[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 57 (Monday, March 25, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 13609-13612]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-7112]


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CORPORATION FOR NATIONAL AND COMMUNITY SERVICE


Availability of Funds for Grants to Support New Senior Companion 
and Foster Grandparent Projects

AGENCY: Corporation for National and Community Service.

ACTION: Notice of availability of funds.

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SUMMARY: The Corporation for National and Community Service 
(hereinafter, the ``Corporation'') announces the availability of 
funding for grants to support three new Senior Companion projects in 
geographic areas that do not fall within approved service areas of 
current Corporation-funded Senior Companion projects and three new 
Foster Grandparent projects in geographic areas that do not fall within 
approved service areas of current Corporation-funded Foster Grandparent 
projects. The purpose of the Senior Companion Program (SCP) is to 
provide opportunities for income eligible

[[Page 13610]]

individuals 60 years of age and over to serve adults with special 
needs. The purpose of the Foster Grandparent Program (FGP) is to 
provide opportunities for income eligible individuals 60 years of age 
and over to serve children and youth with special or exceptional needs 
on a person to person basis.
    On November 8, 2001, President Bush announced that the Corporation 
will support homeland security in the coming year, and the Corporation 
encourages applicants for these grants to include appropriate 
activities for Foster Grandparents and Senior Companions that help 
support homeland security. The Corporation defines homeland security to 
include activities that support public safety, public health, and 
disaster preparedness and relief.
    Individual Senior Companion grant awards will be approximately 
$211,825 to cover the costs of 48 Senior Companion service years for 
twelve months. Individual Foster Grandparent grant awards will be 
approximately $192,265 to cover the costs of 44 Foster Grandparent 
service years for twelve months.

DATES: Applications must arrive at the Corporation for National and 
Community Service by 5:00 p.m. (Eastern Daylight Time), May 31, 2002. 
The Corporation will not accept applications that are submitted via 
facsimile. Due to delays in delivery of regular U.S.P.S. mail to 
government offices, there is no guarantee that your application will 
arrive in time to be considered. We suggest that you use U.S.P.S. 
priority mail or a commercial overnight delivery service. We anticipate 
announcing selections under this Notice no later than June 28, 2002.

ADDRESSES: One unbound, single-sided original and two copies of the 
application must be submitted to the following address: Corporation for 
National and Community Service, National Senior Service Corps, 1201 New 
York Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20525, Attn: Mr. John Keller. All 
applicants are encouraged voluntarily to submit two additional copies 
of the application to expedite the review process. Applications must 
arrive at the Corporation for National and Community Service by 5:00 
p.m. (Eastern Daylight Time), May 31, 2002. The Corporation will not 
accept applications that are submitted via facsimile. Due to delays in 
delivery of regular U.S.P.S. mail to government offices, there is no 
guarantee that your application will arrive in time to be considered. 
We suggest that you use U.S.P.S. priority mail or a commercial 
overnight delivery service.
    Applications: Application guidelines and instructions can be 
obtained by contacting the appropriate Corporation State Office. 
Information on how to contact state offices is located on our Web site: 
www.nationalservice.org. Click on ``Contact Us'' at the bottom of the 
page. Applicants are urged to pay close attention to these application 
materials. They contain a wide variety of relevant requirements, 
including non-federal contributions, the amounts of stipends volunteers 
may receive, and the requirements for organizations proposing to 
operate a project.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Contact John Keller at 202-606-5000 
ext. 285. TDD (202) 565-2799. This Notice is available in an 
alternative format for people with visual impairments.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    The Corporation is a federal government corporation that encourages 
Americans of all ages and backgrounds to engage in community-based 
service to meet the nation's educational, public safety, environmental 
and other human needs. In doing so, the Corporation fosters civic 
responsibility, strengthens the ties that bind us together as a people, 
and provides educational opportunity for those who make a substantial 
commitment to service. This year, the Corporation will help support 
more than 1.5 million Americans who perform substantial service in 
communities across the country.
    In the State of the Union address, the President announced that the 
USA Freedom Corps will build on the great American ethic of service. 
The USA Freedom Corps will promote a culture of responsibility, 
service, and citizenship. It will work with key service agencies in 
government and the nonprofit sector to provide incentives and new 
opportunities to serve at home and abroad. The USA Freedom Corps will 
draw from Americans of all ages and of every background. The 
Corporation for National and Community Service and its programs--
National Senior Service Corps, AmeriCorps, and Learn and Serve 
America--are part of the efforts under the USA Freedom Corps. The 
programs of the National Senior Service Corps include the Senior 
Companion and Foster Grandparent Programs as well as the Retired and 
Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP).

