Announcement of the Availability of Financial Assistance and Request for Applications To Support Child Welfare Training Projects

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Administration for Children and Families

[Program Announcement No. CB 97-11]

Announcement of the Availability of Financial Assistance and

Request for Applications To Support Child Welfare Training Projects

AGENCY: Administration on Children, Youth and Families, ACF, DHHS.

ACTION: Announcement of the availability of financial assistance and

request for applications to support child welfare training projects.

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SUMMARY: The Children's Bureau (CB) within the Administration on

Children, Youth and Families (ACYF), Administration for Children and

Families, announces the availability of fiscal year 1997 funds for

competing new discretionary grants to public and private non-profit

accredited institutions of higher learning to develop and improve

educational and training programs and to assist child welfare agencies

to enhance skills and build capacity of staff to achieve planned

outcomes.

This announcement contains forms and instructions for submitting an

application.

CLOSING DATE: The closing time and date for the receipt of applications

under this announcement is 4:30 p.m. (Eastern Time Zone), on August 22,

1997. Applications received after 4:30 p.m. of the closing date will be

classified as late. Post marks and other similar documents DO NOT

establish receipt of an application.

DEADLINE: Mailed applications shall be considered as meeting an

announced deadline if they are received on or before the deadline time

and date at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services,

Administration for Children and Families, Division of Discretionary

Grants, 370 L'Enfant Promenade, S.W., Mail Stop 6C-462, Washington,

D.C. 20447. Attention: Children's Bureau Discretionary Training Funds

Program (Specify Priority Area 1, 2, 3, or 4).

Applications hand-carried by applicants, applicant courier, or by

overnight/express mail couriers shall be considered as meeting an

announced deadline if they are received on or before the deadline

receipt date, between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. (EST), at

the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for

Children and Families, Division of Discretionary Grants, ACF Mailroom,

2nd Floor Loading Dock, Aerospace Center, 901 D Street, S.W.,

Washington, DC 20024, between Monday and Friday (excluding Federal

holidays). Attention: Children's Bureau Discretionary Training Funds

Program (Specify Priority Area 1, 2, 3, or 4). Any application received

after 4:30 p.m. on the deadline date will not be considered for

competition. Applicants using express/overnight services should allow

for two working days prior to the deadline date for receipt of

applications.

ACF cannot accommodate transmission of applications by fax or

through other electronic media. Therefore, applications transmitted to

ACF electronically will not be accepted regardless of date or time of

submission and time of receipt. Envelopes containing applications must

clearly indicate the specific priority area that the application is

addressing.

Late applications: Applications which do not meet the above

criteria are considered late applications. ACF shall notify each late

applicant that its application will not be considered in the current

competition.

Extension of Deadlines: ACF may extend the deadline for all

applicants because of acts of God such as floods, hurricanes, etc., or

when there is a widespread disruption of the mails. However, if ACF

does not extend the deadline for all applicants, it may not waive or

extend the deadline for any applicant.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: The ACYF Operations Center, Technical

Assistance Team (telephone number 1-800-351-2293) is available to

answer questions regarding application requirements and to refer you to

the appropriate contact person in ACYF for programmatic questions.

INTENT TO APPLY: If you plan to submit an application, within two weeks

of the receipt of this announcement, send a post card or call in the

following information: the name, address and telephone number of the

contact person; the name of the organization; and the priority area(s)

in which you may submit an application to: Administration on Children

Youth and Families, Operations Center, 3030 Clarendon Boulevard, Suite

240, Arlington, VA 22201, ATTN: Child Welfare Training Program. The

telephone number is 1-800-351-2293. This information will be used to

determine the number of expert reviewers needed and to update the

mailing list of persons to whom the program announcement is sent.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This program announcement consists of five

parts. Part I provides information on the Children's Bureau. Part II

describes the review process and funding decisions, additional

requirements for the grant applications, and the programmatic

priorities for which applications are being requested. Part III

provides information on the application requirements. Part IV describes

the evaluation criteria. Part V provides the instructions for the

development and submission of applications.

Outline of Announcement

Part I: General Information

A. Background

B. Statutory Authority Covered Under This Announcement

Part II: Review Process and Priority Areas

A. Eligible Applicants

B. Review Process and Funding Decisions

C. Evaluation Process

D. Structure of Priority Area Descriptions

E. Available Funds

F. Grantee Share of Project Costs

G. Priority Areas

H. Priority Area Descriptions

Part III. Application Requirements

A. Objectives and Needs for Assistance

B. Results and Benefits

C. Approach

Priority Area 1

Priority Area 2

Priority Area 3

Priority Area 4

D. Staff Background and Organizational Experience

E. Budget Appropriateness

Part IV: Evaluation Criteria

A. Criterion 1: Objectives and Need for Assistance

B. Criterion 2: Results and Benefits Expected

C. Criterion 3: Approach

D. Criterion 4: Staff Background and Organizational Experience

E. Criterion 5: Budget Appropriateness

Part V: Instructions for the Development and Submission of

Applications for FY 1997

A. Availability of Forms

B. Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995

C. Required Notification of the State Single Point of Contact

D. Deadline for Submission of Applications

E. Instructions for Preparing the Application and Completing

Application Forms

1. SF 424 Page 1, Application Cover Sheet

2. SF 424A--Budget Information, Non-Construction Programs

3. Project Summary Description

4. Program Narrative Statement

5. Organizational Capability Statement

6. Assurances/Certifications

F. Checklist for a Complete Application

G. The Application Package

Part I. General Information

A. Background

The Administration on Children, Youth and Families administers

national Federal programs for children

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and youth; works with States, Tribes, and local communities to develop

services which support and strengthen family life and protect children;

seeks joint ventures with the private sector to enhance the lives of

children and their families; and provides information and other

assistance related to child welfare programs.

The concerns of ACYF extend to all children from birth through

adolescence, with particular emphasis on children who have special

needs. Many of the programs administered by the agency focus on

children from low-income families; children and youth in need of

protective services, foster care, adoption or other child welfare

services; preschool children, including children with disabilities;

abused and neglected children; runaway and homeless youth; and children

from American Indian and migrant families.

Within ACYF, the Children's Bureau plans, manages, coordinates, and

supports child welfare services programs. It administers the Foster

Care and Adoption Assistance Program, the Child Welfare Services State

Grants Program, the Family Preservation and Support Program, the

Independent Living Program, the Child Welfare Services Training

Program, the Adoption Opportunities Program, and the Abandoned Infants

Assistance Program.

The Children's Bureau programs are designed to promote the welfare

of all children, including disabled, homeless, dependent, abused or

neglected children and their families. The programs also encourage

strengthening of the family unit to help alleviate unnecessary

separation of children from their families and reunify families where

possible, when separation has occurred. Where reunification is not

possible, rapid movement into adoption or other form of permanency

placement is necessary.

B. Statutory Authority Covered Under This Announcement

Section 426 of the Social Security Act, as amended. 42 U.S.C. 626,

CFDA: 93.648. Under this section, funds are authorized each fiscal year

for grants to public or other non-profit institutions of higher

learning for special projects for training personnel for work in the

field of child welfare, including traineeships with such stipends and

allowances as may be permitted by DHHS.

Part II. Review Process and Priority Areas

A. Eligible Applicants

Each priority area description contains information about the types

of agencies and organizations which are eligible to apply under that

priority area. Each application will be screened for applicant

organization eligibility as specified under the selected priority area.

Applications from ineligible organizations will not be considered or

reviewed in the competition, and the applicant will be so informed.

Only agencies and organizations, not individuals, are eligible to

apply under this Announcement. All applications developed jointly by

more than one agency or organization must identify only one lead

organization and official applicant. Participating agencies and

organizations can be included as co-participants, subgrantees or

subcontractors. For-profit organizations are eligible to participate as

subgrantees or subcontractors with eligible non-profit organizations

under all priority areas.

Any non-profit organization submitting an application must submit

proof of its non-profit status in its application at the time of

submission. The non-profit agency can accomplish this by providing a

copy of the applicant's listing in the Internal Revenue Service's (IRS)

most recent list of tax-exempt organizations as described in Section

501(c)(3) of the IRS code, or by providing a copy of the current valid

IRS tax exemption certification, or by providing a copy of the articles

of incorporation bearing the seal of the State in which the corporation

or association is domiciled.

B. Review Process and Funding Decisions

Timely applications received by the deadline date which are from

eligible applicants will be reviewed and scored competitively. Experts

in the field, generally persons outside the Federal government, will

use the appropriate evaluation criteria listed later in this section to

review and score the applications. The results of this review are a

primary factor in making funding decisions.

The ACYF reserves the option of discussing applications with, or

referring them to, other Federal or non-Federal funding sources when

this is in the best interest of the Federal government or the

applicants. ACYF may also solicit comments from ACF Regional Office

staff, other Federal agencies, interested foundations, national

organizations, specialists, experts, States and the general public.

These comments, along with those of the expert reviewers, will be

considered by ACYF in making funding decisions.

To the greatest extent possible, efforts will be made to ensure

that funding decisions reflect an equitable distribution of assistance

among the States and geographical regions of the country, rural and

urban areas, and ethnic populations. In making these decisions, ACYF

may also take into account the need to avoid unnecessary duplication of

effort.

C. Evaluation Process

A panel of at least three reviewers (primarily experts from outside

the Federal government) will review the applications. To facilitate

this review, applicants should ensure that they address each minimum

requirement in the priority area description under the appropriate

section of the Program Narrative Statement. Applicants are encouraged

to use job titles and not specific names in developing the application

budget. However, the specific salary rates or amounts for staff

positions identified must be included in the application budget.

The reviewers will determine the strengths and weaknesses of each

application using the evaluation criteria listed below, provide

comments and assign numerical scores. The point value following each

criterion heading indicates the maximum numerical weight.

D. Structure of Priority Area Descriptions

Each priority area description is composed of the following

sections:

Eligible Applicants: This section specifies the type of

organization eligible to apply under the particular priority area.

Specific restrictions are also noted, where applicable.

Purpose: This section presents the basic focus and/or broad goal(s)

of the priority area.

Background Information: This section briefly discusses the

legislative background as well as the current state-of-the-art and/or

current state-of-practice that supports the need for the particular

priority area activity. Relevant information on projects previously

funded by ACYF or others are noted, where applicable.

Minimum Requirements for Project Design: This section presents the

basic set of issues that must be addressed in the application.

Typically, they relate to project design, evaluation, and other

organizational or community involvement. This section also asks for

specific information on the proposed

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project. Inclusion and discussion of these items is important since

they will be used by the reviewers in evaluating the applications

against the evaluation criteria. Project products, continuation of the

project effort after the Federal support ceases, and dissemination/

utilization activities, if appropriate, are also addressed.

Project Duration: This section specifies the maximum allowable

length of time for the project period and refers to the amount of time

for which Federal funding is available, including any extensions.

Federal Share of Project Cost: This section specifies the maximum

amount of Federal support for the project for the first budget year.

Matching Requirement: This section specifies the minimum non-

Federal contribution, either through cash or in-kind match, required in

relation to the maximum Federal funds requested for the project. The

applicant must assure that the proposed budget meets or exceeds the

cost sharing or match requirement. Grantees must provide at least 25

percent of the total approved cost of the project. The total approved

cost of the project is the sum of the ACF share and the non-Federal

share. The non-Federal share may be met by cash or in-kind

contributions, although applicants are encouraged to meet their match

requirements through cash contributions. For example, a grantee with

$100,000 grant award (Federal funds) should commit no less than $33,334

each budget period, i.e., 25 percent of the $133,334 in total project

costs.

Anticipated Number of Projects To Be Funded: This section specifies

the number of projects ACYF anticipates it will fund under the priority

area.

Please note that applications that do not comply with the specific

priority area requirements in the section on ``Eligible Applicants''

will not be reviewed. Applicants should also note that non-

responsiveness to the section ``Minimum Requirements for Project

Design'' will result in a low evaluation score by the reviewers.

Applicants must clearly identify the specific priority area under which

they wish to have their applications considered, and tailor their

applications accordingly. Previous experience has shown that an

application which is broader and more general in concept than outlined

in the priority area description scores lower than one more clearly

focused on, and directly responsive to, that specific priority area.

E. Available Funds

The ACYF intends to award new grants resulting from this

announcement during the fourth quarter of fiscal year 1997, subject to

the availability of funds. The size of the actual awards will vary.

Under this announcement, approximately $3.5 million is available

for FY 1997. Each priority area description includes information on the

maximum Federal share of the project costs and the anticipated number

of projects to be funded.

The term ``budget period'' refers to the interval of time (usually

12 months) into which a multi-year period of assistance (project

period) is divided for budgetary and funding purposes. The term

``project period'' refers to the total time a project is approved for

support, including any extensions.

Where appropriate, applicants may propose project periods which are

shorter than the maximums specified in the various priority areas. Non-

Federal share contributions may exceed the minimums specified in the

various priority areas when the applicant is able to do so. However, if

the proposed match exceeds the minimum requirement, the grantee must

meet its proposed level of match support before the end of the project

period. Applicants should propose only that non-Federal share they can

realistically provide since any unmatched Federal funds will be

disallowed by ACF.

For multi-year projects, continued Federal funding beyond the first

budget period is dependent upon satisfactory performance by the

grantee, availability of funds from future appropriations, and a

determination that continued funding is in the best interest of the

Government.

F. Grantee Share of Project Costs

Grantees must provide at least 25 percent of the total approved

cost of the project. The total approved cost of the project is the sum

of the ACF share and the non-Federal share. The non-Federal share may

be met by cash or in-kind contributions, although applicants are

encouraged to meet their match requirements through cash contributions.

Therefore, a project requesting $300,000 in Federal funds (based on an

award of $100,000 per budget period), must include a match of at least

$100,000 (25 percent of the total cost of the project). If approved for

funding, grantee will be held accountable for commitments of non-

Federal resources and failure to provide the required amount will

result in a disallowance of unmatched Federal funds.

G. Priority Areas

Priority Area 1: Interdisciplinary Training For Public Agency

Workers and Supervisors to Improve Child Welfare Services.

Priority Area 2: Training for Managers to Support Outcome-based

Management in Child Welfare.

Priority Area 3: Cross-Program Training of Public Agency Workers to

Conduct Intake for Comprehensive Family Needs Assessment, Including

Stress and Strength Areas, and Service Requirements.

Priority Area 4: Training for Determining Adult Relatives as

Preferred Caretakers in Permanency Planning.

H. Priority Area Descriptions

Priority Area 1--Interdisciplinary Training For Public Agency Workers

and Supervisors to Improve Child Welfare Services

Eligible Applicants: Public or non-profit institutions of higher

education with accredited social work education programs, or other

accredited bachelor or graduate level programs leading to a degree

relevant to work in child welfare.

