FEDERAL AGENCY:

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

AUTHORIZATION:

Social Security Act, Title IV-B, Subpart 1, as amended.

OBJECTIVES:

The purpose of the Stephanie Tubbs Jones Child Welfare Services program is to promote state and tribal flexibility in the development and expansion of a coordinated child and family services program that utilizes community-based agencies and ensures all children are raised in safe, loving families.

USES AND USE RESTRICTIONS:

Funds may be used for the following purposes: (a) protecting and promoting the welfare of all children; (b) preventing the abuse, neglect, or exploitation of children; (c) supporting at-risk families through services that allow children to remain with their families or return to their families in a timely manner; (d) promoting the safety, permanence, and well-being of children in foster care and adoptive families; and (e) providing training, professional development, and support to ensure a well-qualified workforce. State and Tribal grantees may spend no more than 10 percent of the Federal allocation under title IV-B, subpart 1 for administrative costs. States may also not spend (or use as required matching funds) more title IV-B, subpart 1, funds for child care, foster care maintenance and adoption assistance payments than the State expended for those purposes in FY 2005. In addition, the amount of state expenditures of non-Federal funds for foster care maintenance payments that may be used as match for the title IV-B, subpart 1 award may not exceed the amount of such non-Federal expenditures applied as state match for title IV-B, subpart 1 for the FY 2005 grant.

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:

Applicant Eligibility:   States, the District of Columbia, Indian Tribes, Puerto Rico, the Northern Marianas, the Virgin Islands, Guam, and American Samoa.

Beneficiary Eligibility:   Families and children in need of child welfare services will benefit.

Credentials/Documentation:   The State department which administers the services program under Title XX must be the designated single State agency to administer child welfare services. Costs will be determined in accordance with 45 CFR Part 92.

Pre-application Coordination:   Preapplication coordination is required. Environmental impact information is not required for this program. 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.

Application Procedure:   2 CFR 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards applies to this program. A 5-year plan must be submitted. A full plan (every five years) or a plan update is due for submission by June 30th of each year. The plan must be jointly developed by the Secretary and the state or Indian tribe and written after consultation with appropriate public and nonprofit private agencies and community-based organizations. The plan must coordinate the provision of services under Title IV-B with services under other Federal or federally-assisted programs serving the same populations.

Award Procedure:   Funds will be approved after the State plan, or annual update, is submitted and approved.

Deadlines:  
Jun 30, 2017 and June 30th of each year.

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time:   Not applicable.

Appeals:   Appeals are processed in accordance with HHS regulations in 45 CFR 16.

Renewals:   None.

ASSISTANCE CONSIDERATIONS:

Formula and Matching Requirements:   Each State receives $70,000 for child welfare services. The Federal child welfare services appropriation is allotted to states on a variable formula which takes into account the child population under 21 and the complement of the State per capita income compared to the U.S. per capita income. The statistical factors used for fund allocation are: (1) the population of children under 21 years of age by State and the source is "Current Population Reports", P-25, Bureau of the Census; and (2) 3-year average per capita income by State and the source is the Bureau of Economic Analysis, Department of Commerce. Income factors for eligibility do not apply to this program. States receive Federal matching at a rate of 75 percent of their expenditures up to the limit of each State's allocation.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance:   Grant awards are made quarterly on a fiscal year basis through a letter of credit. The Electronic Transfer System will be used for monthly cash draws from Federal Reserve Banks.

POST ASSISTANCE REQUIREMENTS:

Reports:   After the end of each of the first four fiscal years, the States, Territories, and Indian Tribes must submit an interim review of progress toward accomplishment of the goals in the State or Tribal plan . After the end of the fifth fiscal year, the States and Indian Tribes must perform a final review of progress toward accomplishment of the goals.

Audits:   Audits are conducted in accordance with the requirements in 45 CFR 74 and 92.

Records:   States are required to maintain adequate fiscal records, and to make reports as required by DHHS.

FINANCIAL INFORMATION:

Account Identification:   75-1536-0-1-506.

Obligations:   (Grants) FY 01 $291,986,000; FY 02 est $291,986,000; and FY 03 est $291,986,000.

Range and Average of Financial Assistance:  
FY 2015: Awards for states and territories ranged from $150,214 to $30,553,388 with an average of $4,556,515.

FY 2015: Awards for Tribes ranged from $1,356 to $801,440 with an average of $67,763.

In fiscal year 2001, 184 grants were awarded. It is anticipated that 184 grants will be awarded in fiscal year 2002 and fiscal year 2003.

REGULATIONS, GUIDELINES, AND LITERATURE:

45 CFR 1355 and 45 CFR 1357.

INFORMATION CONTACTS:

Regional or Local Office:   Contact Regional Administrator, ACYF. (See Appendix IV of the Catalog for a list of addresses of the Regional offices.)

Headquarters Office:  
Eileen West 330 C Street SW, Room 3509B, Washington, District of Columbia 20447 Email: eileen.west@acf.hhs.gov Phone: 202-205-8438

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

EXAMPLES OF FUNDED PROJECTS:

Not applicable.

CRITERIA FOR SELECTING PROPOSALS:

Not applicable.