Executive Summary: The purpose of this program announcement is to establish, by awarding cooperative agreements, five regional Child Welfare Technical Assistance Implementation Centers (Implementation Centers). Guided by a Systems of Care (SOC) approach and informed by the Children's Bureau's (CB) monitoring reviews, Implementation Centers will fill a gap in CB's existing Training and Technical Assistance Network (T/TA Network). Implementation Centers will pilot a new, complementary approach to technical assistance (TA) by expanding the T/TA Network and enhancing its ability to provide in-depth and long-term consultation and support to States and Tribes. Implementation Centers will partner with States and Tribes to execute projects that will focus on the implementation of strategies that their child welfare systems have identified to improve the quality and effectiveness of child welfare services for children, youth, and families. I. FUNDING OPPORTUNITY DESCRIPTION Legislative Authority The legislative authority is: Section 203 of Subchapter II - Adoption Opportunities of the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment and Adoption Reform Act [42 USC 5113]; and Sections 105(b)(5) of the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act, as amended [42 USC 5106]. Funding Opportunity Description Purpose The purpose of this program announcement is to establish, by awarding cooperative agreements, five regional Child Welfare Technical Assistance Implementation Centers (Implementation Centers). Guided by a Systems of Care (SOC) approach and informed by the Children's Bureau's (CB) monitoring reviews, Implementation Centers will fill a gap in CB's existing Training and Technical Assistance Network (T/TA Network). Implementation Centers will pilot a new, complementary approach to technical assistance (TA) by expanding the T/TA Network and enhancing its ability to provide in-depth and long-term consultation and support to States and Tribes. Implementation Centers will partner with States and Tribes to execute projects that will focus on the implementation of strategies that their child welfare systems have identified to improve the quality and effectiveness of child welfare services for children, youth, and families. In collaboration with members of the T/TA Network and CB, each Implementation Center will work with States and Tribes in its geographic service area to address both specific problems and broad child welfare performance issues. Implementation Centers will:
Each Implementation Center will enter into mutually binding agreements with multiple State and/or Tribal child welfare systems in its designated regions to develop and execute multi-year strategic plans for sustainable systems change. These implementation projects are intended to advance State and Tribal plans for improving child welfare outcomes by fostering change in organizational culture, administration, and direct practice with children and families. Implementation projects may pursue systemic change within a child welfare system or across multiple systems that are integral to successful child welfare practice. Implementation Centers will provide intensive TA to their State and Tribal partners and employ a collaborative and empowerment approach, valuing the experience and knowledge possessed by State and Tribal child welfare administrations. Applicants may apply in one or more regional geographic service areas described in this announcement. A separate and complete application must be submitted for each geographic area. Background The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is the Within ACYF, CB plans, manages, coordinates, and supports child abuse and neglect prevention and child welfare services programs. CB programs are designed to promote the safety, permanency, and well-being of all children, including those in foster care, available for adoption, recently adopted, abused, neglected, dependent, disabled, or homeless and to prevent the neglect, abuse, and exploitation of children. CB programs also promote strengthening the family unit to help prevent the unnecessary separation of children from their families and encourage reunifying families, when possible, if separation has occurred. State child welfare systems are designed to deliver direct services that protect children who have suffered maltreatment, who are at risk for maltreatment, or who are under the care and placement responsibility of the State because their families are unable to care for them. These systems also focus on securing permanent living arrangements through foster care and adoption for children who are unable to return home. CB is the agency within the Federal Government that is responsible for assisting State child welfare systems by promoting continuous improvement in the delivery of child welfare services. (For more information about CB's programs, visit http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/cb.) Legislation Authority for the activities described in this announcement come from Sections 105(b)(5) of the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act and from the Adoption Opportunities program under Section 203 of the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment and Adoption Reform Act. These pieces of Federal legislation provide for discretionary funds to improve child welfare agencies and systems that attempt to ensure the safety, permanency, and well-being of children, youth, and families. Several other statutes are also described below. They authorize the training and TA that CB currently provides to State and Tribal child welfare systems through its larger T/TA Network. The Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA) of 1974 [42 USC §§ 5101 et seq.; 42 USC §§ 5116 et seq.], Public Law (P.L.) 93-247, was originally enacted in 1974. It has been amended multiple times and was reauthorized as part of the Keeping Children and Families Safe Act of 2003 (P.L. 108-36). CAPTA is one of the key pieces of legislation that guides child protection. Under section 2 of CAPTA, Congress asserts that a successful response to child maltreatment requires a comprehensive, integrated, culturally sensitive, and coordinated approach that supports necessary training for professionals and emphasizes prevention, assessment, investigation, and treatment. Furthermore, Congress finds that a child protection system should be child-centered, family-focused, and community-based, incorporating prevention and promotion of recovery. The reauthorization provides a number of amendments to the eligibility requirements for the CAPTA State grant including: policies and procedures that address the needs of drug-exposed infants; triage procedures for referral of children not at imminent risk of harm to community or preventative services; notification of an individual who is the subject of an investigation about allegations made against them; training for CPS workers on their legal duties and parents' rights; and provisions to refer children under age three who are involved in a substantiated case to early intervention services under Part C of the Individuals With Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). P.L. 108-36 amends other provisions of CAPTA including the authority for the National Clearinghouse on Child Abuse and Neglect, research and TA, grants for demonstration programs and projects, Children's Justice Act grants, and Community-Based Grants for the Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect (formerly known as the Community-Based Family Resource and Support Grants). P.L. 108-36 also gives flexibility for States to determine open court policies in cases of child abuse and neglect. Section 105 of CAPTA authorizes a variety of projects, including programs to train professionals that work in the field of child welfare, to establish