[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 95 (Friday, May 16, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 26622-26628]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-12242]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Administration for Children and Families

[Program Announcement No. ACYF/FYSB 2003-02]


Announcement of the Availability of Financial Assistance and 
Request for Applications for Mentoring Children of Prisoners Grants

AGENCY: Administration on Children, Youth and Families, ACF, DHHS.

ACTION: Notice.

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    CFDA Number: The Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance number 
is 93.616.

SUMMARY: The Family and Youth Services Bureau (FYSB) within the 
Administration on Children, Youth and Families (ACYF), Administration 
for Children and Families (ACF) announces the availability of financial 
assistance and request for applications for the FY 2003 Mentoring 
Children of Prisoners Program activities under section 439, Title IV-B, 
subpart 2 of the Social Security Act, as amended. The purpose of this 
program is to make competitive grants to applicants in urban, suburban, 
rural, and tribal populations with substantial numbers of children of 
incarcerated parents and to support the establishment and operation of 
programs using a network of public and private entities to provide 
mentoring services for these children.
    This Program Announcement and its application forms are also 
available by calling or writing to the ACYF Operations Center at the 
address below: Educational Services, Inc., ACYF Operations Center, 
Attention: Sylvia Johnson, 1150 Connecticut Avenue, NW., Suite 1100, 
Washington, DC 20036, Telephone: 1-800-351-2293, Email: 
[email protected], or by downloading the announcement from the FYSB Web 
site at http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/fysb.

DATES: The deadline for submitting a grant application under this 
announcement is July 15, 2003. Applications must be hard copy. One 
signed original and two copies must be submitted.
    Application Mailing and Delivery Instructions: The closing time and 
date for receipt of applications is 4:30 p.m. (Eastern Time Zone). 
Mailed applications shall be considered as meeting an announced 
deadline if they are postmarked on or before the published deadline 
time and date. Applicants are responsible for mailing applications well 
in advance, when using all mail services, to ensure that the 
applications are received on or before the deadline time and date.
    Applications handcarried by applicants, applicant couriers, other 
representatives of the applicant, or by overnight/express mail couriers 
shall be considered as meeting an announced deadline date if they are 
received on or before the published deadline date, between the hours of 
8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., EST, at the ACYF Operations Center between Monday 
and Friday (excluding Federal Holidays). The address must appear on the 
envelope/package containing the application to the Attention of Sylvia 
Johnson. Applicants are cautioned that express/overnight mail services 
do not always deliver as agreed.
    ACF cannot accommodate transmission of applications by fax or 
through other electronic media. Therefore, applications transmitted to 
ACF electronically will not be considered in the current competition.
    Extension of Deadline: ACF may extend application deadlines when 
circumstances such as acts of God (floods, hurricanes, etc.) occur, or 
when there are widespread disruptions of mail service, or in other rare 
cases. A determination to extend or waive deadline requirements rests 
with the Chief Grants Management Officer.
    The Administration for Children and Families will not accept 
applications delivered by fax or e-mail regardless of date or time of 
submission and receipt.
    Late Applications. Applications which do not meet the criteria 
stated above or are not received or postmarked by the deadline date are 
considered late applications. The Administration for Children and 
Families will notify each late applicant that its application will

[[Page 26623]]

not be considered in the current competition.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: ACYF Operations Center at the address 
and telephone number above, or for program information contact: Linda 
V. Barnett, Youth Services Program Specialist, Administration on 
Children, Youth and Families, Family and Youth Services Bureau, 330 C 
Street, SW., Washington DC 20447, (202) 205-8102, or Sylvia Johnson, 
Grants Management Officer, Office of Administration, (202) 401-4524.

Table of Contents

Background on Mentoring Children of Prisoners
General Information
    Preference for Geographic Distribution
    Eligibility
    Project Period
    Estimated Range of Awards
    Applicants Share of Project Cost
Application Requirements
    Statutory Priority
    Program Guidance
    Assurances and Requirements
Definitions
Evaluation Criteria Section
    Objectives and Need for Assistance
    Approach
    Results or Benefits Expected
    Staff Position Data and Organizational Profiles
    Budget and Budget Justification
Submission Guidelines
Paperwork Reduction Act
    Authorizing Legislation
Non-Profit Status

    ``Across our Nation, many Americans are responding to the call to 
service by mentoring a child in need. By offering love, guidance, and 
encouragement, mentors put hope in children's hearts, and help ensure 
that young people realize their full potential.''