Purpose: To develop a competency-based interdisciplinary training

curriculum and a training plan to enhance and strengthen the capacity

of child welfare workers and supervisors to respond to complex family

problems of child abuse and neglect resulting from substance abuse,

mental illness, and domestic violence, which require effective

interdisciplinary service coordination necessary to achieve child

safety and permanency goals.

Background Information: A Departmental study in progress indicates

that children who have caretakers with substance abuse and mental

health problems are more likely to be placed in foster care than

children who do not have caretakers with such problems. Preliminary

analysis of this data also found that 54% of the caretakers had

substance abuse and 55% mental health problems. Domestic violence was

the presenting problem in 11% of the IV-E foster care and non-IV-E

foster care cases who were involved in the child welfare system.

Families and children in the child welfare system exhibit multiple

problems, requiring specialized community-based services. Because of

the increasingly complex nature of the family problems, the public

agency staff are continuously challenged to provide comprehensive

services such as medical, legal, psychological, educational and/or

training necessary to address diverse family needs. Families

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need an integrated service strategy to address their multiple problem

areas. This effort necessitates the use of a multi-disciplinary team

approach to achieve child safety and permanency goals.

The capacity of the public agencies to make sound decisions

regarding safety and permanency is contingent upon the staffs' ability

to understand the predisposing family conditions that contribute to the

entry of children into the foster care system. An understanding of the

family dynamics and issues of substance abuse, mental health and

domestic violence as social problems is critical to determining

appropriate services needed to achieve family preservation goals.

Interdisciplinary training is an important way to build staff

capacity to facilitate effective collaboration between child welfare

and other professionals who also serve the same population.

Interdisciplinary service coordination is therefore critical to the

success of a case plan. This process also requires a holistic on-going

assessment, treatment strategy, and monitoring to evaluate the progress

made by families. It requires skills in asking the right questions that

go beyond the presenting problems to determine underlying psycho-social

problems that require solutions. It requires an understanding of

various disciplines which are governed by their own theoretical

systems, service philosophies and intervention approaches and how to

collaborate with these disciplines on behalf of the families in the

child welfare system.

The Family Preservation and Support Services Act of 1993 emphasized

the importance of service integration to stabilize families and enhance

environmental opportunities for normal child development. In recent

years, the Department has supported curriculum development projects

that emphasize interdisciplinary collaboration. For example, in 1991,

the National Center on Child Abuse and Neglect funded 94

interdisciplinary training projects that focused on linkages between

substance abuse and child maltreatment. During the same period, the

Office of Community Services' collaborative grants project also

highlighted the need to develop inter-program training curricula to

improve coordination between the child support enforcement programs and

domestic violence programs. In 1991, the funding of the cooperative

agreement between the Children's Bureau and the Florida International

University and the funding of 11 interdisciplinary child welfare

training grants also indicate the importance of this priority area. In

FY 1997, under the Abandoned Infants Assistance Program, the Children's

Bureau will continue to fund several demonstrations that will focus on

comprehensive services for the abandoned infants and infants at risk of

abandonment and their families who are affected by substance abuse and

the human immunodeficiency virus.

While the need for interdisciplinary training for public child

welfare workers and supervisors has been recognized, few training

programs have been developed with sufficient emphasis on multi-

disciplinary coordination in areas of substance abuse, mental health

and domestic violence. This priority area will specifically focus on

developing curricula and training to enhance increasing knowledge and

practice skills in the areas of: (1) substance abuse, mental health and

domestic violence as social problems; (2) developing assessment,

interdisciplinary coordination and monitoring skills to evaluate

progress in family situations; and (3) integrating various professional

disciplines' framework and programs (e.g., health, mental health,

juvenile justice, law enforcement, substance abuse counseling, child

care, Child Support Enforcement, Head Start, and Temporary Assistance

to Needy Families programs) which are governed by their own theoretical

systems, service philosophies and intervention approaches. Funding from

this priority area is expected to be used to develop an

interdisciplinary training curriculum, to deliver training, and to

evaluate the effectiveness of the training provided to the child

welfare staff.

Minimum Requirements for Project Design: To compete successfully

under this priority area, the applicant must:

Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of

interdisciplinary training issues specific to the substance abuse,

mental health, and domestic violence problems found in the child

welfare population throughout the country. Discuss how the proposed

project will build on the existing knowledge and evaluations of such

projects and will add innovative dimensions to achieve the

interdisciplinary training goals.

Describe past and/or current collaborative efforts between

the educational programs and the public (State/local and Tribal)

agencies. Describe how this project will build on existing partnerships

with such agencies.

Discuss an approach to developing a theoretical and

practice-based curriculum that integrates substance abuse, mental

health, and domestic violence issues as these relate to child abuse and

neglect. Describe the need for such training for the public child

welfare staff in specific and child welfare professionals in general.

Also describe the contents of the proposed interdisciplinary training

curriculum.

Describe the proposed curriculum and discuss how it builds

on, expands, and strengthens the existing curriculum approaches/

models. The applicant must explain the preliminary planning and

coordination activities with other disciplines in the development and

execution of the training curriculum. Discuss the approach to teaching

a competency-based interdisciplinary curriculum and the use of other

disciplines to teach in various components of the training curriculum

to achieve the project objectives.

Describe how the public child welfare agency staff and

community agencies providing services to families with substance abuse

and domestic violence problems will be involved in the development of

the curriculum.

Describe who the trainees will be; how many at each level

of the child welfare services tier are expected to be trained over the

life of the project; selection criteria for trainee recruitment; and

specific strategies for recruiting minority and Tribal agency trainees.

There should also be a consideration to include individuals from the

community agencies that provide services to the child welfare

population.

Describe any interactive and long distance training,

including video technology, if any, that will be part of this effort.

Describe coordination with the public agency in evaluating

the interdisciplinary training curriculum, including the timelines.

Submit a work plan which describes the timelines for each

task to be accomplished to match the scope of the project. It must also

describe the timeframes for: the development of the proposed

interdisciplinary training curriculum; coordination with various

disciplines in the proposed tasks; training the public agency staff;

evaluation of the project; and submission of the interim progress and

final reports and the final products.

Describe the proposed plan for the evaluation of the

project. Discuss how the effectiveness of the competency-based

interdisciplinary curriculum will be assessed.

Describe the applicant's experience in developing and

providing interdisciplinary training in child welfare. Also describe

the applicant's history and relationship with the targeted public child

welfare agency. Include a discussion of the relevant

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programs, administrative and fiscal management experience.

Identify and provide a brief description of key staff who

are proposed to work in this project, indicating their education,

experience in working in similar programs and training/teaching

experiences that are relevant to achieving the project goals. Include

their resumes.

Describe the qualifications and experience of the

individuals who will assist in: developing the curriculum; training of

the public agency staff; and evaluating the project. Include their

resumes.

Identify and describe the administrative and

organizational interface required in this project (State agency,

community agencies, academic departments, other disciplines,

institutions, etc.). Also include interagency agreements and

commitments obtained from the participating entities.

Provide assurance that at least one key staff from the

university and one from the public child welfare agency will jointly

attend a one-day meeting in the HHS Regional office shortly after the

award of the grant and participate in a four-day annual meeting in

Washington, D.C.

Project Duration: The length of the project must not exceed 36

months.

Federal Share of Project Costs: The Federal share is not to exceed

$150,000 for the first 12 month budget period or $450,000 for a three

year project period.

Matching Requirements: For each budget period with an award of

$150,000 (Federal funds), the non-Federal share would be no less than

$50,000 (i.e., 25 percent of the total project cost of $200,000). The

non-Federal share may be met by cash or in-kind contributions, although

applicants are encouraged to meet their match requirements through a

cash contribution. Funds from this grant cannot be used to match title

IV-E training funds.

Anticipated Number of Projects: It is anticipated that four or five

projects will be funded, depending on availability of funds.

Length of Proposal: The length of the narrative, including the

appendices, must be limited to 60 pages.

CFDA Number: 93.648 Child Welfare Training Program Grants: Section

426 of the Social Security Act.

Priority Area 2--Training for Managers To Support Outcome-based

Management in Child Welfare

Eligible Applicants: Public or non-profit institutions of higher

education with accredited social work education programs, or other

accredited bachelor or graduate level programs leading to a degree

relevant to work in child welfare.

Purpose: To support and promote management capabilities in the use

of the child welfare program data to: (1) identify outcomes to be

achieved; (2) create ownership of the data by the staff; (3) develop a

strategy for the planned use of the data to track performance; and (4)

identify training needs to build staff capacity to improve program

outcomes. To achieve this objective, this priority will focus on

developing a training curriculum to build managerial capacity for

effectively using the child welfare program data for the purposes of

developing and instituting an outcome-based management strategy that

will focus on program outcomes, tracking performance at all agency

levels, and removing barriers to achieving child welfare outcomes.

Background Information: Public sector agencies are increasingly

exploring ways to improve management practices which focus on results

rather than process. Managing for results and outcome-based management

have become central to demonstrating the effectiveness of an agency in

managing its child welfare program in terms of child safety,

permanency, and well-being goals.

Although specifically mandated for federal agencies, the Government

Performance Review Act provides guidelines for developing measurable

outcomes that can be used to evaluate an agency's success in achieving

its mission and goals. The American Humane Association, an affiliate of

the American Public Welfare Association, holds roundtable discussions

to increase knowledge and understanding of outcome measures and the

elements of effective outcome-based models in child welfare. The Family

Preservation and Support Services Program also requires States to

describe the goals to be accomplished and the methods to be used to

measure progress toward accomplishing these goals. Other performance

and outcome-based management models used successfully by industries

could also have practical applications for child welfare agencies.

Theoretically, continuous improvement strategies are built upon

ongoing monitoring of results and understanding factors that influence

outcomes. A results-orientated management plan should be based on

decisions resulting from the review of various sources of State/federal

or other systems data, including internal and external program and

fiscal audits; data obtained from the periodic review and monitoring of

the outcomes on the front-lines of the agency; cost-effectiveness

reports; and finally an assessment of funding sources and their impact

on program outcomes.

To enable child welfare agencies to strengthen the transition

toward results-oriented performance, it is essential that they

determine ways to enhance and build capacity of the management staff in

this area. It is also desirable for child welfare agencies to take

advantage of the new technologies and information sources, such as

SACWIS (Statewide Automated Child Welfare Information Systems), AFCARS

(Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System) and NCANDS

(National Child Abuse and Neglect Data System) to enhance management

practices and to measure the service outcomes of the child welfare

agency. Although these data are not yet available for all States, they

reflect certain commonalities that could be useful for developing

effective management measures. Other child welfare data sources could

also be explored for management decisions.

Outcomes can also be planned in accordance with the public laws and

regulations which govern foster care and adoption assistance and family

preservation and support services programs. Additionally, child welfare

practice knowledge should also provide critical information for

developing outcome-based and results-oriented management plans.

Training of the top and mid-level managerial staff who are involved in

the decision making process is therefore critical to promoting outcome-

based management in child welfare.

Minimum Requirements for Project Design: In order to compete

successfully under this priority area, the applicant must:

Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the theory and

principles of outcome-based management practices in general and their

current applications in public child welfare agencies throughout the

country, including the linkages between program outcomes and effective

practices. Discuss how the proposed training project will build on the

existing knowledge and evaluations of these management practices.

Discuss the innovative dimensions of the proposed training approach

which focuses on capacity building to improve the child welfare program

outcomes. Discuss the use of relevant fiscal and program data to

develop performance goals, use of such analysis for developing

effective management practices toward achieving interim and final

performance goals, and evaluating barriers to achieving the intended

goals.

[[Page 36615]]

Describe past and/or current collaboration between the

applicant and the public (State/local and Tribal) agencies. Describe

how this project will build on existing partnerships with such

agencies.

Discuss the proposed approach to developing a theoretical

and practice-based curriculum that focuses on outcome-based management

as it relates to child welfare agencies. Describe the need for such

training for the public agencies' managers. Also describe the contents

of the proposed outcome-based management training curriculum.

Describe the proposed training curriculum and discuss how

it builds on, expands, and strengthens existing curricula to promote

outcome-based management approaches/models. The applicant must explain

the preliminary planning and coordination activities with the public

child welfare agency in developing and executing the training

curriculum. Also discuss the approach to teaching such a curriculum and

the use of other disciplines, if any, to teach various components of

the curriculum to achieve the project objectives.

Describe the use of new technologies, federal/State data

systems, other relevant information sources and reports, monitoring

systems, etc., as components of the proposed training curriculum.

Describe how the public child welfare agency staff will be

involved in the development of the curriculum.

Describe who the trainees will be; how many at each level

of the managerial tier are expected to be trained over the life of the

project; the criteria for selection of trainees; how the trainees will

be recruited; and specific strategies which will be used to recruit

minority and Tribal agency trainees.

Describe any interactive and long distance training,

including video technology, if any, that will be part of this effort.

Describe coordination with the public agency in evaluating

the outcome-based management training curriculum, including the

timelines.

Submit a work plan which describes the timelines for each

task to be accomplished to match the scope of the project. It must also

describe the timeframes necessary for: the development of the proposed

training curriculum development; coordination with the public child

welfare agency; coordination and use of other disciplines in the

curriculum development and training tasks; training of the public

agency staff; evaluation of the project, and submission of the interim

progress and final reports, and the final products.

Describe the proposed plan to evaluate the project.

Discuss how the effectiveness of the competency-based training

curriculum will be assessed.

Describe the applicant's experience in developing and

providing outcome-based training relevant to public child welfare

agencies. Also describe the applicant's history and relationship with

the targeted public child welfare agency. Include a discussion of the

relevant programs and administrative and fiscal management experience.

Identify and provide a brief description of key staff who

are proposed to work in this project, indicating their education,

experience in working in similar programs and training/teaching

experiences relevant to achieving the project goals. Include their

resumes.

Describe the qualifications and experience of the

individuals who will assist in the development of the curriculum,

training of the public agency staff, and evaluation of the project.

Include their resumes.

Identify and describe the administrative and

organizational interface required in this project (State agency,

academic departments, other disciplines, institutions, etc.). Also

include interagency agreements and commitments obtained from the

participating entities.

Provide assurance that at least one key staff from the

applicant agency and one from the public child welfare agency will

jointly attend a one-day meeting in the HHS Regional office shortly

after the award of the grant and participate in a four-day annual

grantee meeting in Washington, D.C.

Project Duration: The length of the project must not exceed 36

months.

Federal Share of Project Costs: The Federal share is not to exceed

$150,000 for the first 12 month budget period or $450,000 for a three

year project period.

