dcl9734.htm

June 20, 1997

DCL-97-34

TO: ALL STATE IV-D DIRECTORS

RE: State Improvement Project Proposals

Dear Colleague:

This is to clarify guidance (DCL-97-26) provided to you on May 19, 1997 for the submittal of State improvement project proposals. In that letter we indicated that we had developed guidance for a new initiative regarding the submittal and review process for State improvement project proposals.

We have been advised by the Administration for Children and Families' Grants Office that such guidance can only be issued as a formal grant announcement. We have not yet issued a formal grant announcement regarding State improvement projects, because we are awaiting the technical amendments to PRWORA, "The Welfare Technical Corrections Act of 1997." These amendments, if passed by Congress as proposed, will provide us the authority to fund grants from money available under Section 345 of PRWORA. We plan to issue formal guidance upon passage of "The Welfare Technical Corrections Act of 1997" (HR 1048). Thus, please do not forward any proposals based on the May 19, 1997 guidance.

We will be returning any State proposals which have been submitted under the May 19, 1997 guidance. These can be resubmitted under the formal solicitation announcement.

However, please be assured, that we will continue our efforts to work with you to develop technical assistance projects, resolve problem areas and provide requested expertise by utilizing the various technical assistance mechanisms and resources available to us through current law.

We encourage you to access funding or technical assistance through the Administration for Children and Families and the Office of Child Support Enforcement's available sources -- such as funding for Section 1115 demonstration projects as announced in DCL-97-24, dated April 30, 1997, or for technical assistance through the Technical Assistance Request process, the Big 8 strategy and our Regional Offices, as mentioned in the DCL-97-26 communication.

I am committed to helping States make program improvements and will assist you in any way I can. Let's continue to work together to enhance our efforts to help achieve the nation's Child Support Enforcement program goals.

If you have any questions regarding this letter, please contact your respective Regional Office, Marion N. Steffy for Big 8 States at (312) 353-0166, or Susan Greenblatt, with OCSE's Technical Assistance Branch, at (202) 401-4849.

Sincerely,

David Gray Ross

Deputy Director

Office of Child Support Enforcement