President George W. Bush, 
January 2003

Background on Mentoring Children of Prisoners

    Witnessing and living with the arrest and incarceration of a parent 
is devastating for children and families. The living conditions, family 
configurations, and problems faced by the parents make it likely that 
significant numbers of children of prisoners will suffer emotional and 
behavioral difficulties. Often economic, social, and emotional burdens 
are placed on families and caretakers, especially children. 
Relationships are disrupted and any existing stability is shattered. As 
a result, the majority of these children experience multiple changes of 
caregivers and/or living arrangements.

What Are the Effects of Incarceration on the Child?

    Research has found that significant physical absence of a parent 
has profound effects on child development. Children of incarcerated 
parents are seven times more likely to become involved in the juvenile 
and adult criminal justice systems. Parental arrest and confinement 
often lead to stress, trauma, stigmatization , and separation problems 
which may be compounded by existing poverty, violence, substance abuse, 
high-crime environments, child abuse and neglect, multiple caregivers 
and/or prior separations. These children are more likely to develop 
attachment disorders and often exhibit broad varieties of behavioral, 
emotional, health, and educational difficulties. Many children of 
incarcerated parents are angry and lash out at others resulting in 
confrontations with law enforcement. Lacking the support of families, 
schools, and other community institutions, they often do not develop 
values and social skills leading to the formation of successful 
relationships.

Who Are the Children?

    Between 1991 and 1999, the number of children with a parent in a 
Federal or state correctional facility increased by more than 100 
percent, from approximately 900,000 to approximately 2,000,000. Like 
their parents, children of criminal offenders reflect the racial 
disparities of the justice system. Seven percent of African American 
children have an incarcerated parent, almost three percent of Hispanic 
children have an incarcerated parent, while less than one percent of 
white children have an incarcerated parent.

Who Are the Parents?

    According to the national data from the Bureau of Justice 
Statistics, in 2001, 3.5 million parents were supervised by the 
correctional system. Prior to incarceration, 64 percent of female 
prisoners and 44 percent of male prisoners in state facilities lived 
with their children. During incarceration, nearly 90 percent of 
children of incarcerated fathers lived with their mothers and 79 
percent of children of incarcerated mothers lived with a grandparent or 
other relative. Although research has indicated that parents and 
children should visit one another, less than 50 percent of prisoners 
receive visits from their children. In a number of cases, the caregiver 
may not want the child to visit the inmate and prisons are often 
located far away from the urban areas where most children of prisoners 
live. According to the Bureau of Prisons, there is evidence to suggest 
that inmates who are connected to their children and families are more 
likely to avoid negative incidents and have reduced sentences.

Who Are the Mentors?

    Mentors are recruited from a variety of sources including 
congregations, faith and community-based organizations, non-profit 
organizations, service organizations, and the business community. 
Research has shown that the health and productivity of mentors is 
enhanced by their connection to a child in need.

How Can Mentoring Help?

    It has been demonstrated that mentoring is a potent force for 
improving youth outcomes. Mentoring increases the likelihood of regular 
school attendance and academic achievement. It also decreases the 
chances of engaging in self-destructive or violent behavior. A trusting 
relationship with a caring adult will provide stability and often have 
a profound, life-changing effect on the child. Mentoring provides the 
incarcerated parent with the assurance that somebody is there to look 
after the best interests of their child.

What Are Possible Outcomes?

    Research confirms the societal benefits of mentoring efforts with 
children. Specifically, data indicates that mentoring programs have 
reduced first time drug use by almost fifty percent and first-time 
alcohol use by thirty-three percent. Also, caregiver and peer 
relationships are shown to improve. In addition, mentored youth 
displayed greater confidence in their schoolwork and improved their 
academic performance.

How Are Matches Initiated and Monitored?

    Parents, incarcerated parents, caretakers, schools, courts, social 
service organizations, or congregations will identify children in need 
of a mentor and initiate the referral to a mentoring organization. The 
mentoring organization will facilitate and monitor the match by 
providing parents and other stakeholders' opportunities to provide 
evaluative feedback on the match. The mentoring organization will 
develop and distribute status reports to appropriate stakeholders.

What Happens When Parents Return Home From Prison?

