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Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance

Program Descriptions

16.583:  Children's Justice Act Partnerships for Indian Communities

Objectives:  Fifteen percent of the first $10 million of funds from the Crime Victims Fund that are transferred to the Department of Health and Human Services as part of the Children's Justice Act are to be statutorily reserved by the Office for Victims of Crime (OVC) to make grants for the purpose of assisting Native American Indian tribes in developing, establishing, and operating programs designed to improve the handling of child abuse cases, particularly cases of child sexual abuse, in a manner which limits additional trauma to the child victim and improves the investigation and prosecution of cases of child abuse.

PROGRAM AND AWARD	FINANCIAL AND INFORMATION CONTACTS
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS	FINANCIAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFO.
APPLICATION AND AWARD PROCESS	INFORMATION CONTACTS
RELATED PROGRAMS	ASSISTANCE CONSIDERATIONS
PROGRAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS	POST ASSISTANCE REQUIREMENTS

16.583 ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:

Applicant Eligibility:  Federally recognized Indian tribal governments and nonprofit Indian organizations that provide services to Native Americans. Specific criteria will vary depending on the grant.

Beneficiary Eligibility:  Native American youth who are victims of child abuse and/or child sexual abuse.

Credentials/Documentation:  Applications must be on Standard Form 424 at a time specified by the Office for Victims of Crime, Office of Justice Programs and must: (1) contain OJP Form 4061/6 (Certifications Regarding Lobbying; Debarment, Suspension and Other Responsibility Matters; and Drug-Free Workplace Requirements); (2) assure that the grantee will provide such accounting, auditing, monitoring and evaluation procedures as may be necessary, and keep such records as the Office of Justice Programs may prescribe, to assure fiscal control, proper management and efficient disbursement of Federal funds; (3) assure that the Grantee will submit to the Office of Justice Programs a semiannual performance report of data and information as required; (4) assure that the Grantee will adhere to the audit and financial management requirements set forth in the effective edition of the OJP Financial Guide, and (5) certify that the information in the application is correct and that the Grantee will comply with all applicable provisions of the Victims of Crime Act and other Federal laws, regulations, and circulars, including Subtitle A, Title II of the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) 1990.

16.583 APPLICATION AND AWARD PROCESS:

Preapplication Coordination:  The standard application form furnished by the Federal agency in accordance with 28 CFR, Part 66 (Common Rule) must be used for all grants made by OVC. This program is excluded from coverage under E.O. 12372.

Application Procedure:  In accordance with the Common Rule, Standard Form 424 must be submitted by nonfederal agencies in applying for funding under this program. These are available from the grantor agency.

Award Procedure:  The Director, Office for Victims of Crime, Office of Justice Programs has final approval authority. Grants are made directly to Indian tribes as defined in Section 450(b) of the Indian Self Determination and Education Assistance Act. Awards may also be granted to nonprofit organizations that provide services to Native Americans or State or local governments. Generally, awards will be made on a competitive basis with applications reviewed by a panel of subject matter experts who will assess application submissions based on established criteria and forward a recommendation to the Director.

Deadlines:  Deadlines will be announced by OVC in the Federal Register. For a copy of the Federal Register notice and Application kit, or to have your name placed on OVC's mailing list, contact OVC's Reply Line at (202) 616-1926 or write to Office for Victims of Crime, 810 Seventh Street, NW., Washington, DC 20531. Phone (202) 307-5983.

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time:  From 4 to 6 months.

Appeals:  Hearing by the Assistant Attorney General, Office of Justice Programs.

Renewals:  Awards range from 12 to 36 months. Renewals are considered on a case-by case-basis.

Criteria for Selecting Proposals:  General criteria for selecting proposals are spelled out in the Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1988, Public Law 100-690, Section 1402. Additional criteria will be developed by the Office for Victims of Crime and will be published in the Federal Register and OJP grant packages.

Examples of Funded Projects:  Tribes will implement a variety of programs to improve the way in which child sexual abuse cases are handled in Indian country. Examples of some of the activities are: development of written protocols between agencies to minimize the number of child interviews and improve case management; provision of child advocacy in the court process; reduction in the amount of time required to investigate cases of child sexual abuse; revision of tribal codes to include child abuse; establishment of special multidisciplinary child interviewing teams; provision of specialized training for investigators and judicial personnel; and hiring of staff to increase the numbers of child sexual abuse cases prosecuted in tribal, State, and Federal courts. CJA funds will also be used for training and technical assistance for tribes in implementing the grants awarded.

Range and Average of Financial Assistance:  Not applicable.

16.583 RELATED PROGRAMS:

• 16.582 Crime Victim Assistance/Discretionary Grants.

16.583 PROGRAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS:

16.583 FINANCIAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFO:

Federal Agency:  OFFICE OF JUSTICE PROGRAMS, OFFICE FOR VICTIMS OF CRIME, DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

Type of Assistance:  Project Grants; Direct Payments for Specified Use.

Obligations:  (Grants) FY 99 $2,043,385; FY 00 est $1,500,000; and FY 01 est $1,500,000.

Budget Account Number:  15-5041-0-2-754.

Authorization:  Victims of Crime Act of 1984 (VOCA), as amended, Public Law 98-473; Children's Justice and Assistance Act of 1986, Public Law 99-401, as amended; Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1988, Public Law 100-690, Section 1402 (g)(L); Departments of Commerce, Justice, State, the Judiciary, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act of 1995; Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994; Subtitle C, Public Law 104-132; Anti-Terrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act of 1996.

Regulations, Guidelines, and Literature:  Applications and current edition of the Financial Guide are available by writing to the Office for Victims of Crime, Office of Justice Programs, Department of Justice, 810 Seventh Street, NW., Washington, DC 20531.

16.583 INFO CONTACTS:

Regional or Local Office:  None.

Headquarters Office:  Cathy Sanders, Deputy Director, Federal Crime Victims Division, Office for Victims of Crime, Office of Justice Programs, Department of Justice, 810 Seventh Street, NW., Washington, DC 20531. Phone: (202) 616-3578. Use the same number for FTS. Internet e-mail: cathy@ojp.usdoj.gov.

(See Appendix IV for more contact info.)

16.583 ASSISTANCE CONSIDERATIONS:

Formula and Matching Requirements:  10% year 1; 15% year 2; 25% year 3 in-kind matching requirement.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance:  Grants are generally awarded for a 12 to 36 month time period.

Uses and Use Restrictions:  Funds are available specifically for the purpose of assisting Indian tribes in developing, establishing, and operating programs designed to improve (a) the handling of child abuse cases, particularly cases of child sexual abuse, in a manner which limits additional trauma to the victim and (b) the investigation and prosecution of cases of child abuse, particularly child sexual abuse.

16.583 POST ASSISTANCE REQUIREMENTS:

Reports:  Quarterly and final financial reports and semi- annual program performance reports will be required as stipulated in the effective edition of the OJP Financial Guide. A final financial and program report also will be required.

Audits:  All organizations that expend financial assistance of $300,000 or more in any fiscal year must have a single audit for that year in accordance with OMB Circular No. A-133, as amended, unless the audit condition on the award says otherwise. These audits are due to the cognizant Federal agency not later than 9 months after the end of the grantee's fiscal year.

Records:  Financial records, supporting documents, statistical records, and all other records pertinent to a grant shall be retained for a period of three years.