Welfare Reform Research, Evaluations and National Studies (93.595)

Program

93.595 Welfare Reform Research, Evaluations and National Studies

Federal Agency

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

Authorization

Deficit Reduction Act of 2005, Public Law 109-171, 42 U.S.C 613 and 710.

Program Number

93.595

Last Known Status

Active

Objectives

To support research on the benefits, effects, and costs of operating different State welfare programs, including studies on the effects of different programs and the operation of such programs on welfare dependency, employment rates, child well-being, family formation and healthy marriage, illegitimacy, teen pregnancy, and others; to assist States in developing and evaluating innovative approaches for reducing welfare dependency and increasing the well-being of minor children living at home.

Types of Assistance

PROJECT GRANTS

Uses and Use Restrictions

Grants, cooperative agreements, and contracts are awarded for innovative research, demonstrations, and evaluations that are responsive to the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) program priorities. All applications must meet standards of excellence in research, demonstration, or evaluation design. Construction or the purchase of real estate are not allowable under these grants or contracts. Further, these funds may not be used to supplement the cost of program operations otherwise capped under the law. Organizations may not use funds under these grants or contracts to engage in inherently religious activities, such as worship, religious instruction, or proselytizing. In addition, an organization receiving ACF funds shall not, in providing ACF-funded services, discriminate against a program beneficiary or prospective program beneficiary on the basis of religion or religious belief. Regulations pertaining to the Equal Treatment for Faith-Based Organizations, which include the prohibition against Federal funding of inherently religious activities, as well a provisions related to nondiscrimination against religious organizations and the ability of religious organizations to maintain their religious character, can be found at either 45 CFR 87.1 or the HHS web site at http://www.os.dhhs.gov/fbci/waisgate21.pdf. Through grants, contracts, or interagency agreements, may fund research on the benefits, effects, and costs of operating different State programs funded under the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Program and evaluations of innovative approaches to reducing
welfare dependency and increasing child well-being. All funding is discretionary.

Eligibility Requirements

Applicant Eligibility

Grants and cooperative agreements may be made to or with governmental entities, colleges, universities, nonprofit and for-profit organizations (if fee is waived), and faith- and community-based organizations. Grants or cooperative agreements cannot be made directly to individuals. Contracts may be awarded to non-profit or for-profit organizations.

Beneficiary Eligibility

Children, youth, and families, especially low-income families, will benefit.

Credentials/Documentation

Applicants must present written evidence of other agencies' willingness to cooperate when the project involves the use of other agencies, facilities, or services. Nonprofit organizations which have not previously received ACF program support must submit proof of nonprofit status. For State and local governments, costs will be determined in accordance with 45 CFR 92 and OMB Circular No. A-87. For other grantees, applicable costs and administrative procedures will be determined in accordance with 45 CFR Parts 74 and 92. 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 eligible for coverage under E.O. 12372, "Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs." An applicant should consult the office or official designated as the single point of contact in his or her State for more information on the process the State requires to be followed in applying for assistance, if the State has selected the program for review.

Application Procedure

OMB Circular No. A-102 applies to this program. OMB Circular No. A-110 applies to this program. Applicants will be able to find a synopsis of grant or cooperative agreement opportunities and apply electronically for opportunities via: www.grants.gov. Applicants will also be able to find the complete text of grant announcements on the ACF web site located at: http://www.acf.hhs.gov/grants/index.html.

Award Procedure

Official notice of approved grant applications is made through issuance of a Financial Assistance Award (FAA). 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 for which support is contemplated, and the total grantee participation. Official notice of an accepted contract proposal is made through award of a contract.

Deadlines

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

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time

From 60 to 365 days. Generally, solicited grants, cooperative agreements, and contracts will be acted upon within 120 days.

Appeals

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

Renewals

Grant extensions and continuations are available if formally applied for and approved. If an application is recommended for approval for 2 or more years, the grantee or contractor must submit a formal request for a non-competitive continuation application each year accompanied by a progress report which will be evaluated prior to a recommendation of continuation. This process is not applicable to contracts.

Assistance Considerations

Formula and Matching Requirements

This program has no statutory formula.

Matching Requirements: Grantees are often required to share in the cost of projects. Cost sharing may range up to 25 percent of the total approved project cost for grants or cooperative agreements.

MOE requirements are not applicable to this program.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance

Funds are granted on a 1- to 5-year basis, with support beyond the first year contingent upon acceptable evidence of satisfactory progress, continuing program relevance, and availability of funds. See the following for information on how assistance is awarded/released: Post award, our Division of Payment Management will establish an account from which a grantee may draw down awards. For additional information on this process see: http://www.dpm.psc.gov/grant_recipient/new_grantee_information/hhs_grantee_info.aspx?explorer.event=true.

