Child Welfare Services-State Grants (93.645)

 

Program

93.645 Child Welfare Services-State Grants

 

Federal Agency

ADMINISTRATION FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

 

Authorization

Social Security Act, Title IV-B, Subpart 1, as amended.

 

Program Number

93.645

 

Last Known Status

Active

 

Objectives

To establish, extend, and strengthen child welfare services provided by State and local, and Indian Tribal public welfare agencies to enable children to remain in their own homes, or, where that is impossible, to provide alternate permanent homes for them.

 

Types of Assistance

Formula Grants.

 

Uses and Use Restrictions

The grants may be used for: cost of personnel to provide protective services to children; licensing of, and standard-setting for private child-caring agencies and institutions; and assisting with costs of homemaker services, return of runaway children, and prevention and reunification services. Funds for foster care maintenance, day care, and adoption assistance under this program are limited.

 

Eligibility Requirements

Applicant Eligibility

States, the District of Columbia, Indian Tribes, Puerto Rico, the Northern Marianas, the Virgin Islands, Guam, and American Samoa.

Beneficiary Eligibility

Families and children in need of child welfare services will benefit.

Credentials/Documentation

The State department which administers the services program under Title XX must be the designated single State agency to administer child welfare services. Costs will be determined in accordance with 45 CFR Part 92.

 

Application and Award Process

Preapplication Coordination

State plans are covered under E.O. 12372, but Intergovernmental Review is excluded.

Application Procedure

A 5-year State plan must be submitted. The plan must be jointly developed by the Secretary and the State or Indian Tribe and written after consultation by the State agency with appropriate public and non-profit private agencies and community-based organizations. The plan must coordinate the provision services under Title IV-B with services under other Federal or federally-assisted programs serving the same populations.

Award Procedure

Funds will be approved after the State plan, or annual update, is submitted and approved.

Deadlines

States, Territories and Indian Tribes are encouraged to submit application in accordance with Department requirements. Contact Headquarters Office listed below for information.

 

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time

Appeals

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

Renewals

None.

 

Assistance Considerations

Formula and Matching Requirements

Each State receives a base amount of $70,000 for child welfare services. The Federal child Welfare services appropriation is further allotted on a variable formula which takes into account the child population under 21 and the complement of the State per capita income compared to the U.S per capita income. The statistical factors used fund allocations are: (1) the population of children under 21 years of age by State and the source is "Current Population Reports", P-25, Bureau of the Census; and (2) 3-year average per capita income by State and the source is the Bureau of Economic Analysis, Department of Commerce. Income factors for eligibility do not apply to this program. Grantees receive Federal matching at a rate of 75 percent of their expenditures up to the limit of their allocation.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance

Grant awards are made quarterly on a fiscal year basis through a letter of credit. The Electronic Transfer System will be used for monthly cash draws from Federal Reserve Banks.

 

Post Assistance Requirements

Reports

After the end of each of the first four fiscal years, the States, Territories, and Indian Tribes must submit an interim review of progress toward accomplishment of the goals in the State or Tribal plan. After the end of the fifth fiscal year, the States and Indian Tribes must perform a final review of progress toward accomplishment of the goals.

Audits

Audits are conducted in accordance with the requirements in 45 CFR 74 and 92.

Records

States are required to maintain adequate fiscal records, and to make reports as required by DHHS.

 

Program Accomplishments

In fiscal year 2002, 181 grants were awarded. It is anticipated that 184 grants will be awarded in fiscal year 2003 and fiscal year 2004.

 

Financial Information

Account Identification

75-1536-0-1-506.

Obligations

(Grants) FY 02 $291,986,000; FY 03 est $290,088,091; and FY 04 est $291,986,000.

Range and Average of Financial Assistance

$134,600 to $34,000,000; $5,180,144.

 

Regulations, Guidelines and Literature

45 CFR 1355 and 45 CFR 1357.

 

Related Programs

93.556, Promoting Safe and Stable Families; 84.013, Title I Program for Neglected and Delinquent Children; 93.600, Head Start; 93.648, Child Welfare Services Training Grants; 93.658, Foster Care_Title IV-E; 93.659, Adoption Assistance; 93.667, Social Services Block Grant.

 

Information Contacts

Regional or Local Office

Contact Regional Administrator, ACYF. (See Appendix IV of the Catalog for a list of addresses of the Regional offices.)

Headquarters Office

Headquarters Office: Joseph Bock Deputy Associate Commissioner, Children's Bureau, Administration for Children and Families, P.O. Box 1182, Washington, DC 20013. Telephone: (202) 401-2779. FTS is not available.

Web Site Address

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

 

Examples of Funded Projects

Not applicable.

 

Criteria for Selecting Proposals

Not applicable.