Arra - Emergency Contingency Fund For Temporary Assistance For Needy Families (tanf) State Programs (93.714)

Program

93.714 Arra - Emergency Contingency Fund For Temporary Assistance For Needy Families (tanf) State Programs

Federal Agency

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

Authorization

TANF Emergency Fund, Recovery Act, Title IV, Part A, Section 2101, Public Law 111-5, 42 U.S.C 603(c).

Program Number

93.714

Last Known Status

Active

Objectives

This funding will provide economic stimulus to the nation while furthering the ACF mission to promote the economic and social well being of children, youth, families, and communities. The objective of the program is to provide up to $5 billion for jurisdictions (States, Territories, and Tribes) in fiscal year (FY) 2009 and FY 2010 that have an increase in assistance caseloads and/or certain types of expenditures. This Emergency Fund is in addition to the TANF Contingency Fund in section 403(b) of the Act that currently gives money to qualifying States (but not Territories or Tribes) during an economic downturn.

Types of Assistance

Formula Grants

Uses and Use Restrictions

Emergency Fund grants are Federal TANF funds. Jurisdictions must use these funds in accordance with section 404 of the Act. This does not include authority to transfer emergency funds to either the Social Services Block Grant (SSBG) or the Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG) because that transfer authority is limited to grants made under section 403(a) of the Act. Emergency funds are available until expended.

Jurisdictions may carry over emergency funds for use in a succeeding fiscal year as authorized under section 404(e) of the Act. Section 403(c)(5) of the Act imposes a cumulative cap on the amount of emergency funding that a jurisdiction can receive for the two-year period. The capped amount consists of the cumulative combined grants from the existing Contingency Fund (section 403(b)) and the Emergency Fund (section 403(c)) and the total of the two cannot exceed 50 percent of the jurisdiction�s annual Federal TANF family assistance grant.

The same financial and programmatic rules pertaining to the appropriate use of the jurisdiction�s Federal TANF block grant funds also apply when using the emergency funds. This also means that all TANF requirements, including work participation requirements and time limits, apply to families receiving assistance with emergency funds exactly as they do to families receiving other Federal TANF-funded assistance. See above.

Eligibility Requirements

Applicant Eligibility

None.

Beneficiary Eligibility

None.

Credentials/Documentation

Federal funds go to the State, Territory, or Tribal TANF agencies. This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-87.

Application and Award Process

Preapplication Coordination

Each jurisdiction must request these funds for each quarter that they are eligible by having an increase in assistance caseloads or certain types of expenditures. Environmental impact information is not required for this program. This program is excluded from coverage under E.O. 12372.

Application Procedure

This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-102. This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-110. Each jurisdiction may request these funds for each quarter that they are eligible by having an increase in assistance caseloads or certain types of expenditures. Information necessary to apply for emergency funds may be submitted electronically or manually. The chief executive officer of the jurisdiction or his/her designee must submit the request for emergency funds.

Award Procedure

If a request for emergency funds has been approved by HHS, funds will be distributed quarterly.

Deadlines

Sep 01, 2010 Requests can be submitted any time in fiscal year 2009 and fiscal year 2010, and a jurisdiction may submit requests for funds for a particular quarter as early as one month before the beginning of the quarter. All requests must be awarded by September 30, 2010.

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time

Review and evaluation of applications is a priority and we will act upon them within an �as soon as possible� timeframe.

Appeals

Jurisdictions facing an adverse action by the Secretary of HHS may appeal under both administrative and judicial procedures.

Renewals

Each jurisdiction may request these funds for each quarter that it is eligible by having an increase in assistance caseloads or certain types of expenditures.

Assistance Considerations

Formula and Matching Requirements

This program has no statutory formula.

This program has no matching requirements.

This program does not have MOE requirements.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance

Jurisdictions are awarded their emergency fund grants in quarterly payments. They may reserve grant moneys, without fiscal year limitation. Method of awarding/releasing assistance: quarterly.

Post Assistance Requirements

Reports

Program reports are not applicable. Cash reports are not applicable. Progress reports are not applicable. Jurisdictions have to submit information on caseloads and expenditures. Funded grantees must submit reports as required by Section 1512 of the Recovery Act. Performance monitoring is not applicable.

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. Audits shall be conducted by the Inspector General and the jurisdictions under Chapter 75 of Title 31, United States Code.

Records

Jurisdictions must maintain records containing information the Secretary may require by regulation. Information submitted in support of a request for Emergency Funds will be tested for reliability and accuracy. Accordingly, jurisdictions are expected, as required by the federal regulations at 45 CFR 92.20 and 45 CFR 92.42, to maintain pertinent documentation related to caseload and expenditure data used to support the request for funds, be able to link the information to the relevant reporting and accounting system, and make such information available in a clear and understandable form that can be validated by an auditor.

