Child Abuse and Neglect State Grants (93.669)

Program

93.669 Child Abuse and Neglect State Grants

Federal Agency

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

Authorization

Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act Amendments, Public Law 104-235; Keeping Children and Families Safe Act of 2003, Public Law 108-36, 42 U.S.C 5101 et seq.; Child Abuse, Domestic Violence, Adoption, and Family Services Act of 1992, Public Law 102-295; Child Abuse Prevention, Adoption and Family Services Act of 1988, Title I, Public Law 100-294; Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act Amendments of 1992, Public Law 102-586.

Program Number

93.669

Last Known Status

Active

Objectives

To assist States in the support and improvement of their child protective services systems.

Types of Assistance

FORMULA GRANTS

Uses and Use Restrictions

The CAPTA Basic State Grant is a formula grant to States only, to be used for improving child protective services systems. For complete details on the types of activities that this grant funds, please see www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/cb/laws, and select capta03.

States can choose from a wide variety of activities as outlined in the legislation. Examples include improving the intake, assessment, screening, and investigation of reports of abuse and neglect; creating and improving the use of multidisciplinary teams and interagency protocols to enhance investigations; improving legal preparation and representation, case management; developing, improving, and implementing risk and safety assessment tools and protocols; developing and updating systems of technology; training regarding research-based strategies to promote collaboration with the families, legal duties of such individuals and personal safety training for case workers; improving the skills, qualifications, and availability of individuals providing services to children and families, and the supervisors of such individuals; developing and delivering information to improve public education relating to the role and responsibilities of the child protection system and the nature and basis for reporting suspected incidents of child abuse and neglect; supporting and enhancing collaboration among public health agencies, the child protection system, and private community-based programs to provide child abuse and neglect prevention and treatment services (including linkages with education systems) and to address the health needs, including mental health needs, of children identified as abused or neglected, including supporting prompt, comprehensive health and developmental evaluations for children who are the subject of substantiated child maltreatment reports.

Eligibility Requirements

Applicant Eligibility

States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam, the Virgin Islands, American Samoa, the Republic of Palau, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.

Beneficiary Eligibility

There are no eligibility requirements attached to the beneficiaries of these funds (abused and neglected children and their families).

Credentials/Documentation

State plans require certification of the State's eligibility under Section 106(b) of the authorizing legislation. Applicable costs and administrative procedure will be determined in accordance with 45 CFR 74 and 92.

In order to be eligible for the Basic State Grant under CAPTA, there are a variety of assurances that the governor must provide in the form of a certification that the State has in effect and is enforcing a State law, or has in effect and is operating a statewide program. These assurances are numerous. For complete details please see the CAPTA legislation at www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/cb/laws, and scroll to capta03.

To the extent practicable, States are encouraged to participate in submitting data to the National Child Abuse and Neglect Data System (NCANDS) project. The Children's Bureau (CB) produces an annual national data report, the most recent of which is entitled Child Maltreatment 2007.

Assurances include provisions or procedures on reporting child abuse and neglect; the intake, assessment, screening, and investigation of reports of abuse and neglect; an appeals process; policies and procedures (including appropriate referrals to child protection service systems and for other appropriate services) to address the needs of substance exposed newborns; provisions for immunity for individuals making good faith reports; confidentiality of all records to protect the rights of the child and of the child�s parents or guardians; disclosure provisions including those which allow for public disclosure of the findings or information about the case of child abuse or neglect which has resulted in a child fatality or near fatality; procedures to promptly expunge unsubstantiated records; provisions for appointment of a guardian ad litem or CASA to represent the child in judicial proceedings; expedited termination of parental rights in the case of any infant determined to be abandoned under State law; provisions and procedures for improving the training, retention, and supervision of caseworkers; processes for referral of a child under the age of 3 who is involved in a substantiated case of child abuse or neglect to early intervention services funded under part C of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act; provisions for requiring criminal background checks for prospective foster and adoptive parents and other adult relatives and non-relatives residing in the household; procedures for responding to medical neglect; prevention efforts, caseworker training, community education, and the establishment of Citizen Review Panels. OMB Circular No. A-87 applies to this program.

Application and Award Process

Preapplication Coordination

Technical assistance is available at the regional level to assist States in meeting conditions specified in the Act. The five-year State plan application and approval process under CAPTA is consolidated with the comprehensive Child and Family Services Plan under Title IV-B of the Social Security Act. The State plan may be submitted in a format best suited to a State's need and must be accompanied by the information, certifications, assurances, and documentation required by the annual program instruction. This program is eligible for coverage under E.O. 12372, "Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs" for State plan consolidation and simplification only. The review and comment provisions do not apply. The application process is governed by the requirements of 45 CFR 74 and 92. 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 Procedure

OMB Circular No. A-102 applies to this program. This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-110. State plans and updates must be submitted to the Regional Offices. Complete information is furnished annually to the appropriate State office regarding format and timing of State plan applications and updates.