    Mentors are not meant to be ``replacement parents.'' In situations 
where incarcerated parents are actively

[[Page 26624]]

engaged in the mentoring process, through visits, phone conversations 
or letters, reunification is a natural process with realistic 
expectations. Mentors can help facilitate a smooth reentry by helping 
parents reconnect with their child and are often invited to continue to 
be a supportive resource well after the return of the parent.

What Is the Family and Youth Services Bureau?

    For over thirty years, the Family and Youth Services Bureau (FYSB) 
within the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) has provided 
grants at the local level to faith-based organizations and community-
based organizations serving a population of vulnerable youth, including 
runaway, homeless, and street youth.

General Information

Preference for Geographic Distribution

    A wide geographic distribution of applicants will be considered, 
including applicants from urban, suburban, rural and tribal 
communities, in addition to the rank order of scored applications.

Eligibility

    Those eligible to apply for funding under this grant competition 
include faith and community-based organizations, tribal governments or 
consortia, and state or local governments where substantial numbers of 
children of prisoners live. Applicants must apply to establish new 
programs or to expand existing programs utilizing a network of public 
and private community entities to provide mentoring services for 
children of prisoners. Collaboration among eligible entities is 
strongly encouraged. All eligible organizations, including faith-based 
organizations, are eligible to compete on equal footing for Federal 
financial assistance used to support social service programs. No 
organization may be discriminated against on the basis of religion in 
the administration or distribution of Federal financial assistance 
under social service programs. Faith-based organizations are eligible 
to compete for Federal financial assistance while retaining their 
identity, mission, religious references, and governance. However, 
faith-based organizations that receive funding may not use Federal 
financial assistance, including funds, to meet any cost-sharing 
requirements, to support inherently religious activities, such as 
worship, religious instruction, or prayer. In addition, any 
participation in these activities by beneficiaries must be voluntary.

Project Period

    This announcement invites applications for project periods of up to 
three years. Awards will be made on a competitive basis for a one-year 
budget period, although project periods may be for up to three years. 
Applications for continuation grants funded under these awards beyond 
the one-year budget period, but within the three-year project period, 
will be entertained in subsequent years on a noncompetitive basis, 
subject to the availability of funds, satisfactory progress of the 
grantee, and a determination that continued funding would be in the 
best interest of the Government.

Estimated Range of Awards

    The Family and Youth Services Bureau expects to award approximately 
$9,500,000 for new competitive grants for Fiscal Year 2003. Grants will 
range from $100,000 to $1,000,000 depending on the scope of the project 
and the availability of funds. The ceiling on funding was lowered from 
the authorizing legislation because of a reduced appropriation. If a 
program shows a significant growth in the second year, and depending on 
fund availability, supplemental funds may be added to the existing 
award. Please note that an automatic increase of funds is not implied, 
nor are any additional funds guaranteed.

Applicant Share of Project Cost

    For the first and second years of the grant, grantees must provide 
at least 25 percent of the approved project cost. After the second year 
of the grant, the amount that the grantees must provide increases to 50 
percent. The total approved cost of the project is the sum of the 
Federal share and the non-Federal share. For example if the total 
project cost of a program is $200,000 then the applicant must 
demonstrate a commitment of at least a $50,000 match and request 
funding of $150,000 from the Federal government. The Federal share may 
be matched by cash or in-kind contributions, although applicants are 
encouraged to meet their requirement through cash contributions. In 
determining the amount of the non-Federal share, the fair market value 
will be attributed to goods, services (excluding mentoring time and 
services) and facilities contributed from non-Federal sources. Grantees 
will be held accountable for commitments of required non-Federal funds. 
Failure to provide the required match will result in disallowance of 
Federal funds.

Application Requirements

    To be considered for a grant, each application must be submitted in 
accordance with the guidance provided below. The application must be 
signed by an individual authorized to act for the applicant agency and 
to assume responsibility for the obligations imposed by terms and 
conditions of the grant award. If more than one agency is involved in 
submitting a single application, one entity must be identified as the 
applicant organization that will have legal responsibility for the 
grant.

Statutory Priority

    This grant competition focuses exclusively on projects designed to 
meet the statutory priority in Title I, subtitle B, section 121 as 
amended by the Act known as ``Promoting Safe and Stable Families 
Amendments of 2001''.

