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Executive Summary: The purpose of funding this priority area is to demonstrate the implementation of the Comprehensive Family Assessment Guidelines. Funded projects will:
This cooperative agreement does not fund provision of services. I. FUNDING OPPORTUNITY DESCRIPTION Legislative Authority Section 430(b) of the Social Security Act, as amended; Title IV Part B, Subpart 2, Promoting Safe and Stable Families (42 USC Section 629(b)); and Section 104 of the Child Abuse and Treatment Act, as amended (42 USC Section 5105). Funding Opportunity Description Background In March 2004, the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) completed the initial Child and Family Services Reviews (CFSR) in all 50 States, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. Among the findings of the initial 52 reviews is a need for enhanced focus on the case planning process, which is grounded in accurate and comprehensive assessments of the strengths and needs of the children and families that State and local child welfare agencies serve. In the CFSR performance indicator that addresses family assessments and service provision, ACF determined that only one State among the initial 52 reviews performed adequately. Reviewers observed that the quality of assessments affected other performance indicators and outcomes across the domains of safety, permanency, and well-being. In addition, reviewers often observed less attention to assessing intact families served in their own homes versus families with children in foster care. Reviewers also encountered situations where agencies did not go beyond initial risk or safety assessments in identifying the strengths and needs of family members. In other situations, agencies focused on the needs of an individual family member while excluding other family members whose strengths and needs were relevant to achieving successful outcomes. Through the findings of the initial 52 CFSRs, the Children's Bureau has identified a connection between comprehensive family assessments and good outcomes for children and families. Positive ratings on comprehensive family assessments are associated with positive ratings on these permanency and safety outcomes:
More information on the CFSRs is available at http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/cb/cwmonitoring/index.htm. This funding announcement presents an opportunity to use the comprehensive family assessment process to support responsible fatherhood, strengthen marriages, and possibly avoid the need to place children outside of the family. For example, the CFSRs identified less attention given to assessing the needs of fathers versus the needs of mothers, even when fathers were known to the agency and could reasonably be expected to play a role in the case plan to address the family's needs. This points to the need to promote and strengthen the roles of fathers in caring for their children in many situations where such activity does not currently take place. The CFSRs also found failures in some States to identify the underlying, less obvious, needs of all family members that affect outcomes. Examples of unidentified needs include issues such as mental and physical health problems, domestic violence, substance abuse, and loss and grief. All of these issues can have negative effects on the marriage, the family, and the care that children receive from their parents. Further, given CFSR findings that youth in foster care commonly have goals of emancipation or other planned permanent living arrangements, there is a strong need to routinely assess the needs of youth on an ongoing basis to assure that the goals established for them remain appropriate and that they have the services needed to develop in positive ways. The quality and frequency of caseworker visits--how caseworkers interact with children and families, what they discuss and how often they visit--are associated with a range of State child welfare actions that are reviewed through the CFSRs. The reviews showed that, when State child welfare agencies do well on the caseworker visits, they are better positioned to assess children's risk of harm and need for alternative permanency options, to identify and provide needed services, and to engage children and parents in planning for their future. The reviews also identified common concerns regarding caseworker visits, including insufficient face-to-face contacts with children or parents to address their safety and well-being and an inconsistent focus on issues regarding case plans and goals during visits. In some jurisdictions, family assessments and other aspects of casework are routinely the role of private providers. When this is the case, it is important that the child welfare agency effectively exercise its responsibility to oversee the work of the private provider, ensure that the comprehensive family assessment guidelines are followed, and ensure that the assessment activities conducted by the private provider are fully integrated with all aspects of the case plan. The reauthorization of Section 430(b) of the Social Security Act, as amended, Title IV Part B, Subpart 2, Promoting Safe and Stable Families (42 USC Section 629(b)) has addressed caseworker visits by requiring State plans to describe standards for the content and frequency of caseworker visits for children in foster care, which at a minimum must be monthly and focus on case delivery and service planning. ACF believes that improved family assessments will allow caseworkers to establish more effective case plans, interact more meaningfully with families, and make visits more purposeful and that implementing the Comprehensive Family Assessment Guidelines will increase the likelihood of: (1) The right mix of supportive services being provided to at-risk families; (2) Family's problems being addressed effectively, which will improve children's safety within the home and preserve intact families; and (3) Effectively addressing the problems of families whose children have been placed in foster care so that reunification can occur in a safe and stable manner. This cooperative agreement does not fund provision of services. Cooperative agreement funds are to be used to develop, implement and evaluate comprehensive family assessments, as described below. Comprehensive Family Assessment Guidelines As a result of the CFSR findings, nearly all States must address the quality of family assessments in their Program Improvement Plans (PIPs). In order to help them in this area, the Children's Bureau requested that its Federally funded National Resource Centers develop Comprehensive Family Assessment Guidelines to serve as a resource to States. The Guidelines explore the nature of comprehensive family assessment and its relationship to other agency operations. The Guidelines are not intended to serve as a tool or instrument that States must use in conducting needs assessments. They are intended to serve as a guide to the nature and function of comprehensive family assessments. In using the Guidelines, grantees are expected to develop, implement and institutionalize assessment protocols and interagency processes that avoid some of the assessment pitfalls identified in the CFSR. These pitfalls include:
The Guidelines are available at http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/cb/pubs/family_assessment/index.htm. ACF recognizes that conducting comprehensive assessments of children and families, though fundamental to a functional case planning process, is one part of a broader set of practices that must be in place in order to realize timely and appropriate outcomes. For example, the Guidelines make it clear that agencies that conduct effective, comprehensive family assessments must also have the ability to respond with the appropriate services that match the strengths and needs identified in the assessments. Therefore, successful applicants should demonstrate their existing ability (or their commitment to develop the ability) to address their array of services and methods of delivering services to ensure the successful development and implementation of service plans based on the results of the comprehensive family assessments. Grantees will be expected to implement, at a minimum, these eight key components: 1. Use Comprehensive Family Assessment (CFA) results to guide decision making and service planning:
2. Use a 10 step process:
3. Address the big picture:
4. Assess multiple domains for the family, children and youth, for example:
5. Reassess strengths and needs over the life of the case:
6. Establish effective working partnerships with families to identify and respond to needs:
7. Collaboration between child welfare agencies and community partners:
8. Organizational and administrative supports and staff time:
Grantees will be expected to make extensive use of the resources provided by the Children's Bureau's Training and Technical Assistance (T/TA) network in order to assure conformity with the intent of the Comprehensive Family Assessment Guidelines and to provide enhanced opportunities for successful program implementation. Demonstration Projects Activities funded under this funding announcement are demonstration projects. At the Children's Bureau, a demonstration project is one that puts into place and tests new, unique or distinctive approaches for delivering services to a specific population. Demonstration projects may test whether a program or service that has proven successful in one location or setting can work in a different context. Demonstration projects may test a theory, idea, or method that reflects a new and different way of thinking about service delivery. Demonstration projects may be designed to address the needs of a very specific group of clients, or focus on one service component available to all clients. The scope of these projects may be broad and comprehensive or narrow and targeted to specific populations. Applicants are expected to provide a logic model for the project, as well as a well-detailed evaluation plan based on this logic model. Within the evaluation plan, include a description of process, practice, and outcome evaluation components, as well as details related to sample, measurement, and methods to achieve causal validity in the outcomes evaluation, and approaches to gathering ongoing data that can be used for program improvement. A demonstration project must:
ACF believes that States will benefit from observing the experiences of other jurisdictions that actually develop and implement comprehensive family assessments on a broad scale and incorporate them into the agency's day-to-day work. Therefore, through this program announcement, ACF is seeking to develop specific sites that will develop comprehensive family assessment processes that implement the Comprehensive Family Assessment Guidelines, evaluate their effectiveness, and serve as models of successful implementation for other sites. Grantees selected will be expected to accommodate site visits from representatives from other States' child welfare agencies. Grantees will also be expected to disseminate information on their experiences and the results of their evaluation, through presentations at national meetings and in written publications. Based on CFSR findings from the initial round of reviews, all States need to address the issue of assessment to one extent or another in their PIPs. Each State faces very different circumstances in working to implement programmatic improvements. Therefore, ACF is interested in demonstrating the use of comprehensive family assessments in a variety of circumstances. These include:
Depending upon the applications received, ACF may choose to fund grantees that represent the diversity of model sites being sought. For example, a rural site and an urban site or a county grantee and a statewide grantee may be selected. ACF also has a particular interest in comprehensive family assessment models that provide access to a full range of community-based services (including services provided by faith-based organizations) to improve outcomes for children, youth and families. Finally, ACF has an interest in projects that incorporate administration priorities for healthy marriage, responsible fatherhood, and positive youth development. Evaluation ACF will expect grantees to engage in a rigorous evaluation in order to demonstrate potential linkages between comprehensive family assessments and improved outcomes. Guided by a logic model for the project, this evaluation will include a process, practice, and outcomes evaluation component: The process evaluation will assess the implementation of the eight key components of the Comprehensive Family Assessment Guidelines listed above, as well as the linkages between child-serving systems that will help ensure that identified needs of children and families are met. The practice evaluation will demonstrate how the practice of comprehensive and ongoing assessment has improved over time. The outcomes component will utilize a randomized trial, or other approach of sufficient rigor, to examine how the assessment approaches undertaken in this demonstration project affect key outcomes of interest. Applicants are strongly encouraged to propose an evaluation plan that addresses any noted effects of the proposed implementation of the Comprehensive Family Assessment Guidelines on safety, permanency and well-being. Proposed evaluation plans should include use of CFSR On-Site Review Instrument (OSRI) and associated data indicators to measure practice and outcome performance. While this cooperative agreement does not fund provision of services, the evaluation should measure the extent to which appropriate services are available to meet identified needs, and the extent to which children, youth and families use and benefit from these services. Applicants are strongly encouraged to review the data indicators measured in the CFSRs in identifying the outcomes they want to measure. The findings from the evaluation should support evidence-based practice and provide States with examples of strategies that are tied to positive outcomes for children and families. Specifically, the project's evaluation plan should use performance indicators equivalent to Item 3 (page 8) and Item 17 (page 41) of the CFSR OSRI http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/cb/cwmonitoring/tools_guide/onsitefinal.pdf or use the State's quality assurance system modeled on these two CFSR items. The proposed evaluation plan should yield data that can be compared to, and contrasted with, regional, State and national level CFSR data. A summary of Items 3 and 17 is provided here: Item 3 attempts to determine whether this indicator is a strength, an area needing improvement, or not applicable based on the following questions: 1) What is/was the degree of risk of harm present to the child(ren) in the home? 2) What types of services were provided or arranged to protect the child(ren)? 