Refugee and Entrant Assistance-Wilson/Fish Program (93.583)

Program

93.583 Refugee and Entrant Assistance-Wilson/Fish Program

Federal Agency

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

Authorization

Refugee Act of 1980, Section 412, Public Law 96-212, 94 Stat. 111, 8 U.S.C 1522, as amended by Refugee Assistance Extension Act of 1986, Public Law 99-605, as amended by Refugee Assistance Amendments of 1982 , Public Law 97-363; Refugee Education Assistance Act of 1980, Title V, Public Law 96-422, 94 Stat. 1809, 8 U.S.C 1522, as amended by Foreign Operations, Export Financing, and Related Programs Appropriations Act of 1988, Public Law 100-202, as amended by Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1981, Public Law 97-35, as amended by Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 1989, Public Law 100-436, as amended by Departments of Labor, HHS and Education Appropriation Act for FY 1991, Public Law 101-517, as amended by An act to repeal a provision of the Refugee Education Assistance Act of 1980, Public Law 96-424, as amended by Foreign Operations, Export Financing, and Related Programs Appropriations Act of 1990, Public Law 101-167, as amended by Dire Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act, 1990, Public Law 101-302, as amended by Foreign Operations, Export Financing, and Related Programs Appropriations Act of 1989, Public Law 100-461, as amended by Foreign Operations, Export Financing, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 1999, Public Law 101-513; Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2008, Public Law 110-161, 121 Stat. 2212; Victims of Trafficking and Violence Protection Act of 2000 , Public Law 106-386; Defense Authorization Act, 2008, Public Law 110-181, 122 Stat. 398; FY 2009 Omnibus Appropriations Bill, Section 602, Public Law 111-08.

Program Number

93.583

Last Known Status

Active

Objectives

To develop alternative projects which promote early employment of refugees, certain Amerasians from Viet Nam, Cuban and Haitian entrants, asylees, certified victims of a severe form of trafficking, and special immigrants from Iraq and Afghanistan. States, voluntary resettlement agencies, and other resettlement organizations may develop innovative approaches for the provision of refugee cash and medical assistance, otherwise available through the State-administered program. The purpose of the Wilson-Fish program is to provide integrated services that include cash assistance, medical assistance and other related services described above in order to increase refugees' prospects for early employment and self-sufficiency, reduce their level of welfare dependence, and promote coordination among voluntary resettlement agencies and services providers. In addition, the WF program allows ORR to ensure that refugee assistance programs exist in every State where refugees are resettled. Projects must serve all eligible refugees in a community. There are two categories for applications, Category 1 and Category 2. Category 1 are projects which establish or maintain a refugee program in a State where the State is not participating in the refugee program or is withdrawing from the refugee program or a portion of the program. There are currently seven Wilson/Fish program which fall under category 1 (Alabama, Alaska, Idaho, Kentucky, Louisiana, Nevada and South Dakota). Category 2 are projects which provide an alternative to the existing system of assistance and services to refugees. There are currently five Wilson/Fish program which fall under category 2 (Colorado, Massachusetts, North Dakota, Vermont and San Diego).

Types of Assistance

Cooperative Agreements

Uses and Use Restrictions

Funds may be used only for the purposes set forth in the grant award. Assistance is limited to refugees, asylees, Cuban and Haitian entrants, certain Amerasian immigrants, certified trafficking victims, and special immigrants from Iraq and Afghanistan, as defined in the authorizing Acts. The refugee must document his immigration status in order to be eligible for assistance. The scope of services available to refugees from Wilson/Fish grantees is similar to that of the State-Administered Refugee Resettlement Programs, which in turn is similar to regular domestic public assistance programs.

Eligibility Requirements

Applicant Eligibility

States, voluntary resettlement agencies, and other nonprofit refugee resettlement organizations may apply to initiate an alternative program. No separate funding is appropriated for Wilson/Fish demonstration projects. Funds are drawn instead from funds earmarked for refugee cash and medical assistance grants and social services allocations for the State-administered program (93.566) according to ORR projections.

Beneficiary Eligibility

Refugees, certain Amerasian immigrants, Cuban/Haitian entrants, asylees, and victims of a severe of trafficking are eligible for services and assistance through funded projects in a community. Cash assistance is transitional for up to 8 months; services may be provided for a longer period of time.

Credentials/Documentation

Proof of immigration status in the form of an I-94 card or final grant of asylum letter from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), formerly the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS). For victims of a severe form of trafficking, clients must have a certification or eligibility letter issued by HHS/ORR. 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. Awards are granted on a competitive basis, as specified in the program announcements. Each agency desiring to respond to a program announcement is required to submit an application. Applications are reviewed and evaluated pursuant to criteria specified in the program announcement.

Award Procedure

Eligible applicants submit and application to HHS. Subsequent to review by an independent panel, the Director of ORR makes the funding decision on all grant awards.

Deadlines

Apr 30, 2010 Closing dates for new projects is April 30 of each year.

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time

From 60 to 90 days.

Appeals

Not Applicable.