Program Guidance

    To be eligible for funding, a project must propose mentoring 
programs and activities to serve the children of prisoners in areas 
with a comparative severity of need for mentoring services, taking into 
consideration data on the numbers of children (and in particular of 
low-income children) with an incarcerated parent (or parents) in the 
service area.
    Projects funded under this program must:
    1. Link children with mentors who have:
    [sbull] Received training and support in mentoring;
    [sbull] Completed screening and reference checks, including child 
and domestic abuse records checks and criminal background checks;
    [sbull] Expressed an interest in working with children in 
disadvantaged situations.
    2. Incorporate the elements of Positive Youth Development by 
providing youth with:
    [sbull] Safe and trusting relationships;
    [sbull] Healthy messages about life and social behavior;
    [sbull] Guidance from a positive adult role model;
    [sbull] Increased participation in, and enhanced their ability to 
benefit from, education;
    [sbull] Participation in civic service and community activities;
    3. Develop a plan for the whole family:
    [sbull] Connect the child with the imprisoned parent with 
permission from other spouse or guardian when appropriate;
    [sbull] Plan to provide support services to siblings and families 
when appropriate;

[[Page 26625]]

    [sbull] Support caregivers with training, and help navigating the 
services provided by the mentoring network.

Assurances and Requirements

    In addition to the standard assurances of safety, applicants must 
provide the following assurances:
    [sbull] Mentors will not be assigned more children than can be 
served without undermining the mentor's ability to be effective.
    [sbull] Grantees will recruit mentors who are committed to spending 
at least one hour per week with assigned children for a period of at 
least one year.
    [sbull] The mentoring program will provide children with emotional 
and academic support as well as exposure to a variety of experiences 
that they might not otherwise encounter.
    [sbull] The program will be monitored to ensure that each child 
benefits from the match. If the match is not found to be beneficial to 
the child a new mentor will be assigned.
    [sbull] The program will cooperate with any research or evaluation 
efforts sponsored by the Administration for Children and Families.
    [sbull] The program will submit quarterly program reports and 
annual financial reports, as instructed by FYSB.
    [sbull] The program will set aside funding for travel to inform the 
Bureau and meet with other grantees at an annual sharing and technical 
assistance meeting.

Definitions

    Children of Prisoners: Children, where one or both parents are 
incarcerated in a Federal, state or local correctional facility, on 
parole or on probation. Children will be 4 years to 15 years of age 
from childhood to adolescence when they begin to receive services.
    Mentoring: A structured, managed program in which children are 
appropriately matched with screened and trained adult volunteers for 
one-to-one relationships. This involves meetings and activities on a 
regular basis between the mentors and children to support a child's 
need for a caring and supportive adult in their life.
    Prisoner: Adult who is incarcerated in a Federal, state, or local 
correctional facility or is on parole or probation.
    Caretaker: The parent or legal guardian charged with the 
responsibility of caring for a child while the parent is incarcerated.
    Mentoring Organization: The organization that coordinates the local 
community and faith-based organizations and entities participating in 
the provision of mentoring services and the mentoring support network. 
Mentoring organizations will be responsible for the application and 
performance of the grant. They also will be responsible for providing 
the cash or in-kind contribution.
    Mentoring Services: Those services and activities that support a 
structured, managed program of mentoring, including the management of 
trained personnel in partnership with sponsoring local organizations. 
Services will include: outreach to and screening of eligible children; 
screening and training of adult volunteers; matching of children with 
suitable adult mentors; support and oversight of the mentoring 
relationship; and establishment of goals and evaluations of outcomes 
for mentored children. Mentoring services also will make appropriate 
referrals to partner organizations when the health and safety of a 
child is an issue.
    Mentoring Support Network: Private non-profit organizations, faith-
based organizations, community-based organizations, professional, 
medical and public service providers in the community that, through 
referral, will support the health and well-being of the child, 
caretaker(s) and other siblings.

Evaluation Criteria Section

    The following specific criteria will be used. The maximum total 
score for all criteria is 100 points. The possible score for each 
criterion is indicated in parentheses.