Matching Requirements: For each budget period with an award of

$150,000 (Federal funds), the non-Federal share would be no less than

$50,000 (i.e., 25 percent of the total project cost of $200,000). The

non-Federal share may be met by cash or in-kind contributions, although

applicants are encouraged to meet their match requirements through a

cash contribution. Funds from this grant cannot be used to match title

IV-E training funds.

Anticipated Number of Projects: It is anticipated that three to

five projects will be funded, depending on availability of funds.

Length of Proposal: The length of the narrative, including the

appendices, must be limited to 60 pages.

CFDA Number: 93.648 Child Welfare Training Program Grants: Section

426 of the Social Security Act.

Priority Area 3--Cross-Program Training of Public Agency Workers To

Conduct Intake for Comprehensive Family Needs Assessment, Including

Stress and Strength Areas, and Service Requirements

Eligible Applicants: Public or non-profit institutions of higher

education with accredited social work education programs, or other

accredited bachelor or graduate level programs leading to a degree

relevant to work in child welfare.

Purpose: To develop a competency-based cross-program training

curriculum and a training plan to enhance child welfare workers'

ability and skills to conduct comprehensive assessments of family needs

at the intake level. The objective of this priority is to build

capacity of the workers to identify and assess all family conditions,

including socio-economic factors, family strengths, and areas of stress

which contribute to child abuse and neglect and which require referrals

and coordination with other human service programs.

Background Information: Families and children in the child welfare

system exhibit multiple problems, requiring referrals to programs that

specialize in responding to specific needs. However, there appears to

be a single-factor assessment approach (i.e., primary focus being risks

to child safety) to evaluating child abuse and neglect. This practice

method limits the child welfare worker's ability to conduct a

``holistic'' assessment of the family situation and to develop a

comprehensive case plan to achieve family sufficiency, child safety,

and family preservation goals. Many families which experience child

abuse and neglect will be asked to focus simultaneously on economic

self-sufficiency and family preservation. Critical to achieving self-

sufficiency is the parents' ability to keep children safe.

Child abuse and neglect is a multi-problem phenomenon. Complex

psycho-social factors contribute to child abuse and neglect. Numerous

studies have also found significant relationships between socio-

economic conditions and the parents' ability to provide safe

environment for the children. Child abuse and neglect resulting from

unemployment, lack of job skills, absence of child support, need for

child care and transportation, and homelessness are well documented and

require corrective measures. A comprehensive case plan therefore should

include attention to all elements

[[Page 36616]]

of family needs as well as strengths and a referral plan to access

services to meet basic and concrete needs as well.

Recent major public policy changes demand new expectations from the

parents and caretakers of children in need. The Temporary Assistance

for Needy Families (TANF) program, a consolidated Child Care and

Development Block Grant program, and stricter Child Support Enforcement

provisions (enacted under the Personal Responsibility and Work

Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (PRWORA)) emphasize family

responsibility toward achieving self-sufficiency. Rapid entry into

employment using child care assistance and tracking biological fathers

to obtain child support are directed to support families in their self-

sufficiency efforts.

The public agency staff (i.e., child welfare and TANF) are

continuously challenged to provide comprehensive services in efforts to

address diverse family needs. Intake is a critical point for

identifying and assessing conditions that bring a family to the child

welfare agency. It is also a cross point for determining the types of

assistance which might be necessary prior to and after the removal of

the child from the family home. Skills in conducting comprehensive

assessment require knowledge and understanding of all contributing

factors, an understanding of the programs designed to address basic

needs, and coordination with the collaborating agencies.

Capacity building for effective holistic, family-centered

assessment at intake requires an understanding of the basic principles

of such a practice approach. Skills must include making sound, goal-

oriented case plan decisions based on such assessments, including a

multi-program team approach to achieve child safety and family self-

sufficiency goals. Cross-program training therefore is key to

developing practice skills to assure collaboration built on the mutual

understanding of each other's roles, responsibilities, and expected

performance outcomes.

The provisions under title IV-B, subpart 2, Family Preservation and

Support Services emphasize service integration to stabilize families

and enhance environmental opportunities for normal child development.

The Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program,

consolidation of funding of child care to meet the needs of diverse

working and welfare families, and stricter child support enforcement

laws--all enacted under the 1996 welfare reform--emphasize cross-

program coordination to achieve the family self-sufficiency goal.

Although there are no systematic studies, there is sufficient

anecdotal evidence to suggest that the same families are being served

concurrently by different programs. This is generally accomplished by

the families themselves who have basic needs that must be fulfilled.

Cross-program coordination can be more effectively achieved if the

child welfare, TANF, and Child Support Enforcement program workers have

a shared framework and a systematically coordinated approach to the

intake process to identify all the stress areas that need to be

addressed. Such a practice approach is critical to a successful case

plan.

Holistic intake assessments require learned skills to ask the right

questions that go beyond the presenting problems. It also requires an

understanding of relevant human service program policies that govern

each program's method of assistance and performance. While the need for

cross-program training for public child welfare workers has been

recognized, few training programs sufficiently emphasize the need to

develop holistic intake assessment skills in child welfare practice.

This priority area will specifically focus on developing curriculum

and training to enhance and increase knowledge and understanding of:

(1) TANF, child care, child support programs which are governed by

their own policies and intervention approaches; and (2) elements of

holistic assessment, cross-program coordination and monitoring to

evaluate progress in family situations. Funding for this priority area

is expected to be used to: develop an inter-program training

curriculum; deliver training; and evaluate the effectiveness of the

training.

Minimum Requirements for Project Design: In order to compete

successfully under this priority area, the applicant must:

Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of cross-program

training issues specific to TANF, child care, and child support

programs that may be relevant to child welfare and used in other

programs throughout the country. Discuss how the proposed project will

build on the existing knowledge of such projects and will add

innovative dimensions to achieve the cross-training of child welfare

workers.

Describe past and/or current collaborative efforts between

the educational programs and the public (State/local and Tribal)

agencies. Describe how this project will build on existing partnerships

with such agencies.

Discuss an approach to developing a practice-based

curriculum that focuses on the importance of holistic intake skills

relevant to the child abuse and neglect population. Describe the need

for such training for the public child welfare staff in specific and

child welfare professionals in general. Also describe the contents of

the proposed cross-program training curriculum.

Describe the proposed curriculum and discuss how it builds

on, expands, and strengthens the existing curriculum approaches/models.

The applicant must explain the preliminary planning and coordination

activities with other programs in the development and execution of the

training curriculum. Discuss the approach to teaching a cross-program

and holistic intake approach and the use of other program staff to

teach various components of the training curriculum to achieve the

project objectives.

Describe how the public child welfare agency staff and the

TANF, child care and child support program staff will be involved in

the development of the curriculum.

Describe who the trainees will be; how many at each level

of child welfare services tier are expected to be trained over the life

of the project; the criteria for selection of trainees; how the

trainees will be recruited; and specific strategies which will be used

to recruit minority and Tribal agency trainees. There should also be a

consideration to include individuals from the aforementioned programs

that provide services to the child welfare population.

Describe any interactive and long distance training,

including video technology if any, that will be part of this effort.

Describe coordination with the public agency in evaluating

the cross-program training curriculum, including the timelines.

Submit a work plan which describes the timelines for each

task to be accomplished. It must describe: the timeframes for the

proposed cross-program training curriculum development; coordination

with the various programs; training of the public agency staff,

evaluation of the project; and submission of the interim progress and

final reports and the final products.

Describe the proposed plan for the evaluation of the

project. Discuss how the effectiveness of the competency-based cross-

program curriculum directed to enhance intake skills will be assessed.

Describe the applicant's experience in developing and

providing inter-

[[Page 36617]]

program training in child welfare. Also describe the applicant's

history and relationship with the targeted public child welfare agency.

Include a discussion of the relevant programs, administrative and

fiscal management experience.

Identify and provide a brief description of key staff who

are proposed to work in this project, indicating their education,

experience in working in similar programs and training/teaching

experiences that are relevant to achieving the project goals. Include

their resumes.

Describe the qualifications and experience of the

individuals who will assist in the development of the curriculum,

participate in the training of the public agency staff, and conduct

evaluation of the project. Include their resumes.

Identify and describe the administrative and

organizational interface required in this project (State agency,

community agencies, academic departments, other disciplines,

institutions, etc.). Also include interagency/inter-program agreements

and commitments obtained from the participating entities.

Provide assurance that at least one key staff from the

university and one from the public child welfare agency will jointly

attend a one-day meeting in the HHS Regional office shortly after the

award of the grant and participate in a four-day annual meeting in

Washington, D.C.

Federal Share of Project Costs: The Federal share is not to exceed

$100,000 for the first 12 month budget period or $300,000 for a three

year project period.

Matching Requirements: For each budget period with an award of

$100,000 (Federal funds), the non-Federal share would be no less than

$33,334 (i.e., 25 percent of the total project cost of $133,334). The

non-Federal share may be met by cash or in-kind contributions, although

applicants are encouraged to meet their match requirements through a

cash contribution. Funds from this grant cannot be used to match title

IV-E training funds.

Anticipated Number of Projects: It is anticipated that four or five

projects will be funded, depending on availability of funds.

Length of Proposal: The length of the narrative, including the

appendices, must be limited to 60 pages.

CFDA Number: 93.648 Child Welfare Training Program Grants: Section

426 of the Social Security Act.

Priority Area 4--Training for Determining Adult Relatives as Preferred

Caretakers in Permanency Planning

Eligible Applicants: Public or non-profit institutions of higher

education with accredited social work education programs, or other

accredited bachelor or graduate level programs leading to a degree

relevant to work in child welfare.

Purpose: To develop a competency-based training curriculum and a

training plan to facilitate the implementation of the new title IV-E

State plan requirement to consider giving preference to adult relatives

over non-relatives when determining a placement for a child. The

objective of such a training is to provide knowledge and skills

necessary for making decisions regarding the appropriateness of

relative/kinship care placements in foster care and permanency

planning.

Background Information: The Personal Responsibility and Work

Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (PRWORA) amended Sec. 471(a) of

the Social Security Act (the Act) by adding subsection (18) which

provides that ``* * * the State shall consider giving preference to an

adult relative over a non-related caregiver when determining a

placement for a child provided the relative caregiver meets all

relevant State child protection standards.'' The Children's Bureau and

the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation are engaged in

research and demonstration projects that focus on the relative care

policy. The President's Adoption 2002 initiative requires States to

further study the legal guardianship issue, which has particular

significance for relative care. Several States are currently

experimenting with the relative care policy under the Child Welfare

demonstration authority provided by Congress and governed by Sec. 1129

of the Social Security Act. The Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment

Act (CAPTA), as amended in 1996, has also authorized grants in support

of innovative programs and projects in kinship care.

Placement with relatives has long been recognized as a viable

alternative in permanency planning for foster care children.

Historically, for various reasons, parents have placed children with

relatives as temporary or permanent, formal or informal arrangements,

without seeking assistance from public agencies. Although relatives

were not specifically precluded as foster parents under Pub. L. 96-272,

this group of potential caretakers were not considered as priority

placements. The provision in PRWORA is the first statutory recognition

of the preference for relatives in placement of children--a practice

already in use in many jurisdiction. The recent rapid increase in the

number of children entering the foster care system has also increased

demand for foster parents.

States must revise their title IV-E State plans to include the

PRWORA provision that they shall consider giving preference to

relatives when placing children out-of-home, provided such home meets

all the child protection standards applicable to non-relative foster

parents. In enacting this law, Congress also took into consideration

that relative placements could be in the best interest of the child

because of the existing relationship ties.

The new provision does not intend for States to conduct exhaustive

searches for relatives--a process that could delay the prompt placement

of children. Rather, in situations where a relative is identified as an

appropriate caregiver, the State is required to consider giving

preference to that relative. Further, to receive title IV-E assistance

on behalf of a child, the relative caretaker's home must meet all the

child protection standards and must be licensed or approved in

accordance with sections 471(a)(10) and 472(c) of the Act. These

standards apply primarily to title IV-E eligible children.

The Adoption Assistance and Child Welfare Act of 1980 (Pub. L. 96-

272) which provides the framework for Federal child welfare programs,

requires the State to make ``reasonable efforts'' to maintain the

family. States must also pursue safe reunification of the children with

their parents as quickly as possible when they are removed from the

family. These as well as all the other protections and requirements of

the law, such as case plans and case reviews, judicial and

administrative reviews to determine the future status of the child, and

safeguarding all information concerning individuals assisted under the

title IV-E plan, must also apply to children placed in relative foster

care. Should it be found that the family situation has not improved

within a reasonable period of time and it is therefore not feasible to

return the child home, an alternate plan for permanency must also be

developed in relative placement cases.

Additionally, relative care has generated new challenges for the

foster care system. One of the fundamental issues is how to use

relative care in a manner that promotes permanency without jeopardizing

the potential for reunification with birth parents. Agencies must

determine where relative

[[Page 36618]]

care fits in the continuum of services in the child welfare system.

These concerns are also central to implementing this PRWORA provision.

The issues of child safety, relative-parent relationship, supports for

the relative caretakers and the parent during the reunification period,

making ``reasonable efforts'' prior to such placements, the need for

continued State involvement, termination of parental rights, and

adoption decisions are equally critical in relative care placement

decisions and permanency planning.

Capacity building for effective implementation of the Pub. L. 104-

193 provision will necessitate knowledge and skills specific to the

requirements of this provision. It also requires a focus on the process

and procedures for determining the appropriateness of the child's

relative as a foster parent. The training will need to address problems

and issues that are unique to relative placements and different from

non-relative foster placements. Skills must also include making sound

judgments regarding relative placements and their implications for

permanency planning.

Minimum Requirements for Project Design: In order to compete

successfully under this priority area, the applicant must:

Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of title IV-E

program requirements, State IV-E program practices relevant to

relative/kinship care throughout the country, and the new provision of

Pub. L. 104-193. Discuss how the proposed project will build on the

existing knowledge of the statute and State practices, and how the

applicant will address the new requirements regarding preferential

treatment of relatives in situations where a child must be removed from

the family home.

Describe past and/or current collaboration between the

educational programs and the public (State/local and Tribal) agencies.

Describe how this project will build on existing partnerships with such

agencies.

Discuss an approach to developing a practice-based

curriculum that focuses on the implementation of the provision of Pub.

L. 104-193. Describe the need for such training for the public child

welfare staff in specific and child welfare professionals in general.

Describe the contents of the proposed curriculum and

discuss how it will build and expand on the current policies and

procedures used to identify and license foster care families. The

applicant must explain the preliminary planning and coordination

activities with the State child welfare agency. Discuss the approach to

teaching the curriculum contents and the use of various staff to teach

the curriculum components to achieve the project objectives.

Describe how the public child welfare agency staff will be

involved in developing the curriculum.