3) Were in-home services appropriate for the family? 4) Why were services not provided? and 5) Why was the case open if it is not a case of substantiated or indicated abuse or neglect or apparent risk of harm to the children? The project's evaluation plan should include at least one performance indicator that focuses on Item 3. This indicator should address the services to the family to protect the child(ren) and prevent removal from the home including providing or arranging for services to the family to protect the child(ren) in his/her own home before removal, if applicable (including family preservation, family support, or other placement prevention services). Item 17 attempts to determine whether this indicator is a strength, an area needing improvement, or not applicable based on the following questions: 1) What type of assessment process was used to identify needs (e.g., a psychological evaluation and/or discussions with relevant parties)? 2) How adequate was the assessment in covering all relevant areas and in identifying needs? 3) What are/were the underlying needs associated with more obvious needs or presenting problems? 4) What services have been/are being provided in relation to current needs? 5) How appropriate are/were the services provided in relation to the identified needs? 6) How accessible and available are/were services (e.g., location, schedule, cost)? 7) To what degree are/were the services provided meeting the identified needs? 8) How accessible to foster parents is/was the caseworker? 9) How appropriate is/was the child's placement setting (i.e., family-like and suited to the child's needs)? and 10) What types of independent living and transitional living services are/were provided for children age 16 years and older? The project's evaluation plan should include at least one performance indicator that focuses on Item 17. This indicator should address the needs of and services provided to the child, parents (both mother and father), and foster parents. This includes identifying needs, services provided, services needed but not provided, and unidentified needs for the child, mother, father, and foster parents. Assurances The acceptance of funds for projects responsive to this announcement will signify the applicant's assurance that it will comply with the following requirements:
II. AWARD INFORMATION
Substantial Involvement with Cooperative Agreement: A cooperative agreement is a specific method of awarding Federal assistance in which substantial Federal involvement is anticipated. A cooperative agreement clearly defines the respective responsibilities of the Children's Bureau and the grantee prior to the award. The Children's Bureau anticipates that agency involvement will produce programmatic benefits to the recipient otherwise unavailable to them for carrying out the project. The involvement and collaboration includes:
Awards under this announcement are subject to the availability of funds. III. ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION 1. Eligible Applicants:
Additional information on eligibility Foreign entities are not eligible under this announcement. Collaborative efforts must include the pertinent State, Tribal or local child welfare agency(s) as full and active participants in the project regardless of the entity that is funded. The public child welfare agency must identify and have jurisdiction over the population to be served. To be eligible to apply as part of a collaboration, institutions of higher education must have an accredited social work education program, or other accredited bachelor or graduate level programs leading to a degree relevant to work in the child welfare field. Where family assessments are the role of private providers, these providers should be an integral part of the collaborative effort, so that assessment activities conducted by the private provider are fully integrated with all aspects of the case plan. Collaborative efforts are acceptable, but applications must identify a primary applicant responsible for administering the cooperative agreement. It is critical that, as a group, these projects address the specific issues and challenges associated with implementation in urban and non-urban sites, as well as county-driven systems and State-driven systems. This is especially true in States with very large urban areas that require a great deal of focus in the State's CFSR PIP. Therefore, the Children's Bureau reserves the right to award funding to one urban project and one non-urban project, as well as one project in a State-driven system and one project in a county-driven system, depending upon the applications received. 2. Cost Sharing or Matching: Yes Grantees are required to meet a non-Federal share of the project costs. Grantees must provide at least 10 percent of the total approved cost of the project. The total approved cost of the project is the sum of the ACF share and the non-Federal share. The non-Federal share may be met by cash or in-kind contributions, although applicants are encouraged to meet their match requirements through cash contributions. For example, in order to meet the match requirements, a project with a total approved project cost of $444,444, requesting $400,000 in ACF funds, must provide a non-Federal share of at least $44,444 (10 percent of total approved project cost of $444,444.) Grantees will be held accountable for commitments of non-Federal resources even if they exceed the amount of the required match. Failure to provide the required amount will result in the disallowance of Federal funds. A lack of supporting documentation at the time of application will not exclude the application from competitive review. The following example shows how to calculate the required 10 percent match amount for a $400,000 grant: $400,000 (Federal share) divided by .90 (100% - 10%) equals $444,444 (total approved project cost, including match) minus $400,000 (Federal share) equals $44,444 (required 10% match) The non-Federal share may be cash or in-kind contributions, although applicants are encouraged to meet their match requirements through cash contributions. If approved for funding, grantees will be held accountable for the commitment of non-Federal resources and failure to provide the required amount will result in a disallowance of unmatched Federal funds. 3. Other: Disqualification Factors
IV. APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION 1. Address to Request Application Package: ACYF Operations Centerc/o The Dixon Group, Inc. ATTN: Children's Bureau 118 Q St., NE. Washington, DC 20002-2132 Phone: 866-796-1591 2. Content and Form of Application Submission: Each application must contain the following items in the order listed: Application for Federal Assistance. (Standard Form (SF) 424). Follow the instructions below and those that accompany the form.