resource centers for the purpose of disseminating information to the field, and to coordinate services across local public service agencies. Section 105(b) of CAPTA specifically provides for discretionary grants, including innovative projects that show promise in the prevention and treatment of child maltreatment. The Adoption Opportunities [42 USC §§ 5111 et seq.] program provides discretionary funds for projects designed to eliminate barriers to adoption and help find permanent families for children who would benefit from adoption, particularly children with special needs. Activities authorized by the program legislation in section 203 of the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment and Adoption Reform Act of 1978 (P.L. 95-266) include developing and implementing an adoption training and technical assistance program; increasing services in support of the placement in adoptive families of minority children who are in foster care and have the goal of adoption with a special emphasis on the recruitment of minority families; studying the nature, scope, and effects of the placement of children in kinship care arrangements and pre-adoptive or adoptive homes; and studying the efficacy of States' contracting with public and private non-profit agencies (including community-based and other organizations). The Adoption Opportunities program was also reauthorized by P.L. 108-36 in 2003. A compilation of CAPTA and Adoption Opportunities text, dated February 2004, can be found at http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/cb/laws_policies/cblaws/capta03/index.htm. For precise text of law please see the United States Code applicable to these laws. Additional Statutes The Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) governs the jurisdiction, placement, termination of parental rights, and adoption of Native American children. This Act, passed in 1978, provides key standards that must be met by States when working with Tribal children, including notice to Tribes of State custody; standards for placement of Indian children in foster homes and termination of parental rights; active efforts to provide rehabilitative services; transfer of jurisdiction to Tribal courts and preferred placement of Indian children with extended families and other Indian families; and the Tribal right to intervene in State custody proceedings. With the passage of Public Law (P.L.) 96-272, the Adoption Assistance and Child Welfare Act of 1980, the Federal Government established a clear focus on the need for permanency for children in foster care and the importance of permanency planning and timely decision-making for these children. At that time, the law increased protections for children in foster care by requiring case plans that included goals, a description of the placement and its appropriateness, periodic administrative reviews and judicial permanency placement determinations. In 1986, Congress amended Title IV-E of the Social Security Act (the Act) by adding section 479, that requires the Federal government to institute a foster care and adoption data collection system. The Adoption and Foster Care Automated Reporting System (AFCARS) collects case level information on all children in foster care for whom the State child welfare agency has responsibility for placement, care or supervision and on children who are adopted under the auspices of the State's public child welfare agency. The Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (OBRA) of 1993 (P.L. 103-66) provided States with the opportunity to obtain 75 percent enhanced funding through the Title IV-E program of the Social Security Act to plan, design, develop, and implement a Statewide Automated Child Welfare Information System (SACWIS) (Federal fiscal years 1993-1996). Title V, Section 502 of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 extended SACWIS enhanced funding through Federal fiscal year 1997. Additionally, the legislation provided an enhanced SACWIS cost allocation to States so that Title IV-E would absorb all SACWIS costs for foster and adopted children, without regard to their Title IV-E eligibility. A SACWIS is expected to be a comprehensive, automated, case-management tool that supports social workers' foster care and adoption assistance case-management practice. Additionally, the systems may contain functionality that supports child protective and family preservation services, thereby providing a unified automated tool to support all child welfare services. By law, a SACWIS is required to support the reporting of data to AFCARS and the National Child Abuse and Neglect Data System. The Multi-Ethnic Placement Act of 1994, as amended, prohibits the delay or denial of any adoption or placement in foster care due to the race, color or national origin of the child or the foster or adoptive parents and requires States to provide for diligent recruitment of potential foster and adoptive families that reflect the ethnic and racial diversity of children for whom homes are needed. Section 1808 of P.L. 104-188 affirms the prohibition against delaying or denying the placement of a child for adoption or foster care on the basis of race, color, or national origin of the foster or adoptive parents or the child involved. Authorized by the Social Security Act Amendments of 1994 (P.L. 103-432) and guided by ASFA's principles and emphasis on accountability, the Child and Family Services Review (CFSR) process was published in a final rule in the Federal Register (65 FR 4076-93) on January 25, 2000. Unlike previous review systems, the CFSRs require States to demonstrate that children and families served by their child welfare systems are experiencing positive results. By June 2004, all 50 States, the In November 1997, the Adoption and Safe Families Act of 1997 (ASFA) (P.L. 105-89) amended titles IV-B and IV-E of the Social Security Act. This law impacts the State child welfare system in two ways. It focuses on moving children who are languishing in the system into adoption or other permanent placements, and it seeks to change the experience of children entering the system to increase the timeliness of securing permanency. ASFA embodies five key principles: 1. The safety of children is the paramount concern that must guide all child welfare services. 2. Foster care is a temporary setting and not a place for children to grow up. 3. Permanency planning efforts for children should begin as soon as a child enters foster care and should be expedited by the provision of services to families. 4. The child welfare system must focus on results and accountability. 5. Innovative approaches are needed to achieve the goals of safety, permanency, and well-being. To implement these principles, the law requires that child safety be the paramount concern in making service provision, placement, and permanency planning decisions. It reaffirms the importance of making reasonable efforts to preserve and reunify families, but also specifies that States are not required to make efforts to keep children with their parents when doing so places a child's safety in jeopardy. To ensure that the system respects a child's developmental needs, the law includes provisions that shorten the time frame for making permanency planning decisions, and that establish a time frame for initiating proceedings to terminate parental rights. In 1999, the Chafee Foster Care Independence Program (CFCIP) was enacted under the Foster Care Independence Act of 1999, section 477 of the Social Security Act, as amended. This Act expanded the purposes and resources of the Federal Independent Living Program (ILP) originally enacted in 1986 under P.L. 96-272. CFCIP offers assistance to help current and former foster care youths achieve self-sufficiency. Grants are offered to States who submit a plan to assist youth in a wide variety of areas