Describe who the trainees will be; how many at each level

of the child welfare services tier are expected to be trained over the

life of the project; the criteria for the selection and recruitment of

the trainees; and specific strategies to recruit minority and Tribal

agency trainees.

Describe any interactive and long distance training,

including video technology if any, that will be part of this effort.

Describe coordination with the public agency in evaluating

the relative placement training curriculum, including the timelines.

Submit a work plan which describes the timelines for each

task to be accomplished. It must describe: the timeframes for the

proposed curriculum development; coordination with the public agency;

training of the public agency staff; evaluation of the project; and

submission of the interim progress and final reports and the final

products.

Describe the proposed plan for the evaluation of the

project. Discuss how the effectiveness of the competency-based

curriculum under this priority will be assessed.

Describe the applicant's experience in developing and

providing training in child welfare. Also describe the applicant's

history and relationship with the targeted public child welfare agency.

Include a discussion of the relevant programs, administrative and

fiscal management experience.

Identify and provide a brief description of key staff who

are proposed to work in this project, indicating their education,

experience in working in similar programs and training/teaching

experiences that are relevant to achieving the project goals. Include

their resumes.

Describe the qualifications and experience of the

individuals who will assist in the development of the curriculum,

participate in the training of the public agency staff, and conduct

evaluation of the project. Include their resumes.

Identify and describe the administrative and

organizational interface required in this project (State agency,

community agencies, academic departments, other disciplines,

institutions, etc.). Also include interagency/inter-program agreements

and commitments obtained from the participating entities.

Provide assurance that at least one key staff from the

university and one from the public child welfare agency will jointly

attend a one-day meeting in the HHS Regional office shortly after the

award of the grant as well as participate in a four-day annual meeting

in Washington, D.C.

Project Duration: The length of the project must not exceed 36

months.

Federal Share of Project Costs: The Federal share is not to exceed

$100,000 for the first 12 month budget period or $300,000 for a three

year project period.

Matching Requirements: For each budget period with an award of

$100,000 (Federal funds), the non-Federal share would be no less than

$33,334 (i.e., 25 percent of the total project cost of $133,334). The

non-Federal share may be met by cash or in-kind contributions, although

applicants are encouraged to meet their match requirements through a

cash contribution. Funds from this grant cannot be used to match title

IV-E training funds.

Anticipated Number of Projects: It is anticipated that four or five

projects will be funded, depending on availability of funds.

Length of Proposal: The length of the narrative, including the

appendices, must be limited to 60 pages.

CFDA Number: 93.648 Child Welfare Training Program Grants: Section

426 of the Social Security Act.

Part III. Application Requirements

Applicants are required to use the Standard Forms, Certifications,

Disclosures and Assurances provided under Appendix A. Applications

submitted for funding under this announcement are considered New

Applications; and therefore, applicants should follow instructions for

New Applications.

New applications must respond to the instructions under Program

Narrative, Item A--Project Description--Component, and Item D--Budget

and Budget Justification. In preparing the program narrative statement,

the applicant should provide the information that the panel will use to

evaluate and rank the proposal. The information should be concise and

complete when addressing the activities for which Federal funds are

being requested. Supporting documents should be included in order to

present the information clearly and succinctly. Applicants are

encouraged to provide information on their organizational structure,

staff, related experiences, and

[[Page 36619]]

other information considered to be relevant.

Under Item A--Project Description--Component, the applicant must

address the specific information requested under each priority area in

this program announcement.

Section A.1--Project Summary/Abstract-- This should be a one page

or less summary of the project and placed directly after the table of

contents. This page will not count against the page limitation.

Section A.5--Evaluation--Provide a narrative that describes a way

to evaluate: (1) the results of the proposed project on the existing

training curriculum as well as the impacts resulting from the training

of the child welfare staff on the quality of service and child welfare

outcomes; and (2) the process outcomes of the project. State how the

evaluation will determine the extent to which the project objectives

have been achieved and which accomplishments of the objectives can be

attributed to the project itself. Discuss the criteria to be used to

evaluate the results. Also explain the methodology that will be used to

determine the training needs specific to the project; the impact to be

accomplished from the proposed training curriculum; and the benefits to

be achieved. Describe the procedures the applicant will employ to

determine whether the project is being conducted in a manner consistent

with the work plan and discuss the impact of the project effectiveness.

Section A.6--Geographic Location--should be addressed under the

Objective and Needs for Training.

Section A.7--Additional Information--should be addressed under the

Staff Background and Organizational Experience. Letters of support

should be included in the appendices.

Section B.--Non-competing Continuation Applications--Does not apply

to this announcement.

Section C.--Supplemental Requests--Does not apply to this

announcement.

Section D.--Budget and Budget Justification--provide a line item

detail and detailed calculations for each budget object class

identified on the Budget Information form. Detailed calculations must

include estimation methods, quantities, unit costs and other similar

quantitative detail sufficient for the calculation to be duplicated.

The detailed budget must also include a breakout by the funding sources

identified in block 15 of the SF 424.

Provide a narrative budget justification which describes how the

categorical costs are derived. Discuss the necessity, reasonableness,

and allocability of the proposed costs.

Applicants must address the following requirements in their

application to be considered responsive to the Federal Register

announcement. These requirements have been organized according to the

evaluation criteria discussed in Part III.

A. Objectives and Needs for Assistance

1. State the objectives for the priority project and indicate how

these objectives relate to the public child welfare agency training

issues to be addressed and demonstrate that there is a need for the

project and is based on an assessment of the public agency training

needs. Provide letters of support for the project from the State/local

public agencies.

2. Identify the public agency staff to be trained under the

proposed project and describe the training needs of the target

population. Provide an estimated number of public agency staff to be

trained under the project.

3. Identify the geographic location of the public agency staff to

be served by the project.

B. Results and Benefits

1. Identify the specific results or outcomes that can be expected

as a result of the proposed training curriculum and training of the

public agency staff in this project.

2. Identify the kinds of qualitative and quantitative data the

project staff will collect to measure progress and impacts from the

project design and implementation. In discussing the evaluation

approach, discuss the methods and procedures to be used to determine

the extent to which the project achieved the stated objectives.

3. Provide assurance that the program will provide interim progress

and final reports, or any other report required by ACYF. These reports

must discuss the process and the outcomes specific to the development

of the training curriculum, training of the public agency staff, and

evaluation of the project in terms of the objectives of the project.

4. Describe how the project results will benefit the national

technical assistance strategy for public agency staff training to

achieve the child welfare program goals and outcomes.

C. Approach

Priority Area 1

Applications submitted under this priority area are to include

approaches and strategies for developing a competency-based

interdisciplinary training curriculum and a training plan to enhance

and strengthen the capacity of child welfare workers and supervisors to

respond to complex family problems of child abuse and neglect resulting

from substance abuse, mental illness, and domestic violence, which

require effective interdisciplinary service coordination necessary to

achieve child safety and permanency goals. Applicants must:

1. Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of interdisciplinary

training issues specific to the substance abuse, mental health, and

domestic violence problems found in the child welfare population

throughout the country. Discuss how the proposed project will build on

the existing knowledge and evaluations of such projects and add

innovative dimensions to achieve the interdisciplinary training goals.

2. Describe past and/or current collaboration between the

educational programs and the public (State/local and Tribal) agencies.

Describe how this project will build on existing partnerships with such

agencies.

3. Discuss an approach to developing a theoretical and practice-

based curriculum that focuses on the substance abuse, mental health,

and domestic violence issues as these relate to child abuse and

neglect. Describe the need for such training for the public child

welfare staff, specifically, and child welfare professionals in

general. Also describe the contents of the proposed interdisciplinary

training curriculum.

4. Describe the proposed curriculum and discuss how it builds on,

expands, and strengthens the existing curriculum approaches/models. The

applicant must explain the preliminary planning and coordination

activities with other disciplines in the development and execution of

the training curriculum. Discuss the approach to teaching a competency-

based interdisciplinary curriculum and the use of other disciplines to

teach in various components of the training curriculum to achieve the

project objectives.

5. Describe how the public child welfare agency staff, community

agencies providing services to families with substance abuse and

domestic violence problems will be involved in developing the

curriculum.

6. Describe who the trainees will be; how many at each level of the

child welfare services tier are expected to be trained over the life of

the project; criteria for selection and recruitment of the trainees;

and specific strategies to be used to recruit minority and Tribal

agency trainees. There should also be a

[[Page 36620]]

consideration to include individuals from the community agencies that

provide services to the child welfare population.

7. Describe any interactive and long distance training, including

video technology if any, that will be part of this effort.

8. Describe coordination with the public agency in evaluating the

interdisciplinary training curriculum, including the timelines.

9. Submit a work plan which describes the timelines for each task

to be accomplished. It must describe: the timeframes for the proposed

interdisciplinary training curriculum development; coordination with

the various disciplines in various tasks; training of the public agency

staff; evaluation of the project; and submission of the interim

progress and final reports and the final products.

10. Describe the proposed plan for the evaluation of the project.

Discuss how the effectiveness of the competency-based interdisciplinary

curriculum will be assessed.

11. Identify and describe the administrative and organizational

interface required in this project (State agency, community agencies,

academic departments, other disciplines, institutions, etc.). Also

include interagency agreements and commitments obtained from the

participating entities.

12. Provide assurance that at least one key staff from the

university and one from the public child welfare agency will jointly

attend a one-day meeting in the HHS Regional office shortly after the

award of the grant and participate in a four-day annual meeting in

Washington, D.C.

For Priority Area 2

Applications submitted under this priority area are to include

approaches and strategies to support and promote management

capabilities in the use of the child welfare program data to: (1)

identify outcomes to be achieved, (2) create ownership of the data by

the staff, (3) develop a strategy for the planned use of the data to

track performance, and (4) identify training needs to build staff

capacity to improve program outcomes. To achieve this objective, this

priority will focus on developing a training curriculum to build

managerial capacity for making effective use of the child welfare

program data for the purposes of developing and instituting an outcome-

based management strategy that will focus on developing program

outcomes, tracking performance at all agency levels; and removing

barriers to achieving child welfare outcomes. Applicants must:

1. Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the theory and

principles of outcome-based management practices in general and their

current applications in public child welfare agencies throughout the

country, including the linkages between program outcomes and effective

practices. Discuss how the proposed training project will build on the

existing knowledge and evaluations of these management practices.

Discuss the innovative dimensions of the proposed training approach

which focuses on capacity building to improve the child welfare program

outcomes. Include discussion of the use of relevant fiscal and program

data to: develop performance goals; develop effective management

practices for achieving interim and final performance goals; and

evaluate barriers to achieving the intended goals.

2. Describe past and/or current collaboration between the applicant

and the public (State/local and Tribal) agencies. Describe how this

project will build on existing partnerships with such agencies.

3. Discuss the proposed approach to developing a theoretical and

practice-based curriculum that focuses on outcome-based management

related to child welfare agencies. Describe the need for such training

for public agencies' managers. Also describe the contents of the

proposed outcome-based management training curriculum.

4. Describe the proposed training curriculum and discuss how it

builds on, expands, and strengthens the existing curricula to promote

outcome-based management approaches/models. The applicant must explain

the preliminary planning and coordination activities with the public

child welfare agency in developing and executing the training

curriculum. Also discuss the approach to teaching such a curriculum and

the use of other disciplines, if any, to teach various components of

the curriculum to achieve the project objectives.

5. The proposed training curriculum should describe the use of new

technologies, federal/State data systems, other relevant information

sources and reports, monitoring systems etc. as components of the

training curriculum.

6. Describe how the public child welfare agency staff will be

involved in curriculum development.

7. Describe who the trainees will be; how many at each level of the

managerial tier are expected to be trained over the life of the

project; the criteria for selection and recruitment of trainees; and

specific strategies to recruit minority and Tribal agency trainees.

8. Describe any interactive and long distance training, including

video technology if any, that will be part of this effort.

9. Describe coordination with the public agency in evaluating the

outcome-based management training curriculum, including the timelines.

10. Submit a work plan which describes the timelines for each task

to be accomplished. It must describe: the timeframes for developing the

training curriculum; coordination with the public child welfare agency;

coordination and use of other disciplines in the curriculum development

and training tasks; training of the public agency staff; evaluation of

the project; and submission of the interim progress and final reports,

and the final products.

11. Describe the proposed plan for the evaluation of the project.

Discuss how the effectiveness of the competency-based training

curriculum will be assessed.

12. Identify and describe the administrative and organizational

interface required in this project (State agency, academic departments,

other disciplines, institutions, etc.). Also include interagency

agreements and commitments obtained from the participating entities.

13. Provide assurance that at least one key staff from the

applicant agency and one from the public child welfare agency will

jointly attend a one-day meeting in the HHS Regional office shortly

after the award of the grant and participate in a four-day annual

grantee meeting in Washington, D.C.

Priority Area 3

Applications submitted under this priority area are to include

approaches and strategies for developing a competency-based cross-

program training curriculum and a training plan to enhance child

welfare workers' ability and skills to conduct comprehensive

assessments of family needs at the intake level. The objective of this

priority is to build capacity of the workers to identify and assess all

family conditions, including socio-economic factors, family strengths,

and areas of stress which contribute to child abuse and neglect and

require referrals and coordination with other human service programs.

Applicants must:

1. Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of cross-program

training issues specific to TANF, child care, and child support

programs that may be relevant to child welfare and used in

[[Page 36621]]

other programs throughout the country. Discuss how the proposed project

will build on the existing knowledge of such projects and add

innovative dimensions to the cross-program training of child welfare

workers.

2. Describe past and/or current collaboration between the

educational programs and the public (State/local and Tribal) agencies.

Describe how this project will build on existing partnerships with such

agencies.

3. Discuss an approach to developing a practice-based curriculum

that focuses on the importance of holistic intake skills relative to

the child abuse and neglect population. Describe the need for such

training for the public child welfare staff, specifically, and child

welfare professionals in general.

4. Describe the proposed curriculum and discuss how it builds on,

expands, and strengthens the existing curriculum approaches/ models.

The applicant must explain the preliminary planning and coordination

activities with other programs in the development and execution of the

training curriculum. Discuss the approach to teaching a cross-program

and holistic intake approach and the use of other program staff to

teach various components of the training curriculum.

5. Describe how the public child welfare agency staff and the TANF,

child care and child support program staff will be involved in the

development of the curriculum.

6. Describe who the trainees will be; how many at each level of the

child welfare services tier are expected to be trained over the life of

the project; criteria for selection and recruitment of trainees; and

specific strategies to recruit minority and Tribal agency trainees.

There should also be a consideration to include individuals from the

aforementioned programs involved in providing services to the child

welfare population.

7. Describe any interactive and long distance training, including

video technology if any, that will be part of this effort.