Program Accomplishments

Not Applicable.

Financial Information

Account Identification

75-1523-0-1-506 - TAFS: 75-0910-1523.

Obligations

(Formula Grants) FY 08 $0; FY 09 est $1,475,000,000; FY 10 est $3,525,000,000 - Up to $5 billion is available in FY 2009 and 2010. The amount of funds obligated in FYs 2009 and 2010 will depend on the funding requested by eligible states.

Range and Average of Financial Assistance

This is a new grant and the information is unknown at this time.

Regulations, Guidelines and Literature

Program rules for State programs can be found at 45 CFR Parts 260 through 265. Tribal rules can be found at 45 CFR Part 286. Guidance for the submittal of applications for the Emergency Fund, will be accomplished through issuance of a Policy Announcement and Program Instruction, including reporting forms approved under the Paperwork Reduction Act.

Related Programs

93.558 Temporary Assistance for Needy Families; 93.594 Tribal Work Grants; 93.595 Welfare Reform Research, Evaluations and National Studies; 93.596 Child Care Mandatory and Matching Funds of the Child Care and Development Fund; 93.667 Social Services Block Grant

Information Contacts

Regional or Local Office

See Regional Agency Offices. Region I (CT, MA, ME, NH, RI, VT):

Mary Ann Higgins, Acting Regional Program Manager, Administration for Children and Families, Office of Family Assistance, Boston Regional Office, JFK Building, Rm. 2000, Boston, MA 02203. Telephone: (617) 565-1020.

Region II (NJ, NY, PR, VI):

Joanne Krudys, Regional Program Manager, Administration for Children and Families, Office of Family Assistance, New York Regional Office, 26 Federal Plaza, Room 4114, New York, NY 10278. Telephone: (212) 264-2890, ext. 127.

Region III (DC, DE, MD, PA, VA, WV):

Eileen Friedman, Regional Program Manager, Administration for Children and Families, Office of Family Assistance, Philadelphia Regional Office, 150 S. Independence Mall West, Suite 864, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19106-3499. Telephone: (215) 861-4058.

Region IV (AL, FL, GA, KY, MS, NC, SC, TN):

Darrel McGhee, Regional Program Manager, Administration for Children and Families, Office of Family Assistance, Atlanta Regional Office, 61 Forsyth Street, Suite 4M60, Atlanta, Georgia 30303-8909. Telephone: (404) 562-2936.

Region V (IL, IN, MI, MN, OH, WI):

Steven Krasner, Regional Program Manager, Administration for Children and Families, Office of Family Assistance, Chicago Regional Office, 233 N. Michigan Ave. - Suite 400, Chicago, IL 60601. Telephone: (312) 353-3265.

Region VI (AR, LA, NM, OK, TX):

Larry Brendel, Regional Program Manager, Administration for Children and Families, Office of Family Assistance, Dallas Regional Office, 1301 Young Street, Room 945, Dallas, TX 75202. Telephone: (214) 767-6236.

Region VII (IA, KS, MO, NE):

Gary Allen, Regional Program Manager, Administration for Children and Families, Office of Family Assistance, Kansas City Regional Office, Rm. 276, 601 E 12 St., Kansas City, MO 64106. Telephone: (816) 426-2236.

Region VIII (CO, MT, ND, SD, UT, WY)

Felicia Gaither, Regional Program Manager, Administration for Children and Families, Office of Family Assistance, Denver Regional Office, 1961 Stout Street, 9th Floor, Denver, CO 80294. Telephone: (303) 844-1483.

Region IX (AZ, CA, GU, HI, NV):

Dan Baker, Regional Program Manager, Administration for Children and Families, Office of Family Assistance, San Francisco Regional Office, 90 7th Street, Ninth Floor, San Francisco, CA 94103. Telephone: (415) 437-8450.

Region X (AK, ID, OR, WA):

Frank Shields, Regional Program Manager, Administration for Children and Families, Office of Family Assistance, Seattle Regional Office, 2201 Sixth Avenue, M/S 74, Seattle, WA 98121. Telephone (206) 615-2569.

Headquarters Office

Robert M. Shelbourne Office of the Director, Office of Family Assistance, Administration for Children and Families, Department of Health and Human Services, 5th Floor East, Aerospace Building, 370 L�Enfant Promenade, SW., Washington, District of Columbia 20447 Email: rshelbourne@acf.hhs.gov Phone: (202) 401-5150 Fax: (202) 401-5554

Web Site Address

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

Examples of Funded Projects

Not Applicable.

Criteria for Selecting Proposals

Not Applicable.