Executive Summary: The Administration for Children and Families (ACF), Children's Bureau, announces the availability of competitive grant funds authorized by the Promoting Safe and Stable Families (PSSF) program. These targeted grants will be awarded to regional partnerships that provide, through interagency collaboration and integration of programs and services, activities and services that are designed to increase the well-being of, improve permanency outcomes for, and enhance the safety of children who are in an out-of-home placement or are at risk of being placed in an out-of-home placement as a result of a parent's or caretaker's methamphetamine or other substance abuse. The Child and Family Services Improvement Act (Public Law (P.L.) 109-288) reauthorizes the PSSF program, through Fiscal Year (FY 2011) and includes a new targeted grants program (42 United States Code (U.S.C.) 629g(f) which directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to reserve a specified portion of the appropriation for regional partnership grants to improve the well-being of children affected by methamphetamine abuse or other substance abuse. Under this Program Announcement there are four Program Options: two possible Federal award amounts, $500,000 or $1,000,000 per budget period and two possible grant periods, three years or five years. Applicants should note that initial Federal awards at the $1,000,000 level will decline between the second and third year of a three-year grant period and will decline between the second and fifth year of a five-year grant period, due to the overall decline in authorized Federal funds for this grant program over these grant periods. Federal awards at the $500,000 level will remain fixed for the duration of either a three- or five-year grant period. Applicants must clearly state for which of these four program options they are applying.
I. FUNDING OPPORTUNITY DESCRIPTION Legislative Authority The Promoting Safe and Stable Families Program (section 437(f), subpart 2, title IV-B, of the Social Security Act) (42 U.S.C. 629(f)(b)) http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=109_cong_bills&docid=f:s3525enr.txt.pdf Funding Opportunity Description Background Information States and communities around the country are struggling to address the safety, permanency and well-being of children in families in which a parent's substance abuse has placed children at risk. The rise of methamphetamine abuse, in particular, has recently increased the visibility of these issues in many communities. It is estimated that 8.3 million children in the United States (U.S.) live with at least one parent who abuses alcohol or who is in need of treatment for illicit drug use. Impaired by their addiction, parents who abuse substances are less likely to engage in appropriate parenting practices thereby depriving children of basic nurturing activities and experiences. The high cost of maintaining an addiction diverts a family's financial resources from providing for basic family needs such as food, clothing, and housing. Children whose parents abuse substances are more likely to have poorer physical, intellectual, social, emotional and developmental outcomes and, sadly, are at risk of becoming substance abusers themselves. Parental substance abuse is also a key factor underlying the abuse or neglect experienced by many of the children who enter foster care or are at risk of entering foster care. Many studies indicate that between one-third and two-thirds of substantiated child maltreatment reports involve substance abuse. Of children exposed to drugs prenatally, approximately one-third will enter foster care within the first few years of life. Children with open child welfare cases whose parents have substance abuse problems also tend to be younger than other children in the child welfare system, are more likely to be victims of severe or chronic neglect, and are more likely than other children to be placed in foster care rather than served while remaining at home. Once in foster care, these children tend to remain in care for longer periods of time than other children. An important challenge facing both the child welfare and substance abuse treatment fields is to take a comprehensive view of families' situations and to understand the contributions of various problematic behaviors to child maltreatment. The relationship between child maltreatment and substance abuse is complicated by the presence of other personal, health, environmental, social and economic factors that confound the process of securing safe, stable homes for children, as well as hinder the treatment process. For substance abuse treatment to be effective and for children to remain safe, the full spectrum of major family problems must be addressed. Finally, as child welfare laws emphasize the need to make timely decisions regarding the permanent placement of children in foster care, parents with substance abuse disorders may have limited time to demonstrate their readiness to provide a safe home environment for children. To preserve families, child welfare workers and substance abuse treatment providers must collaborate to accurately identify substance use problems early and intervene quickly. While substance abuse treatment is often effective in assisting clients to achieve abstinence, quality treatment programs designed for parents involved with the child welfare system, especially treatment programs that target women with young children, are not widely available in many communities. Historically, a number of issues have contributed to the fragmentation of child welfare services and substance abuse treatment, including: 1. Recruitment, engagement and retention of parents or caretakers in substance abuse treatment. Many communities lack residential or intensive outpatient family programs that would allow children to remain with their parent(s) or caretaker(s) during substance abuse treatment. In other communities, residential or intensive outpatient family programs may exist, but may be unable to meet the demand for such services, may not be able to provide for adequate length of stay, and/or are often unable to coordinate treatment with child welfare referring agencies. The inability of many child welfare agencies to identify substance abuse problems early and accurately also makes timely recruitment of substance-abusing parents very difficult. 