Grants to States for Access and Visitation Programs


Objectives: To enable States to create programs which support and facilitate access and visitation by non-custodial parents with their children. Activities may include mediation, counseling, education, development of parenting plans, visitation enforcement and development of guidelines for visitation and alternative custody arrangements.
MAIN TOPICS:


93.597 ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:

Applicant Eligibility: All States, DC, Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands and Guam.

Beneficiary Eligibility: All States, DC, Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands and Guam.

Credentials/Documentation: The Governors have designated a single State agency to represent the State in carrying out this responsibility.

93.597 APPLICATION AND AWARD PROCESS:

Preapplication Coordination: State Governors have designated a single State agency to carry out this responsibility. Eligible applicants for these grants shall be State agencies, courts, nonprofit private agencies or local public agencies. Information will be provided to the State designated agencies on available funds and relevant projects. This program is excluded from coverage under E.O. 12372.

Application Procedure: Applications are made using the standard application form, as furnished by the Department of Health and Human Services and required by OMB Circular No. A-102. Application kits which contain the prescribed application forms and supplemental descriptive information on the access and visitation grant program are available from: The Office of Child Support Enforcement, Administration for Children and Families, 4th Floor, 370 L'Enfant Promenade, SW., Washington DC 20447.

Award Procedure: Official notice of approved grant applications is made through issuance of a Notice of Grant Award. This provides the amount of funds awarded, the purpose of the award, the terms and conditions of the award, the budget period for which support is given, the total project period, and the total grantee participation.

Deadlines: Closing dates are established and published as program announcements in letters which will be sent to the designated State agency.

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time: From 60 to 120 days.

Appeals: There are no formal appeal procedures.

Renewals: Extensions and continuations of grants with 1 year project periods are generally not available except under extreme circumstances.

Criteria for Selecting Proposals: Not applicable.

Examples of Funded Projects: None.

Range and Average of Financial Assistance: Figures will vary according to the allocation formulae and the amount of money States have spent on this activity in the past.

93.597 RELATED PROGRAMS:

93.597 PROGRAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS:

Not applicable.

93.597 FINANCIAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFO:

Federal Agency: ADMINISTRATION FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Type of Assistance: Project Grants.

Obligations: FY 97 $10,000,000; FY 98 est $10,000,000; and FY 99 est $10,000,000.

Budget Account Number: 75-1501-0-1-609.

Authorization: Social Security Act, Section 469B.

Regulations, Guidelines, and Literature: Grants Administration Policies and application kits may be obtained from: Office of Child Support Enforcement, Administration for Children and Families, 4th Floor, 370 L'Enfant Promenade, SW., Washington DC 20447.

93.597 INFO CONTACTS:

Regional or Local Office: See Appendix IV of the Catalog for ACF Regional Offices.

Headquarters Office: David Arnaudo, Office of Child Support Enforcement, 4th Floor, Aerospace Bldg., 370 L'Enfant Promenade SW., Washington, DC 20447. Phone: (202) 401-5364.

93.597 ASSISTANCE CONSIDERATIONS:

Formula and Matching Requirements: Grantees are not required to share in the cost of projects. A 10 percent match is required. This can be provided by the State and local agency, cash, or in kind.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance: Funds will generally be granted on a 12 month basis.

Uses and Use Restrictions: A State to which a grant is made under this section may not use the grant to supplant expenditures by the State for allowable activities, but shall use the grant to supplement such expenditures at a level at least equal to the level of such expenditures for fiscal year 1995.

93.597 POST ASSISTANCE REQUIREMENTS:

Reports: Reports of progress and expenditures are required on all projects. Specific requirements will be indicated in the Program Announcement and an forthcoming regulation.

Audits: 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 receive 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: Proper accounting records, identifiable by grant number and including all receipts and expenditures, must be maintained for 3 years. Subsequent to audit, they must be maintained until all questions are resolved.

[ Home]---[Search]---[Email]---[Access Page]---[Child Support]