Governor Letter - Grants to States for Access and Visitation

Secretary, DHHS Letter to Governors

Grants to States for Access and Visitation




The Honorable


Dear Governor 

The Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act 
of 1996 (P.L. 104-193) provides up to $10 million annually for grants 
to the states for access and visitation programs.  The authority 
contained in Title III, Subtitle I - Enhancing Responsibility and 
Opportunity for Non-Residential Parents (which adds Section 469B to 
the Social Security Act) presents an opportunity to address problems 
that have caused much pain and suffering for parents and children 
alike.

The statutory language contains very general guidance for states on 
what are considered appropriate activities to be carried out with the 
grant funds.  The grants are "to enable states to establish and 
administer programs to support and facilitate noncustodial parents' 
access to and visitation of their children."  Eligible activities 
include but are not limited to mediation, counseling, education, 
development of parenting plans, visitation enforcement, and 
development of guidelines for visitation and alternative custody 
arrangements.

The amount of the grant for each state for a fiscal year will be an 
amount equal to the lesser of 90 percent of State expenditures during 
the fiscal year for eligible activities or an allotment.  The 
allotment formula derives from the ratio of the number of children in 
the state living with only one biological parent in relation to the 
total number of such children in all states.  The amount of the 
allotment available to the state will exhibit this same ratio to 
$10,000,000.  The Administration for Children and Families (ACF) will 
adjust the allotments to ensure that there is a minimum allotment 
amount of $50,000 per state for federal fiscal year 1997.

The ACF is charged with the responsibility of issuing regulations 
setting forth how states "shall monitor, evaluate, and report on such 
programs."  Within ACF, program administration will reside with the 
Office of Child Support Enforcement.

States have considerable flexibility in determining appropriate 
administrative arrangements.  The grants may be used to create or 
enhance state-run programs or to fund grants or contracts with 
courts, local public agencies, or nonprofit private entities. 
Programs do not have to operate statewide.  

As a first step, we ask that you designate a single state agency with 
whom we will interact on a continuing basis in launching and carrying 
out this new responsibility.  Again, the choice of agency is a matter 
within your discretion.  Your selection and the name and title of an 
appropriate official within the designated agency should be 
communicated in writing at your earliest convenience to David Gray 
Ross, Deputy Director of our Office of Child Support Enforcement at 
901 D street SW, 4th Floor Washington D.C. 20447.

We look forward to fashioning a partnership in this new program, a 
program with the potential to positively impact the lives of children 
and their parents.  If any questions should arise, they may be 
directed to Judge Ross at 202-401-9370.

                                   Sincerely,



                                   Donna E. Shalala