OCSE Grants Resources

Section 1115 Demonstration Grants

Section 1115(a) of the Social Security Act provides OCSE with authority to fund demonstration grants. Only state title IV-D agencies or the state umbrella agencies of which they are a part can receive these grants. The agencies can contract with other agencies, faith- and community-based organizations, universities, or private consultants to join in these efforts. States must apply for these funds in response to a grant announcement of the availability of funding under priorities which may differ each year.

Applications will be screened and evaluated as indicated in program announcements. Awards will be contingent on the outcomes of the competition and the availability of funds. The section 1115 funds awarded to each project will represent 29 percent of the total project costs. For the purposes of the demonstration project, the total expenditures will be treated as State expenditures under Title IV-D that will be reimbursed by the regular Federal match of 66 percent. Grantees must provide at least 5 percent of the total approved cost of the project. The total cost of the project is the sum of the ACF grant award under section 1115, regular Title IV-D Federal Financial Participation (FFP), and the State share.