Independent Living_State Grants
Published on AidPage by
IDILOGIC on Jun 24, 2005
Purpose of this program:
To assist States in maximizing the leadership, empowerment, independence, and productivity of individuals with disabilities, and the integration and full inclusion of individuals with disabilities into the mainstream American society, by providing financial assistance for providing, expanding, and improving the provision of independent living services.
Possible uses and use restrictions...
Funds received under this Part may be used to support the operation of the Statewide Independent Living Councils (SILC), States may also use funds received under this Part for one or more of the following purposes: to provide independent living services to individuals with significant disabilities; to demonstrate ways to expand and improve independent living services; to support the operations of centers for independent living; to increase the capacities of public or nonprofit agencies and organizations and other entities to develop comprehensive approaches or systems for providing independent living services; to conduct studies and analyses, gather information, develop model polices and procedures, and present information, approaches, strategies, findings, conclusions, and recommendations to Federal, State, and local policymakers in order to enhance independent living services for individuals with disabilities; to train individuals with disabilities and individuals providing services to individuals with disabilities and other persons regarding the independent living philosophy; and to provide outreach to populations that are unserved or underserved by programs under this title, including minority groups and urban and rural populations.
Who is eligible to apply...
State agencies (including Territories) designated as the State unit to administer the State's independent living rehabilitation services program may apply.
Credentials/Documentation
The State agency must certify the availability of State funds for matching purposes. The match for this program may be in-kind. Costs will be determined in accordance with OMB Circular No. A-87 for State and local governments.
Note:This is a brief description of the credentials or documentation required prior to, or along with, an application for assistance.
About this section:
This section indicates who can apply to the Federal government for assistance and the criteria the potential applicant must satisfy.
For example, individuals may be eligible for research grants, and the criteria to be satisfied may be that they have a professional or scientific degree,
3 years of research experience, and be a citizen of the United States. Universities, medical schools, hospitals, or State and local governments may also be eligible.
Where State governments are eligible, the type of State agency will be indicated (State welfare agency or State agency on aging) and the criteria that they
must satisfy.
Certain federal programs (e.g., the Pell Grant program which provides grants to students) involve intermediate levels of application processing, i.e., applications
are transmitted through colleges or universities that are neither the direct applicant nor the ultimate beneficiary. For these programs,
the criteria that the intermediaries must satisfy are also indicated, along with intermediaries who are not eligible.
How to apply...
Application Procedure:
In order to be eligible for an allocation under this program, States must submit a State plan for independent living rehabilitation services (meeting requirements established under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended) no later than July 1, of the year preceding the year for which the plan is submitted. Beginning in fiscal year 1996, State applicants must submit a 3-year State plan. This plan must be submitted not later than July 1, of the year preceding the first year of the forth coming 3-year period. The plan is updated whenever necessary to reflect a material change in the administration of the plan. The State may choose to submit a consolidated 3-year rehabilitation plan that includes independent living rehabilitation services and either vocational rehabilitation services or both the State's rehabilitation plans and the State's plan for services for persons with developmental disabilities developed under the Developmental Disabilities Act. State vocational rehabilitation agencies submit State plans to the appropriate ED Regional Office. This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-110.
Note: Each program will indicate whether applications are to be submitted to the Federal headquarters, regional or local office, or to a State or local government office.
Award Procedure:
A notice of annual allotment to the State is issued. Initial distributions are subject to reallocation at the end of the fiscal year. States receive annual grant award notices and funds may be withdrawn under the Electronic Transfer System.
Note: Grant payments may be made by a letter of credit, advance by Treasury check, or reimbursement by Treasury check.
Awards may be made by the headquarters office directly to the applicant, an agency field office, a regional office,
or by an authorized county office. The assistance may pass through the initial applicant for further distribution by
intermediate level applicants to groups or individuals in the private sector.
Deadlines and process...
Deadlines
Three-year State plans for independent living rehabilitation services are submitted to the RSA Regional Program offices for approval no later than July 1, of the third year of each 3-year cycle.
Note:
When available, this section indicates the deadlines for applications to the funding agency which will
be stated in terms of the date(s) or between what dates the application should be received.
When not available, applicants should contact the funding agency for deadline information.
Range of Approval/Disapproval Time
The range has not been specified.
Preapplication Coordination
This program is eligible for coverage under E.O. 12372, "Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs." An applicant should consult the office or official designated as the single point of contact in his or her State for more information on the process the State requires to be followed in applying for assistance, if the State has selected the program for review. The standard application forms as furnished by the Federal agency and required by OMB Circular No. A-102 must be used for this program.
Note:
This section indicates whether any prior coordination or approval is required with governmental or nongovernmental units
prior to the submission of a formal application to the federal funding agency.
Appeals
After reasonable effort has been made to resolve the questions involved, the State may appeal to the United States Court of Appeals for the circuit in which the State is located.
Note:
In some cases, there are no provisions for appeal. Where applicable, this section discusses appeal procedures or allowable rework time for resubmission
of applications to be processed by the funding agency. Appeal procedures vary with individual programs and are either listed in this section or
applicants are referred to appeal procedures documented in the relevant Code of Federal Regulations (CFR).
Renewals
Not applicable.
Note:
In some instances, renewal procedures may be the same as for the application procedure, e.g., for projects of a non-continuing nature renewals will be treated as new, competing applications; for projects of an ongoing nature, renewals may be given annually.
Who can benefit...
Eligibility is based upon: a) The presence of a significant physical or mental impairment; b) the presence of a significant limitation in ability to function independently in the family or community or to engage in or continue in employment; and c) a reasonable expectation that services will assist the individual to improve ability to function independently in the family or community or to engage in or continue in employment.
