FEDERAL AGENCY:

ADMINISTRATION FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

AUTHORIZATION:

Refugee Act of 1980, Section 412, 94 Stat. 111, 8 U.S.C. 1522, as amended, Public Laws 96-212, 97-363, and 99-605; Refugee Education Assistance Act of 1980, Title V, 94 Stat. 1809, 8 U.S.C. 1522 note, as amended, Public Laws 96-422, 96-424, 97-35, 100-202, 100-436, 100-461, 101-167, 101-302, 101-513, and 101-517.

OBJECTIVES:

To develop alternative projects which promote early employment of refugees, including certain Amerasian immigrants, Cuban and Haitian entrants, asylees, and certified victims of a severe form of trafficking. States, voluntary resettlement agencies, and other resettlement organizations may develop innovative approaches for the provision of refugee cash and medical assistance, social services, and case management otherwise available through the State-administered program. The purposed of these alternative projects is to provide integrated services and cash assistance in order to increase refugees' prospects for early employment and self-sufficiency, reduce their level of welfare dependence, and promote coordination among voluntary resettlement agencies and services providers. Projects must serve all eligible refugees in a community.

TYPES OF ASSISTANCE:

Project Grants. Place Cursor Here for Definition

USES AND USE RESTRICTIONS:

The Wilson/Fish demonstration program diverts a portion of funds earmarked for the State-administered program for refugee cash and medical assistance and social service to conduct alternative projects which promote refugee early employment and self- sufficiency. Funds may be used only for the purposes set forth in the grant award. Assistance is limited to refugees, including Cuban and Haitian entrants and Amerasian immigrants and their accompanying family members, as defined in the authorizing Acts. The refugee must document his immigration status in order to be eligible for assistance. Federal policy governs other eligibility factors. The scope of services available to refugees from Wilson/Fish grantees is similar to that of State-administered Refugee Resettlement Programs, which in turn is similar to regular domestic public assistance programs.

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:

Applicant Eligibility:   States, voluntary resettlement agencies, and other nonprofit refugee resettlement organizations may apply to initiate an alternative program. No separate funding is appropriated for Wilson/Fish demonstration projects. Funds are drawn instead from funds earmarked for refugee cash and medical assistance grants and social services allocations for the State-administered program (93.566) according to ORR projections.

Beneficiary Eligibility:   Refugees, certain Amerasian immigrants, Cuban/Haitian entrants, asylees, and victims of a severe of trafficking are eligible for services and assistance through funded projects in a community. Cash assistance is transitional for up to 8 months; services may be provided for a longer period of time.

Credentials/Documentation:   Persons for whom assistance is authorized are limited to the following groups of aliens with appropriated documentation from the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS): (1) Refugees admitted under section 207 of the INA and asylees admitted under section 208; (2) Cuban and Haitian entrants with documentation from the INS as to status allowed under section 501 of the Refugee Education Assistance Act of 1980; and certain Amerasian immigrants from Vietnam admitted under section 584 of the Foreign Operations, Export Financing, and Related Programs Appropriations Act (1988) or title II of the Foreign Operations, Export Financing, and Related Programs Appropriations Acts of 1989, 1990, and 1991. Cost principles for nonprofit organizations will be determined by OMB Circular No. A-122. Cost principles for State and local governments are found under OMB Circular No. A-87.

Pre-application Coordination:   The Office of Refugee Resettlement is available to answer questions concerning the standing program announcement. This program is excluded from coverage under E.O. 12372.

Application Procedure:   Awards are granted on a competitive basis, as specified in the program announcements. Each agency desiring to respond to a program announcement is required to submit an application to the Director of the Office of Refugee Resettlement. Applications are reviewed and evaluated pursuant to criteria specified in the program announcement.

Award Procedure:   The Director of ORR makes the funding decision of all grant awards. The Office of Financial Management concurs on grants administration and policy compliance.

Deadlines:   Due dates for applications are March 31 and October 31.

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time:   From 60 to 90 days.

Appeals:   Not applicable.

Renewals:   Renewals or extensions require additional approvals.

ASSISTANCE CONSIDERATIONS:

Formula and Matching Requirements:   This program has no statutory formula or matching requirements.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance:   Generally, funds made available for this program will be for 1-year budget periods, but may be for project periods for no longer than 4 years.

POST ASSISTANCE REQUIREMENTS:

Reports:   Progress reports and financial reports are required, usually on a quarterly basis. Final program and financial reports summarizing the activities and accomplishments of the project in relation to the approved goals and objectives are also required.

Audits:   Periodic audits are made a part of the system of financial management and internal control to meet terms and conditions of grants and other agreements. "In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-133 (Revised, June 24, 1997), Audits of States, Local Governments, and Nonprofit Organizations, nonfederal entities that expend financial assistance of $300,000 or more in Federal awards will have a single or a program-specific audit conducted for that year. Nonfederal entities that expend less than $300,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in Circular No. A-133."

Records:   Grant recipients are required to keep all financial, business and program reports necessary for program review and audit to insure that funds have been expended in accordance with the regulations, grant terms, and conditions of the program.

FINANCIAL INFORMATION:

Account Identification:   75-1503-0-1-609.

Obligations:   (Grants) FY 01 $13,100,304; FY 02 est $16,500,000; and FY 03 est $16,500,000.

Range and Average of Financial Assistance:  
Awards range from $372,867 to $7,142,389.

In fiscal year 2001, five new projects were funded, one project was approved to start a new project period, and three projects were continued. Projects successfully provided incentives to refugees to obtain early employment and assisted refugees to become self-sufficient. Two new projects and nine continuation projects are anticipated for fiscal year 2002. It is estimated that 11 continuation awards but no new projects will be funded in fiscal year 2003.

REGULATIONS, GUIDELINES, AND LITERATURE:

Program announcements are published in the Federal Register. All inquiries should be directed to the Information Contacts listed below.

INFORMATION CONTACTS:

Regional or Local Office:   Not applicable.

Headquarters Office:  
Carl Rubenstein Mary E. Switzer Building, 330 C Street SW, Washington, District of Columbia 20201 Email: carl.rubenstein@acf.hhs.gov Phone: (202) 205-5933 Fax: (202) 205-5888

Web Site Address:  
http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/orr

EXAMPLES OF FUNDED PROJECTS:

1) A large state-administered project where the all the voluntary agencies determine eligibility and are responsible for case management of eligible refugees; 2) a private voluntary agency that administers the cash and medical assistance, social services program for refugees not otherwise eligible for TANF and/or Medicaid in a State in which the State elected to not participate in the refugee program; and 3) a small voluntary agency project that administers provision of cash assistance for all refugees for up to 8 months in a State that has elected to continue to operate the social services and medical assistance program.

CRITERIA FOR SELECTING PROPOSALS:

Notice of the criteria for awarding funds is published in the Federal Register or other program announcement for each type of demonstration. See the Information Contact section for more information.