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93.583 REFUGEE AND ENTRANT ASSISTANCE_WILSON/FISH
PROGRAM

(Wilson/Fish program; Fish/Wilson Program)

FEDERAL AGENCY

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

AUTHORIZATION

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

OBJECTIVES

To develop alternative projects which promote early
employment of refugees, including certain Amerasian immigrants, Cuban and
Haitian entrants, asylees, and certified victims of a severe form of
trafficking. States, voluntary resettlement agencies, and other
resettlement organizations may develop innovative approaches for the
provision of refugee cash and medical assistance, social services, and
case management otherwise available through the State-administered
program. The purpose of the Wilson-Fish program is to provide integrated
services that include cash assistance, medical assistance and other
related services described above in order to increase refugees' prospects
for early employment and self-sufficiency, reduce their level of welfare
dependence, and promote coordination among voluntary resettlement agencies
and services providers. In addition, the WF program allows ORR to ensure
that refugee assistance programs exist in every State where refugees are
resettled. Projects must serve all eligible refugees in a community. There
are two categories for applications. Category one provides an opportunity
for an applicant to continue the provision of refugee program services and
assistance in a State when the State elects to discontinue participation
or is not currently participating in the program of refugee resettlement.
There are currently 6 WF programs which fall under Category one (Alabama,
Alaska, Idaho, Kentucky, Nevada, and South Dakota. Category two provides
applicants an opportunity to implement alternative projects to promote
self-sufficiency and coordinate services more effectively. There are 5
Category II WF programs (Colorado, Massachusetts, North Dakota, Vermont,
and San Diego.

TYPES OF ASSISTANCE

Project Grants (Cooperative Agreements).

USES AND USE RESTRICTIONS

The Wilson/Fish demonstration program diverts a portion of
funds earmarked for the State-administered program for refugee cash and
medical assistance and social service to conduct alternative projects
which promote refugee early employment and self-sufficiency. Funds may be
used only for the purposes set forth in the grant award. Assistance is
limited to refugees, asylees, including Cuban and Haitian entrants,
Amerasian immigrants and trafficking victims, as defined in the
authorizing Acts. The refugee must document his immigration status in
order to be eligible for assistance. Federal policy governs other
eligibility factors. The scope of services available to refugees from
Wilson/Fish grantees is similar to that of the State-Administered Refugee
Resettlement Programs, which in turn is similar to regular domestic public
assistance programs. Hurricane Katrina/Rita Special Provisions: the
60-month limitation at 45 CFR 400.152(b) has been waived for the provision
of social services to refugees who have been in the U.S. for more than 60
months. The waiver is for the period September 1, 2005 through September
30, 2006 for all Wilson/Fish grantees. The decision to waive the time
limitation on a national basis is for the purpose of providing critical
social services to victims of Katrina/Rita who are in desperate need of
these services. This waiver is appropriate and consistent with refugee
policy objectives.

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

Applicant Eligibility

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

Beneficiary Eligibility

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

Credentials/Documentation

Persons for whom assistance is authorized are limited to
the following groups of aliens with appropriated documentation from the
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS), formerly Immigration and
Naturalizations Services (INS): (1) Refugees admitted under section 207 of
the INA and asylees admitted under section 208; (2) Cuban and Haitian
entrants with documentation from the BCIS as to status allowed under
section 501 of the Refugee Education Assistance Act of 1980; and certain
Amerasian immigrants from Viet Nam admitted under section 584 of the
Foreign Operations, Export Financing, and Related Programs Appropriations
Act (1988) or title II of the Foreign Operations, Export Financing, and
Related Programs Appropriations Acts of 1989, 1990, and 1991. Cost
principles for nonprofit organizations will be determined by OMB Circular
No. A-122. Victims of a severe form of trafficking who have received a
certification or eligibility letter from ORR are also eligible. Cost
principles for State and local governments are found under OMB Circular
No. A-87.

APPLICATION AND AWARD PROCESS

Preapplication Coordination

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

Application Procedure

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

Award Procedure

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

Deadlines

Closing dates for new projects is January 31 of each year.
Closing date for existing projects is April 30 of each year.

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time

From 60 to 90 days.

Appeals

Not applicable.

Renewals

Renewals or extensions require additional approvals.

ASSISTANCE CONSIDERATIONS

Formula and Matching Requirements

This program has no statutory formula or matching
requirements.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance

Generally, funds made available for this program will be
for 1-year budget periods, but may be for project periods for no longer
than 4 years.

POST ASSISTANCE REQUIREMENTS

Reports

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

Audits

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

Records

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

FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Account Identification

75-1503-0-1-609.

Obligations

(Grants) FY 05 $19,000,000; FY 06 est $20,000,000; and FY
07 est $23,000,000.

Range and Average of Financial Assistance

In Fiscal Year 2005, program funding totaled $25.5M of
which $17.8M was allocated to cover the cash, medical and administration
(CMA) costs. WF agencies receive ORR funding through two separate awards:
the CMA which is part of the Transitional and Medical Services line-item
and the Formula Refugee Social Services (RSS). In Fiscal Year 2006, $20M
was approved for the WF program. WF agencies will also receive formula RSS
allocations.

PROGRAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS

In Fiscal Year 2005, 2 new projects and 9 projects were
continued. Approximately 5,500 clients were served. Projects successfully
provided incentives to refugees to obtain early employment (65.2%),
employment retention (90.1%), cash assistance termination (64.8%), cash
assistance reduction (17.1%), entered employment with health benefits
(83.9%), and the average at employment is at $8.63. These projects
continued in fiscal year 2006, and early employment incentives are
included for program participants to bolster self-sufficiency. It is
anticipated that a similar level of participants will continue in FY 07.

REGULATIONS, GUIDELINES, AND LITERATURE

Program announcements are no longer published in the
Federal Register. All inquiries should be directed to the Information
Contacts listed below.

INFORMATION CONTACTS

Regional or Local Office

Not applicable.

Headquarters Office

For program information, contact Carl Rubenstein, Office of
Refugee Resettlement, Administration for Children and Families, Department
of Health and Human Services, 8th Floor, West, 370 L'Enfant Promenade,
SW., Washington DC 20447. Telephone: (202)205-5933. For grants
administration information, contact the Office of Financial Management,
Administration for Children and Families at the same address.

Web Site Address

http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/orr

RELATED PROGRAMS

93.566, Refugee and Entrant Assistance_State Administered
Programs; 93.567, Refugee and Entrant Assistance_Voluntary Agency
Programs; 93.576, Refugee and Entrant Assistance_Discretionary Grants.

EXAMPLES OF FUNDED PROJECTS

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

CRITERIA FOR SELECTING PROPOSALS

Notice of the criteria for awarding funds or other program
announcement for each type of demonstration is available by contacting
ORR. Please refer to the Information Contact section for more information.

General Services Administration
Office of Chief Acquisition
Officer
Regulatory and Federal Assistance Division (VIR)