Program Period of Performance

    The program period for all grants is twelve months. Future funding 
is contingent on performance and the availability of appropriations.

Application Instructions

    To be considered for funding, applications must meet all of the 
criteria and requirements contained in this Notice. The Grant 
Application, CNCS Form 424-NSSC, and supplemental guidelines and 
instructions, can be obtained by contacting the appropriate Corporation 
State Office. The Corporation State Office can also advise applicants 
concerning the service areas covered by existing projects. Information 
on how to contact state offices is located on our Web site: 
www.nationalservice.org. Click on ``Contact Us'' at the bottom of the 
page. Applicants are urged to pay close attention to these application 
materials. They contain a wide variety of relevant requirements, 
including non-federal contributions, the amounts of stipends volunteers 
may receive, and the requirements for organizations proposing to 
operate a project. Applicants must submit all forms and attachments 
specified in the Grant Application and supplemental guidelines and 
instructions.

Selection Criteria

    The Corporation will initially determine: (1) Whether the 
organization is eligible; (2) whether the application contains all the 
required information, and (3) whether the geographic location of the 
proposed project is an approved geographic service area that does not 
currently have a project funded by the Corporation under the respective 
program (FGP or SCP) for which they are applying.
    After this initial screening, the Corporation will select and 
evaluate applications based on the following criteria: Program Design 
(60%) Organizational Capacity (25%), and Budget/Cost-Effectiveness 
(15%). Details on the application criteria will be available in the 
application package available from Corporation state offices. The 
Corporation will take into consideration the following factors after 
the proposals are assessed:
     Geographic location: The Corporation will assure a mix of 
urban and rural sites.
     Diversity: The Corporation will select organizations whose 
local projects have the capacity to recruit ethnic and racial 
minorities, males, and persons with disabilities.

[[Page 13611]]

Program Authority

    Corporation Authority to make these grants is codified in 42 U.S.C. 
4950 et seq.