Post Assistance Requirements

Reports

No program reports are required. No cash reports are required. Grantees will be required to submit program progress reports throughout the project period. Program progress reports are due 30 days after the reporting period. Final programmatic reports are due 90 days after the close of the project period. Beginning with FY 2009 awards, ACF grantees will begin using a standard format for performance progress reports, implemented through ACF's Office of Grants Management (OGM) and entitled the "ACF-OGM-SF-PPR.� Reporting forms are available at http://www.acf.hhs.gov/grants/grants_resources.html. Grantees will be required to submit program financial expenditure reports throughout the project period. Financial reports are due 30 days after the reporting period. Final financial reports are due 90 days after the close of the project period. Grantees will use the Financial Status Report (FSR) SF-269 (long form) for required financial reporting. Reporting forms are available at http://www.acf.hhs.gov/grants/grants_resources.html. No performance monitoring is required.

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. All fiscal transactions identifiable to Federal financial assistance are subject to audit by the HHS audit agency, and other Federal officials. In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-133 (Revised June 27, 2003) "Audits of States, Local Governments and Non-Profit Organizations," Non-Federal entities that expend $300,000 ($500,000 for fiscal years ending after December 31, 2003) or more in a year in Federal awards shall have a single or program-specific audit conducted for that year. Non-Federal entities that expend lees than $300,000 ($500,000 for fiscal years ending after December 31, 2003) a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in section 215(a), but records must be available for review or audit by appropriate officials of the Federal agency, pass-through entity, and General Accounting Office (GAO).

Records

Proper accounting records, identifiable by grant number and including all receipts and expenditures, must be maintained for 3 years in accordance with 45 CFR Part 92. Subsequent to audit, they must be maintained until all questions are resolved, or at the end of the regular 3-year period, whichever is later.

Program Accomplishments

Fiscal Year 2008: In fiscal year 2008, funding was provided to 23 research and evaluation projects through contracts or grants related to welfare reform, employment strategies, child welfare and family strengthening. Fiscal Year 2009: We anticipate funding a similar number of projects related to welfare reform, employment strategies and family strengthening in fiscal year 2009. Fiscal Year 2010: We anticipate funding a similar number of projects related to to welfare reform, employment strategies and family strengthening in fiscal year 2010.

Financial Information

Account Identification

75-1553-0-1-609.

Obligations

(Project Grants) FY 08 $20,990,518; FY 09 est $21,000,000; FY 10 est $21,000,000 - Two funding streams combine for these amounts: Welfare Research and the Child Welfare Study. With regard to Welfare Research, FY 08 $14,995,518 FY 09 $15,000,000, and FY 10 est $15,000,000. With regard to the Child Welfare Study, FY 08 $5,995,000, FY 09 $6,000,000, and FY 10 est $6,000,000.

Range and Average of Financial Assistance

No Data Available.

Regulations, Guidelines and Literature

A variety of guidance on grants can be found at www.grants.gov and http://www.hhs.gov/grantsnet/roadmap/index.html. Helpful information on contracts is available at www.fedbizopps.gov.

Related Programs

93.009 Compassion Capital Fund ; 93.558 Temporary Assistance for Needy Families; 93.647 Social Services Research and Demonstration; 93.648 Child Welfare Services Training Grants

Information Contacts

Regional or Local Office

See Regional Agency Offices. Contact the appropriate ACF Regional Administrator. (See Appendix IV of the Catalog for ACF Regional Offices.).

Headquarters Office

Karl J. Koerper Office of Planning, Research and Evaluation
Administration for Children and Families
370 L'Enfant Promenade, SW
7th Floor, West, Washington, District of Columbia 20447 Email: Karl.Koerper@acf.hhs.gov Phone: 2024014535

Web Site Address

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

Examples of Funded Projects

Fiscal Year 2008: In fiscal year 2008, we funded projects to test promising strategies to promote employment and self-sufficiency and reduce welfare utilization, to examine the overlap of individuals with disabilities in the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families and Supplemental Security Income programs and pilot-test innovations for engaging individuals with disabilities in employment-related activities, research on strengthening families and study of children who are at risk of abuse or neglect or are in the child welfare system. More information describing research and evaluation projects we have funded can be found at http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/opre/. Fiscal Year 2009: We anticipate funding a similar types of projects related to welfare reform, employment strategies and family strengthening in fiscal year 2009. Fiscal Year 2010: We anticipate funding a similar types of projects welfare reform, employment strategies and family strengthening in fiscal year 2010.

Criteria for Selecting Proposals

Applications may be funded in whole or in part depending on: (1) the ranked order of applicants resulting from competitive review; (2) staff review and consultations; (3) the combination of projects that best meet the information needs of the program; (4) the funds available; and (5) other relevant considerations. Typical criteria include project cost and budget justification, the qualification of the principal investigator and organization, the quality of approach and methodologies employed, and results and the programs objectives and results and benefits expected. Specific criteria for selecting recipients under individual funding announcements under this program are published in www.Grants.gov for grant announcement and in the solicitation for requests for proposals published in www.fedbizopps.gov for contracts.