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Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance

Program Descriptions

CATALOG OF FEDERAL DOMESTIC ASSISTANCE

94.011:  Foster Grandparent Program

Popular Name:  FGP

Objectives:  The Foster Grandparent Program provides grants to qualified agencies and organizations for the dual purpose of engaging persons 60 older, particularly those with limited incomes, in volunteer service to meet critical community needs; and to provide a high quality volunteer experience that will enrich the lives of the volunteers. Program funds are used to support Foster Grandparents in providing supportive, person to person service to children with exceptional or special needs.

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


94.011 ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:

Applicant Eligibility:  Grants are made only to State and local government agencies and private nonprofit organizations.

Beneficiary Eligibility:  Foster Grandparents must be: 60 years of age or older, with an income within limits determined by the CEO of the Corporation for National Service (based on the Department of Health and Human Services Poverty Guidelines), and interested in serving infants, children, and youth with special or exceptional needs. (However, individuals who are not income eligible may serve as non-stipended volunteers under certain conditions.) They must be physically, mentally, and emotionally capable and willing to serve selected infants, children or youth on a person-to-person basis.

Credentials/Documentation:  The applicant must furnish evidence of: availability of income-eligible older persons, eligible volunteer stations, and the ability to provide sufficient matching nonfederal funds. Nonprofit organizations must furnish: proof of nonprofit status, articles of incorporation, and certification of accounting capability. Costs will be determined in accordance with OMB Circulars No. A-21 for educational institutions, No. A-87 for State and local governments and No. A-122 for nonprofit organizations.

94.011 APPLICATION AND AWARD PROCESS:

Preapplication Coordination:  Organizations interested in exploring the possibility of developing a local FGP project should contact the appropriate Corporation for National Service State Program Office. The application forms (modified by the Corporation for National Service with OMB approval), as furnished by the Corporation for National Service and required by OMB Circular No. A-102, must be used for this Program. 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.

Application Procedure:  Applications are submitted to the Corporation for National Service State Program Office. This Program is subject to the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-110 and A-102 for State and local governments.

Award Procedure:  Grants are awarded by the Corporation for National Service. States will be notified of awards through the Federal Assistance Awards Data System (FAADS).

Deadlines:  Contact the Corporation for National and Community Service State Office for application deadlines.

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time:  120 days after receipt of application by the Corporation for National Service.

Appeals:  No formal appeals for denial of initial grant application, but regulations provide for hearings on terminations and suspensions, and opportunity to show cause in cases of denial of refunding.

Renewals:  Grant renewal applications, usually required annually, are submitted 120 days prior to the end of the current budget period.

Criteria for Selecting Proposals:  The corporation-wide evaluation criteria: program design: getting things done; well-documented compelling community needs(s); well-designed activities with measurable goals and objectives that meet community needs; well-defined roles for participants that lead to measurable outcomes/impact; effective involvement of target community in planning/implementation; ability to provide or secure effective technical assistance. Strengthening Communities: Strong community partnerships, including well-defined roles for community partners; Potential for sustainability, innovation, and/or replicability of project activities; enhance capacity of organizations and institutions; mobilization of community resources, including volunteers; Bring together people of diverse backgrounds. Participant Development; Effective plan for recruiting, developing, training, supervising, and recognizing participants; Well-designed plan to engage participants in high-quality service-learning as defined by the Corporation; well-designed plan for participants to learn to serve together with people of diverse backgrounds. Organizational Capacity: Ability to provide sound programmatic and fiscal oversight; sound track record in the issue areas(s) to be addressed by the project; well-defined roles for staff and administrators; well-designed plans or systems for self-assessment, evaluation and continuous improvement. Budge/Cost-Effectiveness: Adequate budget to support program design; commitment of applicant organization/host agency to securing resources for program implementation and/or sustainability; cost-effectiveness within program guidance.

Examples of Funded Projects:  The following exemplifies FGP service: Foster Grandparents serve seriously ill children, many with cancer, at a medical center. The volunteers help the children deal with their illnesses, as well as their temporary separation from their families. While often afraid of the hospital staff, the children "know" that they can trust their Foster Grandparents. Another Foster Grandparent who serves HIV/AIDS toddlers promotes social interaction, sensory stimulation and perception, emotional well-being and language development. Two other Foster Grandparents offer chess instruction to at-risk, elementary school children for 10-week sessions in an effort to provide behavioral modification. Foster Grandparents serve in various settings by assisting children with a variety of physical, emotional, or mental disabilities. The following statistics suggest the scope of their service. In fiscal year 1997, 771 Foster Grandparents served in over 215 residential and juvenile detention centers where they assisted youth by providing adult guidance, companionship, and emotional support. Over 9,000 Foster Grandparents served at about 3,200 schools where they helped children with literacy needs and a range of other problems. Over 4,100 Foster Grandparents served in Head Start Centers. Other volunteers served children who are victims of child and sexual abuse. Some 717 Foster Grandparents served as adult role models and taught parenting skills to over 4,300 teenage mothers. In the area of substance abuse, almost 900 Foster Grandparents provided counseling and assistance to almost 5,000 youths.