Additional Information Concerning the Specific Funding Available

Senior Companion Projects

The Senior Companion Program
    The Senior Companion Program (SCP) is authorized by the Domestic 
Volunteer Service Act of 1973, as amended (Public Law 93-113, Title II, 
Part C, 42 U.S.C. 5013) and provides opportunities for income eligible 
individuals 60 years of age and over to serve adults with special 
needs. The SCP was launched in 1974 with its first 11 projects. Today 
there are over 17,000 Senior Companions serving 55,000 frail adults 
annually in 218 local SCP projects. These Senior Companions provide 
high quality and reliable personal support to adults, primarily the 
frail elderly, experiencing difficulties with activities of daily 
living, allowing them to live independently in their own homes for as 
long as possible. The SCP focuses on those with moderate physical, 
mental, or emotional impairments who are without adequate family 
support and who in the absence of non-medical support services would be 
at risk of institutionalization. Senior Companions also assist clients 
in patient discharge programs at acute care, mental health, and long-
term care facilities to make the transition to living in less 
restrictive community settings. Some Senior Companions provide short-
term respite for primary caregivers of frail adults in times of special 
need. Senior Companions have also helped their clients participate in 
emergency response drills, supplied information about crime prevention, 
and accompanied them to meetings where safety, health, and disaster 
response concerns are addressed.
Purpose
    The purpose of this funding is to start new Senior Companion 
projects in geographic locations currently unserved by this program.
    In addition, the Corporation encourages applicants for these grants 
to include, where appropriate, activities for Senior Companions that 
help support homeland security. The Corporation defines homeland 
security to include activities that support public safety, public 
health, and disaster preparedness and relief. For example, applicants 
for a Senior Companion project may propose activities that engage 
Senior Companions in:
     Providing clients with information and education related 
to the community's public safety, public health, and disaster 
preparedness and disaster mitigation plans and activities.
     Assisting their clients to participate in emergency 
response drills.
     Supplying clients with information on crime avoidance.
     Identifying potential safety, health, or emergency 
preparedness problems in their clients' homes, institutional 
environments, or neighborhoods and bringing these to the attention of 
professional case workers or other appropriate agencies.
     Providing transportation and/or escorting clients for 
medical appointments, immunizations, errands, etc.
     Providing respite to families of caregivers by caring for 
an adult with special needs and permitting the primary caregiver to 
attend meetings, volunteer, or simply become informed about local 
homeland security measures.
     Participating as a link between clients and community 
activities to prevent bias-related disorder or violence.
     Assisting crime victims who are frail or suffer from 
physical, mental, or emotional disabilities, where Senior Companions 
give support and assistance, including special referrals, as victims 
recover from trauma of crime and related losses.
     Assisting adults who are discharged from residential 
health care facilities, especially acute care facilities, who can be 
helped to resume a greater degree of independent living.
    The above are examples only. Local communities will determine the 
best strategies for integrating Senior Companions into homeland 
security efforts, consistent with the purpose of the program. 
Applicants are encouraged to be creative about how Senior Companions 
can be part of a community or statewide effort to support homeland 
security. For example, SCP projects can establish relationships with 
local Citizens Corps Councils being supported at the state level by 
Governors and coordinated at the federal level by the Federal Emergency 
Management Agency (FEMA). For further information on these councils, 
visit www.citizenscorps.gov. Where Citizen Corps Councils have not yet 
been created, projects might be able to collaborate with local 
organizations that will make up the Citizen's Corps Council, such as 
Neighborhood Watches, emergency response programs, police volunteer 
programs, etc.
Eligible Applicants
    Public agencies (including state and local agencies and other units 
of government), non-profit organizations, institutions of higher 
education and Indian Tribes are eligible to apply. Sponsors of Senior 
Companion projects that receive no funds from the Corporation, other 
than funding for Programs of National Significance (PNS), are eligible 
to apply. Current sponsors of Senior Companion projects funded by the 
Corporation are not eligible to apply for funding of a new Senior 
Companion project.
    An organization described in section 501(c)(4) of the Internal 
Revenue Code of 1986, (26 U.S.C. 501(c)(4)) that engages in lobbying 
activities is not eligible to apply, serve as a host site for 
volunteers, or act in any type of supervisory role in the program.
Number and Amount of Awards
    The Corporation intends to fund three Senior Companion projects in 
approved service areas that do not currently have a local project of 
the Senior Companion Program. The average amount of awards will be 
approximately $211,825.
Applicable Regulations
    Regulations governing the SCP are located in 45 CFR part 2551. 
These will be provided as part of the application materials.

Foster Grandparent Projects

The Foster Grandparent Program
    The Foster Grandparent Program (FGP) is authorized by the Domestic 
Volunteer Service Act of 1973, as amended (P.L. 93-113, Title II, Part 
B, 42 U.S.C. 5011 and provides opportunities for income eligible 
individuals 60 years of age and over to serve children and youth with 
special or exceptional needs on a person to person basis. The Foster 
Grandparent Program provides communities with valuable service by 
empowering older adults to contribute to their communities through 
volunteer service, enhance the lives of the volunteers and those whom 
they serve. The program began in 1965 as a national demonstration 
designed to show how low-income persons age 60 and over have the 
maturity and experience to establish a personal relationship with 
children having either special or exceptional needs. Today there are 
34,000 Foster Grandparents providing care and attention every day to 
more than 220,000 qualified children and youth annually in 339 local 
FGP projects. Foster Grandparents volunteer in schools, hospitals, drug 
treatment centers, correctional institutions, and