designed to support a successful transition to adulthood. Activities and programs include, but are not limited, to help with education, employment, financial management, housing, emotional support and assured connections to caring adults for older youth in foster care as well as youth aged 18 through 21 who have aged out of the foster care system. A reporting system for States and a program evaluation component will be used to attain more knowledge about the outcomes of youth transitioning to adulthood. Under Title II of the Promoting Safe and Stable Families Amendments (PSSF Amendments) of 2001 (P.L. 107-133) is the Education and Training Vouchers for Youths Aging Out of Foster Care Program (ETV). It amends section 477 of Title IV-E of the Social Security Act, adding a new purpose to CFCIP specifically targeting additional resources to meet the education and training needs of youth aging out of foster care. The law authorizes payments to States for post secondary educational and training vouchers for youth that have aged out of foster care or are otherwise eligible for services under the State program under this section. The full text of the above applicable laws enacted since 1996 can be found at http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/cb/laws_policies/index.htm#laws. Title IV-B, subpart 2 of the Social Security Act, Promoting Safe and Stable Families (PSSF), provides funds to States to provide family support, family preservation, time-limited family reunification services, and services to promote and support adoptions. These services are primarily aimed at preventing the risk of abuse and promoting nurturing families, assisting families at risk of having a child removed from their home, promoting the timely return of a child to his/her home, and if returning home is not an option, placement of a child in a permanent setting with services that support the family. As part of this program, the Court Improvement Program provides grants to help State courts improve their handling of proceedings relating to foster care and adoption. After regular assessments of court practices and policies, States use these funds for recommended improvements and reform activities. Typical activities include development of mediation programs, joint agency-court training, automated docketing and case tracking, linked agency-court data systems, one judge/one family models, time-specific docketing, collaborative relationships with the child welfare agency, and legislative change. With a strong emphasis on collaboration between agencies, courts and tribes, two additional funding streams were authorized in 2005 to provide funding for data collection and analysis and for training judges, attorneys and other legal personnel, including cross-training with agency staff. The Adoption Promotion Act of 2003 (P.L. 108-145) encourages States to focus greater effort on finding adoptive families for children ages nine and older. Under the legislation the Adoption Incentive Program will now include a targeted bonus for States successful in increasing the number of older children adopted from foster care, and continue to recognize overall progress in increasing adoptions from foster care. Training and Technical Assistance Network CB's Child Welfare Training and Technical Assistance Network (T/TA Network) is designed to provide States and Tribes with the necessary information, training, and consultation to build capacity within their child welfare systems. T/TA Network members hold expertise in multiple aspects of child welfare practice, and they are expected to provide resources and assistance that will support and facilitate positive change, and in some cases comprehensive cross-system reforms, that will result in more effective and promising practice. Some of the current members of the T/TA Network include: the Child Welfare Information Gateway (Information Gateway), the CB employs several monitoring tools including the CFSR, Title IV-E Foster Care Eligibility Review, the Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System (AFCARS) Assessment Review, and the Statewide Automated Child Welfare Information System (SACWIS) Assessment Review to ensure conformity with Federal child welfare requirements and to help States achieve safety, permanency, and well-being for children. (For more information about child welfare monitoring, see http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/cb/cwmonitoring/index.htm.) While a major function of the T/TA Network is to prepare States for child welfare monitoring and to help them apply the knowledge gained from these reviews, the ultimate purpose of the network is to improve child welfare systems and to support States in achieving sustainable, systemic change that yields better outcomes for children, youth, and families. Gaps in Current Training and Technical Assistance For several years, CB has worked closely with its entire T/TA Network to provide high quality and coordinated services to States. Collaboration between T/TA Network members has greatly increased as a result of this effort, and membership in the T/TA Network has also expanded in recognition of important roles that different CB initiatives play in building capacity. Knowledge development, transfer of knowledge, leadership development, information management, and dissemination of effective and promising practices have all been key components of the T/TA Network. National Quality Improvement Centers develop knowledge by demonstrating and evaluating innovative practices. National Child Welfare Resource Centers transfer knowledge and identify evidence-based approaches while serving as repositories of national expertise in topical areas of child welfare. The Information Gateway houses, manages, produces, and disseminates child welfare information and resources, and the Workforce Institute will deliver training and cultivate leadership among professionals in child welfare. The T/TA Network has been designed to respond to State and Tribal needs related to Federal reviews and the implementation of PIPs. CB has learned that the systemic reform encouraged by these reviews requires a proactive approach to T/TA as well as a commitment to strategic, focused, and sustained planning and implementation. Specific strategies adopted by a State or Tribe to improve a particular outcome or an area of practice must be part of a larger, cohesive, and comprehensive vision for change that permeates the child welfare system at all levels of responsibility and leadership. The principles that drive the change effort need to infuse each step of the reform process and be supported during and after implementation. T/TA Network members have developed into a community of resources and centers of expertise that are flexible and able to respond to changing Federal priorities and challenges in the field. While the T/TA Network provides critical services that help States and Tribes assess and improve their performance, a variety of barriers can prevent systemic change from occurring. Some child welfare systems require an enhanced level of T/TA to successfully implement complex and extensive systems reforms. Despite their efforts to adopt and institutionalize new principles and evidence-based or evidence-informed practices, States and Tribes are often without the resources necessary to implement comprehensive strategic plans, and the current T/TA Network has been limited in its ability to provide intensive, long-term TA. The Implementation Centers described in this announcement are intended to complement the existing T/TA Network and to carry out a new approach that will address barriers to T/TA utilization. Implementation Centers will support and facilitate more formal communication and networking across State and Tribal child welfare systems to capitalize on existing expertise and promote