Chafee Foster Care Independent Living (93.674)

Program

93.674 Chafee Foster Care Independent Living

Federal Agency

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

Authorization

Social Security Act, Title IV-E, Section 477, Public Law 110-351; as amended.

Program Number

93.674

Last Known Status

Active

Objectives

To assist States and eligible Indian Tribes in establishing and carrying out programs designed to assist foster youth likely to remain in foster care until 18 years of age, youth who leave foster care for adoption or kinship guardianship after attaining age 16, and youth who have left foster care because they attained 18 years of age and have not yet attained 21 years of age, to make the transition from foster care to self-sufficiency.

Types of Assistance

FORMULA GRANTS

Uses and Use Restrictions

Grants may be used to assist youth: to make the transition to self-sufficiency; to receive education, training and related services; to prepare for and obtain employment; to prepare for and enter post secondary training and educational institutions; to provide personal and emotional support to youth through mentors and the promotion of interactions with dedicated adults; and to provide financial, housing, counseling, employment, education, other appropriate support and services to current and former foster care recipients up to the age of 21.

Eligibility Requirements

Applicant Eligibility

State governments, including the 50 States, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, and eligible Indian Tribes.

Beneficiary Eligibility

Children and youth "who are likely to remain in foster care" until age 18, youth who left foster care to adoption or kinship guardianship after attaining age 16, and former foster care recipients up to age 21.

Credentials/Documentation

Costs will be determined in accordance with 45 CFR Part 92. OMB Circular No. A-87 applies to this program.

Application and Award Process

Preapplication Coordination

Preapplication coordination is required. 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. A five-year plan and annual updates must be submitted to the appropriate Regional Child Welfare Program Manager for the Administration for Children (ACF).

Award Procedure

Quarterly awards are made up to the amount of one-fourth of the State's annual allotment.

Deadlines

Jun 30, 2010 June 30, of each year.

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time

From 60 to 90 days. The State plan or its annual update is due June 30 of each year. Approval/Disapproval is due September 30 of each year.

Appeals

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

Renewals

Not Applicable.

Assistance Considerations

Formula and Matching Requirements

Statutory Formula: Each State is allotted an amount of funds which bears the same ratio as the number of children in foster care in that State bears to the total number of children in foster care in all States in the most recent fiscal year for which such information is available. Data submitted by states into the Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System's (AFCARS) national database will be used to calculate State allotments. The Federal government will pay 80 percent of the total amount of funds expended by the states (less any penalties) up to the amount of CFCIP funds allotted to the State. The State must provide matching contributions to cover the additional 20 percent of the costs. The minimum payable amount to a State is $500,000. See Section 477(c) of the Social Security Act.

Matching Requirements: Percent: 20.%.

This program does not have MOE requirements.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance

Grant awards are made quarterly on a fiscal year basis. Method of awarding/releasing assistance: quarterly.

Post Assistance Requirements

Reports

States are required to submit expenditure reports and annual program reports. PSC-272. Progress reports are not applicable. SF-269. 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 are conducted in accordance with the requirements in 45 CFR 74 and 92.

Records

States must maintain records which permit review of expenditures in accordance with the provisions of the law.

Program Accomplishments

Fiscal Year 2008: 54 grants were made in the mandatory grant program. The program also supported Training and Technical Assistance through a National Resource Center and supports evaluation efforts of the program for approximately $2.1 million. Fiscal Year 2009: Anticipate 52 grants and Training and Technical Assistance and evaluation of approximately $2.1 million. Fiscal Year 2010: Anticipate 52 grants and Training and Technical Assistance and evaluation of approximately $2.1 million.

Financial Information

Account Identification

75-1545-0-1-609.

Obligations

(Formula Grants (Apportionments)) FY 08 $137,900,000; FY 09 est $137,900,000; FY 10 est $137,900,000

Range and Average of Financial Assistance

$500,000 to $20,510,930 with an average award of $2,651,923.

Regulations, Guidelines and Literature

Program Instruction (PI) ACYF-CB-PI-01-02, dates February 13, 2001; ACYF-CB-PI-09-06 and ACYF-CB-PI-09-07, issued June 3, 2009.

Related Programs

93.550 Transitional Living for Homeless Youth; 93.556 Promoting Safe and Stable Families; 93.645 Child Welfare Services_State Grants; 93.658 Foster Care_Title IV-E

Information Contacts

Regional or Local Office

See Regional Agency Offices. Contact Regional Administration for Children and Families. (See Appendix IV of the Catalog for addresses.).

Headquarters Office

Catherine Heath 1250 Maryland Ave, SW, 8th Floor, Washington, District of Columbia 20024 Phone: 202-690-7888

Web Site Address

http://www.acf.dhhs.gov/programs/cb.

Examples of Funded Projects

Not Applicable.

Criteria for Selecting Proposals

States meeting requirements for entitlement funds will receive grants.