Budget Information. Non-Construction Programs (SF-424A) and Budget Justification. Follow the instructions provided here and those in Section V, Application Review Information. Note that Federal funds provided to States and services or other resources purchased with Federal funds may not be used to match project awards. Certifications/Assurances. Applicants requesting financial assistance for non-construction projects must file the SF-424B, "Assurances: Non-Construction Programs." Applicants must sign and return the SF-424B with their applications. Applicants must file the Certification Regarding Lobbying when applying for an award in excess of $100,000. Applicants must sign and return the certification with their applications. If applicable, applicants must disclose lobbying activities on the SF-LLL. See the information on the Certification Regarding Lobbying form for further information. Applicants must make the appropriate certification regarding environmental tobacco smoke. By signing and submitting the application, the applicant is providing this certification and need not mail back this certification with the application. Project Summary/Abstract (one-page maximum, double spaced). Clearly mark this page with the applicant name as shown on Item 5 of SF-424, identify the program announcement and the title of the proposed project as shown in Item 11 and the service area as shown in Item 12 of SF-424. The summary description should not exceed 300 words. Care should be taken to produce a summary/abstract that accurately and concisely reflects the proposed project. It should describe the objectives of the project, the approach to be used, and the results or benefits expected. The Project Description. Applicants should organize their project description in this sequence: 1) Objectives and Need for Assistance; 2) Approach; 3) Evaluation; 4) Organizational Profiles; and 5) Budget and Budget Justification. Non-Federal Resources. Provide a letter of commitment verifying the actual amount of the non-Federal share of project costs (see Sections III.2 and V). Indirect Charges. If claiming indirect costs, provide documentation that the applicant currently has an indirect cost-rate approved by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) or another cognizant Federal agency. Third-Party Agreements. If applicable, include a letter of commitment or Memorandum of Understanding from each partner and/or subcontractor describing their role, detailing specific project tasks to be performed, and expressing commitment to participate if the proposed project is funded. Note: general letters of support are not required and are not considered under the evaluation criteria. Page Limit. The application limit is 100 pages total including all forms and attachments. Pages over this page limit will be removed from the application and will not be reviewed. General Content and Form Information. To be considered for funding, each application must be submitted with the Standard Federal Forms (provided at the end of this announcement or through the electronic links provided) and following the guidance provided. The application must be signed by an individual authorized to act for the applicant agency and to assume responsibility for the obligations imposed by the terms and conditions of the award. The application must be typed, double spaced, printed on only one side, with at least 1-inch margins on each side and 1 inch at the top and bottom, using standard 12-Point fonts (such as Times New Roman or Courier). All pages must be numbered. When spacing, margins, and font instructions are not followed, excess pages will be removed and will not be reviewed. All copies of an application must be submitted in a single package, and a separate package must be submitted for each funding opportunity. The package must be clearly labeled for the specific funding opportunity it is addressing. Because each application will be duplicated, do not use or include separate covers, binders, clips, tabs, plastic inserts, maps, brochures, or any other items that cannot be processed easily on a photocopy machine with an automatic feed. Do not bind, clip, staple, or fasten in any way separate subsections of the application, including supporting documentation. Use a clip (not a staple) to securely bind the application together. Applicants are advised that the copies of the application submitted, not the original, will be reproduced by the Federal Government for review. Tips for Preparing a Competitive Application. It is essential that applicants read the entire announcement package carefully before preparing an application and include all of the required application forms and attachments. The application must reflect a thorough understanding of and support the purpose and objectives of the applicable legislation. Reviewers expect applicants to understand the goals of the legislation and the Children's Bureau's interest in each topic. A "responsive application" is one that addresses and follows all of the evaluation criteria in ways that demonstrate this understanding. Applications that are considered to be "unresponsive" or do not clearly address the evaluation criteria or program requirements generally receive very low scores and are rarely funded. The Children's Bureau's web site (http://www.acf.dhhs.gov/programs/cb) provides a wide range of information and links to other relevant websites. Before preparing an application, applicants can learn more about the mission and programs of the Children's Bureau by exploring the web site. Organizing the Application. Reviewers will use the specific evaluation criteria in Section V of this funding announcement to review and evaluate each application. The applicant should address each of these specific evaluation criteria in the project description. Applicants should organize their project description in this sequence: 1) Objectives and Need for Assistance; 2) Approach; 3) Evaluation; 4) Organizational Profiles; and 5) Budget and Budget Justification. The applicant must use the same headings as these criteria, so that reviewers can readily find information that directly addresses each of the specific review criteria. Evaluation. A logic model is a tool that presents the conceptual framework for a proposed project and explains the linkages among program elements. While there are many versions of the logic model, they generally summarize the logical connections among the needs that are the focus of the project, project goals and objectives, the target population, project inputs (resources), the proposed activities/processes/outputs directed toward the target population, the expected short- and long-term outcomes the initiative is designed to achieve, and the evaluation plan for measuring the extent to which proposed processes and outcomes actually occur. Information on the development of logic models is available on the Internet at http://childwelfare.gov/preventing/developing/toolkit/. Project