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| 97.032 CRISIS COUNSELING |
| FEDERAL AGENCY |
| DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY |
| AUTHORIZATION |
| Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, Section 416, Public Law 93-288, as amended; 42 U.S.C. 5182, Crisis Counseling Assistance and Training Act, Public Law 100-707. |
| OBJECTIVES |
| To provide immediate crisis counseling services, when required, to victims of a major Federally-declared disaster for the purpose of addressing mental health problems caused or aggravated by a major disaster or its aftermath. Assistance is short-term in nature and provided at no cost to the disaster victims. |
| TYPES OF ASSISTANCE |
| Project Grants. |
| USES AND USE RESTRICTIONS |
| The Crisis Counseling Assistance and Training Program (CCP) is designed to provide supplemental funding to States for technical assistance and training, as well as, short-term crisis counseling services to people affected by the disaster. CCP services involve the counseling goals of assisting disaster survivors in understanding their current situations and reactions, mitigating additional stress, assisting survivors in reviewing their options, promoting the use or development of coping strategies, providing emotional support and encouraging linkages with other individuals and agencies who may help survivors recover to their pre-disaster level of functioning. The Program is divided into an Immediate Services Program and a Regular Services Program. The Immediate Services Program enables the State or local agency to respond to the immediate crisis counseling needs of people affected by the disaster. The Regular Services Program grant provides up to 9 months of crisis counseling, outreach, consultation and education services to people affected by a disaster. Funding for this program is separate from the Immediate Services Program. |
| Applicant Eligibility |
| States are eligible for grants. If the Governor determines, during an assessment of the need for crisis counseling services, that because of unusual circumstances or serious conditions within the State or local mental health network, the State cannot carry out the crisis counseling program, he/she may identify a public or private mental health agency or organization to carry out the program or request the Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Regional Director to identify, with assistance of the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), such an agency or organization. |
| Beneficiary Eligibility |
| In order to be eligible for services under this program, an individual must be a resident of the designated disaster area or must have been in the designated area at the time the disaster occurred. |
| Credentials/Documentation |
| Costs will be determined in accordance with OMB Circular No. A-87 for State and local governments. Grant awards will be determined in accordance with OMB Circulars No. A-102 and No. A-87 for State and local governments. Awards made to Institutions of Higher Education, Hospitals and Other Nonprofit Organizations will be required to follow the requirements of OMB Circulars No. A-110 and No. A-21. |
| Preapplication Coordination |
| Consultation and assistance are available from FEMA and the Department of Health and Human Service's Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). This program is excluded from coverage under E.O. 12372. |
| Application Procedure |
| Application deadline and other information are contained in the application/program guidance. |
| Award Procedure |
| Immediate Services Crisis Counseling Program - Applications s are reviewed by FEMA program staff in consultation with SAMHSA. Grant award is provided by FEMA to the State Emergency Management Agency. Regular Services Crisis Counseling Program Applications are reviewed by FEMA with formal recommendation from SAMHSA. Grant funds are provided by FEMA to SAMHSA for award to the State's mental health agency. |
| Deadlines |
| Refer to announcement or application guidance for further information. |
| Range of Approval/Disapproval Time |
| Refer to program guidance document. |
| Appeals |
| Immediate Services Crisis Counseling Program - The State may appeal the Regional Director's decision in writing within 60 days of the date of notification of the application decision. The State may further appeal the Regional Director's decision to the Assistant Associate Director within 60 days of the date of the Regional Director's notification of the application decision. Regular Services Crisis Counseling Program - The State may appeal FEMA's decision in writing within 60 days of the date of notification of the decision. |
| Renewals |
| None. |
| Formula and Matching Requirements |
| None. |
| Length and Time Phasing of Assistance |
| Refer to program guidance. Awards are subject to the Cash Management Improvement Act for payment and/or reimbursement of expenditures. |
| Reports |
| Grantees are required to submit quarterly financial and performance reports. Quarterly "Progress Reports" must include the progress of each sub-grant award. Final financial and performance reports are due 90 days after the expiration or termination of grant award. |
| Audits |
| In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular A-133 (Revised, June 27, 2003), "Audits of States, Local Governments, and Nonprofit Organizations," nonfederal entities that expend financial assistance of $500,000 or more in Federal awards (or receive property, or a combination of both, within the fiscal year) will have a single or a program-specific audit conducted for that year. Nonfederal entities that expend less than $500,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in Circular A-133. These audits are due to the cognizant Federal agency, submitted through the Federal Audit Clearinghouse, not later than 9 months after the end of the grantees fiscal year. |
| Records |
| Grant records shall be retained for a period of 3 years from the day the recipient submits its final expenditure report. If any litigation, claim, negotiation, audit, or other action involving the records has been started before the expiration of the 3-year period, the records must be retained until completion of the action and resolution of all issues which arise from it, or until the end of the regular 3-year period, whichever is later. Grant records include financial and program/progress reports, support documents, statistical records, and other documents that support the activity and/or expenditure of the recipient or sub-recipient under the award. |
| Account Identification |
| 70-0702-0-1-453. |
| Obligations |
| (Grants) FY 07 3,903,177; FY 08 est 3,014,521 ; and FY 09 est not available. |
| Range and Average of Financial Assistance |
| None. |
| PROGRAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS |
| During fiscal year 2007, this program responded to 13 major disaster declarations in 11 States or Territories. |
| REGULATIONS, GUIDELINES, AND LITERATURE |
| 44 CFR 206.171, Crisis Counseling Assistance and Training; and RR-9, State Handbook Crisis Counseling Assistance and Training. |
| Regional or Local Office |
| See Appendix IV of the Catalog for a listing of addresses for FEMA's Regional Offices. |
| Headquarters Office |
| Department of Homeland Security 245 Murray Lane - Bldg. #410, Washington, DC 20528. |
| Web Site Address |
| http://www.fema.gov |
| RELATED PROGRAMS |
| 93.982, Mental Health Disaster Assistance and Emergency Mental Health. |
| EXAMPLES OF FUNDED PROJECTS |
| Immediate Crisis Counseling Services for victims of floods, earthquakes, hurricanes, tornadoes, and other Federally declared major disasters as defined by the Stafford Act. |
| CRITERIA FOR SELECTING PROPOSALS |
| Presidential declaration of a major Federal disaster. The State must justify that the needs are disaster related and beyond State and local resources. |
|
General Services Administration Office of Chief Acquisition Officer Regulatory and Federal Assistance Division (VIR) |
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