8. Describe coordination with the public agency in evaluating the

cross-program training curriculum, including the timelines.

9. Submit a work plan which describes the timelines for each task

to be accomplished to match the scope of the project. It must also

describe the timeframes for the proposed cross-program training

curriculum development, coordination with the various programs,

conducting training of the public agency staff, evaluation of the

project, and submission of the interim progress and final reports and

the final products.

10. Describe the proposed plan for the evaluation of the project.

Discuss how the effectiveness of the competency-based cross-program

curriculum directed to enhance intake skills will be assessed.

11. Identify and describe the administrative and organizational

interface required in this project (State agency, community agencies,

academic departments, other disciplines, institutions, etc.). Also

include interagency/inter-program agreements and commitments obtained

from the participating entities.

12. Provide assurance that at least one key staff from the

university and one from the public child welfare agency would jointly

attend a one-day meeting in the HHS Regional office shortly after the

award of the grant as well as participate in a four-day annual meeting

in Washington, D.C.

Priority Area 4

Applications submitted under this priority area are to include

approaches and strategies for developing a competency-based training

curriculum and a training plan to facilitate the implementation of the

new title IV-E State plan requirement to consider giving preference to

adult relatives over non-relatives when determining a placement for a

child. The objective of such a training is to provide knowledge and

skills necessary for making decisions regarding the appropriateness of

relative/kinship care placements in foster care and permanency

planning. Applicants must:

1. Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of title IV-E program

requirements, State IV-E program practices relevant to relative/kinship

care throughout the country, and the new provision of Pub. L. 104-193.

Discuss how the proposed project will build on the existing knowledge

of the statute and State practices, and how the applicant will address

the new requirements regarding preferential treatment of relatives in

situations where a child must be removed from the family home.

2. Describe past and/or current collaboration between the

applicant, educational programs and the public (State/local and Tribal)

agencies. Describe how this project will build on existing partnerships

with such agencies.

3. Discuss the proposed approach to developing a practice-based

curriculum that focuses on the implementation of the provision of Pub.

L. 104-193. Describe the need for such training for the public child

welfare staff in specific and child welfare professionals in general.

4. Describe the contents of the proposed curriculum and discuss how

it will build and expand on the current policies and procedures used to

identify and license foster care families. The applicant must explain

the preliminary planning and coordination activities with the State

child welfare agency. Discuss the approach to teaching the curriculum

contents and the use of various staff to teach the curriculum

components to achieve the project objectives.

5. Describe how the public child welfare agency staff will be

involved in the development of the curriculum.

6. Describe who the trainees will be; how many at each level of the

child welfare services tier are expected to be trained over the life of

the project; criteria for selection and recruitment of trainees; and

specific strategies to recruit minority and Tribal agency trainees.

7. Describe any interactive and long distance training, including

video technology, if any, that will be part of this effort.

8. Describe coordination with the public agency in evaluating the

training curriculum, including the timelines.

9. Submit a work plan which describes the timelines for each task

to be accomplished. It must describe: the timeframes for the proposed

curriculum development; coordination with the public agency; training

of the public agency staff; evaluation of the project; and submission

of the interim progress and final reports and the final products.

10. Describe the plan for the evaluation of the project. Discuss

how the effectiveness of the competency-based curriculum under this

priority will be assessed.

11. Identify and describe the administrative and organizational

interface required in this project (State agency, community agencies,

academic departments, other disciplines, institutions, etc.). Also

include interagency/inter-program agreements and commitments obtained

from the participating entities.

12. Provide assurance that at least one key staff from the

university and one from the public child welfare agency will jointly

attend a one-day meeting in the HHS Regional office shortly after the

award of the grant and participate in a four-day annual meeting in

Washington, D.C.

[[Page 36622]]

D. Staff Background and Organizational Experience

1. Describe the applicant's experience in developing and providing

training in child welfare. Also describe the applicant's history and

relationship with the targeted public child welfare agency. Include a

discussion of the relevant programs, administrative and fiscal

management experience.

2. Identify and provide a brief description of key staff who are

proposed to work in this project, indicating their education,

experience in working in similar programs and training/teaching

experiences that are relevant to achieving the project goals. Include

their resumes.

3. Describe the qualifications and experience of the individuals

who will assist in the development of the curriculum, participate in

the training of the public agency staff and conduct evaluation of the

project. Include their resumes.

E. Budget Appropriateness

1. Provide a detailed line-item budget. In the proposed budget,

applicants must include sufficient funds for at least one key staff

from the university and one from the public child welfare agency to

jointly attend a one-day meeting in the HHS Regional office shortly

after the award of the grant as well as participate in a four-day

annual meeting in Washington, D.C.

2. Describe how the budget reflects the implementation of a high

quality, ongoing work to be performed under the project at a reasonable

cost. Include a discussion regarding the appropriateness of staff

compensation levels. Also explain the efforts the applicant has made to

secure funds from various sources for matching the applicant's share of

the project costs.

Part IV. Evaluation Criteria

In considering how applicants will carry out the responsibilities

addressed under Part III of this announcement, competing applications

will be reviewed and evaluated against the following four criteria. The

point values following each criterion indicate the maximum numerical

weight each criterion will be accorded in the review process.

A. Criterion 1: Objectives and Need for Assistance (20 Points)

The extent to which the applicant:

Discusses the project objectives and indicates how these

objectives relate to the public child welfare agency training issues;

Addresses the project goals of curriculum development and

training of the public child welfare agency staff;

Proposes objectives and the need for assistance to: (1)

support existing training and curriculum building efforts; and (2)

address the need for training of the public agency staff to achieve

child welfare program goals of child protection, safety, and permanency

planning and placement;

Draws on the existing knowledge, experience, research, and

extant data, if available, in support of the project objectives;

Describes the training needs of the target population.

Provides an estimated number of public agency staff to be trained under

the project. Identifies the geographic location of the public agency

staff to be served by the project; and

Proposes strategies to address the training needs of the

target population.

B. Criterion 2: Results or Benefits Expected (10 Points)

The extent to which the applicant:

Identifies the specific results and benefits to be derived

from the project and links these to the stated objectives;

Discusses the outcomes that can be expected as a result of

the proposed training curriculum and training of the public agency

staff in this project;

Describes the types of data to be collected and how it

will be utilized to measure progress towards the stated results or

benefits;

Discusses how the lessons learned from the project will

benefit approaches to training public agency staff, and improve

management and operations practices to accomplish child welfare program

performance standards; and

Describes how the project results will benefit a national

technical assistance strategy for training public agency staff in

efforts to achieve the child welfare program goals and outcomes.

Information provided in response to Part II of this announcement

will be used to evaluate applicants on this criterion.

C. Criterion 3: Approach (40 Points)

The extent to which the applicant:

Demonstrates knowledge and understanding of the training

issues and strategies to support and enhance the public child welfare

agency staff capabilities to achieve child welfare outcomes;

Discusses an approach to developing a theoretical and

practice-based curriculum that addresses the training needs of the

public agency staff;

Describes the proposed curriculum and discusses how it

builds on, expands, and strengthens the existing curriculum approaches/

models. The applicant explains the preliminary planning and

coordination activities with other disciplines in developing and

executing the training curriculum. Discusses the approach to teaching a

competency-based curriculum and training to achieve the project

objectives;

Describes past and/or current collaboration between the

applicant and educational programs and the public (State/local and

Tribal) agencies. Discusses how this project will build on existing

partnerships with such agencies;

Outlines a sound and workable plan of action relevant to

the stated objectives and the scope of the project, and details how the

proposed work will be accomplished;

Addresses the training outcomes for the public agency

staff and identifies factors which might facilitate or impede the work,

giving acceptable reasons for taking the proposed approach;

Lists the proposed activities in a chronological order,

showing a reasonable schedule of accomplishments and target dates;

Identifies and describes the administrative and

organizational interface required in the project (State agency,

community agencies, academic departments, other disciplines,

institutions, etc.). Also includes interagency agreements and

commitments obtained from the participating entities;

Describes who the trainees will be; how many at each level

of the child welfare services tier are expected to be trained over the

life of the project; the criteria for selection and recruitment of

trainees; and specific strategies for recruiting minority and Tribal

agency trainees;

Identifies the type of data to be collected and maintained

and discusses the criteria to be used to evaluate the results and

success of the project; and

Describes the evaluation methodology to be used to

determine whether the project objectives have been met and the general

impact on curriculum development, staff training and effectiveness of

program services. Discusses how the effectiveness of the competency-

based curriculum will be assessed.

Information provided in Part II of this announcement will also be

used to evaluate applicants on this criterion.

D. Criterion 4: Staff Background and Organizational Experience (20

Points)

The extent to which the applicant:

[[Page 36623]]

Demonstrates that the proposed project director and key

project staff have the ability, experience and background to

effectively and efficiently administer a project of this size and scope

and complexity, including the development of training curriculum and

training of public agency child welfare agency staff;

Describes the relationship between the proposed project

and other work planned, anticipated or underway by the applicant with

Federal assistance;

Details the organization's experience in addressing the

training needs in the public agencies; and

Describes the adequacy of the applicant's management plan

in achieving the project goals.

Information provided in response to Part II of this announcement

will be used to evaluate applicants on this criterion.

E. Criterion 5: Budget Appropriateness (10 Points)

The extent to which the applicant justifies the following:

Costs are reasonable in view of the activities to be

conducted and expected results and benefits;

Salaries and fringe benefits reflect the level of

compensation appropriate for the proposed staff responsibilities; and

The non-Federal contribution of the project costs.

Part V. Instructions for the Development and Submission of Application

for FY 1997

This part contains information and instructions for submitting

applications in response to this announcement. Application forms are

provided along with a checklist for assembling an application package.

Please copy and use these forms in submitting an application.

Potential applicants should read this section carefully in

conjunction with the information contained within the specific priority

areas under which the application is to be submitted. The priority area

descriptions are in Part II and the application requirements are in

Part III.

A. Availability of Forms

Eligible applicants interested in applying for funds must submit

all the required forms included at the end of this announcement in

Appendix A--ACF Uniform Discretionary Grant Application Form (ACF/

UDGAF). This material is also included in the application kit provided

by contacting the ACF Operations Center at 1-800-351-2293 (phone) or 1-

800-351-4490 (fax). Applicants are required to use the Standard Forms,

Certifications, Disclosures and Assurances provided under Appendix A--

ACF Uniform Discretionary Grant Application Form (ACF/UDGAF). Under the

ACF/UDGAF, applications submitted for funds under this announcement are

considered NEW APPLICATIONS. Applicants should follow instructions in

the ACF/UDGAF for NEW APPLICATIONS.

In order to be considered for a grant under this announcement, an

application must be submitted on the Standard Form 424 which has been

approved by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) under Control

Number 0970-0139. A copy has been provided (see Appendix A). Each

application must be signed by an individual authorized to act for the

applicant and to assume responsibility for the obligations imposed by

the terms and conditions of the grant award.

A copy of the governing body's authorization for this person to

sign this application as official representative must be on file in the

applicant's office.

Applicants requesting financial assistance for non-construction

projects must file the Standard Form 424B, ``Assurances: Non-

Constructions Programs'' (approved by OMB under Control Number 0348-

0040). Applicants must sign and return the Standard Form 424B with the

application. Applicants must provide certification regarding lobbying

(approved by OMB under Control Number 0348-0046). Prior to receiving an

award in excess of $100,000, applicants shall furnish an executed copy

of the lobbying certification. Applicants must sign and return the

certification with their application.

Applicants must make the appropriate certification of their

compliance with the Drug-Free Workplace Act of 1988. By signing and

submitting the application, applicants are providing the certification

and need not mail back the certification with the application.

Applicants must also understand that they will be held accountable

for the smoking prohibition included within P.L. 103-227, Part C

Environmental Tobacco Smoke (also known as the Pro-Children's Act of

1994). A copy of the Federal Register notice which implements the

smoking prohibition is included with the forms. By signing and

submitting the application, applicants are providing the certification

and need not mail back the certification with the application.

B. Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995

Under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (P.L. 104-13), the

Department is required to submit to the Office of Management and Budget

for review and approval any reporting or program announcements. All

information collections within this program announcement are approved

under the Uniform Discretionary Grant Application Form under OMB

Control Number 0970-0139 (expiration date August 31, 1997). The

estimated burden per response is 20 hours. An agency may not conduct or

sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to a collection of

information unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number.

C. Required Notification of the State Single Point of Contact

This program is covered under Executive Order 12372,

``Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs,'' and 45 CFR Part 100,

``Intergovernmental Review of Department of Health and Human Services

Programs and Activities.'' Under the Order, States may design their own

processes for reviewing and commenting on proposed Federal assistance

under covered programs.

All States and territories except Alabama, Alaska, Colorado,

Connecticut, Hawaii, Idaho, Kansas, Louisiana, Massachusetts,

Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Jersey, Oklahoma, Oregon,

Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia, Washington,

American Samoa, and Palau have elected to participate in the Executive

Order process and have established Single Points of Contact (SPOCs).

Applicant's from these twenty-three jurisdictions areas need not take

action regarding Executive Order 12372.

Applications for projects to be administered by Federally-

recognized Indian Tribes are also exempt from the requirements of

Executive Order 12372. Otherwise, applicants should contact their SPOC

as soon as possible to alert them to the prospective application and to

receive any necessary instructions. Applicants must submit any required

material to the SPOC as early as possible so that the program office

can obtain and review SPOC comments as part of the award process. It is

imperative that the applicant submit all required materials, if any, to

the SPOC and indicate the date of this submittal (or date of contact if

no submittal is required) on the Standard Form 424, item 16a.

Under 45 CFR 100.8(a)(2), an SPOC has 45 days from the application

deadline to comment on proposed new or competing continuation awards.

SPOCs are encouraged to eliminate the

[[Page 36624]]

submission of routine endorsements as official recommendations.

Additionally, SPOCs are requested to clearly differentiate between

mere advisory comments and those official State process recommendations

which may trigger the ``accommodate or explain'' rule.

When comments are submitted directly to the ACF, they should be

addressed to: Department of Health and Human Services, Administration

for Children and Families, Division of Discretionary Grants, 370

L'Enfant Promenade, S.W., Mail Stop 6C-462, Washington, D.C. 20447.

A list of Single Points of Contact for each State and territory is

included as Appendix B of this announcement.

D. Deadline for Submission of Applications

The closing time and date for the receipt of applications under

this announcement is 4:30 p.m. (Eastern Time Zone), on August 22, 1997.

Applications received after 4:30 p.m. of the closing date will be

classified as late. Post marks and other similar documents DO NOT

establish receipt of an application.

