Crisis Counseling (97.032)

Program

97.032 Crisis Counseling

Federal Agency

Agency: Department of Homeland Security

Authorization

Crisis Counseling Assistance and Training Act, Public Law 100-707; Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, Section 416, Public Law 93-288, as amended by Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, 42 U.S.C 5182.

Program Number

97.032

Last Known Status

Active

Objectives

To provide short-term crisis counseling services to people affected by a Presidentially-declared major disaster. The purpose of the program is to help relieve any grieving, stress, or mental health problems caused or aggravated by the disaster or its aftermath. Assistance is short-term in nature and provided at no cost to the disaster survivor.

Types of Assistance

PROJECT GRANTS

Uses and Use Restrictions

The Crisis Counseling Assistance and Training Program (CCP) provides supplemental funding to States, U.S. Territories and Federally recognized tribes for technical assistance and training as well as short-term crisis counseling services to individuals impacted by a Presidentially-declared major disaster that includes Individual Assistance. CCP services involve the counseling goals of assisting disaster survivors in understanding their current situations and reactions, mitigating additional stress, assisting survivors in reviewing their options, promoting the use or development of coping strategies, providing emotional support and encouraging linkages with other individuals and agencies who may help survivors recover to their pre-disaster level of functioning. The CCP is comprised of the Immediate Services Program (ISP) and the Regular Services Program (RSP). The Immediate Services Program enables the State or local agency to respond to the immediate mental health needs of people affected by the disaster. The Regular Services Program grant provides up to nine months of crisis counseling, outreach, consultation and education services to people affected by a disaster. Funding for the ISP and RSP programs is considered separate and distinct as these are two different grants.

Eligibility Requirements

Applicant Eligibility

States are eligible for grants. If the Governor determines, during an assessment of the need for crisis counseling services, that because of unusual circumstances or serious conditions within the State or local mental health network, the State cannot carry out the crisis counseling program, he/she may identify a public or private mental health agency or organization to carry out the program or request the Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Regional Director to identify, with assistance of the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), such an agency or organization.

Beneficiary Eligibility

In order to be eligible for services under this program, an individual must be a resident of the designated disaster area or must have been in the designated area at the time the disaster occurred.

Credentials/Documentation

Costs will be determined in accordance with OMB Circular A-87 for State and local governments. Grant awards will be determined in accordance with OMB Circulars A-102 and No. A-87 for State and local governments. States are eligible for grants. If the Governor determines, during an assessment of the need for crisis counseling services, that because of unusual circumstances or serious conditions within the State or local mental health network, the State cannot carry out the crisis counseling program, he/she may identify a public or private mental health agency or organization to carry out the program or request the Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Regional Administrator to identify, with assistance of the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), such an agency or organization. In order to be eligible for services under this program, an individual must be a resident of the designated disaster area or must have been in the designated area at the time the disaster occurred. 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. Application for Federal assistance for the Immediate Services Program must be submitted by the State to FEMA no later than 14 days after the Presidential declaration. Application for Federal assistance for the Regular Services Program must be submitted by the State to FEMA, along with a copy to SAMHSA CMHS, no later than 60 days after the Presidential declaration.

Award Procedure

Immediate Services Crisis Counseling Program applications s are reviewed by FEMA program staff in consultation with SAMHSA CMHS. Grant award is provided by FEMA to the State Emergency Management Agency. Regular Services Program applications are reviewed by FEMA with formal recommendation from SAMHSA CMHS. Grant funds are provided by FEMA to SAMHSA CMHS for award to the State's mental health agency.

Deadlines

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

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time

Refer to announcement or application guidance for further information.

Appeals

Immediate Services Crisis Counseling Program - The State may appeal the Regional Administrator's decision in writing within 60 days of the date of notification of the application decision. The State may further appeal the Regional Administrator's decision to the Assistant Administrator, Disaster Assistance, within 60 days of the date of the Regional Administrator's notification of the application decision. Regular Services Crisis Counseling Program - The State may appeal FEMA's decision in writing within 60 days of the date of notification of the decision.

Renewals

Not Applicable.

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

Refer to program guidance. Awards are subject to the Cash Management Improvement Act for payment and/or reimbursement of expenditures. See the following for information on how assistance is awarded/released: Payment based on Project need.

Post Assistance Requirements

Reports

Grantees are required to submit quarterly financial and performance reports. Quarterly "Progress Reports" must include the progress of each sub-grant award. Final financial and program reports are due 90 days after the end of the grant's period of performance. Refer to program guidance. Refer to program guidance. Refer to program guidance. Refer to program guidance.

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 A-133 (Revised, June 27, 2003), "Audits of States, Local Governments, and Nonprofit Organizations," nonfederal entities that expend financial assistance of $500,000 or more in Federal awards (or receive property, or a combination of both, within the fiscal year) 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 A-133. These audits are due to the cognizant Federal agency, submitted through the Federal Audit Clearinghouse, not later than 9 months after the end of the grantees fiscal year.

Records

Grant records shall be retained for a period of 3 years from the day the recipient submits its final expenditure report. If any litigation, claim, negotiation, audit, or other action involving the records has been started before the expiration of the 3-year period, the records must be retained until completion of the action and resolution of all issues which arise from it, or until the end of the regular 3-year period, whichever is later. Grant records include financial and program/progress reports, support documents, statistical records, and other documents that support the activity and/or expenditure of the recipient or sub-recipient under the award.

Program Accomplishments

Fiscal Year 2008: This program responded to 13 major disaster declarations in 10 States or Territories. Fiscal Year 2009: No Current Data Available Fiscal Year 2010: No Current Data Available

Financial Information

Account Identification

70-0702-0-1-453.

Obligations

(Project Grants) FY 08 $13,828,309; FY 09 est not reported.; FY 10 est not reported. - FY 2009: Estimate not available
FY 2010: Estimate not available.

Range and Average of Financial Assistance

Not applicable.

Regulations, Guidelines and Literature

44 CFR 206.171, Crisis Counseling Assistance and Training

Related Programs

93.982 Mental Health Disaster Assistance and Emergency Mental Health

Information Contacts

Regional or Local Office

See Regional Agency Offices. See Appendix IV of the Catalog for a listing of addresses for FEMA's Regional Offices.

Headquarters Office

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Individual Assistance 245 Murray Lane - Bldg. #410, Washington, District of Columbia 20528 Phone: 202-447-4000

Web Site Address

http://www.fema.gov.

Examples of Funded Projects

Not Applicable.

Criteria for Selecting Proposals

Not Applicable.