Award Procedure

State plans and updates are reviewed at the Regional level; Children's Bureau Regional Program Managers have approval/disapproval authority for these grants.

Deadlines

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

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time

> 180 Days. From 2 to 3 months.

Appeals

Other - Not Specified.

Renewals

Grants are made annually. States submit a five-year plan and annual updates are required each year.

Assistance Considerations

Formula and Matching Requirements

Statutory Formula:

This program has no matching requirements.

This program does not have MOE requirements.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance

Grants are awarded annually. Method of awarding/releasing assistance: quarterly.

Post Assistance Requirements

Reports

Financial data and annual reporting requirements are described in annual Program Instructions. Financial data and annual reporting requirements are described in annual Program Instructions. No progress reports are required. Financial data and annual reporting requirements are described in annual Program Instructions. No performance monitoring is required.

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

Records must be kept in accordance with 45 CFR Parts 74 and 92.

Program Accomplishments

Fiscal Year 2008: In fiscal year 2008, 56 grants were awarded to States to support and improve their State Child protective services systems. Fiscal Year 2009: It is anticipated that 56 grants will be awarded in FY 2009. Fiscal Year 2010: It is anticipated that 56 grants will be awarded in FY 2010.

Financial Information

Account Identification

75-1536-0-1-506.

Obligations

(Formula Grants) FY 08 $26,535,188; FY 09 est $26,535,000; FY 10 est $26,535,000

Range and Average of Financial Assistance

In FY 2008, grants ranged from $55,618 to $3,069,656 with and average award of $482,484.

Regulations, Guidelines and Literature

Regulation 45 CFR 1340; annual Program Instruction.

Related Programs

93.600 Head Start; 93.643 Children's Justice Grants to States; 93.645 Child Welfare Services_State Grants; 93.667 Social Services Block Grant; 93.670 Child Abuse and Neglect Discretionary Activities; 93.671 Family Violence Prevention and Services/Grants for Battered Women's Shelters_Grants to States and Indian Tribes

Information Contacts

Regional or Local Office

See Regional Agency Offices. Children's Bureau Regional Program Managers.

Headquarters Office

Emily Cooke 1250 Maryland Avenue, SW, Washington, District of Columbia 20024 Email: emily.cooke@acf.hhs.gov Phone: 2022058709

Web Site Address

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

Examples of Funded Projects

Fiscal Year 2008: Grants to 51 States and five Territorial governments for one or more of the following purposes: (1) The intake, assessment, screening, and investigation of reports of abuse and neglect; (2) creating and improving the use of multidisciplinary teams and interagency protocols to enhance investigations, and improving legal preparation and representation; (3) case management, on-going case monitoring, and delivery of services and treatment provided to children and their families; (4) enhancing the general child protective system by developing, improving, and implementing risk and safety assessment tools and protocols; (5) developing and updating systems of technology that support the program and track reports of child abuse and neglect from intake through final disposition and allow interstate and intrastate information exchange; (6) developing, strengthening, and facilitating training including (A) training regarding research-based strategies to promote collaboration with the families; (B) training regarding the legal duties of such individuals; and (C) personal safety training for caseworkers; (7) improving the skills, qualifications, and availability of individuals providing services to children and families, and the supervisors of such individuals, through the child protection system, including improvements in the recruitment and retention of caseworkers; (8) developing and facilitating training protocols for individuals mandated to report child abuse or neglect; (9) developing and facilitating research-based strategies for training individuals mandated to report child abuse or neglect; (10) developing, implementing, or operating programs to assist in obtaining or coordinating necessary services for families of disabled infants with life-threatening conditions; (11) developing and delivering information to educate the public on the role and responsibilities of the child protection system and the nature and basis for reporting suspected incidents of child abuse and neglect; (12) developing and enhancing the capacity of community-based programs to integrate shared leadership strategies between parents and professionals to prevent and treat child abuse and neglect at the neighborhood level; (13) supporting and enhancing interagency collaboration between the child protection system and the juvenile justice system for improved delivery of services and treatment; and (14) supporting and enhancing collaboration among public health agencies, the child protection system, and private community-based programs to provide child abuse and neglect prevention and treatment services (including linkages with education systems) and to address the health needs, including mental health needs, of children identified as abused or neglected. Fiscal Year 2009: No Current Data Available Fiscal Year 2010: No Current Data Available

Criteria for Selecting Proposals

States which submit State plans and updates in accordance with the annual updates and statutory requirements.