Deadline: Mailed applications shall be considered as meeting an

announced deadline if they are received on or before the deadline time

and date at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services,

Administration for Children and Families, Division of Discretionary

Grants, 370 L'Enfant Promenade, S.W., Mail Stop 6C-462, Washington,

D.C. 20447. Attention: Children's Bureau Discretionary Training Funds

Program (Specify Priority Area 1, 2, 3, or 4). Any application received

after 4:30 p.m. on the deadline date will not be considered for

competition. Applicants using express/overnight services should allow

for two working days prior to the deadline date for receipt of

applications.

Applications hand-carried by applicants, applicant courier, or by

overnight/express mail couriers shall be considered as meeting an

announced deadline if they are received on or before the deadline

receipt date, between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. (EST), at

the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for

Children and Families, Division of Discretionary Grants, ACF Mailroom,

2nd Floor Loading Dock, Aerospace Center, 901 D Street, S.W.,

Washington, DC 20024, between Monday and Friday (excluding Federal

holidays). Attention: Children's Bureau Discretionary Training Funds

Program (Specify Priority Area 1, 2, 3, or 4). Any application received

after 4:30 p.m. on the deadline date will not be considered for

competition. Applicants using express/overnight services should allow

for two working days prior to the deadline date for receipt of

applications.

ACF cannot accommodate transmission of applications by fax or

through other electronic media. Therefore, applications transmitted to

ACF electronically will not be accepted regardless of date or time of

submission and time of receipt. Envelopes containing applications must

clearly indicate the specific priority area that the application is

addressing.

Late applications: Applications which do not meet the above

criteria are considered late applications. ACF shall notify each late

applicant that its application will not be considered in the current

competition.

Extension of Deadlines: ACF may extend the deadline for all

applicants because of acts of God such as floods, hurricanes, etc., or

when there is a widespread disruption of the mails. However, if ACF

does not extend the deadline for all applicants, it may not waive or

extend the deadline for any applicant.

E. Instructions for Preparing the Application and Completing

Application Forms

The SF 424, 424A, 424B and certifications have been reprinted for

your convenience in preparing the application. See Appendix A. You

should reproduce single-sided copies of these forms from the reprinted

forms in the announcement, typing your information onto the copies.

Please do not use forms directly from the Federal Register

announcement, as they are printed on both sides of the page.

Please prepare your application in accordance with the following

instructions:

1. SF 424 Page 1, Application Cover Sheet. Please read the

following instructions before completing the application cover sheet.

An explanation of each item is included. Complete only the items

specified.

Top of Page. Enter the single priority area number under which the

application is being submitted under only one priority area.

Item 1. Type of submission--Preprinted on the form.

Item 2. Date Submitted and Applicant Identifier--Date application

is submitted to ACYF and applicant's own internal control number, if

applicable.

Item 3. Date Received By State--State use only (if applicable).

Item 4. Date Received by Federal Agency--Leave blank.

Item 5. Applicant Information Legal Name--Enter the legal name of

the applicant organization. For applications developed jointly, enter

the name of the lead organization only. There must be a single

applicant for each application.

Organizational Unit--Enter the name of the primary unit within the

applicant organization which will actually carry out the project

activity. Do not use the name of an individual as the applicant. If

this is the same as the applicant organization, leave the

organizational unit blank.

Address--Enter the complete address that the organization actually

uses to receive mail, since this is the address to which all

correspondence will be sent. Do not include both street address and

P.O. box number unless both must be used in mailing.

Name and telephone number of the person to be contacted on matters

involving this application (give area code)--Enter the full name

(including academic degree, if applicable) and telephone number of a

person who can respond to questions about the application. This person

should be accessible at the address given here and will receive all

correspondence regarding the application.

Item 6. Employer Identification Number (EIN)--Enter the employer

identification number of the applicant organization, as assigned only

by the DHHS Central Registry System. EIN prefixes and suffixes assigned

by agencies other than DHHS are not valid at DHHS/ACF.

Item 7. Type of Applicant--Self-explanatory.

Item 8. Type of Application--Preprinted on the form.

Item 9. Name of Federal Agency--Preprinted on the form.

Item 10. Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number and Title--

Enter the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) number assigned

to the program under which assistance is requested and its title, as

indicated in the relevant priority area description. The CFDA number of

for the Child Welfare Training Grants is 93.648.

Item 11. Descriptive Title of Applicant's Project--Enter the

project title and the priority area number in parenthesis after the

project title. The title is generally short and is descriptive of the

project.

Item 12. Areas Affected by Project--Enter the governmental unit

where significant and meaningful impact could be observed. List only

the largest unit or units affected, such as State, county, or city. If

an entire unit is affected, list it rather than subunits.

[[Page 36625]]

Item 13. Proposed Project--Enter the desired start date for the

project and projected completion date.

Item 14. Congressional District of Applicant/Project--Enter the

number of the Congressional District where the applicant's principal

office is located and the number of the Congressional district (s)

where the project will be located. If statewide, a multi-State effort,

or nationwide, enter 00.

Items 15. Estimated Funding Levels In completing 15a through 15f,

the dollar amounts entered should reflect, for a 12 month budget

period, the total amount requested. if the proposed project period

exceeds 17 months, enter only those dollar amounts needed for the first

12 months of the proposed project.

Item 15a. Enter the amount of Federal funds requested in accordance

with the preceding paragraph. This amount should be no greater than the

maximum amount specified in the priority area description.

Item 15b-e. Enter the amount(s) of funds from non-Federal sources

that will be contributed to the proposed project. Items b-e are

considered cost-sharing or matching funds. The value of third party in-

kind contributions should be included on appropriate lines as

applicable.

Items 15f. Enter the estimated amount of income, if any, expected

to be generated from the proposed project. Do not add or subtract this

amount from the total project amount entered under item 15g. Describe

the nature, source and anticipated use of this income in the Project

Narrative Statement.

Item 15g. Enter the sum of items 15a-15e.

Item 16a. Is Application Subject to Review By State Executive Order

12372 Process? Enter Yes and the date the applicant contacted the SPOC

regarding this application. Select the appropriate SPOC from the

listing provided in Appendix B. The review of the application is at the

discretion of the SPOC. The SPOC will verify the date noted on the

application.

Item 16b. Is Application Subject to Review By State Executive Order

12372 process? No.--Check the appropriate box if the application is not

covered by E.O. 12372 or if the program has not been selected by the

State for review.

Item 17. Is the Applicant Delinquent on any Federal Debt?--Check

the appropriate box. This question applies to the applicant

organization, not the person who signs as the authorized

representative. Categories of debt include audit disallowances, loans

and taxes.

Item 18. To the best of my knowledge and belief, all data in this

application/preapplication are true and correct. The document has been

duly authorized by the governing body of the applicant and the

applicant will comply with the attached assurances if the assistance is

awarded.--To be signed by the authorized representative of the

applicant. A copy of the governing body's authorization for signature

of this application by this individual as the official representative

must be on file in the applicant's office, and may be requested from

the applicant.

Item 18 a-c. Typed Name of Authorized Representative, Title,

Telephone Number--Enter the name, title and telephone number of the

authorized representative of the applicant organization. This

individual will receive all ACF/ACYF correspondence regarding the

application.

Item 18d. Signature of Authorized Representative--Signature of the

authorized representative named in Item 18a. At least one copy of the

application must have an original signature. Use colored ink (not

black) so that the original signature is easily identified.

Item 18e. Date Signed--Enter the date the application was signed by

the authorized representative.

2. SF 424A--Budget Information--Non-Construction Programs. This is

a form used by many Federal agencies. For this application, Sections A,

B, C, E and F are to be completed. Section D does not need to be

completed.

Sections A and B should include the Federal as well as the non-

Federal funding for the proposed project covering the first year budget

period.

Section A--Budget Summary. This section includes a summary of the

budget. On line 5, enter total Federal costs in column (e) and total

non-Federal costs, including third party in-kind contributions, but not

program income, in column (f). Enter the total of (e) and (f) in column

(g).

Section B--Budget Categories. This budget, which includes the

Federal as well as non-Federal funding for the proposed project, covers

the first year budget period if the proposed project period exceeds 12

months. It should relate to item 15g, total funding, on the SF 424.

Under column (5), enter the total requirements for funds (Federal and

non-Federal) by object class category.

A separate itemized budget justification for each line item is

required. The types of information to be included in the justification

are indicated under each category. For multiple year projects, it is

desirable to provide this information for each year of the project. The

budget justification should immediately follow the second page of the

SF 424A.

Personnel--Line 6a. Enter the total costs of salaries and wages of

applicant/grantee staff. Do not include the costs of consultants, which

should be included on line 6h, Other.

Justification: Identify the principal investigator or project

director, if known. Specify by title or name the percentage of time

allocated to the project, the individual annual salaries, and the cost

to the project (both Federal and non-Federal) of the organization's

staff who will be working on the project.

Fringe Benefits--Line 6b. Enter the total cost of fringe benefits,

unless treated as part of an approved indirect cost rate.

Justification: Provide a break-down of amounts and percentages that

comprise fringe benefit costs, such as health insurance, FICA,

retirement insurance, etc.

Travel--6c. Enter total costs of out-of-town travel (travel

requiring per diem) for staff of the project. Do not enter costs for

consultant's travel or local transportation, which should be included

on Line 6h, Other.

Justification: Include the name(s) of traveler(s), total number of

trips, destinations, length of stay, transportation costs and

subsistence allowances.

Equipment--Line 6d. Enter the total costs of all equipment to be

acquired by the project. Equipment is defined as an article of

nonexpendable, tangible personal property having a useful life of more

than one year and an acquisition cost which equals or exceeds the

lesser of (a) the capitalization level established by the organization

for the financial statement purposes or (b) $5,000 or more per unit.

Justification: Equipment to be purchased with Federal funds must be

justified. The equipment must be required to conduct the project, and

the applicant organization or its subgrantees must not have the

equipment or a reasonable facsimile available to the project. The

justification also must contain plans for future use or disposal of the

equipment after the project ends.

Supplies--Line 6e. Enter the total costs of all tangible expendable

personal property (supplies) other than those included on Line 6d.

Justification: Specify general categories of supplies and their

costs.

Contractual--Line 6f. Enter the total costs of all contracts,

including (1) Procurement contracts (except those which belong on other

lines such as equipment, supplies, etc.) and (2) contracts with

secondary recipient organizations, including delegate

[[Page 36626]]

agencies. Also include any contracts with organizations for the

provision of technical assistance. Do not include payments to

individuals on this line. If the name of the contractor, scope of work,

and estimated total costs are not available or have not been

negotiated, include on Line 6h, other.

Justification: Attach a list of contractors, indicating the names

of the organizations, the purposes of the contracts, and the estimated

dollar amounts of the awards as part of the budget justification.

Whenever the applicant/grantee intends to delegate part or all of the

program to another agency, the applicant/grantee must complete this

section (Section B, Budget Categories) for each delegate agency by

agency title, along with the supporting information. The total cost of

all such agencies will be part of the amount shown on Line 6f. Provide

backup documentation identifying the name of contractor, purpose of

contract, and major cost elements. Applicants who anticipate

procurement that will exceed $5,000 (non-governmental entities) or

$25,000 (governmental entities) and are requesting an award without

competition should include a sole source justification in the proposal

which at a minimum should include the basis for contractor's selection,

justification for lack of competition when competitive bids or offers

are not obtained and basis for award cost or price. (Note: Previous or

past experience with a contractor is not sufficient justification for

sole source.)

Construction--Line 6g. Not applicable. New construction is not

allowable.

Other--Line 6h. Enter the total of all other costs. Where

applicable, such costs may include, but are not limited to: insurance;

medical and dental costs; noncontractual fees and travel paid directly

to individual consultants; local transportation (all travel which does

not require per diem is considered local travel); space and equipment

rentals; printing and publication; computer use; training costs,

including tuition and stipends; training service costs, including wage

payments to individuals and supportive service payments; and staff

development costs. Note that costs identified as miscellaneous and

honoraria are not allowable.

Justification: Specify the costs included.

Total Direct Charge--Line 6i. Enter the total of Lines 6a through

6h.

Indirect Charges--6j. Enter the total amount of indirect charges

(costs). If no indirect costs are requested, enter none. Generally,

this line should be used when the applicant has a current indirect cost

rate agreement approved by the Department of Health and Human Services

or another Federal agency.

Because this application is for a training grant, budgeted indirect

cost is limited to 8%. However, before the applicant may budget for

this percent or for some lesser percent, the applicant must include a

copy of its latest negotiated indirect cost agreement in the

application package. The applicant must also budget its indirect cost

consistent with the negotiated indirect cost rate, base and other terms

and conditions of the negotiated indirect cost agreement in accordance

with longstanding Department policy.

Local and State governments should enter the amount of indirect

costs determined in accordance with DHHS requirements. When an indirect

cost rate is requested, these costs are included in the indirect cost

pool and should not be charged again as direct costs to the grant.

Justification: Enclose a copy of the indirect cost rate agreement.

Total--Line 6k. Enter the total amounts of lines 6i and 6j.

Program Income--Line 7. Enter the estimated amount, if any,

expected to be generated from this project. Do not add or subtract this

amount from the total project amount.

Justification: Describe the nature, source, and anticipated use of

program income in the Program Narrative Statement.

Section C--Non-Federal Resources. This section summarizes the

amounts of non-Federal resources that will be applied to the grant.

Enter this information on line 12 entitled Totals. In-kind

contributions are defined in 45 CFR, Part 74.51 and 45 CFR Part 92.3,

as property or services which benefit a grant-supported project or

program and which are contributed by non-Federal third parties without

charge to the grantee, the subgrantee, or a cost-type contractor under

the grant or subgrant.

Justification: Describe third party in-kind contributions, if

included.

Section D--Forecasted Cash Needs, Not applicable.

Section E--Budget Estimate of Federal Funds Needed For Balance of

the Project. This section should only be completed if the total project

period exceeds 12 months.

Totals--Line 20. For projects that will have more than one budget

period, enter the estimated required Federal funds for the second

budget period (months 13 through 24) under column (b) First. If a third

budget period will be necessary, enter the Federal funds needed for

months 25 through 36 under (c) Second. Column (d) would be used in the

case of a 48 month project. Column (e) would not apply.

Section F--Other Budget Information.

Direct Charges--Line 21, Not applicable.

Indirect Charges--Line 22, Enter the type of indirect rate

(provisional, predetermined, final or fixed) that will be in effect

during the funding period, the estimated amount of the base to which

the rate is applied, and the total indirect expense.

Remarks--Line 23. If the total project period exceeds 12 months,

you must enter your proposed non-Federal share of the project budget

for each of the remaining years of the project.

3. Project Summary Description. Clearly mark this separate page

with the applicant name as shown in item 5 of the SF 424, the priority

area number as shown at the top of the SF 424, and the title of the

project as shown in item 11 of the SF 424. The summary description

should not exceed 300 words. These 300 words become part of the

computer database on each project.

