COMMUNITY SERVICES BLOCK GRANT PROGRAMInformation Memorandum |
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services |
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Transmittal No.51 |
Date: April 27, 2001 |
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TO: |
State Community Services Block Grant Program Officials | ||
SUBJECT: |
Special State Technical Assistance | ||
PURPOSE: |
This Information Memorandum is to inform you of the new special technical assistance funding program that was initiated last year by the Office of Community Services (OCS). The purpose of the program is to provide training and technical assistance resources to States to assist them in carrying out corrective action activities for at-risk agencies. | ||
BACKGROUND: |
Under the Community Services Block Grant Act, states
are required to determine whether eligible entities meet the performance goals,
administrative standards, financial management obligations and other requirements of
the states. In addition, the CSBG Act stipulates that states conduct regular, on-site
reviews of eligible entities. When a state determines that an eligible entity has a
deficiency that must be corrected, the CSBG legislation mandates that the state offer
an eligible entity training and technical assistance (T&TA;) if appropriate, to help to
correct such a deficiency. States may support this T&TA; with the CSBG funds remaining
after it is has made grants to eligible entities. However, OCS recognizes that in some
instances, the problem to be addressed may be of such a complex or pervasive nature that
it cannot be adequately addressed with the resources available to the State CSBG
Administrator. As stated before, the purpose of the Special State Technical Assistance funding is to support interventions in cases where an eligible entity is in a crisis situation. The goal of this T&TA; funding is to preclude the need for termination hearings and proceedings by stabilizing eligible entities in crises and correcting programmatic deficiencies. The CSBG legislation mandates that states provide training and technical assistance prior to any termination procedures. It also requires states to carry out corrective activities and to monitor all eligible entities at least every three years. |
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APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS: |
Applications for funding, under this special announcement,
may be submitted at any time prior to June 29, 2001. Applications should include the
following: a description of the major problems necessitating the need for assistance,
identification of who will provide the technical assistance, an agreed-upon timetable for
assistance, and an abstract which summarizes the project. Technical assistance may be
provided by such sources as peer-to-peer trainers, the state, outside consultants or
through a workplan. The agreed-upon timetable for assistance should spell out the
significant and beneficial impact to the at-risk entity. Since the CSBG Act mandates that the Secretary assist states in carrying out activities to address corrective action, states submitting applications under this Special Announcement will not be competing with other states for funding contingent on the availability of funds, this initiative will be a 18 month initiative. The total amount of funds for Special State Technical Assistance is $375,000. OCS intends to fund approximately 20 grants. Only one grant per State will be made. |
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APPLICATION REVIEW: |
OCS will review each application based on the review criteria continued in the attached document. | ||
INQUIRIES TO: |
Comments and inquiries may be sent to: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Administration for Children and Families Division of State Assistance 370 L'Enfant Plaza Promenade SW Washington, D. C. 20447 Telephone: (202) 401-9343 See Application Procedures for submitting applications. |
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ATTACHMENTS: |
Required forms, Instructions and Review Criteria | ||
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______________________ |
Attachments:
| - Application Procedures | (not posted) | |
| - Review Criteria | (not posted) | |
| - Contents of Application and Receipt Process | (not posted) | |
| - Instructions | ||
| - Post Award Information and Reporting Instructions | ||
| - Special State TA Funding Attachments | (not posted) | |
| - DHHS Regulations Applicable to Grants | ||