cooperative problem solving, and they will enter into formal partnerships with States and Tribes to execute projects that will provide the resources and intensive TA necessary for child welfare systems to implement multi-year plans for systemic change. Systems of Care Framework and CFSR Guiding Principles Implementation Centers are expected to drive necessary systemic change while subscribing to a Systems of Care (SOC) framework and the CFSR guiding principles. Adopted from its application in the mental health field, SOC refers to a conceptual framework and set of principles that directs child welfare agencies and systems to pursue individualized, coordinated, and holistic approaches to working with children and families. In child welfare, SOC is characterized by shared, cross-cutting principles and a continuum of integrated services from prevention to permanency support that span programs, agencies, and institutions. A SOC approach is community-based, child-centered, family-focused, strengths-based, culturally competent, and comprehensive. It addresses the physical, mental, emotional, social, educational, and developmental needs of children, youth and their families while taking into account the individual, family, community, and broader systemic risk and protective factors that contribute to a child's safety and well-being. (More information regarding SOC can be found at http://www.childwelfare.gov/systemwide/service/soc/.) Like incidents of maltreatment, child welfare interventions do not take place in isolation. The services provided by a child welfare program have the potential to significantly affect dynamics and circumstances within and external to the child's family. They also have implications for the decision-making and practices of other programs within the community, the larger service agency, and the child welfare service system. Adopting a SOC approach in child welfare requires a commitment to collaboration and often demands the reform of conventional agency practice and organizational culture. The guiding principles of the CFSR are consistent with this SOC framework. As described under Section 1355.25 of Title 45 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), child safety, permanency, and well-being are closely tied to principles of service delivery for effective practice including: prevention services; family-focused and community-based services; flexible, accessible, and coordinated services; culturally appropriate services; and strengths-based and individualized services. Furthermore, the Section states that services should be organized along a continuum and linked to a wide service array to meet the multiple service needs of families. The principles of the CFSR are more commonly described to be:
(Complete text of 45 CFR 1355.25 can be found at http://www.gpoaccess.gov/cfr/index.html, and more information about changing the culture of the workplace to be consistent with the principles of the CFSR can be found at http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/cb/cwmonitoring/changing_culture.htm.) As members of a service delivery network, Implementation Centers will subscribe to these SOC and CFSR principles in their approach to delivering TA to States and Tribes. Implementation Centers are expected to collaborate with all T/TA Network members and CB and to collectively offer proactive, integrated, culturally competent, individualized, client-centered, strengths-based services. While each Once a State or Tribe has identified a particular need, barrier, or issue that requires attention, an Implementation Centers The purpose of this program announcement is to establish, by awarding cooperative agreements, five Implementation Centers. Implementation Centers will provide States and Tribes with the intensive TA and resources necessary to implement strategies for systemic change in their respective child welfare systems. Expectations Implementation Centers will be expected to:
Roles and Responsibilities Implementation Centers will have a clearly defined role in CB's T/TA Network. While other members of the T/TA Network develop knowledge, manage resources, transfer knowledge of effective and promising practices, and provide TA to support systemic change, Implementation Centers will be primarily responsible for the coordination and maintenance of regional peer networks, forming partnerships, and executing projects that support the implementation of knowledge. Unlike NRCs, Implementation Centers are not expected to function as entities that provide TA nationwide. Instead, Implementation Centers will promote peer-to-peer consultation between child welfare systems and provide intensive and long-term TA and support to those States and Tribes with whom they have entered into formal partnerships. Rather than serve as national experts in a topical area of child welfare, Implementation Centers will possess expertise in strategic implementation, organizational change, and systemic intervention and be grounded in a thorough understanding of child welfare systems. The principal goal of each REGIONAL GEOGRAPHIC SERVICE AREAS Each For some States and Tribes, systemic change will require addressing issues that span multiple systems and jurisdictions. Implementation Centers are expected to collaborate with each other across regional boundaries on critical interstate and Tribal child welfare issues when necessary. Shortly after the award of the cooperative agreements, successful applicants and CB will agree to formal names for the Implementation Centers. CB expects each COLLABORATION Because each During the course of its project, an Implementation Center may have opportunities to consult and/or collaborate with State and Tribal child welfare systems, other Implementation Centers, CB, the NRCs, other members of the T/TA Network, and various national, regional, and community stakeholders to develop products regarding best and promising practices for capacity-building, implementation, and other topics related to systemic change. CB expects Implementation Centers to participate to the extent feasible in these activities and to assist with the strategic dissemination of such products to the child welfare field. As members of the T/TA Network, Implementation Centers also will collaborate with CB and their T/TA Network counterparts in the promotion, planning, organization, and facilitation of CB-sponsored national meetings. OUTREACH Implementation Centers will perform outreach activities to engage State and Tribal child welfare systems in T/TA Network services and regional peer networking activities (described in "STATE AND TRIBAL NETWORKING") and to recruit formal partners for implementation projects. Because utilization of existing T/TA Network services differs substantially among child welfare systems, CB expects Implementation Centers to consider issues of accessibility and need when planning and performing their outreach to States and Tribes. An Implementation Centers should also be sensitive to issues that might deter child welfare systems from being receptive to outreach efforts. Implementation Centers have the flexibility to tailor outreach activities to systems in their respective service areas, and CB expects each Implementation Centers are expected to educate States and Tribes in their geographic service areas about the function that they serve in the larger T/TA Network, provide information about the specific services and resources available from the T/TA Network, build relationships, successfully engage targeted systems in networking opportunities, and encourage the submission of proposals for implementation projects (described in "STATE AND TRIBAL PROJECTS"). Each Regional Forums During the first year of the project period, each Each Each STATE AND TRIBAL NETWORKING In an effort to capitalize on institutional and historical knowledge and on relationships that already exist between States and Tribes, Implementation Centers will dedicate considerable effort to promoting, strengthening, and formalizing peer-to-peer consultation and problem-solving between child welfare systems. Each Implementation Centers are expected to find creative and innovative ways to secure participation from Tribes and States and to build collaborative networks that foster systemic change and improvement. While neither required nor exhaustive, examples of activities that an