Objectives and Need for Assistance

    Clearly identify the physical, economic, social, financial, 
institutional, and/or other problem(s) requiring a solution. The need 
for assistance must be demonstrated and the principal and subordinate 
objectives of the project must be clearly stated; supporting 
documentation, such as letters of support and testimonials from 
concerned interests other than the applicant, may be included. Any 
relevant data based on planning studies should be included or referred 
to in the endnotes/footnotes. Incorporate demographic data and 
participant/beneficiary information, as needed. In developing the 
project description, the applicant may volunteer or be requested to 
provide information on the total range of projects currently being 
conducted and supported (or to be initiated), some of which may be 
outside the scope of the program announcement.

Approach

    Outline a plan of action that describes the scope and detail of how 
the proposed work will be accomplished. Account for all functions or 
activities identified in the application. Cite factors that might 
accelerate or decelerate the work and state your reason for taking the 
proposed approach rather than others. Describe any unusual features of 
the project such as design or technological innovations, reductions in 
cost or time, or extraordinary social and community involvement.
    Provide quantitative monthly or quarterly projections of the 
accomplishments to be achieved for each function or activity in such 
terms as the number of people to be served and the number of activities 
accomplished. For example, describe the tasks needed to accomplish the 
proposed project in Phases 2 and 3 and any relevant data source to 
support the work. When activities and functions cannot be quantified, 
list them in chronological order to show the schedule of 
accomplishments and their target dates. If any data is to be collected, 
maintained, and/or disseminated, clearance may be required from the 
U.S. Office of Management and Budget (OMB). This clearance pertains to 
any ``collection of information that is conducted or sponsored by 
ACF.''
    List organizations, cooperating entities, consultants, or other key 
individuals who will work on the project along with a short description 
of the nature of their effort or contribution.

Results or Benefits Expected

    Identify the results and benefits to be derived.

Staff Position Data and Organizational Profiles

    Provide information on the applicant organization(s) and 
cooperating partners such as organizational charts, financial 
statements, audit reports or statements from CPAs/Licensed Public 
Accountants, Employer Identification Numbers, names of bond carriers, 
contact persons and telephone numbers, child care licenses and other 
documentation of professional accreditation, information on compliance 
with Federal/State/local government standards, documentation of 
experience in the program area, and other pertinent information. Any 
non-profit organization submitting an application must submit proof of 
its non-profit status in its application at the time of submission.
    The non-profit agency can accomplish this by providing a copy of 
the applicant's listing in the Internal Revenue Service's (IRS) most 
recent list of tax-exempt organizations described in Section 501(c)(3) 
of the IRS code, or by providing a copy of the currently valid IRS tax 
exemption certificate, or by

[[Page 26626]]

providing a copy of the articles of incorporation bearing the seal of 
the State in which the corporation or association is domiciled.