Care should be taken to produce a summary description which

accurately and concisely reflects the application. It should describe

the objectives of the project, the approaches to be used and the

outcomes expected. The description should also include a list of major

products that will result from the proposed project, such as software

packages, materials, management procedures, data collection

instruments, training packages, or videos (please note that

audiovisuals should be closed captioned). The project summary

description, together with the information on the SF 424, will

constitute the project abstract. It is the major source of information

about the proposed project and is usually the first part of the

application that the reviewers read in evaluating the application.

At the bottom of the page, following the summary description, type

up to 10 key words which best describe the proposed project, the

service(s) involved and the target population(s) to be covered. These

key words will be used for computerized information retrieval for

specific types of funded projects.

4. Program Narrative Statement. The Program Narrative Statement is

a very important part of an application. It should be clear, concise,

and address the specific requirements mentioned under the priority area

description in Part II.

The narrative should provide information concerning how the

application meets the evaluation criteria using the following headings:

[[Page 36627]]

(a) Objectives and Need for Assistance;

(b) Results and Benefits Expected;

(c) Approach;

(d) Staff Background and Organization's Experience; and

(e) Budget Appropriateness.

The narrative should be typed double-spaced on a single-side of an

8 \1/2\'' x 11'' plain white paper, with 1'' margins on all sides using

standard type size or fonts (e.g., Times Roman 12 or Courier 10). Type

should be no smaller than 10 points). Applicants should not submit

reproductions of larger paper, reduced to meet the size requirement.

All pages of the narrative (including charts, references/footnotes,

tables, maps, exhibits, etc.) must be sequentially numbered, beginning

with Objectives and Need for Assistance as page number one.

The length of the application, including the application forms and

all attachments, should meet criteria set forth in each Priority Area.

A page is a single side of an 8 \1/2\'' x 11'' sheet of paper.

Applicants are requested not to send pamphlets, brochures or other

printed material along with their application as these pose xeroxing

difficulties. These materials, if submitted, will not be included in

the review process if they exceed the page limit criteria. If the

applicant chooses to submit printed materials, the applicant must

provide a duplicate or a copy of each printed document with each copy

of the application submitted. Each page of the application will be

counted to determine the total length.

5. Organizational Capability Statement. The Organizational

Capability Statement should consist of a brief (two to three pages)

background description of how the applicant organization (or the unit

within the organization that will have responsibility for the project)

is organized, the types and quantity of services it provides, and/or

the research and management capabilities it possesses. This description

should cover capabilities not included in the Program Narrative

Statement. It may include descriptions of any current or previous

relevant experience, or describe the competence of the project team and

its demonstrated ability to produce a final product that is readily

comprehensible and usable. An organization chart showing the

relationship of the project to the current organization should be

included.

6. Assurances/Certifications. Applicants are required to file an SF

424B, Assurances--Non-Construction Programs and the Certification

Regarding Lobbying. Both must be signed and returned with the

application. In addition, applicants must certify their compliance

with: (1) Drug-Free Workplace Requirements, (2) Debarment and Other

Responsibilities; and (3) Pro-Children Act of 1994 (Certification

Regarding Environmental Tobacco Smoke). Copies of the assurances/

certifications are reprinted at the end of this announcement in (See

Appendix A) and should be reproduced, as necessary. A duly authorized

representative of the applicant organization must certify that the

applicant is in compliance with these assurances/certifications. A

signature on the SF 424 indicates compliance with the Drug Free

Workplace Requirements, and Debarment and Other Responsibilities and

Environmental Tobacco Smoke certifications.

A signature on the application constitutes an assurance that the

applicant will comply with the pertinent Departmental regulations

contained in 45 CFR Part 74 and 45 CFR part 92 Applicants requesting

financial assistance for non-construction project must file the

standard SF-424B, ``Assurances--Non-Construction Programs.'' Applicants

must sign and return the Standard Form 424B with their applications.

F. Checklist for a Complete Application

The checklist below is for your use to ensure that your application

package has been properly prepared.

--One original, signed and dated application, plus two copies. (Please

note that applicants have the option to omit from the copies for non-

Federal reviewers specific salary rates for individuals identified in

the application.) Applications for different priority areas are

packaged separately;

--Application is from an organization which is eligible under the

eligibility requirements defined in the priority area description

(screening requirement);

--Application length does not exceed 60 pages, unless otherwise

specified in the priority area description. A complete application

consists of the following items in this order:

Application for Federal Assistance (SF 424, REV 4-92);

A completed SPOC certification with the date of SPOC

contact entered in line 16, page 1 of the SF 424;

Budget Information--Non-Construction Programs (SF 424A,

REV 4-92);

Budget justification for Section B--Budget Categories;

Table of Contents;

Letter from the Internal Revenue Service to prove non-

profit status, if necessary;

Copy of the applicant's approved indirect cost rate

agreement;

Project summary description and listing of key words;

Program Narrative Statement (See Part III, Section C);

Organizational capability statement, including an

organization chart;

Any appendices/attachments;

Assurances-Non-Construction Programs (Standard Form 424B,

REV 4-92); and

Certification Regarding Lobbying.

G. The Application Package

Each application package must include an original and two

copies of the complete application. Each copy should be secured

with a binder clip in the upper left-hand corner. All pages of the

narrative (including charts, tables etc.) must be sequentially

numbered, beginning with page one. The narrative, including the

appendices, must be only 60 pages. Any pages over that number will be

removed and will not be reviewed. In order to facilitate handling,

please do not use covers, binders or tabs. Do not include extraneous

materials as attachments, such as agency promotion brochures, slides,

tapes, film clips, minutes of meetings, survey instruments or articles.

Applicants are advised that the copies of the application submitted,

not the original, will be reproduced by the Federal government for

review.

Do not include a self-addressed, stamped acknowledgement card. All

applicants will be notified automatically about the receipt of their

application. If acknowledgement of receipt of your application is not

received within eight weeks after the deadlines date, please notify the

ACYF Operations Center by telephone at 1-800-351-2293.

Dated: June 30, 1997.

James A. Harrell,

Acting Commissioner, Administration on Children, Youth and Families.

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[[Page 36629]]

Instructions for the SF 424

Public reporting burden for this collection of information is

estimated to average 45 minutes per response, including time for

reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering

and maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the

collection of information. Send comments regarding the burden

estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information,

including suggestions for reducing this burden, to the Office of

Management and Budget, Paperwork Reduction Project (0348-0043),

Washington, DC 20503.

Please do not return your completed form to the Office of

Management and Budget; send it to the address provided by the

sponsoring agency.

This is a standard form used by applicants as a required

facesheet for preapplications and applications submitted for Federal

assistance. It will be used by Federal agencies to obtain applicant

certification that States which have established a review and

comment procedure in response to Executive Order 12372 and have

selected the program to be included in their process, have been

given an opportunity to review the applicant's submission.

Item and Entry

1. Self-explanatory.

2. Date application submitted to Federal agency (or State, if

applicable) & applicant's control number (if applicable).

3. State use only (if applicable).

4. If this application is to continue or revise an existing

award, enter present Federal identifier number. If for a new

project, leave blank.

5. Legal name of applicant, name of primary organizational unit

which will undertake the assistance activity, complete address of

the applicant, and name and telephone number of the person to

contact on matters related to this application.

6. Enter Employer Identification Number (EIN) as assigned by the

Internal Revenue Service.

7. Enter the appropriate letter in the space provided.

8. Check appropriate box and enter appropriate letter(s) in the

space(s) provided:

--``New'' means a new assistance award.

--``Continuation'' means an extension for an additional funding/

budget period for a project with a projected completion date.

--``Revision'' means any change in the Federal Government's

financial obligation or contingent liability from an existing

obligation.

9. Name of Federal agency from which assistance is being

requested with this application.

10. Use the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance number and

title of the program under which assistance is requested.

11. Enter a brief descriptive title of the project. If more than

one program is involved, you should append an explanation on a

separate sheet. If appropriate (e.g., construction or real property

projects), attach a map showing project location. For

preapplications, use a separate sheet to provide a summary

description of this project.

12. List only the largest political entities affected (e.g.,

State, counties, cities).

13. Self-explanatory.

14. List the applicant's Congressional District and any

District(s) affected by the program or project.

15. Amount requested or to be contributed during the first

funding/budget period by each contributor. Value of in-kind

contributions should be included on appropriate lines as applicable.

If the action will result in a dollar change to an existing award,

indicate only the amount of the change. For decreases, enclose the

amounts in parentheses. If both basic and supplemental amounts are

included, show breakdown on an attached sheet. For multiple program

funding, use totals and show breakdown suing same categories as item

15.

16. Applicants should contact the State Single Point of Contact

(SPOC) for Federal Executive Order 12372 to determine whether the

application is subject to the State intergovernmental review

process.

17. This question applies to the applicant organization, not the

person who signs as the authorized representative. Categories of

debt include delinquent audit allowances, loans and taxes.

18. To be signed by the authorized representative of the

applicant. A copy of the governing body's authorization for you to

sign this application as official representative must be on file in

the applicant's office. (Certain Federal agencies may require that

this authorization be submitted as part of the application.)

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[[Page 36630]]

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[[Page 36631]]

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BILLING CODE 4184-01-C

[[Page 36632]]

Instructions for the SF 424A

Public reporting burden for this collection of information is

estimated to average 180 minutes per response, including time for

reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering

and maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the

collection of information. Send comments regarding the burden

estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information,

including suggestions for reducing this burden, to the Office of

Management and Budget, Paperwork Reduction Project (0348-0043),

Washington, DC 20503.

Please do not return your completed form to the Office of

Management and Budget, send it to the address provided by the

sponsoring agency.

General Instructions

This form is designed so that application can be made for funds

from one or more grant programs. In preparing the budget, adhere to

any existing Federal grantor agency guidelines which prescribe how

and whether budgeted amounts should be separately shown for

different functions or activities within the program. For some

programs, grantor agencies may require budgets to be separately

shown by function or activity. For other programs, grantor agencies

may require a breakdown by function or activity. Sections A, B, C,

and D should include budget estimates for the whole project except

when applying for assistance which requires Federal authorization in

annual or other funding period increments. In the latter case,

Sections A, B, C, and D should provide the budget for the first

budget period (usually a year) and Section E should present the need

for Federal assistance in the subsequent budget periods. All

applications should contain a breakdown by the object class

categories shown in Lines a-k of Section B.

Section A. Budget Summary Lines 1-4, Columns (a) and (b)

For applications pertaining to a single Federal grant program

(Federal Domestic Assistance Catalog number) and not requiring a

functional or activity breakdown, enter on Line 1 under Column (a)

the catalog program title and the catalog number in Column (b).

For applications pertaining to a single program requiring budget

amounts by multiple function or activities, enter the name of each

activity or function on each line in Column (a), and enter the

catalog number in Column (b). For applications pertaining to

multiple programs where none of the programs require a breakdown by

function or activity, enter the catalog program title on each line

in Column (a) and the respective catalog number of each line in

Column (b).

For applications pertaining to multiple programs where one or

more programs require a breakdown by function or activity, prepare a

separate sheet for each program requiring the breakdown. Additional

sheets should be used when one form does not provide adequate space

for all breakdown of data required. However, when more than one

sheet is used, the first page should provide the summary totals by

programs.

Lines 1-4, Columns (c) Through (g)

For new applications, leave Columns (c) and (d) blank. For each

line entry in Columns (a) and (b), enter in Columns (e), (f), and

(g) the appropriate amounts of funds needed to support the project

for the first funding period (usually a year).

For continuing grant program applications, submit these forms

before the end of each funding period as required by the grantor

agency. Enter in Columns (c) and (d) the estimated amounts of funds

which will remain unobligated at the end of the grant funding period

only if the Federal grantor agency instructions provide for this.

Otherwise, leave these columns blank. Enter in Columns (e) and (f)

the amounts of funds needed for the upcoming period. The amount(s)

in Column (g) should be the sum of amounts in Columns (e) and (f).

For supplemental grants and changes to existing grants, do not

use Columns (c) and (d). Enter in Column (e) the amount of the

increase or decrease of Federal funds and enter in Column (f) the

amount of the increase or decrease of non-Federal funds. In Column

(g) enter the new total budgeted amount (Federal and non-Federal)

which includes the total previous authorized budgeted amounts plus

or minus, as appropriate, the amounts shown in Columns (e) and (f).

The amount(s) in Column (g) should not equal the sum of amounts in

Columns (e) and (f).

Line 5--Show the total for all columns used.

Section B. Budget Categories

In the column headings (1) through (4), enter the titles of the

same programs, functions, and activities shown on Lines 1-4, Column

(a), Section A. When additional sheets are prepared for Section A,

provide similar column headings on each sheet. For each program,

function or activity, fill in the total requirements for funds (both

Federal and non-Federal) by object class categories.

Lines 6a-i--Show the totals of Lines 6a to 6h in each column.

Line 6j--Show the amount of indirect cost.

Line 6k--Enter the total of amounts on Lines 6i and 6j. For all

applications for new grants and continuation grants the total amount

in column (5), Line 6K, should be the same as the total amount shown

in Section A, Column (g), Line 5. For supplemental grants and

changes to grants, the total amount of the increase or decrease as

shown in Columns (1)-(4), Line 6k, should be the same as the sum of

the amounts in Section A, Columns (e) and (f) on Line 5.

Line 7--Enter the estimated amount of income, if any, expected

to be generated from this project. Do not add or subtract this

amount from the total project amount. Show under the program

narrative statement the nature and source of income. The estimated

amount of program income may be considered by the federal grantor

agency in determining the total amount of the grant.

Section C. Non-Federal Resources

Lines 8-11 Enter amounts of non-Federal resources that will be

used on the grant. If in-kind contributions are included, provide a

brief explanation on a separate sheet.

Column (a)--Enter the program titles identical to Column (a),

Section A. A breakdown by function or activity is not necessary.

Column (b)--Enter the contribution to be made by the applicant.

Column (c)--Enter the amount of the State's cash and in-kind

contribution if the applicant is not a State or State agency.

Applicants which are a State or State agencies should leave this

column blank.

Column (d)--Enter the amount of cash and in-kind contributions

to be made from all other sources.

Column (e)--Enter totals in Columns (b), (c), and (d).

Line 12--Enter the total for each of Columns (b)-(e). The amount

in Column (e) should be equal to the amount on Line 5, Column (f),

Section A.

Section D. Forecasted Cash Needs

Line 13--Enter the amount of cash needed by quarter from the

grantor agency during the first year.

Line 14--Enter the amount of cash from all other sources needed

by quarter during the first year.