In some cases, States and Tribes may be better served by networking activities that span multiple geographic areas of responsibility. Implementation Centers must collaborate with one another, CB, the T/TA Network, and State and Tribal systems to integrate networking approaches that are well-coordinated, practical, appropriate, and likely to increase cross-system consultation. Implementation Centers will be challenged to successfully engage both Tribes and States on topics that are relevant, meaningful, and sensitive to their sometimes differing needs and capacities. While some networking activities will be open to State and Tribal participants across a geographic service area, Implementation Centers may choose to target other peer-to-peer activities specifically to systems that share common models of practice, cultures, organizational characteristics, objectives, and/or challenges. STATE AND TRIBAL PROJECTS Implementation projects will be the primary means by which Implementation Centers facilitate sustainable systems change. CB has found that many States and Tribes are often without the resources necessary to develop and successfully execute their strategic plans for improvement. Further, the current T/TA Network has been limited in its ability to provide in-depth, long-term TA. Each Implementation projects will be individualized, strengths-based, and highly responsive to the needs of State and Tribal partners. Based on Federal monitoring reviews, internal evaluation, external analyses, consumer and stakeholder reports, or other sources of information, each State or Tribe will develop a project proposal and identify the specific problems, needs, and/or areas of performance that it intends to address systemically. In some cases a project candidate will have already engaged multiple internal and external stakeholders and completed a comprehensive assessment of its needs and challenges. In others, the development of a proposal will initiate a new or more thorough assessment process that can be expanded over the course of an implementation project. When a proposal is selected, the Each partnership's plan for implementation and systemic change will differ in its vision, objectives, scope, and activities. Implementation projects may vary in intensity, duration, and approach, but each project's activities should be consistent with a clear and coherent vision for improving the State or Tribe's child welfare system. While Implementation Centers subscribe to the guiding principles of SOC and the CFSR in their TA approach, States and Tribes are not expected to adopt this particular framework or to articulate their principles in the same way. Each implementation project's activities should infuse the targeted child welfare system with the State or Tribe's own principles for effective child welfare practice and sound service delivery. All projects are also expected to involve important stakeholders and systems in their strategic planning and implementation efforts. Local child welfare agencies, governance bodies, courts, health and education departments, social service systems, mental health and substance abuse agencies, law enforcement and justice systems, community-based service providers, and a variety of other entities may be essential to the reform and improvement efforts that are proposed. Implementation projects may pursue systemic change within a child welfare system or across multiple systems that are integral to successful child welfare practice. For example, a project might focus on the implementation of a four-year strategic plan to address overrepresentation in out-of-home placement and disproportionately poor outcomes for children of color in care. The State and Implementation Center's plan for systemic change may require implementing specific evidence-based models of practice and infusing the child welfare agency's internal systems (including but not limited to, its human resources, training, supervision, personnel management, financing, quality assurance, information management, evaluation, and contracting) with the agency's vision and principles (i.e., prevention, family-centered practice and cultural competence) for change. Further, successful systemic reform may demand that external systems (i.e., courts, juvenile justice, public health, mental health, education, elected leadership, community- and faith-based organizations) that play a critical role in the outcomes for these children be engaged in the implementation project. Structure Implementation projects are intended to be substantial and capable of supporting implementation activities that will drive sustainable positive change in organizational culture and child welfare practice. Implementation Centers have the flexibility to select proposals, allocate funds, and enter into projects within the guidelines described below. Projects must be at least 24 months in duration and may involve a period of assessment and strategic planning prior to implementation activities. Each In Fiscal Year 2009 (FY 2009) or "year one" of its cooperative agreement, an In years two through five (FY 2010 through FY 2013), each Implementation Center is required to devote no less than 75 percent of its annual Federal funds to implementation projects. The budget for each project shall not be less than $100,000 and shall not exceed $700,000 in any budget period. An The table below summarizes the minimum and maximum implementation project requirements for an
Within these restrictions, each An All Implementation Centers will collectively develop common proposal expectations and processes with one another and CB prior to soliciting proposals. All implementation projects must receive final approval from the Implementation Centers will enter into formal agreements with States and Tribes; supply resources, TA, and consultation; and facilitate effective utilization of the T/TA Network to provide each partner with comprehensive support. Implementation projects must be feasible for the time and resources available and likely to result in sustainable improvement. Coordinated Technical Assistance Through their projects, Implementation Centers are expected to complement existing resources and services available to States and Tribes. In addition to carefully coordinating implementation activities with the T/TA Network's current services, Implementation Centers should not duplicate services or supplant resources that would otherwise be utilized for the same purpose. Implementation Centers must be familiar with existing (and potentially untapped) Federal and non-Federal funds and resources when developing implementation approaches with States and Tribes. Within the first six months of the project period, Implementation Centers are required to develop common protocols for coordinating TA, making referrals to other T/TA Network members, and tracking activities. These protocols will be established in collaboration with CB and the T/TA Network. Individualized Technical Assistance Implementation Centers are intended to facilitate sustainable systems change that will ultimately improve outcomes for children, youth and families. While each When a State or Tribe identifies a particular need, barrier, or issue that requires attention, an Implementation Centers will partner with States and Tribes that are also likely