Welfare-to-Work Grants to Federally Recognized Tribes and Alaska Natives (17.254)

 

Program

17.254 Welfare-to-Work Grants to Federally Recognized Tribes and Alaska Natives

 

Federal Agency

EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING ADMINISTRATION (ETA), DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

 

Authorization

Social Security Act, Section 412(a)(3), 42 U.S.C. 612(a)(3), as amended; Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996; Balanced Budget Act of 1997; Welfare-to-Work and Child Support Amendments of 1999; Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2001, Public Law 106-554.

 

Program Number

17.254

 

Last Known Status

Deleted 04/19/2005 (The statute supporting this program is no longer in effect.)

 

Objectives

To assist Federally-recognized Indian Tribes and Alaska Native regional nonprofit corporations to move hard-to-employ welfare recipients into lasting unsubsidized jobs and family self-sufficiency.

 

Types of Assistance

Formula Grants.

 

Uses and Use Restrictions

Formula Indian and Native American Welfare-to-Work (INA WtW) grant funds are used to provide: Community service or work experience programs; job creation through public or private sector employment wage subsidies; on-the-job training; contracts with public or private providers of readiness, placement, and post-employment services; job vouchers for placement, readiness, and post-employment services; and job retention or support services if such services are not otherwise available.

 

Eligibility Requirements

Applicant Eligibility

Only Federally-recognized Indian Tribal Governments and Alaska Native regional nonprofit corporations (or consortia thereof) are eligible for funds.

Beneficiary Eligibility

At least 70 percent of the funds must be expended on hard-to-employ welfare recipients enrolled under the "70 percent provision" eligibility criteria, and no more than 30 percent on individuals with characteristics associated with long-term welfare dependence.

Credentials/Documentation

Formula INA WtW grant programs are subject to the Act and regulation requirements. All eligible Indian Tribes and Alaska Native regional nonprofit corporations (or consortia thereof) must submit an INA WtW Plan and must complete the required certification/assurances and grant documents prior to receipt of each year's allotment of funds.

 

Application and Award Process

Preapplication Coordination

Preapplications are only required of those tribes and Alaska Native corporations which do not already operate Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) or Native Employment Works (NEW) programs. These entities must meet the "substantial services" criteria set forth in the OMB-approved preapplication guidance pursuant to Section 412(a)(3)(B)(ii) of the Social Security Act, as amended. This program is excluded from coverage under E.O. 12372.

Application Procedure

To receive its Section 412(a)(3)(A) formula allotment, each eligible Federally-recognized tribe or Alaska Native regional nonprofit corporation (or consortium thereof) must submit an INA WtW plan to the Secretary of Labor for each fiscal year of funds provided in accordance with the procedures and schedule provided by the Secretary.

Award Procedure

Formula INA WtW funds are allotted to the eligible Tribes and Alaska Native corporations for FY 1998 and FY 1999. Plans are submitted and are reviewed for accuracy and completeness. If acceptable, funds are distributed to the grantees through a signed Notice of Obligation (NOO), effective as of the signature date. There are no competitive grant funds awarded under the INA WtW grant program.

Deadlines

Each eligible Tribe or Alaska Native regional nonprofit corporation (or consortia thereof) must submit its INA WtW plan for each fiscal year of formula funds in accordance with instructions provided by the Secretary of Labor. Contact the headquarters for plan submission deadlines.

 

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time

Appeals

Any action taken with regard to an INA WtW formula grant may be appealed in accordance with the Department's regulations at 20 CFR Part 636.

Renewals

Not applicable.

 

Assistance Considerations

Formula and Matching Requirements

This program has no statutory formula. This program has no matching requirements. Strictly speaking, this program has no Maintenance of Effort, but there are statutory prohibitions on spending funds in certain areas (such as supportive services) where other community resources are available.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance

Each fiscal year allotment is authorized for the maximum five year expenditure period "from the date the funds are so provided". INA WtW grant funds are authorized by FY 1998 and FY 1999 appropriations.

 

Post Assistance Requirements

Reports

INA WtW grantees are required to report on program activity and financial expenditures quarterly on a cumulative basis. A Participation and Characteristics Report (PCR)(ETA 9069) and a Financial Status Report (FSR)(ETA 9069-1) are required, except from those grantees participating in the demonstration under Public Law 102-477.

Audits

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 receive financial assistance of $300,000 or more in Federal awards in a year 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 OMB Circular No. A-133.

Records

All INA WtW grantees are required to maintain adequate records in accordance with the applicable OMB common rule requirements as codified by the Department at 29 CFR Part 95 or 97, as applicable to the type of applicant organization.

 

Program Accomplishments

The INA WtW program has served over 5,300 participants to date. While the INA WtW program continues to enroll new participants and provide services, it finished making new grant awards in fiscal year 1999.

 

Financial Information

Account Identification

16-0177-4-1-504.

Obligations

(Grants) FY 02 $0; FY 03 est $15,000,000; and FY 04 est $15,000,000.

Range and Average of Financial Assistance

The average initial INA WtW allotment was $136,327. The awards ranged from $5,516 to $2,294,364.

 

Regulations, Guidelines and Literature

20 CFR Part 646. See INA WtW Website for all additional information pertinent to the program, or write to the Headquarters Office.

 

Related Programs

15.048, Bureau of Indian Affairs Facilities_Operations and Maintenance; 17.253, Welfare-to-Work Grants to States and Localities; 17.258, WIA Adult Program; 93.558, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families.

 

Information Contacts

Regional or Local Office

Not applicable.

Headquarters Office

Division of Indian and Native American Programs, Office of Adult Services, Employment and Training Administration, U.S. Department of Labor, Room N-4641, 200 Constitution Avenue, N.W., Washington, DC 20210. Telephone: (202) 693-3841. FAX: (202) 693-3818.

Web Site Address

http://wdsc.doleta.gov/dinap/dinapw2w/dinap_index.htm

 

Examples of Funded Projects

Partnership Team Counseling Programs: INA WtW staff, employers, and the client work together as a team to identify and solve employment barriers, and staff provide encouragement, counseling, and referrals to community partners for additional comprehensive services to ensure job retention; Transportation Services: Partners work to provide paid, free or reduced fare transportation services for clients to get to their new jobs, day care and other activities which promote self-sufficiency for the client; Job Creativity and Life Skills Activity: Clients are assessed to identify work skills and to build from those skills to develop employment readiness; Creative Workshops: Clients attend Indian and Native American Workshops and are counseled on mental, spiritual, emotional and physical well-being to diminish negative images; Other: Partnerships provide referral of clients to a cadre of comprehensive employment and training services and follow-up.

 

Criteria for Selecting Proposals

Eligibility criteria for the INA WtW grant awards are found at section 412(a)(3)(B)(ii) of the amended Social Security Act. Formula grants to Indian Tribes and Alaska Native regional nonprofit corporations (or consortia thereof) are allotted on a formula basis.