Executive Summary: The Administration for Children and Families (ACF), Office of Head Start (OHS), invites applications from organizations for Head Start Healthy Marriage Initiative Project Grants. These grants will provide Head Start and Early Head Start grantees with funding to offer marriage education services to their current service population, as well as Head Start eligible families in their service areas. Grants will extend access to voluntary marriage education services to low-income individuals who would not otherwise have these services available. It will provide an opportunity for Head Start and Early Head Start grantees to partner with other organizations in their communities to offer a full range of practical skill-building sessions on communication, joint decision making, parenting, managing of family budgets, conflict resolution, and other elements to enhance family stabilization. The target audience for services is fragile families, including low-income families, single parents, teenage parents, unwed and/or new or expectant parents. Services may be offered to those contemplating marriage and to couples wishing to strengthen their relationships. In addition, services that focus on the teaching of communication skills, problem solving, and conflict resolution skills may be offered to adolescent siblings of Head Start eligible children in the context of healthy dating and peer relationships with application to marriage later in life. OHS intends to award up to $8 million in Healthy Marriage grants. Up to 40 grants will be awarded at a maximum of $500,000, per budget period for the five 12-month budget periods of the maximum 60-month (five year) project period. Funds awarded will be commensurate with the scope and number of activities proposed, the geographic area covered and number of families served. Eligible applicants include Head Start and Early Head Start grantees in partnership with organizations that have demonstrated successful experience with delivering skills-based marriage education services. Applications will require documented, formal partnerships, third-party agreements, or Memorandas of Understanding (MOUs) with partnering organizations, in addition to letters of support. I. FUNDING OPPORTUNITY DESCRIPTION Legislative Authority This announcement is authorized by the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9801). Section 649 of the Head Start Act authorizes the Secretary to fund research, demonstration and evaluation projects with funds made available for that purpose under Section 640(a) of the statute. Under Section 649(a)(1)(B) the Secretary is authorized to "use the Head Start programs to develop, test and disseminate new ideas and approaches for addressing the need of low-income preschool children . . . and their families and communities . . . and otherwise to further the purposes of this subchapter. " The provision authorizes the Secretary to "carry out such activities directly, or through grants to, or contracts or cooperative agreements with, public or private entities . . . ." Eligibility for funding under Section 649 is therefore not limited to Head Start grantees, nor is funding limited to projects that serve families of children currently enrolled in Head Start or Early Head Start programs. The provision can authorize the funding of demonstration projects that provide services to families who are eligible to receive Early Head Start or Head Start services, but do not have children enrolled in a Head Start or Early Head Start program, and other low income individuals as long as the purpose of the project is "test[ing] and disseminat[ing] new ideas and approaches for addressing the need of low-income preschool children . . . and their families and communities." Funding Opportunity Description Purpose The Head Start program provides comprehensive child development services to more than 900,000 of our nation's neediest young children. There are a number of organizations and institutions with innovative concepts, projects and products that could help improve the effectiveness and management of local Head Start and Early Head Start sites, and the supportive comprehensive services provided to Head Start families and children. It is the intent of the Office of Head Start (OHS) to solicit proposals for innovations and improvements so that these efforts can be identified and considered. If they are found to have merit, OHS plans to provide financial assistance so they can be further developed or assessed and made available to local Head Start programs. Many organizations (at the national, State and local level) seek guidance from OHS because they have seen a need for activities that will improve the quality of Head Start programming, and have valid concepts, products, and projects that address the priorities for improving the comprehensive services provided by OHS. This competition will assess the feasibility of projects related to the Head Start Healthy Marriage Initiative, and expanding, replicating and disseminating the same. The goal of the Head Start Healthy Marriage Initiative is to improve child well-being by strengthening family formation and healthy marriage among Head Start and Early Head Start families, including married couples, engaged couples or couples planning marriage, and individuals desiring to develop relationship skills for the future purpose of forming a healthy marriage and family. The application should encourage approaches that acknowledge the larger context of healthy marriage and family formation. This may include preventative education to help individuals avoid negative relationship decisions, and/or interventions to lower existing relationship risk factors. This will entail an approach that addresses research-substantiated risk factors associated with low-income couples and families:
While successful applications do not have to serve only married couples or couples with plans for marriage, successful applications must explain and demonstrate a clear rationale for a plan of service that is consistent with the overarching goal of the Head Start Healthy Marriage Initiative: to foster success in helping more people achieve their own aspirations for marriage and the number of children raised in the context of healthy marriages. Background Head Start, established in 1965, is a comprehensive child development program currently serving more than 900,000 children annually, primarily young children in low-income families from three years of age to the age of mandatory school attendance. Since the addition of Early Head Start in 1995, eligible children from birth to three, pregnant women and their families are also included. Grants for Head Start and Early Head Start programs are awarded to local public and private agencies by the Administration for Children and Families ( ACF) in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Over 2,100 grantees and delegate agencies provide these programs in every State, Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands, Outer Pacific, as well as to American Indian/Alaska Natives and Migrant/Seasonal Farm Worker populations. Head Start has a long tradition of delivering comprehensive services designed to foster healthy development in the most vulnerable young children, including those with disabilities. Head Start and Early Head Start grantees and delegate agencies provide a range of individualized services in the areas of education and early childhood development; medical, dental, mental health and nutrition; and family and community partnership development through parent involvement. In addition, the entire range of Head Start services is responsive and appropriate to each child and family's developmental, ethnic, cultural and linguistic heritage and experience. According to Head Start annual Program Information Report (PIR) data, 43.13 percent of Head Start families are married, and many of the 56.87 percent single parent households include parents who aspire to marry and provide a two-parent family for their children. In addition, Head Start serves 2,219 expectant mothers who are less than 18 years old. Also, over 429,000 families served by Head Start are two-parent families. A considerable body of research indicates that stable, two-parent, married families represent the ideal environment for raising children. The purpose of the Head Start Healthy Marriage Initiative is to improve child well-being by providing those who choose marriage for themselves with increased access to marriage education. Recognizing the research that indicates that two-parent, married families represent the ideal environment for raising children, Congress included marriage, family formation, and fatherhood as key elements in the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (P.L. 104-193) (PRWORA) (Temporary Assistance for Need Families (TANF) welfare reform legislation). Furthermore, Congress specified "the formation and maintenance of two-parent families" as one of the primary goals of the TANF program when it was signed into law in 1996. Head Start serves a large number of families who are TANF recipients. However, over the last ten years, States have placed significantly more effort on promoting work than on healthy marriages, in part due to limited information about how best to effectively assist parents in forming and maintaining healthy marriages, particularly in working with low-income families using the TANF program. Healthy marriages are important to the well-being of adults, children, and society. On average, men and women in healthy marriages live longer, healthier, and happier lives. They are also more likely to be better off financially than their single or cohabiting peers. Children raised by happily married parents are less likely to engage in substance abuse, criminal activity, or to commit suicide. They are also less likely to suffer from emotional disorders and mental illness, poverty, child abuse, and neglect. These children generally do better in school and in the workplace. In addition, communities with higher proportions of healthy marriages are generally safer and experience fewer social problems than those communities with lower rates of healthy marriages. Research indicates that what separates stable and healthy marriages from unstable and unhealthy ones is not the frequency of conflict, but how couples manage conflict. Couples able to listen to each other with respect and who solve conflict in healthy productive ways report higher levels of marital satisfaction and are less likely to divorce than those who are not able to do so. We can teach problem solving and communication skills to singles and couples to increase the likelihood that they will form and sustain healthy marriages that benefit their lives, the lives of any children they parent, and society. Most people in the 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 The Office of Head Start (OHS) announces the availability of funds for Head Start Healthy Marriage Initiative Project Grants. These grants will support innovative projects designed to strengthen existing marriages and to prepare unmarried couples, or individuals interested in marriage as a personal goal, for successful healthy marriages. Under this grant program, OHS will fund healthy marriage education and enrichment activities for Head Start and Early Head Start eligible families. This funding announcement seeks proposals that improve child well-being by strengthening family formation and healthy marriage in underserved communities. All programs and curricula for this funding opportunity must have a relationship focus with a strong basis in supporting people in developing or maintaining healthy marriages and relationship skills; the overarching objective is to support the TANF goals of increasing the number of children being raised in stable and healthy two-parent families. The Head Start Healthy Marriage Initiative program is for parents and adolescent siblings of Head Start and Early Head Start students, or Head Start-Early Head Start eligible families who fall into one of the following categories:
Head Start and Early Head Start grantees may apply for funding to offer marriage education services to their current service population, as well as Head Start eligible families in their service areas. Grants in this area would extend access to voluntary marriage education to low-income individuals who would not otherwise have these services available. It will provide an opportunity for Head Start/Early Head Start grantees to partner with other organizations in their communities to offer a full range of practical marital skill building sessions to include communication, joint decision-making, parenting, managing of family budgets, financial literacy, conflict resolution, and other elements to enhance family stabilization. The target audience for services is fragile families, including low-income families, single parents, teenage parents, unwed and/or new or expectant parents. Other target groups include immigrant families, racially and ethnically diverse families, new emerging populations, families with special needs, and other minority groups. Services may be offered to those interested in marriage, couples and individuals wishing to strengthen their relationships and adolescent siblings of Head Start or Early Head Start eligible children. Head Start has a strong history of providing services that strengthen families to enhance the well-being of children. The precedence for providing marital support services to Head Start eligible families is demonstrated in the statement below: "The marital bond is the foundation of strong families and a fundamental source of child and societal well-being...the Commission recommends that our entire society, at all levels, seek to foster enduring, stable marriage through a national effort to improve marital preparation and enrichment." pp 45-46 of Families First, Report of the National Commission on America's Urban Families, 1/93. Program Scope ACF will fund innovative projects that take a unique approach to delivering healthy marriage activities and services. While existing research has demonstrated the effectiveness of healthy marriage education, much remains to be learned about transferring skills and knowledge across diverse populations and generations. ACF is seeking applicants who, through their own experiences with this grant award, will inform the Federal Government, grantees, and others about replicable strategies and promising practices that produce the best and most lasting results in promoting healthy marriage across diverse populations. ACF is particularly interested in funding projects that have had successful experience with delivering skills-based marriage education services. OHS intends to award up to $8 million in Healthy Marriage grants. Up to 40 grants will be awarded at a maximum of $500,000 per budget period for a project period duration of up to five twelve-month budget periods. Funds awarded will be commensurate with the scope and number of activities proposed, the geographic area covered, and number of families served. Applicants must demonstrate the capacity to utilize the funding level sought. Eligible applicants would include Early Head Start and Head Start grantees in partnership with organizations that have demonstrated successful experience with delivering skills-based marriage education services. Applications will require descriptions of specific services and supports that the partnering entities will provide. These should be outlined in either letters of commitment, or memoranda of understanding (MOUs) with partnering organizations. This documentation will be required in addition to letters of support. Low-income couples face unique challenges to maintaining healthy marriages and have higher divorce rates compared to couples with higher incomes. Consequently, the children of low-income families are less likely to receive the benefits of healthy marriage. Thus, OHS will fund applications from Early Head Start and Head Start grantees to implement marriage enhancement and marriage skills training activities in cooperation with community organizations or other public and private entities experienced in delivering these services. Funded projects will:
The following examples highlight some different approaches applicants might consider in implementing healthy marriage programs:
The examples above are by no means exhaustive nor are they a standard for what programs OHS intends to fund. The examples are offered merely to provide a vision of how innovative and flexible applicants can be in designing programs to meet the objectives of this initiative. Project Description The project proposal must provide a thorough description of how the applicant will implement its programs, including reasonable plans for project marketing and outreach, participant recruitment, the type of marriage education skills and services to be offered, staffing and training, partnering relationships with other organizations, and any specific tailored programs designed to meet specific needs of prospective participants or populations. Eligible applicants would include Head Start grantees in partnership with organizations that have demonstrated successful experience with delivering skills-based marriage education services. Applications will require descriptions of specific services and supports that the partnering entities will provide. These should be outlined in either letters of commitment, or MOUs with partnering organizations. The proposed Head Start Healthy Marriage Initiative plans and services must include, at a minimum, the mandatory program components listed below. The Head Start Healthy Marriage Initiative will provide delivery of high-quality marriage relationship skills training services that are of sufficient intensity and duration, and reflect sufficient coordination to ensure positive child and family outcomes. Applications for the Head Start Healthy Marriage Initiative must include a five-year plan with strategies to enhance local program provision of high-quality marriage relationship skills training services. The plans and strategies must support local program compliance with the Head Start Program Performance Standards, other Head Start policies and regulations, and the provisions of the Head Start Reauthorization Act of 1998 (to be amended with any new Head Start legislation). The Head Start Act and Head Start Performance Standards can be accessed at www.eclkc.ohs.acf.hhs.gov/hslc. Mandatory Program Components (1) The grantee must serve parents or adolescent siblings of Head Start and Early Head Start children, including adolescents from Head Start-Early Head Start eligible families. (2) The grantee must offer services that help participants enhance, change, and use new skills to increase the likelihood of healthy marriage formation or marital stability/long-term marital satisfaction. At a minimum, skill areas must include the following:
(3) The grantee must offer a minimum of eight hours of training utilizing a research-based curriculum. (4) All proposals must demonstrate the engagement of domestic violence organizations; describe how the programs will appropriately address issues of domestic violence; and establish protocols for identifying and referring victims of domestic violence for services. (5) Grantees must address program sustainability after the project period by addressing issues such as adoption of a research-based curriculum, staff training and certification in the selected research-based curriculum, and leveraging of other Head Start and Early Head Start program resources. Applicants are strongly encouraged to include training of appropriate Head Start-Early Head Start staff as trainers as part of the program plan to help ensure the program sustainability. Curriculum and Approach Methods Marriage Skills-Training Curriculum Grant activities that implement marriage education services must include skills-based interventions specifically designed to increase the likelihood that healthy marriages will form, or existing marriages will experience measurable long-term marital satisfaction and stability. Participants must experience a minimum of eight hours of instruction delivered over time, or the number of instructional hours and days commensurate with the established guidelines required by the author of the model used. Refer to the components below for assessment of whether the curriculum to be utilized will meet the minimum required content. Refer to http://www.acf.hhs.gov/healthymarriage/pdf/ACF_Curriculum_Assessment_Guide.pdf and http://www.acf.hhs.gov/healthymarriage for expanded information on considerations for selecting appropriate curriculum. Marriage Education Curriculum Assessment Guide: Minimum Required Content: Commitment to Healthy Marriage (for current or future relationship)
Communication
Conflict Resolution
Benefits of Marriage (for adults, children, community and society)
Qualities of Healthy Relationships and Healthy Marriages
In recognition of the high percentage of racial and ethnic minorities, new emerging populations, diverse backgrounds, and multiple languages represented in Head Start eligible families, the curriculum adopted must be responsive to these dynamics. Consequently, applicants must address a plan for the provision of appropriate accommodations that address and reflect the background, culture, language, and unique characteristics of the program participants when selecting curriculum, instructors, and delivery method of the services offered. Approach Applicants will identify and address risk-factors and barriers to healthy marriage and family formation that are specific to the population to be served by their project. Recognizing that stand-alone classroom trainings may not be the most effective delivery method for the target population, applicants are strongly encouraged to approach delivery in a holistic manner in order to successfully address risk factors. Some strategies may include:
Applicants will describe how the above considerations will be integrated into their program plans to carry out these activities, and explicitly address how participants will be connected with additional support services and systems within their communities. Voluntary Assurances Program activities must be voluntary. Applications must describe plans for ensuring that the activities are voluntary, including documentation of clearly informing potential participants that their participation is voluntary, such as identifying a written consent form and providing verbal information about the voluntary nature of services Consultation Assurances Applications must include evidence of a commitment for consultation with one or more experts on domestic violence prevention or with domestic violence coalitions in developing activities or materials. Applications should include a letter from the consulting entity outlining what services will be available, and a description of how the consultation will be incorporated in the development of the program. Applicants must clearly describe how the proposed programs or activities will address issues of domestic violence and will provide written protocols on domestic violence. OHS will provide further guidance and technical assistance to grantees, if necessary, in this area. Program Access Successful applicants must provide services to eligible persons, regardless of a potential participant's race, gender, age, disability or religion. Applicants cannot, on the basis of race, gender, age, disability or religion, treat one person differently from another in determining eligibility, benefits or services provided, or applicable rules. For example, grant activities must be available to fathers and expectant fathers who could benefit from the same activities that would benefit mothers and expectant mothers. Start-Up Successful applicants must begin operating programs within 90 days of receiving the Federal award. Additional Requirements for All Successful Applicants All successful applicants must make themselves available for three specific sets of learning experiences:
Quantitative and Qualitative Evaluation Applicants are encouraged to include a logic model or conceptual framework. 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 the 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/. KRA Corporation, The Program Manager's Guide to Evaluation, an Evaluation Handbook Series from the Administration on Children, Youth and Families, U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (1997). Taylor-Powell, Ellen; Rossing, Boyd & Geren, Jean, Evaluating Collaboratives:Reaching the Potential, University of Wisconsin-Extension (July, 1998). United Way of W.K. Kellogg Foundation, Logic Model Development Guide (January 2004).