Budget and Budget Justification

    Provide line item detail and detailed calculations for each budget 
object class identified on the Budget Information form. Detailed 
calculations must include estimation methods, quantities, unit costs, 
and other similar quantitative detail sufficient for the calculation to 
be duplicated. The detailed budget must also include a breakout by the 
funding sources identified in Block 15 of the SF-424.
    Provide a narrative budget justification that describes how the 
categorical costs are derived. Discuss the necessity, reasonableness, 
and allocation of the proposed costs.
Personnel
    Description: Cost of new employee salaries and wages.
    Justification: Identify the project director or principal 
investigator, if known. For each staff person, provide the title, time 
commitment to the project (in months), time commitment to the project 
(as a percentage or full-time equivalent), annual salary, grant salary, 
wage rates, etc. Do not include the costs of consultants or personnel 
costs of delegate agencies or of specific project(s) or businesses to 
be financed by the applicant.
Fringe Benefits
    Description: Costs of employee fringe benefits unless treated as 
part of an approved indirect cost rate.
    Justification: Provide a breakdown of the amounts and percentages 
that comprise fringe benefit costs such as health insurance, FICA, 
retirement insurance, taxes, etc.
Travel
    Description: Costs of project-related travel by employees of the 
applicant organization (does not include costs of consultant travel).
    Justification: For each trip, show the total number of traveler(s), 
travel destination, duration of trip, per diem, mileage allowances, if 
privately owned vehicles will be used, and other transportation costs 
and subsistence allowances. Travel costs for key staff to attend ACF-
sponsored workshops should be detailed in the budget.
Equipment
    Description: ``Equipment'' means an article of nonexpendable, 
tangible personal property having a useful life of more than one year 
and an acquisition cost which equals or exceeds the lesser of (a) the 
capitalization level established by the organization for the financial 
statement purposes, or (b) $5,000. (Note: Acquisition cost means the 
net invoice unit price of an item of equipment, including the cost of 
modifications, attachments, accessories, or auxiliary apparatus 
necessary to make it usable for the purpose for which it is acquired. 
Ancillary charges, such as taxes, duty, protective in-transit 
insurance, freight, and installation shall be included in or excluded 
from acquisition cost in accordance with organization's regular written 
accounting practices.)Justification: For each type of equipment 
requested, provide a description of the equipment, the cost per unit, 
the number of units, the total cost, and a plan for use on the project, 
as well as use or disposal of the equipment after the project ends. An 
applicant organization that uses its own definition for equipment 
should provide a copy of its policy, which includes the equipment 
definition.
Supplies
    Description: Costs of all tangible personal property other than 
that included under the Equipment category.
    Justification: Specify general categories of supplies and their 
costs. Show computations and provide other information that supports 
the amount requested.
Contractual
    Description: Costs of all contracts for services and goods except 
for those that belong under other categories such as equipment, 
supplies, construction, etc. Third-party evaluation contracts (if 
applicable) and contracts with secondary recipient organizations, 
including delegate agencies and specific project(s) or businesses to be 
financed by the applicant, should be included under this category.
    Justification: All procurement transactions shall be conducted in a 
manner to provide, to the maximum extent practical, open and free 
competition. Recipients and sub-recipients, other than States that are 
required to use part 92 procedures, must justify any anticipated 
procurement action that is expected to be awarded without competition 
and exceed the simplified acquisition threshold fixed at 41 U.S.C. 
403(11) (currently set at $100,000). Recipients might be required to 
make available to ACF pre-award review and procurement documents, such 
as request for proposals or invitations for bids; independent cost 
estimates, etc.

    Note: Whenever the applicant intends to delegate part of the 
project to another agency, the applicant must provide a detailed 
budget and budget narrative for each delegate agency, by agency 
title, along with the required supporting information referred to in 
these instructions.

Indirect Charges
    Description: Total amount of indirect costs. The Department of 
Health and Human Services (HHS) or another cognizant Federal agency 
should use this category only when the applicant currently has an 
indirect cost rate approval.
    Justification: An applicant that will charge indirect costs to the 
grant must enclose a copy of the current rate agreement. If the 
applicant organization is in the process of initially developing or 
renegotiating a rate, it should immediately upon notification that an 
award will be made, develop a tentative indirect cost rate proposal 
based on its most recently completed fiscal year in accordance with the 
principles set forth in the cognizant agency's guidelines for 
establishing indirect cost rates and submit it to the cognizant agency. 
Applicants awaiting approval of their indirect cost proposals may also 
request indirect costs. It should be noted that when an indirect cost 
rate is requested, those costs included in the indirect cost pool 
should not also be charged as direct costs to the grant. Also, if the 
applicant is requesting a rate which is less than what is allowed under 
the program, the authorized representative of the applicant 
organization must submit a signed acknowledgement that the applicant is 
accepting a lower rate than allowed.
Program Income
    Description: The estimated amount of income, if any, expected to be 
generated from this project.
    Justification: Describe the nature, source and anticipated use of 
program income in the budget or refer to the pages in the application 
that contain this information.
Federal and Non-Federal Resources
    Both Federal and non-Federal resources shall be detailed and 
justified in the budget and narrative justification. For purposes of 
preparing the budget and budget justification, ``Federal resources'' 
refers only to the ACF grant for which you are applying. Non-Federal 
resources are all other Federal and non-Federal resources. It is 
suggested that budget amounts and computations be presented in a 
columnar format: First column, categories; second column, Federal

[[Page 26627]]

budget; third column(s), non-Federal budget; and last column, total 
budget. The budget justification should be in narrative form.

