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93.597 GRANTS TO STATES FOR ACCESS AND VISITATION
PROGRAMS

FEDERAL AGENCY

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

AUTHORIZATION

Social Security Act, Section 469B.

OBJECTIVES

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

TYPES OF ASSISTANCE

Project Grants.

USES AND USE RESTRICTIONS

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

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

Applicant Eligibility

All States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Virgin
Islands and Guam.

Beneficiary Eligibility

Custodial and non-custodial parents and children.

Credentials/Documentation

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

APPLICATION AND AWARD PROCESS

Preapplication Coordination

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

Application Procedure

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

Award Procedure

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

Deadlines

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

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time

From 60 to 120 days.

Appeals

There are no formal appeal procedures.

Renewals

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

ASSISTANCE CONSIDERATIONS

Formula and Matching Requirements

Grantees are required to share in the cost of projects. A
10% match is required. This can be provided by the State and local agency,
cash or in kind.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance

Funds will generally be granted on a 12 month basis.

POST ASSISTANCE REQUIREMENTS

Reports

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

Audits

In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-133
(Revised, June 27, 2003), "Audits of States, Local Governments, and
Nonprofit Organizations," nonfederal entities that expend financial
assistance of $500,000 or more in Federal awards will have a single or a
program-specific audit conducted for that year. Nonfederal entities that
expend less than $500,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal
audit requirements for that year, except as noted in Circular No. A-133.

Records

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

FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Account Identification

75-1501-0-1-609.

Obligations

FY 05 $10,000,000; FY 06 est $10,000,000; and FY 07 est
$12,000,000.

Range and Average of Financial Assistance

Figures will vary according to the allocation formula and
the amount of money States have spent on this activity in the past.

PROGRAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Every Governor has designated a State agency that will use
these grant funds to establish and administer programs to support and
facilitate non-custodial parents' access to and visitation of their
children. In fiscal year 2005 54 grants were awarded. It is estimated that
54 grants will be awarded in fiscal year 2006 and 62 in FY 2007.

REGULATIONS, GUIDELINES, AND LITERATURE

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

INFORMATION CONTACTS

Regional or Local Office

See Appendix IV of the Catalog for ACF Regional Offices.

Headquarters Office

Rob Cohen, Director, Consumer Services, Office of Child
Support Enforcement, 4th Floor, Aerospace Building, 370 L'Enfant Promenade
SW., Washington, DC 20447. Telephone: (202) 401-9373.

Web Site Address

http://www.acf.dhhs.gov/programs/cse

RELATED PROGRAMS

93.563, Child Support Enforcement.

EXAMPLES OF FUNDED PROJECTS

None.

CRITERIA FOR SELECTING PROPOSALS

Not applicable.

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