Renewals

Contingent upon funding availability, grantee performance, and the best interest of the government.

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

Generally, funds made available for this program will be for 1-year budget period, however the project period is up to 5 years. Funds are awarded all at once at the beginning of each budget period (lump sum). If refugee arrivals and refugee cash and medical assistance recipients exceed those that were estimated at the time of application, a grantee can submit a request for supplemental funding to meet the unanticipated need for refugee cash and medical assistance. Method of awarding/releasing assistance: lump sum.

Post Assistance Requirements

Reports

Final program reports summarizing the activities and accomplishments of the project in relation to the approved goals and objectives are required. Cash reports are not applicable. Progress reports are required, usually on a quarterly basis. Financial reports are required, usually on a quarterly basis. During the monitoring visits, a representative collection of case files are reviewed to ensure clients are receiving appropriate services. Specifically, the ORR WF team reviews client, legal, financial, categorical and time eligibility, the Family self-sufficiency plan, receipt of cash assistance, case management and employment service and outcomes. Also the ORR WF team interviews agency staff and clients to ensure that information gleaned from the case-file, agency staff and clients corroborates with one another. In addition to program monitoring quarterly performance reports, financial Status reports (SF-269) and Annual goal plans are reviewed to ensure WF agencies that agencies are spending funds appropriately and are performing in a manner consistent with the approved application and cooperative agreement.

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. Periodic audits are made a part of the system of financial management and internal control to meet terms and conditions of grants and other agreements. "In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-133 (Revised, June 24, 1997), Audits of States, Local Governments, and Nonprofit 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

Grant recipients are required to keep all financial, business and program reports necessary for program review and audit for the project period and for three years following the end of the project period to insure that funds have been expended in accordance with the regulations, grant terms, and conditions of the program.

Program Accomplishments

Fiscal Year 2008: In FY 2008, 12 grants were awarded. Projects provide cash assistance and employment and other social services to newly arrived refugees. In FY 2008, 19,009 individuals were served under the WF program, which includes 10,235 Refugee Cash Assistance recipients, 1,665 Refugee Medical Assistance Recipients, and 9,395 recipients of refugee employment services. Fiscal Year 2009: It is anticipated that 12 grants will be awarded. FY 2009 Awards (to be expended in the FY 2010 budget period) will be awarded by September 15, 2009. Funding decisions are made in the 4th quarter of FY 2009. Fiscal Year 2010: It is anticipated that 13 grants will be awarded in FY 2010. Funding decisions will be made in the 4th quarter of FY 2010.

Financial Information

Account Identification

75-1503-0-1-609.

Obligations

(Cooperative Agreements) FY 08 $23,000,000; FY 09 est $30,000,000; FY 10 est $32,000,000

Range and Average of Financial Assistance

In FY 2008, grants ranged from $474,498 to $5,247,784. The average grant amount in FY 2008 was $1,933,367.

Regulations, Guidelines and Literature

The Wilson/Fish Program announcement can be found on the ORR website. All inquiries should be directed to the Information Contacts listed below.

Related Programs

93.566 Refugee and Entrant Assistance_State Administered Programs; 93.567 Refugee and Entrant Assistance_Voluntary Agency Programs; 93.576 Refugee and Entrant Assistance_Discretionary Grants; 93.584 Refugee and Entrant Assistance_Targeted Assistance Grants; 93.598 Services to Victims of a Severe Form of Trafficking

Information Contacts

Regional or Local Office

None.

Headquarters Office

Carl Rubenstein 370 L'Enfant Promenade SW, 8th Floor West, Washington, District of Columbia 20447 Email: carl.rubenstein@acf.hhs.gov Phone: (202) 205-5933 Fax: (202) 205-5888

Web Site Address

http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/orr.

Examples of Funded Projects

Fiscal Year 2008: Some Wilson/Fish projects include: 1) A large state-administered project where the voluntary agencies determine eligibility and are responsible for case management of eligible refugees; and 2) a private voluntary agency that administers cash and medical assistance and social services for refugees not otherwise eligible for TANF and/or Medicaid in a State in which the State elected not to participate in the refugee resettlement program. Fiscal Year 2009: Some Wilson/Fish projects will include: 1) A large state-administered project where the voluntary agencies determine eligibility and are responsible for case management of eligible refugees; and 2) a private voluntary agency that administers cash and medical assistance and social services for refugees not otherwise eligible for TANF and/or Medicaid in a State in which the State elected not to participate in the refugee resettlement program. Fiscal Year 2010: Some Wilson/Fish projects will include: 1) A large state-administered project where the voluntary agencies determine eligibility and are responsible for case management of eligible refugees; and 2) a private voluntary agency that administers cash and medical assistance and social services for refugees not otherwise eligible for TANF and/or Medicaid in a State in which the State elected not to participate in the refugee resettlement program.

Criteria for Selecting Proposals

The evaluation criteria for selecting projects is available in the Wilson/Fish Standing Announcement, which can be found at Grants.gov and on the ORR website at www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/orr.