Submission Guidelines

    Project Summary Abstract: Provide a one page (or less) summary of 
the project description with reference to the funding request.
    Full Project Description and Evaluation Criteria: Describe the 
project clearly in 30 pages or less (not counting supplemental 
documentation, letters of support or agreements) using the following 
outline and guidelines.
    Applicants are required to submit a full project description and 
must prepare the project description statement in accordance with the 
following instructions. The pages of the project description must be 
numbered and are limited to 30 typed pages starting on page 1 of 
``Objectives and Need for Assistance''. The description must be 
doubled-spaced, printed on only one side, with at least \1/2\ inch 
margins. Pages over the limit will be removed from the competition and 
will not be reviewed.
    It is in the applicant's best interest to ensure that the project 
description is easy to read, logically developed in accordance with the 
evaluation criteria and adheres to page limitations. In addition, 
applicants should be mindful of the importance of preparing and 
submitting applications using language, terms, concepts, and 
descriptions that are generally known to the targeted youth and broader 
youth services fields. The maximum number of pages for supplemental 
documentation is 10 pages. The supplemental documentation, subject to 
the 10-page limit, must be numbered and might include brief resumes, 
position descriptions, proof of non-profit status (if applicable), news 
clippings, press releases, etc. Supplemental documentation over the 10-
page limit will not be reviewed. Applicants must include letters of 
support or agreement, if appropriate or applicable, in reference to the 
project description. Letters of support are not counted as part of the 
30-page project description limit or the 10-page supplemental 
documentation limit. (Note: Applicable agreements are those between 
grantees and sub-grantees or sub-contractors or other cooperating 
entities which support or complement the provision of mandated services 
to children of prisoners.)

Objectives and Need for Assistance (15 Points)

    In determining the need for assistance for the proposed project, 
the following factors are considered:
    [sbull] The conditions and characteristics of youth and families 
affected by incarceration in the service delivery area. The description 
must demonstrate an awareness of the special needs of this population, 
including service delivery gaps and the magnitude of the problem within 
the service delivery area. (5 points)
    [sbull] Calculate the number of children with parents in prison and 
project the number of mentor-child matches proposed to be established 
and maintained annually under the program. (5 points)
    [sbull] The extent to which there are existing support services for 
this population of youth, with specific references to coordination of 
courts, health and mental health care, social services, school and 
child welfare. It must be clear that the mentoring program will 
complement and enhance, not duplicate available services and that the 
mentoring program will work in conjunction with these services to 
produce better outcomes for children and families. (5 points)

Results and Benefits Expected (20 Points)

    In determining the quality of expected benefits the following 
factors are considered:
    [sbull] The extent to which goals, objectives and outcomes to be 
achieved by the proposed project are clearly specified and measurable. 
(10 points)
    [sbull] The extent to which the methods of evaluation will provide 
performance feedback and permit periodic assessment of progress toward 
achieving intended outcomes.(5 points)
    [sbull] The extent to which outcomes reflect gains in positive 
social behaviors, youth engagement and asset acquisition. (5 points)

Approach (30 Points)

    In determining the quality of the project design or approach the 
following factors are considered:
    [sbull] The detailed plan designed to identify, screen and recruit 
mentors. Provide detailed volunteer screening procedures to ensure that 
the mentor poses no safety risk to the child and has the necessary 
skills to participate in a mentoring relationship. Preferences will be 
given to programs that plan to recruit and train mentors within the 
service delivery area. (10 points)
    [sbull] The resources that will be dedicated to supporting the 
needs of caretakers and other children in the family setting. Also, 
when appropriate, the extent that the program proposes to work with 
incarcerated parents and addresses their re-entry. (5 points)
    [sbull] The training process for mentors which will ensure their 
ability to successfully mentor this special population. The extent that 
training is based on best practices supported by research. (5 points)
    [sbull] The quality of the mechanism that will be used to match 
children with mentors, demonstrating sensitivity to the diverse needs 
of the children and the support provided for mentors in order to 
sustain long-term mentoring relationships.(5 points)
    [sbull] The level of supervision, oversight and monitoring of the 
child and mentor relationships and activities. State the expected ratio 
of staff to mentors. Provide a detailed plan for collecting, on a 
monthly basis, data documenting meetings and activities by trained 
volunteer coordinators to ensure personal oversight and safety of the 
children and their mentors. (5 points)

Staff Position Data and Organizational Profiles (25 Points)