2. Differences in professional perspectives and policies between child welfare workers and substance abuse treatment providers. Professionals from the child welfare and substance abuse fields may hold divergent views on: (1) defining the target client (child or substance-abusing parent); (2) the treatment outcomes expected; (3) acceptable timelines for demonstrating progress in treatment; (4) responses to setbacks in treatment; and (5) other factors related to the legal and policy environments in which substance abuse treatment providers and child welfare agencies operate. State and Federal child welfare laws, for example, prescribe limited timeframes in which to offer family reunification services before alternative permanency decisions must be made. Treating substance abuse disorders, however, involves a complex and long-term recovery process. Consequently, parents may have little time to demonstrate readiness to provide safe homes for children who are in treatment. Also, confusion over the confidentiality requirements of both fields can often halt or slow the exchange of information between substance abuse treatment providers and child welfare workers. 3. Chronic service shortages in both the child welfare and substance abuse treatment systems. In the child welfare system, issues such as high caseloads, staff turnover, and inadequate caseworker training often hinder the efficiency and effectiveness of case planning and timely caseworker visitation. For families with substance abuse problems, accessing adequate treatment is also a difficult task. A 1999 HHS report noted that only 37 percent of problem drug users with children under age 18 reported receiving some form of substance abuse treatment. The report also noted a recent decline in the delivery of services often needed in conjunction with substance abuse treatment such as parenting skills training, medical services, mental health services, legal aid, and vocational training. More recent data suggest that accessing adequate treatment remains difficult. In 2005, 23.2 million persons ages 12 or older needed treatment for an illicit drug or alcohol use problem. Of these, only 2.3 million or about 10 percent received treatment (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, 2005 National Survey on Drug Use and Health: National Findings; http://www.oas.samhsa.gov/nsduh/2k5nsduh/2k5results.htm#7.3). For many families addressing substance abuse alone is not likely to produce the changes in a family that are necessary to ensure a healthy home environment for children. Even if a parent achieves abstinence, other issues such as inadequate housing and poor parenting skills may continue to pose safety risks for the child. In recent years, HHS has undertaken a number of projects and activities to explore and address the issue of substance abuse among families involved with the child welfare system. A number of these projects are described below, along with links to websites containing further information. Applicants may wish to review these resources as they develop their applications. The 1999 ACF and Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) report to Congress on substance abuse and child welfare, Blending Perspectives and Building Common Ground, described the extent and scope of the problem of substance abuse in the child welfare population, the types of services provided to this population, and the effectiveness of these services. The report also made recommendations for legislative changes needed to improve service coordination. Applicants are encouraged to review the full report online: http://aspe.hhs.gov/hsp/subabuse99/subabuse.htm. One outgrowth of the Blending Perspectives report was the creation of the National Center on Substance Abuse and Child Welfare (NCSACW), established through a memorandum of understanding between SAMHSA and ACF. NCSACW's goals are to develop and implement a comprehensive program of information gathering and dissemination, to provide technical assistance, and to develop knowledge that promotes effective practice, and organizational and system changes at the local, state, and national levels. Substance abuse treatment providers and child welfare workers are also able to participate in free online courses on a range of practice issues, including training about how professionals from both fields can effectively collaborate to improve services to families. These courses are available online at NCSACW's website at: http://www.ncsacw.samhsa.gov. HHS has supported other approaches to identifying and addressing substance abuse issues in the child welfare population through child welfare waiver demonstrations. These waivers have allowed some States to use title IV-E foster care funds more flexibly in order to improve outcomes for children and families in the child welfare system. With the implementation of the Adoption and Safe Families Act (ASFA) and renewed emphasis on achieving permanency for children in the child welfare system, finding effective and timely methods to address the concurrent family problems of substance abuse and child maltreatment is critical. In implementing grant-funded services or activities, applicants should understand the timelines for permanency planning prescribed by ASFA so that informed permanency decisions can be made within timeframes dictated both by children's developmental needs and the requirements of ASFA. Applicants may review the ASFA