Line 15--Enter the totals of amounts on Lines 13 and 14.

Section E. Budget Estimates of Federal Funds Needed for Balance of

the Project

Lines 16-19--Enter in Column (a) the same grant program titles

shown in Column (a), Section A. A breakdown by function or activity

is not necessary. For new applications and continuation grant

applications, enter in the proper columns amounts of Federal funds

which will be needed to complete the program or project over the

succeeding funding periods (usually in years). This section need not

be completed for revisions (amendments, changes, or supplements) to

funds for the current year of existing grants.

If more than four lines are needed to list the program titles,

submit additional schedules as necessary.

Line 20--Enter the total for each of the Columns (b)-(e). When

additional schedules are prepared for this Section, annotate

accordingly and show the overall totals on this line.

Section F. Other Budget Information

Line 21--Use this space to explain amounts for individual direct

object-class costs categories that may appear to be out of the

ordinary or to explain the details as required by the Federal

grantor agency.

Line 22--Enter the type of indirect rate (provisional,

predetermined, final or fixed) that will be in effect during the

funding period, the estimated amount of the base to which the rate

is applied, and the total indirect expense.

Line 23--Provide any other explanations or comments deemed

necessary.

Assurances--Non-Construction Programs

Public reporting burden for this collection of information is

estimated to average 15 minutes per response, including time for

reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering

and maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing

[[Page 36633]]

the collection of information. Send comments regarding the burden

estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information,

including suggestions for reducing this burden, to the Office of

Management and Budget, Paperwork Reduction Project (0348-0043),

Washington, DC 20503.

Please do not return your completed form to the Office of

Management and Budget; send it to the address provided by the

sponsoring agency.

Note: Certain of these assurances may not be applicable to your

project or program. If you have questions, please contact the

awarding agency. Further, certain Federal awarding agencies may

require applicants to certify to additional assurances. If such is

the case, you will be notified.

As the duly authorized representative of the applicant I certify

that the applicant:

1. Has the legal authority to apply for Federal assistance and

the institutional, managerial and financial capability (including

funds sufficient to pay the non-Federal share of project costs) to

ensure proper planning, management and completion of the project

described in this application.

2. Will give the awarding agency, the Comptroller General of the

United States, and if appropriate, the State, through any authorized

representative, access to and the right to examine all records,

books, papers, or documents related to the award; and will establish

a proper accounting system in accordance with generally accepted

accounting standards or agency directives.

3. Will establish safeguards to prohibit employees from using

their positions for a purpose that constitutes or presents the

appearance of personal or organizational conflict of interest, or

personal gain.

4. Will initiate and complete the work within the applicable

time frame after receipt of approval of the awarding agency.

5. Will comply with the Intergovernmental Personnel Act of 1970

(42 U.S.C. Secs. 4728-4763) relating to prescribed standards for

merit systems for programs funded under one of the nineteen statutes

or regulations specified in Appendix A of OPM's Standards for a

Merit System of Personnel Administration (5 C.F.R. 900, Subpart F).

6. Will comply with all Federal statutes relating to

nondiscrimination. These include but are not limited to: (a) Title

VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (P.L. 88-352) which prohibits

discrimination on the basis of race, color or national origin; (b)

Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, as amended (20 U.S.C.

Secs. 1681-1683, and 1685-1686), which prohibits discrimination on

the basis of sex; (c) Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973,

as amended (29 U.S.C. Sec. 794), which prohibits discrimination on

the basis of handicaps; (d) the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, as

amended (42 U.S.C. Secs. 6101-6107), which prohibits discrimination

on the basis of age; (e) the Drug Abuse Office and Treatment Act of

1972 (P.L. 92-255), as amended, relating to nondiscrimination on the

basis of drug abuse; (f) the Comprehensive Alcohol Abuse and

Alcoholism Prevention, Treatment and Rehabilitation Act of 1970

(P.L. 91-616), as amended, relating to nondiscrimination on the

basis of alcohol abuse or alcoholism; (g) Secs. 523 and 527 of the

Public Health Service Act of 1912 (42 U.S.C. 290 dd-3 and 290 ee-3),

as amended, relating to confidentiality of alcohol and drug abuse

patient records; (h) Title VIII of the Civil Rights Act of 1968 (42

U.S.C. Sec. 3601 et seq.), as amended, relating to non-

discrimination in the sale, rental or financing of housing; (i) any

other nondiscrimination provisions in the specific statute(s) under

which application for Federal assistance is being made; and (j) the

requirements of any other nondiscrimination statute(s) which may

apply to the application.

7. Will comply, or has already complied, with the requirements

of Titles II and III of the Uniform Relocation Assistance and Real

Property Acquisition Policies Act of 1970 (P.L. 91-646) which

provide for fair and equitable treatment of persons displaced or

whose property is acquired as a result of Federal or federally

assisted programs. These requirements apply to all interests in real

property acquired for project purposes regardless of Federal

participation in purchases.

8. Will comply, as applicable, with the provisions of the Hatch

Act (5 U.S.C. Secs. 1501-1508 and 7324-7328) which limit the

political activities of employees whose principal employment

activities are funded in whole or in part with Federal funds.

9. Will comply, as applicable, with the provisions of the Davis-

Bacon Act (40 U.S.C. Secs. 276a to 276a-7), the Copeland Act (40

U.S.C. Secs. 276c and 18 U.S.C. Secs. 874), and the Contract Work

Hours and Safety Standards Act (40 U.S.C. Secs. 327-333), regarding

labor standards for federally assisted construction subagreements.

10. Will comply, if applicable, with flood insurance purchase

requirements of Section 102(a) of the Flood Disaster Protection Act

of 1973 (P.L. 93-234) which requires recipients in a special flood

hazard area to participate in the program and to purchase flood

insurance if the total cost of insurable construction and

acquisition is $10,000 or more.

11. Will comply with environmental standards which may be

prescribed pursuant to the following: (a) institution of

environmental quality control measures under the National

Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (P.L. 91-190) and Executive Order

(EO) 11514; (b) notification of violating facilities pursuant to EO

11738; (c) protection of wetlands pursuant to EO 11990; (d)

evaluation of flood hazards in floodplains in accordance with EO

11988; (e) assurance of project consistency with the approved State

management program developed under the Coastal Zone Management Act

of 1972 (16 U.S.C. Secs. 1451 et seq.; (f) conformity of Federal

actions to State (Clear Air) Implementation Plan under Section

176(c) of the Clear Air Act of 1955, as amended (42 U.S.C.

Secs. 7401 et seq.); (g) protection of underground sources of

drinking water under the Safe Drinking Water Act of 1974, as

amended, (P.L. 93-523); and (h) protection of endangered species

under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended, (P.L. 93-205).

12. Will comply the with Wild and Scenic Rivers Act of 1968 (16

U.S.C. Secs. 1271 et seq.) related to protecting components or

potential components of the national wild and scenic rivers system.

13. Will assist the awarding agency in assuring compliance with

Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, as

amended (16 U.S.C. 470), EO 11593 (identification and protection of

historic properties), and the Archaeological and Historic

Preservation Act of 1974 (16 U.S.C. 469a-l et seq.).

14. Will comply with P.L. 93-348 regarding the protection of

human subjects involved in research, development, and related

activities supported by this award of assistance.

15. Will comply with the Laboratory Animal Welfare Act of 1966

(P.L. 89-544, as amended, 7 U.S.C. 2131 et seq.) pertaining to the

care, handling, and treatment of warm blooded animals held for

research, teaching, or other activities supported by this award of

assistance.

16. Will comply with the Lead-Based Paint Poisoning Prevention

Act (42 U.C.S. Secs. 4801 et seq.) which prohibits the use of lead

paint in construction or rehabilitation of residence structures.

17. Will cause to be performed the required financial and

compliance audits in accordance with the Single Audit Act of 1984 or

OMB Circular No. A-133, Audits of Institutions of Higher Learning

and other Non-profit Institutions.

18. Will comply with applicable requirements of all other

Federal laws, executive orders, regulations and policies governing

this program.



Signature of authorized certifying official

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Title

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Applicant organization

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Date submitted

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Program Narrative

This program narrative section was designed for use by many and

varied programs. Consequently, it is not possible to provide

specific guidance for developing a program narrative statement that

would be appropriate in all cases. Applicants must refer to the

relevant program announcement for information on specific program

requirements and any additional guidelines for preparing the

narrative statement. The following are general guidelines for

preparing a program narrative statement.

The program narrative provides a major means by which the

application is evaluated and ranked to compete with other

applications for available assistance. It should be concise and

complete and should address the activity for which Federal funds are

requested. Supporting documents should be included where they can

present information clearly and succinctly. Applicants are

encouraged to provide information on their organizational structure,

staff, related experience, and other

[[Page 36634]]

information considered to be relevant. Awarding offices use this and

other information to determine whether the applicant has the

capability and resources necessary to carry out the proposed

project. It is important, therefore, that this information be

included in the application. However, in the narrative the applicant

must distinguish between resources directly related to the proposed

project from those which will not be used in support of the specific

project for which funds are requested.

Cross-referencing should be used rather than repetition. ACF is

particularly interested in specific factual information and

statements of measurable goals in quantitative terms. Narratives are

evaluated on the basis of substance, not length. Extensive exhibits

are not required. (Supporting information concerning activities

which will not be directly funded by the grant or information which

does not directly pertain to an integral part of the grant funded

activity should be placed in an appendix.) Pages should be numbered

for easy reference.

Prepare the program narrative statement in accordance with the

following instructions:

Applicants submitting new applications or competing

continuation applications should respond to Items A and D.

Applicants submitting noncompeting continuation

applications should respond to Item B.

Applicants requesting supplemental assistance should

respond to Item C.

A. Project Description--Components

1. Project Summary/Abstract

A summary of the project description (usually a page or less)

with reference to the funding request should be placed directly

behind the table of contents or SF-424.

2. Objectives and Need for Assistance

Applicants must clearly identify the physical, economic, social,

financial, institutional, or other problem(s) requiring a solution.

The need for assistance must be demonstrated and the principal and

subordinate objectives of the project must be clearly stated;

supporting documentation such as letters of support and testimonials

from concerned interests other than the applicant may be included.

Any relevant data based on planning studies should be included or

referenced in the endnotes/footnotes. Incorporate demographic data

and participant/beneficiary information, as needed. In developing

the narrative, the applicant may volunteer or be requested to

provide information on the total range of projects currently

conducted and supported (or to be initiated), some of which may be

outside the scope of the program announcement.

3. Results or Benefits Expected

Identify results and benefits to be derived. For example, when

applying for a grant to establish a neighborhood child care center,

describe who will occupy the facility, who will use the facility,

how the facility will be used, and how the facility will benefit the

community which it will serve.

4. Approach

Outline a plan of action which describes the scope and detail of

how the proposed work will be accomplished. Account for all

functions or activities identified in the application. Cite factors

which might accelerate or decelerate the work and state your reason

for taking this approach rather than others. Describe any unusual

features of the project such as design or technological innovations,

reductions in cost or time, or extraordinary social and community

involvement.

Provide quantitative monthly or quarterly projections of the

accomplishments to be achieved for each function or activity in such

terms as the number of people to be served and the number of

microloans made. When accomplishments cannot be quantified by

activity or function, list them in chronological order to show the

schedule of accomplishments and their target dates.

Identify the kinds of data to be collected, maintained, and/or

disseminated. (Note that clearance from the U.S. Office of

Management and Budget might be needed prior to an information

collection.) List organizations, cooperating entities, consultants,

or other key individuals who will work on the project along with a

short description of the nature of their effort or contribution.

5. Evaluation

Provide a narrative addressing how you will evaluate (1) the

results of your project and (2) the conduct of your programs. In

addressing the evaluation of results, state how you will determine

the extent to which the program has achieved its stated objectives

and the extent to which the accomplishment of objectives can be

attributed to the program. Discuss the criteria to be used to

evaluate results; explain the methodology that will be used to

determine if the needs identified and discussed are being met and if

the project results and benefits are being achieved. With respect to

the conduct of your program, define the procedures you will employ

to determine whether the program is being conducted in a manner

consistent with the work plan you presented and discuss the impact

of the program's various activities upon the program's

effectiveness.

6. Geographic Location

Give the precise location of the project and boundaries of the

area to be served by the proposed project. Maps or other graphics

aids may be attached.

7. Additional Information (Include if Applicable)

Additional information may be provided in the body of the

program narrative or in the appendix. Refer to the program

announcement and ``General Information and Instructions'' for

guidance on placement of application materials.

STAFF AND POSITION DATA--Provide a biographical sketch for key

personnel appointed and a job description for each vacant key

position. Some programs require both for all positions. Refer to the

program announcement for guidance on presenting this information.

Generally, a biographical sketch is required for original staff and

new members as appointed.

PLAN FOR PROJECT CONTINUANCE BEYOND GRANT SUPPORT--A plan for

securing resources and continuing project activities after Federal

assistance has ceased.

BUSINESS PLAN--When federal grant funds will be used to make an

equity investment, provide a business plan. Refer to the program

announcement for guidance on presenting this information.

ORGANIZATION PROFILES--Information on applicant organizations

and their cooperating partners such as organization charts,

financial statements, audit reports or statements from CPA/Licensed

Public Accountant, Employer Identification Numbers, names of bond

carriers, contact persons and telephone numbers, child care licenses

and other documentation of professional accreditation, information

on compliance with federal/state/local government standards,

documentation of experience in program area, and other pertinent

information. Any non-profit organization submitting an application

must submit proof of its non-profit status in its application at the

time of submission. The non-profit agency can accomplish this by

providing a copy of the applicant's listing in the Internal Revenue

Service's (IRS) most recent list of tax-exempt organizations

described in Section 501(c)(3) of the IRS code or by providing a

copy of the currently valid IRS tax exemption certificate, or by

providing a copy of the articles of incorporation bearing the seal

of the State in which the corporation or association is domiciled.

DISSEMINATION PLAN--A plan for distributing reports and other

project outputs to colleagues and the public. Applicants must

provide a description of the kind, volume and timing of

distribution.

THIRD-PARTY AGEREEMENTS--Written agreements between grantees and

subgrantees or subcontractors or other cooperating entities. These

agreements may detail scope of work, work schedules, remuneration,

and other terms and conditions that structure or define the

relationship.

WAIVER REQUEST--A statement of program requirements for which

waivers will be needed to permit the proposed project to be

conducted.

LETTERS OF SUPPORT--Statements from community, public and

commercial leaders which support the project proposed for funding.

B. Noncompeting Continuation Applications

A program narrative usually will not be required for

noncompeting continuation applications for nonconstruction programs.

Noncompeting continuation applications shall be abbreviated unless

the ACF Program Office admini

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