evaluations are very important. If the applicant does not have the in-house capacity to conduct an objective, comprehensive evaluation of the project, then the Children's Bureau advises that the applicant contract with a third-party evaluator specializing in social science or evaluation, or a university or college, to conduct the evaluation. In either case, it is important that the evaluator has the necessary independence from the project to assure objectivity. A skilled evaluator can help develop a logic model and assist in designing an evaluation strategy that is rigorous and appropriate given the goals and objectives of the proposed project. Additional assistance may be found in a document titled "Program Manager's Guide to Evaluation." A copy of this document can be accessed at http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/opre/other_resrch/pm_guide_eval/reports/pmguide/pmguide_toc.html. Evaluation plans that include obtaining identifiable private information about clients may involve non-exempt human subjects research and require compliance with the HHS Protection of Human Subjects regulations (45 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 46). Applicants proposing such research are asked to describe: (a) the procedures for protecting the privacy of clients and insuring the confidentiality of data collected about clients; and (b) the process for obtaining institutional review board (IRB) review of the proposed evaluation plans. While IRB approval is not required at the time of award, applicants proposing non-exempt human subjects research will be required, as a condition of award, to hold a Federal-wide Assurance (FWA) approved by the Office for Human Research Protections (OHRP) and to provide certification to ACF that an IRB designated under the FWA has reviewed and approved the research prior to enrolling any subjects in the proposed evaluation. Certifications of IRB approval may be submitted to ACF using the form at http://www.hhs.gov/ohrp/humansubjects/assurance/OF310.rtf. General information about the HHS Protection of Human Subjects regulations can be obtained at http://www.hhs.gov/ohrp/. Applicants may also contact OHRP by email (ohrp@csophs.dhhs.gov) or by phone (240-453-6900). D-U-N-S Requirement All applicants must have a D&B Data Universal Numbering System (D-U-N-S) number. On June 27, 2003, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) published in the Federal Register a new Federal policy applicable to all Federal grant applicants. The policy requires Federal grant applicants to provide a D-U-N-S number when applying for Federal grants or cooperative agreements on or after October 1, 2003. The D-U-N-S number will be required whether an applicant is submitting a paper application or using the government-wide electronic portal, Grants.gov. A D-U-N-S number will be required for every application for a new award or renewal/continuation of an award, including applications or plans under formula, entitlement, and block grant programs, submitted on or after October 1, 2003. Please ensure that your organization has a D-U-N-S number. You may acquire a D-U-N-S number at no cost by calling the dedicated toll-free D-U-N-S number request line at 1-866-705-5711 or you may request a number on-line at http://www.dnb.com. Forms, Assurances, and Certifications The project description should include all the information requirements described in the specific evaluation criteria outlined in this program announcement under Section V. Application Review Information. In addition to the project description, the applicant needs to complete all of the Standard Forms required as part of the application process for awards under this announcement. Applicants seeking financial assistance under this announcement must file the appropriate Standard Forms (SFs) as described in this section. All applicants must submit an SF-424, Application for Federal Assistance. For non-construction programs, applicants must also submit an SF-424A, Budget Information and an SF-424B, Assurances. For construction programs, applicants must also submit SF-424C, Budget Information and SF-424D, Assurances. For research programs that involve human subjects, the Protection of Human Subjects Assurance Identification/IRB Certification/Declaration of Exemption form must be submitted. All forms may be reproduced for use in submitting applications. Applicants must sign and return the standard forms with their application. Applicants must furnish, prior to award, an executed copy of the Certification Regarding Lobbying. Applicants must sign and return the certification with their application. The Certification Regarding Lobbying may be found at: http://www.acf.hhs.gov/grants/grants_resources.html. (If any funds have been paid or will be paid to any person for influencing or attempting to influence an officer or employee of any agency, a Member of Congress, an officer or employee of Congress, or an employee of a Member of Congress in connection with this commitment providing for the United States to insure or guarantee a loan, the applicant shall complete and submit Standard Form (SF)-LLL, "Disclosure Form to Report Lobbying," in accordance with its instructions.) Applicants must also understand that they will be held accountable for the smoking prohibition included within Public Law (P.L.) 103-227, Title XII Environmental Tobacco Smoke (also known as the Pro Children Act of 1994). A copy of the Federal Register notice that implements the smoking prohibition is included with this form. By signing and submitting the application, applicants are providing the necessary certification and are not required to return it. Applicants must make the appropriate certification of their compliance with all Federal statutes relating to nondiscrimination. By signing and submitting the application, applicants are providing the necessary certification and are not required to return it. Complete the standard forms and the associated certifications and assurances based on the instructions on the forms. The forms and certifications may be found at: http://www.acf.hhs.gov/grants/grants_resources.html. Please see Section V.1 for instructions on preparing the full project description. Please reference Section IV.3 for details about acknowledgement of received applications. Electronic Submission Applicants to ACF may submit their applications in either electronic or paper format. To submit an application electronically, please use the http://www.Grants.gov site. When using www.Grants.gov, applicants will be able to download a copy of the application package, complete it off-line, and then upload and submit the application via the www.Grants.gov site. ACF will not accept grant applications via facsimile or email. Acceptable electronic formats for the application attachments (narratives, charts, etc.) must use the following standard technologies, i.e., Microsoft (Word and Excel), Word Perfect, Adobe PDF, Jpeg, and Gif. IMPORTANT NOTE: Before submitting an electronic application, applicants must complete the organization registration process as well as obtain and register "electronic signature credentials" for the Authorized Organization Representative (AOR). Since this process may take more than five business days, it is important to start this process early, well in advance of the application deadline. Be sure to complete all www.Grants.gov registration processes listed on the Organization Registration Checklist, which can be found at http://www.acf.hhs.gov/grants/registration_checklist.html. Please note the following if planning to submit an application electronically via www.Grants.gov:
Hard Copy Submission Applicants that are submitting their application in paper format should submit one original and two copies of the complete application. The original and each of the two copies must include all required forms, certifications, assurances, and appendices, be signed by an authorized representative, and be unbound. The original copy of the application must have original signature(s). Non-Federal Reviewers Since ACF will be using non-Federal reviewers in the review process, applicants have the option of omitting from the application copies (not the original) specific salary rates or amounts for individuals specified in the application budget as well as Social Security Numbers, if otherwise required for individuals. The copies may include summary salary information. If applicants are submitting their application electronically, ACF will omit the same specific salary rate information from copies made for use during the review and selection process. 3. Submission Dates and Times: Due Date for Applications: 06/25/2007 Explanation of Due Dates The due date for receipt of applications is referenced above. Applications received after 4:30 p.m., eastern time, on the due date will be classified as late and will not be considered in the current competition. Applicants are responsible for ensuring that applications are mailed or hand-delivered or submitted electronically well in advance of the application due date and time. Applications that are submitted by mail must be received no later than 4:30 p.m., eastern time, on the due date referenced above at the address listed in Section IV.6. Hand Delivery Applications hand carried by applicants, applicant couriers, other representatives of the applicant, or by overnight/express mail couriers must be received on or before the due date referenced above, between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., eastern time, at the address referenced in Section IV.6., between Monday and Friday (excluding Federal holidays). Electronic Submission Applications submitted electronically via Grants.gov must be submitted no later than 4:30 p.m., eastern time, on the due date referenced above. ACF cannot accommodate transmission of applications by facsimile or email. Late Applications Applications that do not meet the requirements above are considered late applications. ACF shall notify each late applicant that its application will not be considered in the current competition. ANY APPLICATION RECEIVED AFTER 4:30 P.M., EASTERN TIME, ON THE DUE DATE WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED FOR COMPETITION. Extension of Deadlines ACF may extend application deadlines when circumstances such as acts of God (floods, hurricanes, etc.) occur; when there are widespread disruptions of mail service; or in other rare cases. A determination to extend or waive deadline requirements rests with the Chief Grants Management Officer. Receipt acknowledgement for application packages will not be provided to applicants who submit their package via mail, courier services, or by hand delivery. Applicants will receive an electronic acknowledgement for applications that are submitted via http://www.Grants.gov. Checklist You may use the checklist below as a guide when preparing your application package.
4. Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs: State Single Point of Contact (SPOC) This program is covered under Executive Order (Exec. Order) 12372, "Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs," and 45 CFR Part 100, "Intergovernmental Review of Department of Health and Human Services Programs and Activities." Under the Exec. Order, States may design their own processes for reviewing and commenting on proposed Federal assistance under covered programs. As of August 1, 2006, the following jurisdictions have elected to participate in the Exec. Order process: Arkansas, California, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Nevada, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Texas, Utah, West Virginia, Wisconsin, American Samoa, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and U.S. Virgin Islands. As these jurisdictions have elected to participate in the Executive Order process, they have established SPOCs. Applicants from participating jurisdictions should contact their SPOC, as soon as possible, to alert them of prospective applications and receive instructions. Applicants must submit all required materials, if any, to the SPOC and indicate the date of this submittal (or the date of contact if no submittal is required) on the Standard Form 424, item 16a. Under 45 CFR 100.8(a)(2), a SPOC has 60 days from the application deadline to comment on proposed new or competing continuation awards. SPOCs are encouraged to eliminate the submission of routine endorsements as official recommendations. Additionally, SPOCs are requested to clearly differentiate between mere advisory comments and those official State process recommendations, which may trigger the "accommodate or explain" rule. Comments submitted directly to ACF should be addressed to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Office of Grants Management, Division of Discretionary Grants, 370 L'Enfant Promenade SW., 6th Floor, Washington, DC 20447. Although the remaining jurisdictions have chosen not to participate in this process, entities that meet the eligibility requirements of the Program Announcement are still eligible to apply for a grant even if a State, Territory, or Commonwealth, etc., does not have a SPOC. Therefore, applicants from these jurisdictions, or for projects administered by Federally-recognized Indian Tribes, need take no action in regard to Exec. Order 12372. The official list, including addresses, of the jurisdictions that have elected to participate in Exec. Order 12372 can be found on the following URL: http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/grants/spoc.html. 5. Funding Restrictions: Fundraising is not an allowable cost under this program. Grant awards will not allow reimbursement of pre-award costs. Construction and purchase of real property are not allowable activities or expenditures under this grant award. 