Grants to States for Access and Visitation Programs (93.597)

Program

93.597 Grants to States for Access and Visitation Programs

Federal Agency

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

Authorization

Social Security Act, Title IV, Part D, Section 469B, Public Law 104-193.

Program Number

93.597

Last Known Status

Active

Objectives

To enable States to create programs which support and facilitate access and visitation by non-custodial parents with their children. Activities may include mediation, counseling, education, development of parenting plans, visitation enforcement and development of guidelines for visitation and alternative custody arrangements.

Types of Assistance

Project Grants

Uses and Use Restrictions

A State to which a grant is made under this section may not use the grant to supplant expenditures by the State for allowable activities, but shall use the grant to supplement such expenditures at a level at least equal to the level of such expenditures for fiscal year 1995.

Eligibility Requirements

Applicant Eligibility

All States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands and Guam.

Beneficiary Eligibility

Custodial and non-custodial parents and children.

Credentials/Documentation

The Governors have designated a single State agency to represent the State in carrying out this responsibility. 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. OMB Circular No. A-110 applies to this program. Applications are submitted biannually using the standard application form, as furnished by the Department of Health and Human Services and required by OMB Circular No. A-102. Application kits which contain the prescribed application forms and supplemental descriptive information on the access and visitation grant program are available from: The Office of Child Support Enforcement, Administration for Children and Families, 4th Floor, 370 L'Enfant Promenade, SW., Washington DC 20447.

Award Procedure

Official notice of approved grant applications is made through issuance of a Notice of Grant Award. This provides the amount of funds awarded, the purpose of the award, the terms and conditions of the award, the budget period for which support is given, the total project period, and the total grantee participation.

Deadlines

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

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time

From 60 to 120 days.

Appeals

Governed by 45 CFR Part 16 - "Procedures of the Department Grant Appeals Board".

Renewals

Extensions and continuations of grants are not available.

Assistance Considerations

Formula and Matching Requirements

This program has no statutory formula.
Matching Requirements: Percent: 10.%. The award amount is based on the number of children in a State living with one biological parent as determined by the Census Bureau. This program does not have MOE requirements.
This program does not have MOE requirements.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance

Funds are awarded for a two-year project period. Method of awarding/releasing assistance: by letter of credit. Method of awarding/releasing assistance: by letter of credit.

Post Assistance Requirements

Reports

Quarterly reports are required. Periodic progress reports are required. OCSE-269A reports are expenditure reports that are required. Monitoring is done when the progress reports are reviewed for accuracy and completeness. Data reports are required by Section 303.109. OCSE-269 reports are required. Periodic progress reports are required. OCSE-269 reports are expenditure reports that are required. Monitoring is done when the progress reports are reviewed for accuracy and completeness. Data reports are required by Section 303.109.

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.

Records

Proper accounting records, identifiable by grant number and including all receipts and expenditures, must be maintained for 3 years. Subsequent to audit, they must be maintained until all questions are resolved.

Program Accomplishments

Fiscal Year 2009: No Current Data Available Fiscal Year 2010: It is estimated that 62 grants will be awarded in FY 2010 pending enactment of the FY 2010 President's Budget legislative proposal to make Tribes meeting certain criteria eligible to receive these grants. Fiscal Year 2011: No Current Data Available

Financial Information

Account Identification

75-1501-0-1-609.

Obligations

(Formula Grants) FY 08 $10,000,000; FY 09 est $10,000,000; FY 10 est $12,000,000

Range and Average of Financial Assistance

The amount of funding provided to each grantee is based on an allocation formula with a designated minimum amount, provided in statute.

Regulations, Guidelines and Literature

Grants Administration Policies and application kits may be obtained from: Office of Child Support Enforcement, Administration for Children and Families, 4th Floor, 370 L'Enfant Promenade, S.W., Washington DC 20447.

Related Programs

93.563 Child Support Enforcement

Information Contacts

Regional or Local Office

See Regional Agency Offices. See Appendix IV of the Catalog for ACF Regional Offices.

Headquarters Office

Tracie Pogue , 901 D. Street, SW, Washington, District of Columbia 20447 Email: Tracie.Pogue@acf.hhs.gov Phone: (202) 690-5495.

Web Site Address

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

Examples of Funded Projects

Not Applicable.

Criteria for Selecting Proposals

Not Applicable.