legislation online at: http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=105_cong_bills&docid=f:h867enr.txt.pdf. Finally, applicants may review a variety of print and electronic publications, websites, and online databases at Child Welfare Information Gateway. Resources covering a wide range of topics from prevention to permanency, including child welfare, child abuse and neglect, and adoption can be accessed online at: http://www.childwelfare.gov. ACF seeks to promote the development of strategies to improve collaboration between substance abuse treatment providers and the child welfare system in order to improve the safety, permanency, and well-being of children and their families. Grants awarded under this funding announcement will be expected to assist regional partnerships in establishing or enhancing a collaborative infrastructure capable of building the region's capacity to meet a broad range of needs for families involved with both substance abuse treatment and the child welfare system. Applicants may choose to test a broad-based approach to substance abuse treatment and child welfare services collaboration, or they may choose to focus their efforts on a particular point along the continuum of care from prevention to treatment to aftercare services. When considering an approach to grant-funded services and when anticipating program outcomes, applicants should review the conceptual framework included at the end of this announcement. Grantees are encouraged to recruit a local evaluator to assist in developing plans to monitor required performance indicators, as well as to assist in assessing the performance and impact of grant-funded services and activities. Examples of services and activities that applicants might propose to engage in or integrate into existing service delivery systems include: 1. Systems Collaboration and Improvements
2. Treatment Linkages
3. Services for Children and Youth
4. Substance Abuse Treatment Services
5. Other Services for Parents
Since applicants are required to demonstrate the target region's lack of capacity for, or access to, comprehensive family treatment and services, regional partners may consider several methods of addressing service barriers. For example, a community may only have adult-only residential or intensive outpatient programs and lack the capacity to serve family members. Alternatively, a community may have residential or intensive outpatient family programs, but may not be able to meet demand for such services, provide for adequate length of stay, coordinate treatment with child welfare referring agencies, or provide services that can accommodate the linguistic and cultural experience of the family. To address these issues, applicants may consider proposing to expand the region's capacity for comprehensive family treatment by: (1) adding an array of services for children and other family members; (2) increasing capacity to serve more families referred from child welfare and/or the family drug or dependency courts; (3) extending treatment services to the family for longer periods of time; (4) providing for treatment linkage programs to increase the number of successful referrals to treatment once parents are identified as having a substance use disorder in need of intervention; or (5) enhancing existing treatment services to hire staff with the needed language skills and tailor services to the cultural background of clients. Evaluation The Evaluation portion of the Evaluation Criteria section of this announcement provides specific information about what reviewers will be measuring when they read applications for funding under this program announcement. Assistance may be found in a document titled "Program Manager's Guide to Evaluation." A copy of this document can be accessed http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/opre/other_resrch/pm_guide_eval/reports/pmguide/pmguide_toc.html. 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:
Description of Funding Arrangements The legislation outlines a number of specific requirements for funds awarded under this announcement, including that: (1) the annual Federal award may not exceed $1,000,000; (2) the annual Federal award may not fall below $500,000; (3) a grant period may not exceed five years; (4) the grantee's required match must increase over the course of the grant period, such that grantees must contribute 15 percent of the costs of grant-funded services and activities in FY 2007 and FY 2008, 20 percent of such costs in FY 2009 and FY 2010, and 25 percent of such costs in FY 2011; and (5) the legislatively authorized funding levels for this grant program decreases each year from $40 million in the first year (or first 12-month budget period) to $20 million in the fifth year (or final 12-month budget period). In proposing a grant program budget, applicants are encouraged to carefully review the tables below that describe the annual variations in Federal share, grantee match, and total award amount between FYs 2007-2011. There are two possible Federal award amounts, $500,000 or $1,000,000 per budget period and two possible grant periods, three years or five years. Applicants should note that initial Federal awards at the $1,000,000 level will decline between the second and third year of a three-year grant period and will decline between the second and fifth year of a five-year grant period, due to the overall decline in authorized Federal funds for this grant program over these grant periods. Federal awards at the $500,000 level will remain fixed for the duration of either a three- or five-year grant period. Applicants are required to select ONE of the following Program Options, justify their selection in terms of accomplishing their project goals and demonstrate their organizational capacity to manage the proposed project over the selected grant period: Program Option 1: $1,000,000 annual award for 3 years (declining); Program Option 2: $1,000,000 annual award for 5 years (declining); Program Option 3: $500,000 annual award for 3 years (fixed); or Program Option 4: $500,000 annual award for 5 years (fixed). Applicants must state for which of these four program options they are applying and justify their selection in terms of accomplishing their project goals. An applicant may only apply for one Program Option. Applicants should include in their proposal a program budget for each of the award years and outline how they will satisfy the increasing match required over the selected grant period, based on the tables below. Applicants selecting a Federal award at the initial level of $1,000,000 should also describe how they will accommodate the declining total award amount in the second and third years of the grant period (if applying for a three-year award) or the second and fifth years of the grant period (if applying for a five-year award). The non-Federal share of the cost of services provided or activities conducted with funding under this announcement may be in cash or in-kind and must be detailed in the budget. Pre-Application Conference. The Children's Bureau will be sponsoring a pre-application conference for all parties interested in applying for the Targeted Discretionary Grants Addressing Needs of Families Affected by Methamphetamine and Other Substance Abuse. The purpose of the conference is to assist applicants to develop effective applications and respond to questions about the program announcement. A recording and transcript of the applicant conference will be posted at http://www.acf.hhs.gov/grants/grants_cb.html following the conference and will be available until the closing date of the announcement. Information pertaining to this pre-application conference can be found at http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/grantreview/ or by contacting the ACYF Operations Center, c/o The Dixon Group, Inc. ATTN: Children's Bureau, 866-796-1591 or TTY 711, cb@dixongroup.com. II. AWARD INFORMATION Program Option 1. $1,000,000 annual award for 3 years (Declining Federal award)
Program Option 3. $500,000 annual award for 3 years (Fixed Federal award)
Program Option 4. $500,000 annual award for 5 years (Fixed Federal award)
III. ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION 1. Eligible Applicants:
Faith-based and community organizations that meet the statutory eligibility requirements are eligible to apply under this announcement. Foreign entities are not eligible under this announcement. Applications must represent regional partnerships formed by a collaborative agreement. Applications must identify a primary applicant responsible for administering the grant. The primary applicant MUST be one of the regional partnership organizations listed below. The primary applicant cannot be an individual. Regional partnerships may be established on an interstate or intrastate basis and must be between at least two of the following parties:
As required by the legislation, if the partnership is an Indian Tribe or Tribal consortia they may not enter into a collaborative agreement only with Tribal child welfare agencies (or a consortium of such agencies). Applications must identify a lead applicant responsible for administration of the grant. Any member of the regional partnership is eligible to be a lead applicant provided that: (1) the partner is one of the eligible entities described above; and (2) the member agency or organization has the capacity to sufficiently monitor program activities or services, funding, and reporting requirements described in this announcement. While either the State child welfare agency that is responsible for the State plan under title IV-B or title IV-E of the Social Security Act or an Indian Tribe or Tribal consortium must be a member of a regional partnership it is NOT necessary that either of these entities serve as the lead agency. Any eligible entity may be a member of more than one regional partnership application, but each regional partnership may only apply for ONE of the four program options in this program announcement. 2. Cost Sharing or Matching: Yes Grantees are required to meet a non-Federal share of the project costs, in accordance with the Promoting Safe and Stable Families program (section 437(f), subpart 2, title IV-B, of the Social Security Act) (42 U.S.C. 629(f)(b)) See II Award Information for details of grantee match requirements for each of the four program options. 3. Other: Any eligible entity may be a member of more than one regional partnership application, but each regional partnership may only apply for ONE of the four program options. 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 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 grants. Applicants should include in their proposal a program budget for each of the award years and outline how they will satisfy the increasing match required over the selected grant period. 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 the certification and need not mail back the certification with the applications. Project Summary/Abstract (one page maximum, double spaced). Applicants must clearly state for which of the four Program Options they are applying. Clearly mark this page with the applicant name as shown on Item 5 of SF-424, identify the competitive grant funding opportunity 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 must clearly state for which of the four Program Options they are applying. 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 Section III.2) for each of the award years over the selected grant period. Indirect Charges. If claiming indirect costs, provide documentation that the applicant currently has an indirect cost-rate approved by HHS or another cognizant Federal agency. Third-Party Agreements. Include a letter of commitment or memorandum of understanding from each partner and/or sub-contractor 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 nor do the evaluation criteria ask about the extent to which there are letters of support so do not include general letters of support. 