Entrance and Annual Peer Meetings A grantee entrance conference will be held within the first three months of the official award date. Grantees will also be expected to attend each annual grantee meeting in Both the project director and the key staff person responsible for tracking and documenting progress toward project milestones and outcomes will be required to attend all meetings. Applicants must allocate sufficient funding in their proposed program budget for travel, to cover transportation and per diem expenses for each of these two- to three-day meetings in the event they receive a grant award. Additional funds for travel expenses will not be made available once grants are awarded. On-Site OHS-Sponsored Technical Assistance Grantees must agree to work cooperatively with OHS sponsored technical assistance providers. In addition to attending any annual technical assistance meetings, grantees must allow OHS to observe program activities and participate in full partner staff meetings designed to guide the fulfillment of the applicant's project objectives, as well as the objectives of the Head Start Healthy Marriage Initiative Innovation and Improvement Project Grants program. Each grantee will receive technical assistance from either OHS or
II. AWARD INFORMATION
Awards under this announcement are subject to the availability of funds. 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. Other: Head Start and Early Head Start grantees Explanation: Only Head Start and Early Head Start grantees are eligible to apply for Head Start Healthy Marriage Initiative grants. Although marriage education services will be provided in partnership with other community organizations and agencies, the applicant and recipient of the funds must be a Head Start or Early Head Start grantee as the target population to be served must be parents or adolescent siblings of Head Start or Early Head Start recipients or Head Start-Early Head Start eligible families. Eligible applicants would include Head Start grantees in partnership with organizations that have demonstrated successful experience with delivering skills-based marriage education services. Applications will require descriptions of specific services and supports that the partnering entities will provide. These should be outlined in either letters of commitment, or MOUs with partnering organizations. Please see Section IV for required documentation supporting eligibility or funding restrictions if any are applicable. 2. Cost Sharing or Matching: Yes Grantees are required to meet a non-Federal share of the project costs, in accordance with Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9801). Grantees must provide at least 20 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 $625,000, requesting $500,000 in ACF funds, must provide a non-Federal share of at least $125,000 (20 percent of total approved project cost of $625,000.) 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. Applicants may apply for a waiver of up to 10% of the non-Federal share with documentation of justification of adverse impacts on the applying program based on the grounds listed in the Head Start Act Section 640(b) (1-5), such as lack of resources available in the community, Head Start agencies located in communities affected by major disasters and other considerations. The non-Federal match will be evaluated according to the "Non-Federal Resources" evaluation criterion found in Section V of this announcement. Please refer to Section IV for any pre-award requirements. 3. Other: Eligibility criteria for beneficiaries or for program participants other than award recipients: Participants in the program must be members of Early Head Start and Head Start eligible families, including current recipients of Head Start services, individuals on waiting lists for Early Head Start and Head Start services, or other income-eligible community members in the grantees' service areas. Early Head Start and Head Start staff who will be providing services to eligible families and individuals may also participate in the programs for training purposes. The target beneficiaries should include fragile families, including low-income families, single parents, teen-parents, unwed and/or new or expectant parents. Other target groups include immigrant families, and families with special needs. Services may be offered to those contemplating marriage, couples wishing to strengthen their relationships and the adolescent siblings of Head Start eligible children. Disqualification Factors
IV. APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION 1. Address to Request Application Package: Office of Head Startc/o ACYF Operations Center Head Start Healthy Marriage Initiative 118 Q Street, NE Washington, DC 20002-2132 Phone: 866-796-1591 Email: OHS@dixongroup.com 2. Content and Form of Application Submission: Letter of Intent Prior to submission of the application, applicants are asked to submit a post card or an email to the Administration on Children, Youth and Families (ACYF) Operations Center with the following information: name, address, telephone and fax numbers, and email address of the organization intending to apply to receive an award for Head Start Healthy Marriage Initiative funds. See Section IV.1 to obtain ACYF Operations Center email and address information. Application Format Applications must be organized according to the checklist and program description explanation