Grants to States for Access and Visitation Programs (93.597)

 

Program

93.597 Grants to States for Access and Visitation Programs

 

Federal Agency

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

 

Authorization

Social Security Act, Section 469B.

 

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.

 

Application and Award Process

Preapplication Coordination

State Governors have designated a single State agency to carry out this responsibility. Eligible applicants for these grants shall be State agencies, courts, nonprofit private agencies or local public agencies. Information will be provided to the State designated agencies on available funds and relevant projects. This program is excluded from coverage under E.O. 12372.

Application Procedure

Applications are made 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

Closing dates are established and published as program announcements in letters which will be sent to the designated State agency.

 

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time

Appeals

There are no formal appeal procedures.

Renewals

Extensions and continuations of grants with 1 year project periods are generally not available except under extreme circumstances.

 

Assistance Considerations

Formula and Matching Requirements

Grantees are required to share in the cost of projects. A 10% match is required. This can be provided by the State and local agency, cash or in kind.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance

Funds will generally be granted on a 12 month basis.

 

Post Assistance Requirements

Reports

Reports of progress and expenditures are required on all projects. Specific requirements will be indicated in the Program Announcement and forthcoming regulation.

Audits

In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-133 (Revised, June 24, 1997), "Audits of States, Local Governments, and Non-Profit Organizations," nonfederal entities that expend financial assistance of $300,000 or more in Federal awards will have a single or a program-specific audit conducted for that year. Nonfederal entities that expend less than $300,000 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

Every Governor has designated a State agency that will use these grant funds to establish and administer programs to support and facilitate non-custodial parents' access to and visitation of their children. In fiscal year 2002 54 grants were awarded. It is estimated that 54 grants will be awarded in fiscal year 2003 and 62 in FY 2004.

 

Financial Information

Account Identification

75-1501-0-1-609.

Obligations

FY 02 $10,000,000; FY 03 est $10,000,000; and FY 04 est $12,000,000.

Range and Average of Financial Assistance

Figures will vary according to the allocation formula and the amount of money States have spent on this activity in the past.

 

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, SW., Washington DC 20447.

 

Related Programs

93.563, Child Support Enforcement.

 

Information Contacts

Regional or Local Office

See Appendix IV of the Catalog for ACF Regional Offices.

Headquarters Office

Rob Cohen, Director, Consumer Services, Office of Child Support Enforcement, 4th Floor, Aerospace Building, 370 L'Enfant Promenade SW., Washington, DC 20447. Telephone: (202) 401-9373.

Web Site Address

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

 

Examples of Funded Projects

None.

 

Criteria for Selecting Proposals

Not applicable.