CCDF FFY 1998 and FFY 1999 Allocations and Earmarks

Information Memorandum (ACYF-IM-CC-98-03)

ACF

Administration

for Children

and Families

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Administration on Children, Youth and Families

1. Log No: ACYF-IM-CC-98-03

2. Issuance Date: November 9, 1998

3. Originating Office: Child Care Bureau

4. Key Words: Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF); Tribal FFY 1998 and 1999 Earmarked Discretionary Funds for Resource and Referral Activities and School-Age Care; Tribal FFY 1999 CCDF Allocations

Tribal Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) Lead Agencies

Tribal FFY 1998 and 1999 earmarked discretionary funds for resource and referral activities and school-age care; Tribal FFY 1999 CCDF allocations

The Child Care and Development Block Grant Act of 1990 (p.l. 101-508) as amended by p.l. 102-401, p.l. 102-586, p.l. 103-171, p.l. 104-193, and p.l. 105-33; section 418 of the Social Security Act; appropriations for the Department of Health and Human Services (p.l. 105-78); Dear Colleague Letter dated May 14, 1998.

The appropriations law for the Department of Health and Human Services (p.l. 105-78) stipulated that a portion of both the FFY 1998 and FFY 1999 discretionary funds be used for planning, establishing, operating, expanding,developing, and improving child care resource and referral activities and childcare services for school-age children.

School-age child care is a critical service for working parents. A safe and productive environment before and after school is important for both the peace of mind of working parents and the well-being of their children. Resource and referral is also a key support, since it is a vital link for all working families who seek appropriate child care, providing critical consumer education to parents and outreach to the child care community.

FFY 1998 Earmark

On May 14, 1998, Tribal Lead Agencies were informed via a Dear Colleague Letter that a small amount of FFY 1998 discretionary funds, in addition to the CCDF funds previously awarded at the beginning of the fiscal year, were available for resource and referral activities and school-age care. These additional funds were awarded in September 1998.

The May 14 Dear Colleague Letter also contained the estimated earmark for FFY 1998 funds that each Tribal Lead Agency is required to spend for resource and referral activities and school-age care. We are now notifying Tribal Lead Agencies of the final earmark requirements for FFY 1998 funds (see Attachment A ).

Attachment A has three columns. The first column contains the names of the Tribes and Tribal Organizations. The second column shows the amount of additional discretionary FFY 1998 funds that each Tribal Lead Agency received in September 1998. The third column shows the final earmark requirement for FFY 1998 funds to be spent for resource and referral activities and school-age care.

As indicated in the May 14 Dear Colleague Letter, the amount of the additional FFY 1998 funds (that were awarded in September 1998) is less than the amount of FFY 1998 funds that Congress earmarked to be spent for resource and referral activities and school-age care. The earmarked amounts, however, apply against the total of the discretionary fund, not just the additionally appropriated amount. Therefore, it may be necessary to reassess the funding of current activities in order to meet the required level of spending for resource and referral activities and school-age care.

FFY 1999 CCDF Allocation and Earmark Requirement

Attachment B shows the CCDF allocation and earmark requirement for FFY 1999. This chart was previously attached to the Terms and Conditions for your FFY 1999 Grant Awards, but we are forwarding the same information again for your reference.

The first column in Attachment B gives the names of Tribes and Tribal organizations. The second column lists the FFY 1999 tribal mandatory allocations. The third column lists the FFY 1999 discretionary allocations. The fourth column (labeled "Discretionary Earmark") is the amount of FFY 1999 discretionary funds that must be spent on resource and referral activities and school-age care. The fifth column (labeled "Discretionary after Earmark") is the amount of discretionary funds remaining after the earmark that can be spent on any allowable CCDF activities (assuming quality expenditure, administrative cost, and other federal requirements are met). The last column shows the total amount of FFY 1999 CCDF funds.

As with the FFY 1998 funds, the FFY 1999 discretionary earmark for resource and referral activities and school-age care is based on a $500 amount per Tribe plus a per child amount.

Unlike FFY 1998, however, Tribal Lead Agencies received the FFY 1999 earmarked amounts required to be spent on resource and referral activities and school-age care as part of their regular CCDF allocations that were awarded at the beginning of the Fiscal Year (in October 1998). Therefore, Tribes will not be receiving additional discretionary funds for resource and referral activities and school-age care at a later date in FFY 1999.