Beneficiaries
About this section:
This section lists the ultimate beneficiaries of a program, the criteria they must satisfy and who specifically is not eligible. The applicant and beneficiary will generally be the same for programs that provide assistance directly from a Federal agency. However, financial assistance that passes through State or local governments will have different applicants and beneficiaries since the assistance is transmitted to private sector beneficiaries who are not obligated to request or apply for the assistance.
What types of assistance...
Formula Grants
Allocations of money to States or their subdivisions in accordance with distribution formulas prescribed by law or administrative regulation, for activities of a continuing nature not confined to a specific project.
How much financial aid...
Range and Average of Financial Assistance
The average award in 2003 was $420,000.
Note:
This section lists the representative range (smallest to largest) of the amount of financial assistance available. These figures are based upon funds awarded in the past fiscal year and the current fiscal year to date. Also indicated is an approximate average amount of awards which were made in the past and current fiscal years.
Obligations
(Grants) FY 03 $22,151,000; FY 04 est $22,020,000; and FY 05 est $22,020,000.
Note:
The dollar amounts listed in this section represent obligations for the past fiscal year (PY), estimates for the current fiscal year (CY), and estimates for the budget fiscal year (BY) as reported by the Federal agencies. Obligations for non-financial assistance programs indicate the administrative expenses involved in the operation of a program.
Account Identification
91-0301-0-1-506.
Note:
Note: This 11-digit budget account identification code represents the account which funds a particular program.
This code should be consistent with the code given for the program area as specified in Appendix III of the Budget of the United States Government.
Examples of funded projects...
Not applicable.
About this section
This section indicates the different types of projects which have been funded in the past. Only projects funded under Project Grants or Direct Payments for Specified Use should be listed here. The examples give potential applicants an idea of the types of projects that may be accepted for funding. The agency should list at least five examples of the most recently funded projects.
Program accomplishments...
In fiscal year 2003, 78 designated State units received funds.
Criteria for selecting proposals...
An approved State plan is a condition for receipt of funds under Title VII, Part B of the Rehabilitation Act.
Assistance considerations...
Length and Time Phasing of Assistance
Awards are issued quarterly.
Formula and Matching Requirements
Federal funds are distributed based on the percentage each State's population constitutes of the total population of the United States. The source is the Population Estimates Annual, Bureau of the Census. The Federal share for any fiscal year is one State dollar for every Federal dollar. The State contribution may be cash or in-kind.
Note:
A formula may be based on population, per capita income, and other statistical factors. Applicants are informed whether there are any matching requirements to be met when participating in the cost of a project. In general, the matching share represents that portion of the project costs not borne by the Federal government. Attachment F of OMB Circular No. A-102 (Office of Management and Budget) sets forth the criteria and procedures for the evaluation of matching share requirements which may be cash or in-kind contributions made by State and local governments or other agencies, institutions, private organizations, or individuals to satisfy matching requirements of Federal grants or loans.
Cash contributions represent the grantees' cash outlay, including the outlay of money contributed to the grantee by other public agencies, institutions, private organizations, or individuals. When authorized by Federal regulation, Federal funds received from other grants may be considered as the grantees' cash contribution.
In-kind contributions represent the value of noncash contributions provided by the grantee, other public agencies and institutions, private organizations or individuals. In-kind contributions may consist of charges for real property and equipment, and value of goods and services directly benefiting and specifically identifiable to the grant program. When authorized by Federal legislation, property purchased with Federal funds may be considered as grantees' in-kind contribution.
Maintenance of effort (MOE) is a requirement contained in certain legislation, regulations, or administrative policies stating that a grantee must maintain a specified level of financial effort in a specific area in order to receive Federal grant funds, and that the Federal grant funds may be used only to supplement, not supplant, the level of grantee funds.
Post assistance requirements...
Reports
As required by the Education Department General Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) for State-administered programs (34 CFR 76). Performance reports are required annually.
Note:
This section indicates whether program reports, expenditure reports, cash reports or performance monitoring are required by the Federal funding agency, and specifies at what time intervals (monthly, annually, etc.) this must be accomplished.
Audits
The Education Department periodically conducts audits and site visits of designated State unit programs funded under Part B. 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.
Note:
This section discusses audits required by the Federal agency.
The procedures and requirements for State and local governments and nonprofit entities are set forth in OMB Circular No. A-133.
These requirements pertain to awards made within the respective State's fiscal year - not the Federal fiscal year,
as some State and local governments may use the calendar year or other variation of time span designated as the fiscal year period,
rather than that commonly known as the Federal fiscal year (from October 1st through September 30th).
Records
As required by EDGAR for State-administered programs (34 CFR 76). Generally, States and subgrantees must retain records related to grant funds and compliance for a period of 5 years.
Note:
This section indicates the record retention requirements and the type of records the Federal agency may require.
Not included are the normally imposed requirements of the General Accounting Office.
For programs falling under the purview of OMB Circular No. A-102, record retention is set forth in Attachment C.
For other programs, record retention is governed by the funding agency's requirements.
Regulations...
Authorization
Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, Title VII, Chapter 1, Part B, 29 U.S.C. 796a-796e-3.
Note:
This section lists the legal authority upon which a program is based (acts, amendments to acts, Public Law numbers, titles, sections, Statute Codes, citations to the U.S. Code, Executive Orders, Presidential Reorganization Plans, and Memoranda from an agency head).
Regulations, Guidelines, And Literature
Independent Living Regulations 34 CFR 365.