ACYF-IM-90-17 4/25/90

ACF Administration for Children and Families	U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES Administration for Children, Youth and Families
	1. Log No.: ACYF-IM-90-17	2. Issuance Date: 4/25/90
	3. Originating Office: Children's Bureau
	4. Key Word: The Abandoned Infants Assistance Act

INFORMATION MEMORANDUM

TO: All Public and Non-Profit Private Agencies and Interested Individuals

SUBJECT: The Abandoned Infants Assistance Act

LEGAL AND RELATED REFERENCES: The Abandoned Infants Assistance Act of 1988, Public Law 100-505, 42 USC, 670 note.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this Information Memorandum is to provide information on the new discretionary grant program recently funded by Congress and to encourage eligible applicants to consider submitting grant applications when the Federal Register Notice is published later in the Spring or early Summer.

SUMMARY: Public Law 100-505, the "Abandoned Infants Assistance Act of 1988," (the Act) was signed into law on October 18, 1988. The Act authorizes the Department to make grants to develop, implement, and operate projects to demonstrate methods of serving abandoned infants and young children, particularly drug-exposed infants and those with AIDS. Public and non-profit private agencies are eligible to apply for these grants. The purposes of the Act are to prevent the abandonment of infants and young children; to identify and address the needs of those who are, or might be, abandoned; to develop appropriate service responses for such children and their families; to recruit and train health and social services personnel, foster care families, and residential care providers to serve such children; and to develop technical assistance and training programs to support the planning, development and operation of projects and programs. Funds to carry out the purposes of this Act were appropriated for the first time in FY 1990. The Children's Bureau in the Administration for Children, Youth and Families, Office of Human Development Services, will administer this program. The Federal Register announcement soliciting applications will not impose additional requirements beyond those in the statute and the Department's grants administration requirements. Prospective applicants should note the requirement in Section 101(b) of the Act that, if the grantee serves abandoned infants in foster homes or other nonmedical residential settings away from their parents, the grantee must meet the case plan and case review requirements specified. The Federal Register announcement will emphasize a comprehensive approach to the design and provision of services for such children. Finally, the Children's Bureau expects to provide technical assistance to assist grantees to implement, and operate their demonstration projects.

FUNDS AVAILABLE: Approximately 50 grants will be awarded in amounts ranging from $25,000 to $300,000.

DATES: The Federal Register announcement will be published later in the Spring or early Summer of 1990. Grant applications will be due in July. Grants will be awarded by September 30, 1990.

INQUIRIES TO:
Cecelia Sudia
Program Support Division
Children's Bureau
Administration for Children, Youth and Families
(202) 245-0764
Wade F. Horn, Ph.D.
Commissioner

ATTACHMENT: ABANDONED INFANTS ASSISTANT ACT OF 1988 (P.L. 100-505)