to be at very different stages in the process of comprehensive assessment. Implementation Centers will collaborate with their clients, the T/TA Network, and CB to utilize recent assessment findings and to build on them as appropriate. The knowledge of NRCs should be utilized to examine system functioning and outcomes in their respective areas of expertise. Thorough and informed assessments allow Implementation Centers to view each State and Tribal system as a unique client and to craft their TA accordingly. CB recognizes that not all child welfare systems will be equally receptive to TA. Implementation Centers must, therefore, employ a client-centered and client-directed approach to serving States, Tribes, and their respective stakeholders. In addition to being culturally competent and well-informed, each EVALUATION Implementation Centers are likely to employ different methods to engage State and Tribal systems, ensure service coordination, facilitate cross-system networking, execute implementation projects, and provide intensive TA. The fundamental purpose, functions, and objectives of each In addition to participation in any applicable national evaluation, CB expects each For example, in addition to collecting outputs to monitor client contact and service delivery, an evaluation could evaluate the degree to which an Implementation Centers will regularly update their Federal project officer about ongoing evaluation activities and findings in required progress reporting and provide CB with a written report at the end of the project. Implementation Centers with collaborate with each other, their State and Tribal partners, CB, and any applicable national evaluation contractor(s) to produce a comprehensive evaluation report at the conclusion of the project period and present findings to CB, the T/TA Network, and other stakeholders. Applicants must allocate sufficient funds to conduct their evaluation activities. Funds for evaluation must appear in the budget, and each applicant must state the percentage of the total budget that will be allocated to evaluation. Specific Tasks to be Performed by the Implementation Centers during the Planning and Implementation Phases Each applicant is required to submit a narrative (with accompanying Gantt chart and logic model) that clearly and concisely describes its strategy for a six-month planning phase (Phase I) followed by a 54-month implementation phase (Phase II). During Phase I, each
During Phase II, each
In its application, each applicant must describe how it will complete its required and proposed activities within the planning and implementation phases of the project. After the award of the cooperative agreements and prior to implementation, plans may be revised to accommodate coordination of activities with other grantees. The applicant's plans will be subject to review, revision, and final approval by CB. Logic Model and Gantt Chart The applicant is required to submit in its application both a logic model and Gantt Chart for its planning and implementation. The logic model and Gantt Chart also must accompany all subsequent submissions of plans related to this announcement to CB. Travel for Meetings, Conferences, and Presentations Approximately six weeks after the award of the cooperative agreements, the project director of each Implementation Center, the project evaluator, and representatives of other key partners and/or subcontractors involved in the execution of the award, if applicable, will be required to attend a one-day meeting with the Federal project officer and other Federal staff in Washington, D.C. This meeting is to review and approve activities and planning timelines in year one of the award and to clarify expectations for the project. Within six months of the award of the cooperative agreements, each Implementation Center project director, project evaluator, and representatives of other key partners and/or subcontractors involved in the execution of the award, if applicable, must make an oral presentation to CB staff in Washington, D.C., describing and supporting its implementation plans for each of the major areas of activity. The applicant's budget for the first 12-month budget period should include anticipated costs for these two meetings, as well as costs for two key staff persons to attend CB's annual grantee meeting, usually held in the winter or spring in In addition, as a member of the T/TA Network, each Implementation Center's project director or another designated representative will attend T/TA Network meetings held twice annually in the Washington, D.C. metro area over the duration of the five-year project period. All expenses related to attendance at these two-day meetings also should be included in the applicant's proposed budget. Project Requirements The acceptance of funds for projects responsive to this announcement will signify the applicant's assurance that it will comply with the following requirements:
II. AWARD INFORMATION
Substantial Involvement with Cooperative Agreement: A cooperative agreement is a specific method of awarding Federal assistance in which substantial Federal involvement is anticipated. A cooperative agreement clearly defines the respective responsibilities of CB and the grantee prior to the award. CB anticipates that agency involvement will produce programmatic benefits to the recipient otherwise unavailable to them for carrying out the project. The involvement and collaboration includes:
Explanation of Other: Eligible applicants may apply for a maximum Federal share of $1,410,000 in year one and a maximum of $1,850,000 per budget period in years two through five. No less than 35 percent of the Federal share requested in year one must be devoted to implementation projects, and 75 percent of the Federal share is restricted for implementation projects in years two through five. The cooperative agreements awarded will be for a project period of 60 months. The initial award will be for a 12-month budget period. The award of continuation beyond each 12-month budget period will be subject to satisfactory progress on the part of the awardee and a determination that continued funding would be in the best interest of the Federal Government. Grantees are required to meet a non-Federal share of the project costs. Each grantee must provide at least 10 percent of the total approved cost for 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. Awards under this announcement are subject to the availability of funds. III. ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION 1. Eligible Applicants:
Collaborative efforts and interdisciplinary approaches are acceptable. An application from a collaboration must identify a primary applicant responsible for administering the cooperative agreement. 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. 2. Cost Sharing or Matching: Yes Grantees are required to meet a non-Federal share of the project costs. Each grantee must provide at least 10 percent of the total approved cost for the project. The total approved cost of the project is the sum of the ACF share and the non-Federal share and can also be calculated by dividing the requested Federal share by the divisor .90. 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. 3. Other: Indirect Charges. If claiming indirect costs, the applicant must provide documentation that it has an indirect cost-rate approved by HHS or another cognizant Federal agency. The applicant's indirect, or Facilities and Administrative (F&A) rate, must be appropriate for the function and location of the proposed project activities. For example, based on the descriptions of the required activities in this program announcement, "research" and "instruction" F&A rates will not be accepted if the applicant is an educational institution. Each applicant should refer to the applicable cost principles for its organization. Disqualification Factors Applications with requests that exceed the ceiling on the amount of individual awards referenced in Section II. Award Information will be deemed non-responsive and will not be considered for funding under this announcement. Any application that fails to satisfy the deadline requirements referenced in Section IV.3., Submission Dates and Times, will be deemed non-responsive and will not be considered for funding under this announcement. 