for submission of a satisfactory application.

Deadlines

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

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time

From 30 to 60 days.

Appeals

Not Applicable.

Renewals

From 30 to 60 days.

Assistance Considerations

Formula and Matching Requirements

This program has no statutory formula.

Matching Requirements: Percent: 75.%. There is a required match of 3 nonfederal dollars for every 4 Federal dollars. For example, if a state�s federal award is $100,000, the State must provide a match of $75,000, which would represent 43% of the total project cost of $175,000 (counting both federal grant and state match). The match can be reached by use of state dollars, local government dollars, private dollars including foundation dollars, in-kind support, or any combination thereof. This program does not have MOE requirements.

This program does not have MOE requirements.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance

In accordance with Section 503 of the Social Security Act, �Any amount payable to a State under this title from allotments for a fiscal year which remains unobligated at the end of such year shall remain available to such State for obligation during the next fiscal year.� For example, funds appropriated and allocated to the States in FY 2009 (starting October 1, 2008) are available for obligation and expenditures through September 30, 2010. Two-year budget periods are contingent upon Congressional re-authorization or the continued extension of the authorization and funding of the program. Method of awarding/releasing assistance: quarterly. Method of awarding/releasing assistance: quarterly.

Post Assistance Requirements

Reports

Progress reports and financial expenditure reports are required. The SF-272 is the Federal Cash Transactions Report. Progress reports are due annually. Specific guidance regarding data to be reported is given in the program announcement. Program guidelines allow States to expend abstinence education funds over a two-year period. For FY 2009, the budget period is October 1, 2008 through September 30, 2010. An interim Financial Status Report (SF-269A) is due December 30, 2009, and a final fiscal report is due December 30, 2010. Performance monitoring occurs by reviewing program progress reports, conducting monitoring phone calls and conducting monitoring site visits.

Audits

In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-133 (Revised, June 27, 2003), "Audits of States, Local Governments, and Non-Profit Organizations," nonfederal entities that expend financial assistance of $500,000 or more in Federal awards will have a single or a program-specific audit conducted for that year. Nonfederal entities that expend less than $500,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in Circular No. A-133. In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-133 (Revised, June 27, 2003), "Audits of States, Local Governments, and Non-Profit Organizations," nonfederal entities that expend financial assistance of $500,000 or more in Federal awards will have a single or a program-specific audit conducted for that year. Nonfederal entities that expend less than $500,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in Circular No. A-133. As described in Title V, Section 506(b)(1) of the Social Security Act, each state shall, not less often than once every two years, audit its expenditures from amounts received under this title.

Records

Records of the recipient shall be made available to the Secretary to secure an accurate description of the activities for which funds were spent in achieving the purposes of this section. States shall make available copies of reports and audits for public inspection within the State. Within 30 days following the completion of each audit report, the State shall submit a copy of that audit report to the Secretary.

Program Accomplishments

Fiscal Year 2008: Fiscal Year 2008: In FY 2008, $27,819,537 Title V grants were awarded to 28 States and two territories. Fiscal Year 2009: No Current Data Available Fiscal Year 2010: No Current Data Available

Financial Information

Account Identification

75-1536-0-1-506.

Obligations

(Formula Grants) FY 08 $27,820,000; FY 09 est $37,500,000; FY 10 est $0

Range and Average of Financial Assistance

Range: $57,057 - $4,777,916
Average: $847,458 ($50 Million divided by 59 eligible States, Territories and the District of Columbia).

Regulations, Guidelines and Literature

Contact the Family and Youth Services Bureau central office for available literature. You may also get information on the Family and Youth Services Bureau website at the following address: http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/fysb

Related Programs

93.010 Community-Based Abstinence Education (CBAE) ; 93.111 Adolescent Family Life Research Grants

Information Contacts

Regional or Local Office

None.

Headquarters Office

Curtis Porter 1250 Maryland Avenue, SW - 8th Floor, Washington, District of Columbia 20447 Email: curtis.porter@acf.hhs.gov Phone: 202-205-8306

Web Site Address

http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/fysb.

Examples of Funded Projects

Fiscal Year 2008: Grantees implement a wide range of program types including: in-class abstinence education, after-school abstinence education, parent education, training for abstinence educators, mentoring, assemblies, community retreats, conferences and other activities. Fiscal Year 2009: No Current Data Available Fiscal Year 2010: No Current Data Available

Criteria for Selecting Proposals

Applications are reviewed for addressing all criteria given in the program announcement.