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 grant 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, ACF will remove and not review excess pages. 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 website (http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/cb) provides a wide range of information and links to other relevant websites. Before you begin preparing an application, ACF suggests that the applicant learn more about the mission and programs of the Children's Bureau by exploring the website. Organizing An 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. . Protection of Human Subjects. Evaluation plans that include obtaining identifiable private information about clients may involve non-exempt human subjects research and require compliance with HHS Protection of Human Subjects regulations (45 CFR Part 46). Applicants proposing such research are asked to describe (a) the procedures for protecting the privacy of clients and ensuring 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 on the web at http://www.hhs.gov/ohrp. You may also contact OHRP by e-mail (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. Proof of Non-Profit Status Non-profit organizations applying for funding are required to submit proof of their non-profit status. Proof of non-profit status is any one of the following:
When applying electronically, we strongly suggest that you attach your proof of non-profit status with your electronic application. Private, non-profit organizations are encouraged to submit with their applications the survey titled "Survey on Ensuring Equal Opportunity for Applicants" found under the "Survey" heading at: http://www.acf.hhs.gov/grants/grants_resources.html. 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. Private, non-profit organizations are encouraged to submit with their applications the survey titled "Survey on Ensuring Equal Opportunity for Applicants" found under the "Survey" heading 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: 07/03/2007 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.
Private, non-profit organizations are encouraged to submit with their applications the survey titled "Survey on Ensuring Equal Opportunity for Applicants" found under the "Survey" heading at: http://www.acf.hhs.gov/grants/grants_resources.html.
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 Center Hand Delivery ACYF Operations Center 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. ACF currently has a pending request for OMB approval of the information collection requirements included in this program announcement and we anticipate approval of that request. However, given the importance of the work covered by this program announcement and the need to ensure that available FY2007 funds appropriated for such work are awarded before the end of this fiscal year, we have chosen to issue this announcement while our request with OMB is pending. 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. (This information collection is currently under OMB review for extension of the expiration date. According to OMB policy, the approval will not expire while the collection is under its review.). 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: 1. The applicant demonstrates an understanding of the goals and objectives of the relevant legislation, Child and Family Services Improvement Act (P.L. 109-288), Section 437(f), subpart 2, title IV-B, of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 629(f)(b) and how the proposed project will contribute to achieving those legislative goals and objectives, and the goals stated in the purpose and background sections of this funding opportunity announcement. 2. The applicant provides data to describe the nature of the problem being targeted and extent of the need for proposed services and activities in the target population. The applicant provides recent evidence demonstrating that methamphetamine or other substance abuse has had a substantial impact on the number of out-of-home placements for children, or the number of children who are at risk of being placed in an out-of-home placement, in the partnership region. The statement of need includes a clearly established baseline for the project. Documentation for this gap analysis may come from a variety of qualitative and quantitative sources. Quantitative data may come from local data or trend analyses, State data (e.g., from State needs assessments), and/or national data (e.g., from ACF's Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System (AFCARS), National Child Abuse and Neglect Data System (NCANDS), and Child and Family Services Review (CFSR) data and SAMHSA's National Household Survey on Drug Abuse and Health or related sources). For data sources that are not well known, the applicant provides sufficient information on how the data were collected so reviewers can assess the reliability and validity of the data. The applicant clearly describes the scope of the problem with methamphetamine and substance abusing parents in their defined targeted community, its impact on the child welfare system, and their proposal to address that problem in their defined targeted community. 3. The applicant describes existing activities that coordinate services for and facilitate a community's response to families with a substance abuse problem and involved in or at risk for involvement in the child welfare system. The applicant describes any existing inter-agency bodies, communication mechanisms, co-location of staff, or other changes in agency or cross-agency practices and procedures that have been established to address this need. 4. The applicant describes existing services to family members that su | |||||