6. Other Submission Requirements: Please see Sections IV.2 and IV.3 for deadline information and other application requirements. Submit applications to one of the following addresses: Submission by Mail ACYF Operations Centerc/o The Dixon Group, Inc. ATTN: Children's Bureau 118 Q St., NE. Washington , DC 20002-2132 Hand Delivery ACYF Operations Centerc/o The Dixon Group, Inc. ATTN: Children's Bureau 118 Q St., NE. Washington, DC 20002-2132 Electronic Submission Please see Section IV.2 for guidelines and requirements when submitting applications electronically via http://www.Grants.gov. V. APPLICATION REVIEW INFORMATION The Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (P.L. 104-13) Public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 40 hours per response, including the time for reviewing instructions, gathering and maintaining the data needed and reviewing the collection information.The project description is approved under OMB control number 0970-0139, which expires 4/30/2007. An agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to, a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number. 1. Criteria: Part I THE PROJECT DESCRIPTION OVERVIEW PURPOSE The project description provides the majority of information by which an application is evaluated and ranked in competition with other applications for available assistance. The project description should be concise and complete. It should address the activity for which Federal funds are being requested. Supporting documents should be included where they can present information clearly and succinctly. In preparing the project description, information that is responsive to each of the requested evaluation criteria must be provided. Awarding offices use this and other information in making their funding recommendations. It is important, therefore, that this information be included in the application in a manner that is clear and complete. GENERAL EXPECTATIONS AND INSTRUCTIONS ACF is particularly interested in specific project descriptions that focus on outcomes and convey strategies for achieving intended performance. Project descriptions are evaluated on the basis of substance and measurable outcomes, not length. Extensive exhibits are not required. Cross-referencing should be used rather than repetition. Supporting information concerning activities that will not be directly funded by the grant or information that does not directly pertain to an integral part of the grant-funded activity should be placed in an appendix. Pages should be numbered and a table of contents should be included for easy reference. Part II GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS FOR PREPARING A FULL PROJECT DESCRIPTION INTRODUCTION Applicants that are required to submit a full project description shall prepare the project description statement in accordance with the following instructions while being aware of the specified evaluation criteria. The text options give a broad overview of what the project description should include while the evaluation criteria identify the measures that will be used to evaluate applications. PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT Provide a summary of the project description (one page or less) with reference to the funding request. OBJECTIVES AND NEED FOR ASSISTANCE Clearly identify the physical, economic, social, financial, institutional, and/or other problem(s) requiring a solution. The need for assistance must be demonstrated and the principal and subordinate objectives of the project must be clearly stated; supporting documentation, such as letters of support and testimonials from concerned interests other than the applicant, may be included. Any relevant data based on planning studies should be included or referred to in the endnotes/footnotes. Incorporate demographic data and participant/beneficiary information, as needed. In developing the project description, the applicant may volunteer or be requested to provide information on the total range of projects currently being conducted and supported (or to be initiated), some of which may be outside the scope of the program announcement. APPROACH Outline a plan of action that describes the scope and detail of how the proposed work will be accomplished. Account for all functions or activities identified in the application. Cite factors that might accelerate or decelerate the work and state your reason for taking the proposed approach rather than others. Describe any unusual features of the project such as design or technological innovations, reductions in cost or time, or extraordinary social and community involvement. Provide quantitative monthly or quarterly projections of the accomplishments to be achieved for each function or activity in such terms as the number of people to be served and the number of activities accomplished. When accomplishments cannot be quantified by activity or function, list them in chronological order to show the schedule of accomplishments and their target dates. If any data is to be collected, maintained, and/or disseminated, clearance may be required from the OMB. This clearance pertains to any "collection of information that is conducted or sponsored by ACF." Provide a list of organizations, cooperating entities, consultants, or other key individuals who will work on the project along with a short description of the nature of their effort or contribution. EVALUATION Provide a narrative addressing how the conduct of the project and the results of the project will be evaluated. In addressing the evaluation of results, state how you will determine the extent to which the project has achieved its stated objectives and the extent to which the accomplishment of objectives can be attributed to the project. Discuss the criteria to be used to evaluate results, and explain the methodology that will be used to determine if the needs identified and discussed are being met and if the project results and benefits are being achieved. With respect to the conduct of the project, define the procedures to be employed to determine whether the project is being conducted in a manner consistent with the work plan presented and discuss the impact of the project's various activities that address the project's effectiveness. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION The following are requests for additional information that must be included in the application:
BUDGET AND BUDGET JUSTIFICATION Provide a budget with line-item detail and detailed calculations for each budget object class identified on the Budget Information Form (SF-424A or SF-424C). Detailed calculations must include estimation methods, quantities, unit costs, and other similar quantitative detail sufficient for the calculation to be duplicated. If matching is a requirement, include a breakout by the funding sources identified in Block 15 of the SF-424. Provide a narrative budget justification that describes how the categorical costs are derived. Discuss the necessity, reasonableness, and allocation of the proposed costs.
