FEDERAL AGENCY:

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

AUTHORIZATION:

Victims of Trafficking and Violence Protection Act of 2000, Public Law 106-836, Section 113 (b) 114 Stat. 1464.

OBJECTIVES:

To provide individuals determined to be victims of a severe form of trafficking access to benefits and services to the same extent as Refugees. Provide targeted case management, referrals and funded cash, medical assistance, special mental health or other services, and community/local outreach.

TYPES OF ASSISTANCE:

Project Grants. Place Cursor Here for Definition

USES AND USE RESTRICTIONS:

The Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) discretionary grant program includes funding for specialized services and assistance to certified/eligible adult victims of a severe form of trafficking assisting criminal justice system efforts to prosecute traffickers (victims under the age of eighteen, not required to assist prosecution efforts in order to access benefits). Funds may be used only for the purposes set forth in the grant award.

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:

Applicant Eligibility:   State and local governments and private nonprofit organizations. Under the "Victims of Trafficking and Violence Protection Act of 2000," trafficking victims are eligible for benefits and services to the same extent as refugees. The law, enacted in October 2000, specifically requires HHS, in consultation with the Attorney General, to "certify" adult trafficking victims as a precondition for their eligibility. Children under eighteen must be determined to be victims of a severe form of trafficking but do not require such certification in order to be eligible for benefits.

Beneficiary Eligibility:   Beneficiaries are adult victims of a severe form of trafficking who have been certified by HHS and children under 18 years of age subjected to a severe form of trafficking.

Credentials/Documentation:   Cost principals for nonprofit organizations will be determined by OMB Circular No. A-122. Cost principals for State and local governments are found under OMB Circular No. A-87. Persons need not attain refugee, entrant, or asylee status to be eligible for services under this program.

Pre-application Coordination:   This program is eligible for coverage under E.O. 12372, "Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs." An applicant should consult the office or official designated as the single point of contact in his or her State for more information on the process the State requires to be followed in applying for assistance, if the State has selected the program for review. Also, 45 CFR 100, "Intergovernmental Review of Department of Health and Human Services Program and Activities."

Application Procedure:   Each application submitted under this program announcement will undergo a pre-review to determine if (1) The application was received by the closing date and submitted in accordance with the instructions in this announcement, and (2) applicant is eligible for funding.

Award Procedure:   Applications that pass the initial Administration for Children and Families (ACF) screening will be evaluated and rated by an independent review panel on the basis of specific evaluation criteria. The evaluation criteria were designed to assess the quality of a proposed project and to determine the likelihood of its success.

Deadlines:   The first closing date was June 30, 2001. A new standing announcement specifically for trafficking will be forthcoming sometime in the future.

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time:   It is anticipated that the approval/disapproval time will not exceed 90 days.

Appeals:   Not applicable.

Renewals:   These are one time only 17-month grants.

ASSISTANCE CONSIDERATIONS:

Formula and Matching Requirements:   This program has no statutory formula for distribution of funds.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance:   Currently, funds made available for this program are available for fiscal years 2001 and 2002 budget periods.

POST ASSISTANCE REQUIREMENTS:

Reports:   Progress reports and financial reports are required, usually on a quarterly or semi-annual 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 as 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 Non-Profit 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 that $300,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in Circular No. A-133." Nonprofit organization receiving less than $25,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt from federal audit requirements, but records must be available for review by appropriate officials of the Federal grantor agency or subgranting entity.

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 this program.

FINANCIAL INFORMATION:

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

Obligations:   (Grants) FY 01 $5,000,000; FY 02 est $10,000,000; and FY 03 est $10,000,000.

Range and Average of Financial Assistance:  
In FY 2014, grants ranged from $90,000 to $3,491,385. The average grant amount was $490,605.

In fiscal year 2001 198 persons received certification/eligibility letters declaring them victims of a severe form of trafficking in persons. It is estimated that 200 persons will receive certification/eligibility letters in fiscal years 2002 and 2003.

REGULATIONS, GUIDELINES, AND LITERATURE:

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

INFORMATION CONTACTS:

Regional or Local Office:   Not Applicable.

Headquarters Office:   Katherine Chon 330 C. Street, SW 4th Floor , Washington, District of Columbia 20201 Email: Katherine.Chon@acf.hhs.gov Phone: (202) 401-9372

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

EXAMPLES OF FUNDED PROJECTS:

In fiscal years 2001 and 2002, ORR will fund projects that provide a temporary solution to trafficking victims' needed for: 1) Case management providing assessment information and referral to needed services, 2) temporary housing, 3) special mental health services such as trauma counseling and, 4) other gap-filling services.

CRITERIA FOR SELECTING PROPOSALS:

Notice of 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.