[[Page 13612]]

Head Start and day care centers. They offer emotional support to 
children who have been abused and neglected, mentor troubled teeagers 
and young mothers, care for premature infants and children with 
physical disabilities or servere illnesses, including AIDS. In the 
aftermath of the September 11 tragedy, many Foster Grandparents were 
important sources of reassurance to the children in their care. The 
special relationship and high level of personal care provided by Foster 
Grandparents helps young people grow, gain confidence, and become more 
productive members of society.
Purpose
    The purpose of this funding is to start new Foster Grandparent 
projects in geographic locations currently unserved by this program.
    In addition, the Corporation encourages applicants for these grants 
to include, where appropriate, activities for Foster Grandparents that 
help support homeland security. The Corporation defines homeland 
security to include activities that support public safety, public 
health, and disaster preparedness and relief. For example, applicants 
for a Foster Grandparent project may propose activities that engage 
Foster Grandparents in:
     Providing children with age-appropriate information and 
education related to the community's public safety, public health, and 
disaster preparedness and disaster mitigation plans and activities.
     Assisting children to participate in emergency response 
drills.
     Supplying children with information on crime avoidance.
     Identifying potential safety, health, or emergency 
preparedness problems in institutional environments, or neighborhoods 
and bringing these to the attention of professional caseworkers or 
other appropriate agencies.
     Providing temporary respite to families of caregivers by 
caring for disabled or chronically ill children living at home, thereby 
permitting the primary caregiver to attend meetings, volunteer, or 
simply become informed about local homeland security measures.
     Participating as a link between children and community 
activities to prevent bias-related disorder or violence.
     Assisting children who are discharged from residential 
health care facilities, especially acute care facilities, who can be 
helped to resume a greater degree of independent living.
    The above are examples only. Local communities will determine the 
best strategies for integrating Foster Grandparents into homeland 
security efforts, consistent with the purpose of the program. 
Applicants are encouraged to be creative about how Foster Grandparents 
can be part of a community or statewide effort to support homeland 
security. For example, FGP projects can establish relationships with 
local Citizens Corps Councils being supported at the state level by 
Governors and coordinated at the federal level by the Federal Emergency 
Management Agency (FEMA). For further information on these councils, 
visit www.citizenscorps.gov. Where Citizen Corps Councils have not yet 
been created, projects might be able to collaborate with local 
organizations that will make up the Citizen's Corps Council, such as 
Neighborhood Watches, emergency response programs, police volunteer 
programs, etc.
Eligible Applicants
    Public agencies (including state and local agencies and other units 
of government), non-profit organizations, institutions of higher 
education and Indian Tribes are eligible to apply. Sponsors of Foster 
Grandparent projects that receive no funds from the Corporation, other 
than funding for Programs of National Significance (PNS), are eligible 
to apply. Current sponsors of Foster Grandparent projects funded by the 
Corporation are not eligible to apply for funding of a new Foster 
Grandparent project.
    An organization described in section 501(c)(4) of the Internal 
Revenue Code of 1986, (26 U.S.C. 501(c)(4)) that engages in lobbying 
activities is not eligible to apply, serve as a host site for 
volunteers, or act in any type of supervisory role in the program.
Number and Amount of Awards
    The Corporation intends to fund three Foster Grandparent projects 
in approved service areas that do not currently have a local project of 
the Foster Grandparent Program. The average amount of awards will be 
approximately $192,265.
Applicable Regulations
    Regulations governing the FGP are located in 45 CFR part 2553. 
These will be provided as part of the application materials.

    Dated: March 20, 2002.
Teresa Scannell,
Director, National Senior Service Corps.
[FR Doc. 02-7112 Filed 3-22-02; 8:45 am]
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