TOTAL DIRECT CHARGES, TOTAL INDIRECT CHARGES, TOTAL PROJECT COSTS EVALUATION CRITERIA: In considering how applicants will carry out the responsibilities addressed under this announcement, competing applications for financial assistance will be reviewed and evaluated against the following criteria: OBJECTIVES AND NEED FOR ASSISTANCE - 20 points In reviewing the objectives and need for assistance, reviewers will consider the extent to which:
APPROACH - 35 points In reviewing the approach, reviewers will consider the extent to which:
EVALUATION - 20 points In reviewing the evaluation, reviewers will consider the extent to which:
ORGANIZATIONAL PROFILES - 20 points In reviewing the organizational profiles, reviewers will consider the extent to which:
BUDGET AND BUDGET JUSTIFICATION - 5 points In reviewing the budget and budget justification, reviewers will consider the extent to which:
2. Review and Selection Process: No grant award will be made under this announcement on the basis of an incomplete application. Each application will be screened to determine whether it was received by the closing date and time (Section IV.3.) and whether the requested amount exceeds the ceiling or upper range value, whichever is appropriate (Section II.) A panel of at least three reviewers (primarily experts from outside the Federal Government) will use the evaluation criteria described in this announcement to evaluate each application. The reviewers will determine the strengths and weaknesses of each application, provide comments about the strengths and weaknesses, and give each application a numerical score. The results of the competitive review are a primary factor in making funding decisions. In addition, Federal staff conducts administrative reviews of the applications and, in light of the results of the competitive review, will recommend applications for funding to the Administration on Children, Youth, and Families (ACYF) Commissioner. ACYF reserves the option of discussing applications with other funding sources when this is in the best interest of the Federal Government. ACYF may also solicit and consider comments from ACF Regional Office staff in making funding decisions. ACYF may take into consideration the involvement (financial and/or programmatic) of the private sector, national, or State or community foundations; a favorable balance between Federal and non-Federal funds for the proposed project; or the potential for high benefit from low Federal investment. ACYF may elect not to fund any applicants having known management, fiscal, reporting, programmatic, or other problems that make it unlikely that they would be able to provide effective services or effectively complete the proposed activity. With the results of the peer review and the information from Federal staff, the Commissioner of ACYF makes the final funding decisions. The Commissioner may give special consideration to applications proposing services of special interest to the Federal Government and achieving geographic distribution of cooperative agreements. Applications of special interest may include, but are not limited to, applications focusing on underserved or inadequately served clients or service areas and programs addressing diverse ethnic populations. Since ACF will be using non-Federal reviewers in the process, applicants have the option of omitting from the application copies (not the original), specific salary rates or amounts for individuals specified in the application budget and Social Security Numbers if otherwise required for individuals. The copies may include summary salary information. Available Funds. Applicants should note that cooperative agreements to be awarded under this program announcement are subject to the availability of funds. Please reference Section IV.2 for information on non-Federal reviewers in the review process. Approved but Unfunded Applications Applications that are approved but unfunded may be held over for funding in the next funding cycle, pending the availability of funds, for a period not to exceed one year. 3. Anticipated Announcement and Award Dates: Applications will be reviewed no later than Summer 2007. Cooperative agreement awards will have a start date no later than September 30, 2007. VI. AWARD ADMINISTRATION INFORMATION 1. Award Notices: The successful applicants will be notified through the issuance of a Financial
Assistance Award document, which sets forth the amount of funds granted, the terms and
conditions of the grant, the effective date of the grant, the budget period for which
initial support will be given, the non-Federal share to be provided (if applicable), and the total
project period for which support is contemplated. The Financial Assistance Award will
be signed by the Grants Officer and transmitted via postal mail.
Following the finalization of funding decisions, organizations whose applications will not be
funded will be notified by letter, signed by the Program Office head.
2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements: Grantees are subject to the requirements in 45 CFR Part 74 (non-governmental) or 45 CFR Part 92 (governmental). Direct Federal grants, sub-award funds, or contracts under this ACF program shall not be used to support inherently religious activities such as religious instruction, worship, or proselytization. Therefore, organizations must take steps to separate, in time or location, their inherently religious activities from the services funded under this program. Regulations pertaining to the Equal Treatment for Faith-Based Organizations, which includes the prohibition against Federal funding of inherently religious activities, can be found at the HHS web site at: http://www.hhs.gov/fbci/waisgate21.pdf. A faith-based organization receiving HHS funds retains its independence from Federal, State, and local governments, and may continue to carry out its mission, including the definition, practice, and expression of its religious beliefs. For example, a faith-based organization may use space in its facilities to provide secular programs or services funded with Federal funds without removing religious art, icons, scriptures, or other religious symbols. In addition, a faith-based organization that receives Federal funds retains its authority over its internal governance, and it may retain religious terms in its organization's name, select its board members on a religious basis, and include religious references in its organization's mission statements and other governing documents in accordance with all program requirements, statutes, and other applicable requirements governing the conduct of HHS funded activities. Faith-based and community organizations may reference the "Guidance to Faith-Based and Community Organizations on Partnering with the Federal Government" at: http://www.whitehouse.gov/government/fbci/guidance/index.html. HHS Grants Policy Statement The HHS Grants Policy Statement (GPS) is the Department of Health and Human Services new single policy guide for discretionary grants and cooperative agreements. Unlike previous HHS policy documents, the GPS is intended to be shared with and used by grantees. It became effective October 1, 2006 and is applicable to all Operating Divisions (OPDIVS), such as the Administration for Children and Families (ACF), except the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The GPS covers basic grants processes, standard terms and conditions and points of contact as well as important OPDIV-specific requirements. Appendices include a glossary of terms and a list of standard abbreviations for ease of reference. The GPS may be accessed at http://www.acf.hhs.gov/grants/grants_resources.html. 3. Reporting Requirements: Grantees will be required to submit program progress and financial reports (SF-269 found at: http://www.acf.hhs.gov/grants/grants_resources.html) throughout the project period. Program progress and financial reports are due 30 days after the reporting period. Final programmatic and financial reports are due 90 days after the close of the project period. Final reports may be submitted in hard copy to the Grants Management Office Contact listed in Section VII of this announcement. Program Progress Reports: Semi-AnnuallyFinancial Reports: Semi-Annually VII. AGENCY CONTACTS Program Office Contact: Jason Bohn Grants Management Office Contact: Daphne WeedenGrants Officer Division of Discretionary Grants ACYF Operations Center c/o The Dixon Group, Inc. ATTN: Children's Bureau 118 Q St., NE. Washington, DC 20002-2132 Phone: 866-796-1591 or TTY 711 Email: cb@dixongroup.com VIII. OTHER INFORMATION Additional information about this program and its purpose can be located at: http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/cb/. For general information regarding this announcement please contact:
ACYF Operations Center
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