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 Phone: 866-796-1591 Phone 2: or TTY 711 Email: cb@dixongroup.com 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 that accompany the form. Budget Information. Non-Construction Programs (SF-424A) and Budget Justification. Follow the instructions that accompany the form 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 awards. Certifications/Assurances. See Forms, Assurances, and Certifications, below. Project Summary/Abstract (one page maximum, double spaced). Clearly mark this page with the applicant name as shown on SF-424, identify the program announcement and the title of the proposed project as shown on SF-424 and the service area as shown on 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 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 (if applicable). Provide a letter of commitment verifying the actual amount of the non-Federal share of project costs (see Sections III.2 and V). Indirect Charges. If claiming indirect costs, provide documentation that the applicant currently has an indirect cost-rate approved by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) or another cognizant Federal agency. Third-Party Agreements. If applicable, 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 and are not considered under the evaluation criteria. Staff and Position Data. Include job descriptions and curriculum vitae and/or resumes for proposed project staff. Page Limit. The application limit is 75 pages. Pages over this page limit will be removed from the application and will not be reviewed. This page limit does not include standard forms 424, 424A, 424B, certifications, assurances, third party agreements, letters of commitment, job descriptions, resumes, and curriculum vitae. General Content and Form Information. To be considered for funding, each application must be submitted with the Standard Federal Forms and must follow 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 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, excess pages will be removed and will not be reviewed. All copies of an application must be submitted in a single package. 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. CB's website (http://www.acf.dhhs.gov/programs/cb) provides a wide range of information and links to other relevant websites. Before preparing an application, applicants can learn more about CB's mission and programs by exploring the website. Organizing the 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. Logic Model. 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 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/. Gantt Chart. A Gantt chart is a project management tool used to organize and present project tasks and subtasks and their corresponding timelines during the project period. Generally, each project task is assigned to a row in the first column of a grid. Then, a unit of time is assigned to each subsequent column, beginning with the first unit (i.e., week, month, quarter) of the project and ending with the last. Shading, arrows, or other markings are used across the applicable grid boxes or cells - representing units of time, to indicate the approximate duration and/or frequency of each task and its start and end dates within the project period. Evaluation. Project evaluations are very important. If the applicant does not have the in-house capacity to conduct an objective, comprehensive evaluation of the project, then CB advises that the applicant contract with a third-party evaluator specializing in social science or evaluation, or a university or college, to conduct the evaluation. In either case, it is important that the evaluator has the necessary independence from the project to assure objectivity. A skilled evaluator can help develop a logic model and assist in designing an evaluation strategy that is rigorous and appropriate given the goals and objectives of the proposed project. Additional assistance may be found in a document titled "Program Manager's Guide to Evaluation." A copy of this document can be accessed at http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/opre/other_resrch/pm_guide_eval/reports/pmguide/pmguide_toc.html. 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 the HHS Protection of Human Subjects regulations (45 Code of Federal Regulations (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 at http://www.hhs.gov/ohrp/. Applicants may also contact OHRP by email (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. When required for 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 appropriate standard forms with their application. The Protection of Human Subjects Assurance Identification/IRB Certification/Declaration of Exemption (Common Rule) form may be found at: http://www.acf.hhs.gov/grants/grants_resources.html. 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.) The Pro-Children Act of 1994, 20 U.S.C. 7183, imposes restrictions on smoking in facilities where federally funded children's services are provided. HHS grants are subject to these requirements only if they meet the Act's specified coverage. The Act specifies that smoking is prohibited in any indoor facility (owned, leased, or contracted for) used for the routine or regular provision of kindergarten, elementary, or secondary education or library services to children under the age of 18. In addition, smoking is prohibited in any indoor facility or portion of a facility (owned, leased, or contracted for) used for the routine or regular provision of federally funded health care, day care, or early childhood development, including Head Start services to children under the age of 18. The statutory prohibition also applies if such facilities are constructed, operated, or maintained with Federal funds. The statute does not apply to children's services provided in private residences, facilities funded solely by Medicare or Medicaid funds, portions of facilities used for inpatient drug or alcohol treatment, or facilities where WIC coupons are redeemed. Failure to comply with the provisions of the law may result in the imposition of a civil monetary penalty of up to $1,000 per violation and/or the imposition of an administrative compliance order on the responsible entity. Additional information may be found in the HHS Grants Policy Statement at: http://www.acf.hhs.gov/grants/grants_related.html. Information on the Certification Regarding Program Fraud Civil Remedies Act (PFCRA) may be found in the HHS Grants Policy Statement at: http://www.acf.hhs.gov/grants/grants_related.html. 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. Where return of a form is required, complete the standard forms and the associated certifications and assurances based on the instructions found on the forms. The forms and certifications may be found at: http://www.acf.hhs.gov/grants/grants_resources.html. Information on the Privacy Act of 1974 (5 U.S.C. 552a) and the Freedom of Information Act (5 U.S.C 552) or FOIA may be found in the HHS Grants Policy Statement 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 SubmissionApplicants 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:
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 ReviewersSince 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: 07/11/2008 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.