Range and Average of Financial Assistance:  From $0 to $1,916,150; $301,550.

94.011 RELATED PROGRAMS:

  • 94.002 Retired and Senior Volunteer Program;
  • 94.016 Senior Companion Program.

94.011 PROGRAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS:

In fiscal year 1999, the Foster Grandparent Program provided 22,900 volunteer service years (VSYs) to 309 community-based projects. There were also 24 non-Corporation projects which served a total of 89,000 children with exceptional or special needs. Special emphasis was placed on terminally ill children, juvenile delinquents, pregnant teenagers, boarder babies and abused children.

94.011 FINANCIAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE INFO:

Federal Agency:  CORPORATION FOR NATIONAL AND COMMUNITY SERVICE

Type of Assistance:  Project Grants.

Obligations:  FY 99 $93,256,000; FY 00 est $95,988,000; and FY 01 est $97,782,000.

Budget Account Number:  44-0103-0-1-506.

Authorization:  Domestic Volunteer Service Act of 1973, as amended, Title II, Part B, Section 211, Public Law 93-113, 42 U.S.C. 5011, as amended; National and Community Service Trust Act of 1993, Public Law 103-82.

Regulations, Guidelines, and Literature:  45 CFR 1208; Foster Grandparent Program brochure.

94.011 INFO CONTACTS:

Regional or Local Office:  Corporation for National Service as listed in Appendix IV of the Catalog under the Corporation for National Service.

Headquarters Office:  National Senior Service Corps, Foster Grandparent Program, Corporation for National Service, 1201 New York Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20525. Phone: (202) 606-5000 ext. 181 and 1-800-424-8867.

(See Appendix IV for more contact info.)

94.011 ASSISTANCE CONSIDERATIONS:

Formula and Matching Requirements:  This Program has no statutory formula. Generally, at least 10 percent of the total project costs must be met by the applicant. In exceptional cases, the CEO of the Corporation for National Service may make grants in excess of 90 percent of total project budget costs.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance:  Grant budget periods generally are 1 year, with an opportunity to amend each year. Funds are released monthly or quarterly depending on size of grant.

Uses and Use Restrictions:  The grants may be used for: low-income Foster Grandparent stipends, transportation, physical examinations, and meals; staff salaries and fringe benefits, staff travel, equipment, space costs, etc. An amount equal to 80 percent of the corporation for National Service's Federal share must be used for Foster Grandparent direct benefits. Assignment of Foster Grandparents to children and youth may occur in residential and non-residential facilities, including preschool establishments and to children living in their own homes. Volunteers are not to supplant hiring or displace employed workers, or impair existing contracts for service. No agency supervising volunteers shall request or receive compensation for services of the volunteers. Volunteers are not to be involved in and funds are not to be used for religious activities, labor or anti-labor organization, lobbying, or partisan or non-partisan political activities. In addition, eligible agencies or organizations may, under a Memorandum of Agreement with the Corporation for National Service, receive technical assistance and materials to aid in establishing and operating a non-Corporation funded Foster Grandparent Program project using local funds.

94.011 POST ASSISTANCE REQUIREMENTS:

Reports:  Corporation for National Service Quarterly Financial Status Report, Project Progress Report, Federal Cash Transactions Report Project Profile and Volunteer Activity Survey, National Accomplishment Survey and customer satisfaction survey.

Audits:  The Corporation for National Service grants are subject to audit by the Corporation for National Service, the General Accounting Office, other Federal agencies, and contract auditors. In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-133, "Audits of States, Local Governments, and Non-Profit Organizations," grantees that receive financial assistance of $300,000 or more a year in Federal awards shall have an audit made in accordance with OMB Circular No. A-133. Grantees that receive between $25,000 and $300,000 a year in Federal awards shall have an audit made in accordance with OMB Circular No. A-133, or in accordance with Federal laws and regulations governing the programs in which they participate.

Records:  All financial records for each budget period, including receipts, disbursements, and vouchers for Federal and non-Federal costs; copies of all contracts; personnel records; and job descriptions must be available for a period of 3 years from date of submission of Final Financial Status Report.

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Last Updated, November, 2000             Comments or Questions?           ©Grant Community.com 2000, All Rights Reserved