in Part III of this announcement. The project description of the application must be double-spaced and single-sided on 8.5" x 11" plain white paper, with 1" margins on all sides. Use only a standard font no smaller than 12 pitch throughout the application. All sections of the application (including appendices, resumes, charts, references/footnotes, tables, maps and exhibits) must be sequentially numbered, beginning on the first page after the table of contents. The length of the narrative portion of the application must be limited to 60 pages (including the abstract, budget and budget justification), with an additional limit of 40 pages for all appendices and resumes. Anything over 60 pages in the narrative portion of the application and anything over 40 pages in the appendices and resumes will be removed and not considered by the reviewers. The narrative section page length is based on double-spacing, and will be halved if single-spacing or one-and-a-half spacing is used. One signed original and two copies of the grant application, including all attachments, are required. Each application should be submitted in the following order: SF-424, SF-424A, SF-424B, Table of Contents, Program Abstract, Objectives and Need for Assistance, Approach, Staff and Position Data, Results and Benefits Expected, Organizational Profiles, Budget and Budget Justification, Plan for Project Continuance, and the Dissemination Plan. Additional supporting documentation should be placed in the Appendices. Each application will be duplicated. Therefore, do not use or include colored paper, colored ink, separate covers, binders, clips, tabs, plastic inserts, over-sized paper, videotapes, or any other items that cannot be easily duplicated on a photocopy machine with an automatic feed. Do not bind, clip, staple, or fasten in any way separate subsections of the application, including the supporting documentation. Required Forms and Information Eligible applicants interested in applying for funds must submit all of the required forms referred to in this section and described below. Copies of application forms, assurances and certifications are found at: http://www.acf.hhs.gov/grants/grants_resources.html Applicants who are currently operating as an Early Head Start or Head Start grantee or delegate agency must include documentation of Policy Council approval of the application. Applicants (including faith based organizations) will be required to submit: (1) a copy of its personnel policies and procedures; and (2) resumes of key staff in the organization and proposed Head Start program who will be involved in implementing or supervising the proposed project. For-profit agencies must agree to waive their fee/profit. Additional information on what to submit can be found in Section V.2. 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 Letter of Intent: 06/19/2007 Due Date for Applications: 07/19/2007 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 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. ACF reserves the right to deny funding to any applicant that is presently designated as "high risk", probationary or not in good standing, or has been debarred or defunded by any Federal agency. In addition, ACF may elect not to fund applicants that have management or financial problems that make it unlikely the applicant would be able to provide effective Head Start services. 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 Office of Head Start Hand Delivery Office of Head Start 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. (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. RESULTS OR BENEFITS EXPECTED Identify the results and benefits to be derived. For example, the specific results or benefits that could be expected for participating individuals and families are identified. All applications will be evaluated using this criterion. The grantee will not be required to conduct its own separate evaluation or third-party evaluation of its program.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. 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: The corresponding score values indicate the relative importance that ACF places on each evaluation criterion; however, applicants need not develop their applications precisely according to the order presented. Application components may be organized such that a reviewer will be able to follow a seamless and logical flow of information (i.e., from a broad overview of the project to more detailed information about how it will be conducted). 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 - 10 points Applications will be reviewed and evaluated to the extent that: The applicant clearly defines the problem, justifies the need for assistance, and directly relates the problem and the need for assistance to the scope of the Head Start Healthy Marriage Initiative program.
APPROACH - 35 points Applications will be reviewed and evaluated to the extent that:
Timeline, action plan, and activities:
Project rationale and strategies to overcome barriers:
Domestic violence and the voluntary nature of the program:
RESULTS OR BENEFITS EXPECTED - 15 points All applications will be evaluated using this criterion. The grantee will not be required to conduct its own separate evaluation or third -party evaluation of its program. Applications will be reviewed and evaluated to the extent that:
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