Additional Forms 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: This program is not subject to Executive Order 12372, "Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs," or 45 CFR Part 100, "Intergovernmental Review of Department of Health and Human Services Programs and Activities". 5. Funding Restrictions: Costs of organized fund raising, including financial campaigns, endowment drives, solicitation of gifts and bequests, and similar expenses incurred solely to raise capital or obtain contributions, are unallowable. 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 Centerc/o The Dixon Group, Inc. ATTN: Children's Bureau Washington, DC 20002-2132 Hand Delivery ACYF Operations Centerc/o The Dixon Group, Inc. ATTN: Children's Bureau Washington, DC 20002-2132 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 4/30/2010. 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. 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. 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 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:
APPROACH - 40 points In reviewing the approach, reviewers will consider the extent to which:
EVALUATION - 15 points In reviewing the evaluation plan, reviewers will consider the extent to which:
ORGANIZATIONAL PROFILES - 20 points In reviewing the organizational profiles, reviewers will consider the extent to which:
BUDGET AND BUDGET JUSTIFICATION - 5 points In reviewing the budget and budget justification, reviewers will consider the extent to which:
2. Review and Selection Process: No grant award will be made under this announcement on the basis of an incomplete application. Initial ACF Screening: Each application will be screened to determine whether it was received by the closing date and time and whether the requested amount exceeds the stated ceiling. Late applications or those exceeding the funding limit will be returned to the applicants with a notation that they were unacceptable and will not be reviewed. A panel of at least three reviewers (primarily experts from outside the Federal Government) will use the evaluation criteria described in this announcement to evaluate each application. The reviewers will determine the strengths and weaknesses of each application, provide comments about the strengths and weaknesses, and give each application a numerical score. The results of the competitive review are a primary factor in making funding decisions. In addition, Federal staff conducts administrative reviews of the applications and, in light of the results of the competitive review, will recommend applications for funding to the ACYF Commissioner. ACYF reserves the option of discussing applications with other funding sources when this is in the best interest of the Federal Government. ACYF may also solicit and consider comments from ACF Regional Office staff in making funding decisions. ACYF may take into consideration the involvement (financial and/or programmatic) of the private sector, national, or State or community foundations; a favorable balance between Federal and non-Federal funds for the proposed project; or the potential for high benefit from low Federal investment. ACYF may elect not to fund any applicants having known management, fiscal, reporting, programmatic, or other problems that make it unlikely that they would be able to provide effective services or effectively complete the proposed activity. With the results of the peer review and the information from Federal staff, the Commissioner of ACYF makes the final funding decisions. The Commissioner may give special consideration to applications proposing services of special interest to the Government and to achieve geographic distributions of grant awards. Applications of special interest may include, but are not limited to, applications focusing on underserved or inadequately served clients or service areas and programs addressing diverse ethnic populations. Since ACF will be using non-Federal reviewers in the 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 and Social Security Numbers, if otherwise required for individuals. The copies may include summary salary information. Approved but Unfunded Applications Applications that are approved but unfunded may be held over for funding in the next funding cycle, pending the availability of funds, for a period not to exceed one year. 3. Anticipated Announcement and Award Dates: Applications will be reviewed during the Summer 2008. Grant awards will have a start date no later than September 30, 2008. VI. AWARD ADMINISTRATION INFORMATION 1. Award Notices: The successful applicants will be notified through the issuance of a Notice of Award (NoA) document that sets forth the amount of funds granted, the terms and conditions of the grant, the effective date of the grant, the budget period for which initial support will be given, the non-Federal share to be provided (if applicable), and the total project period for which support is contemplated. The NoA will be signed by the Grants Officer and transmitted via postal mail. Following the finalization of funding decisions, organizations whose applications will not be funded will be notified by letter, signed by the Program Office head. 2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements: Grantees are subject to the requirements in 45 CFR Part 74 (non-governmental) or 45 CFR Part 92 (governmental). Direct Federal grants, sub-award funds, or contracts under this ACF program shall not be used to support inherently religious activities such as religious instruction, worship, or proselytization. Therefore, organizations must take steps to separate, in time or location, their inherently religious activities from the services funded under this program. Regulations pertaining to the Equal Treatment for Faith-Based Organizations, which includes the prohibition against Federal funding of inherently religious activities, can be found at the HHS web site at: http://www.hhs.gov/fbci/waisgate21.pdf. A faith-based organization receiving HHS funds retains its independence from Federal, State, and local governments, and may continue to carry out its mission, including the definition, practice, and expression of its religious beliefs. For example, a faith-based organization may use space in its facilities to provide secular programs or services funded with Federal funds without removing religious art, icons, scriptures, or other religious symbols. In addition, a faith-based organization that receives Federal funds retains its authority over its internal governance, and it may retain religious terms in its organization's name, select its board members on a religious basis, and include religious references in its organization's mission statements and other governing documents in accordance with all program requirements, statutes, and other applicable requirements governing the conduct of HHS funded activities. Faith-based and community organizations may reference the "Guidance to Faith-Based and Community Organizations on Partnering with the Federal Government" at: http://www.whitehouse.gov/government/fbci/guidance/index.html. HHS Grants Policy Statement The HHS Grants Policy Statement (GPS) is the Department of Health and Human Services new single policy guide for discretionary grants and cooperative agreements. Unlike previous HHS policy documents, the GPS is intended to be shared with and used by grantees. It became effective October 1, 2006 and is applicable to all Operating Divisions (OPDIVS), such as the Administration for Children and Families (ACF), except the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The GPS covers basic grants processes, standard terms and conditions and points of contact as well as important OPDIV-specific requirements. Appendices include a glossary of terms and a list of standard abbreviations for ease of reference. The GPS may be accessed at http://www.acf.hhs.gov/grants/grants_related.html. 3. Reporting Requirements: Grantees will be required to submit program progress and financial reports (SF-269 found at: http://www.acf.hhs.gov/grants/grants_resources.html) throughout the project period. Program progress and financial reports are due 30 days after the reporting period. Final programmatic and financial reports are due 90 days after the close of the project period. Final reports may be submitted in hard copy to the Grants Management Office Contact listed in Section VII of this announcement. Program Progress Reports: Semi-AnnuallyFinancial Reports: Semi-Annually VII. AGENCY CONTACTS Program Office Contact: Brian Deakins Grants Management Office Contact: Lisa Dammar, Grants Officer VIII. OTHER INFORMATION Pre-Application Conference. CB will be sponsoring a pre-application conference for all parties interested in applying for the Cooperative Agreements for Child Welfare Technical Assistance Implementation Centers. The purpose of the conference is to respond to questions about the program announcement. The pre-application conference for this program announcement will be held on May 28 at 11:00 am ET and will be repeated on May 28 at 4:00 pm ET. The period during which questions will be received as part of the pre-application conference will open on May 28 at 11:00 am ET and will close on May 29 at 5:00 pm ET. 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 at least 30 days prior to the application due date; it 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. Additional information about this program and its purpose can be located on the following website: http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/cb/ For general information regarding this announcement please contact: ACYF Operations Center Email: cb@dixongroup.com
Posted on May 12, 2008 |