    In reviewing the required staff and position data and the 
organizational profile, the following factors are considered:
    [sbull] A demonstrated history of providing services to youth and 
families in disadvantaged situations, along with the ability to partner 
and build coalitions at the community level. (10 points)
    [sbull] A specific definition of the area where services are to be 
delivered. (Maps and graphic aids may be attached as part of the 
supplementary documentation) (5 points)
    [sbull] The extent to which community stakeholders, including 
parents, incarcerated parents, local community organizations, schools, 
government, caretakers and children, have participated in the project 
design. List and describe how these partners will participate in the 
mentoring network. Include an organizational chart. (5 points)
    [sbull] Quality of skills, knowledge and experience of the project 
director and project staff. Job descriptions should be included, as 
well as a description of staff training and specific cultural diversity 
training related to mentoring the target population.(5 points)

Budget and Budget Justification (10 Points)

    In determining the soundness of the budget and budget 
justification, the following factors are considered:

[[Page 26628]]

    [sbull] The extent to which costs of the proposed program are 
reasonable and justified in terms of numbers of children of prisoners, 
types and quantities of services to be provided, and the anticipated 
results and benefits. Discussion should refer to the budget information 
presented on Standard Form 424 and 424A and the applicant's budget 
justification. (5 points)
    [sbull] Identification of fiscal control and accounting procedures 
that will be used to ensure the prudent use, proper disbursement, and 
accurate accounting of federal funds received, as well as the 
accounting of cash and in-kind for the non-federal match. (5 points)

Assurances and Certifications

    Forms and Certifications: Fill out Standard Forms 424 and 424A and 
the associated certifications and assurances in Appendix A based on the 
instructions on the forms.
    Application requesting financial assistance for non-construction 
projects must file the Standard Form 424B, ``Assurances: Non-
Construction Programs.'' Applicants must sign and return the Standard 
Form 424B with their applications.

Lobbying

    Applicants must provide a certification regarding lobbying when 
applying for an award in excess of $100,000. Applicants who have used 
non-Federal funds for lobbying activities in conjunction with receiving 
assistance under this announcement shall complete a disclosure form to 
report lobbying. Applicants must sign and return the disclosure form, 
if applicable, with their applications.

Drug Free Workplace

    Applicants must make the appropriate certification of their 
compliance with the Drug-Free Workplace Act of 1988. By signing and 
submitting the application, the applicant is providing the 
certification and need not mail back the certification with the 
application.

Certification of Debarment

    Applicant must make the appropriate certification that they are not 
presently debarred, suspended, or otherwise ineligible for an award. By 
signing and submitting the application, the applicant is providing the 
certification and need not mail back the certification with the 
application.

Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Public Law 104-13)

    Public reporting burden for this collection of information is 
estimated to average 20 hours per overall response, including the time 
for reviewing instructions, gathering and maintaining the data needed, 
and reviewing the collection of information.
    The Uniform Project Description is approved under OMB control 
number 0970-0139, which expires 12/31/2003. An agency may not conduct 
or sponsor and a person is not required to respond to, a collection of 
information unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number.

Authorizing Legislation

    Grants for Mentoring Children of Prisoners (MCIP) programs are 
authorized by further amending and by adding at the end of subpart 2 of 
part B of Title IV (U.S.C. 629-629e) the Safe and Stable Families Act 
of 2001, (Public Law 107-133). Text of this statute may be found at 
http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/fysb.

Notification Under Executive Order 12372

    This program is covered under Executive Order (E.O.) 12372, 
``Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs'', and 45 CFR part 100, 
``Intergovernmental Review of Department of Health and Human Services 
Programs and Activities''. Under the Order, States may design their own 
processes for reviewing and commenting on proposed Federal assistance 
under covered programs.
    As of January 16, 2003, of the most recent SPOC list, the following 
jurisdictions have elected not to participate in the Executive Order 
process. Applicants from these jurisdictions or for projects 
administered by Federally-recognized Indian Tribes need take no action 
in regard to E.O. 12372: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Colorado, 
Connecticut, Hawaii, Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, Massachusetts, 
Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, 
Oregon, Palau, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Tennessee, Vermont, 
Virginia, Washington and Wyoming. Note: Inquiries about obtaining a 
Federal grant should not be sent to OMB. The best source for this 
information is the CFDA. The official list of the jurisdictions elected 
not to participate in E.O. 12372 can be found at http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/grants/spoc.html.
    Although the jurisdictions listed above no longer participate in 
the process, entities which have met the eligibility requirements of 
the program are still eligible to apply for a grant even if a State, 
Territory, Commonwealth, etc. does not have a SPOC. All remaining 
jurisdictions participate in the Executive Order process and have 
established SPOCs. Applicants from participating jurisdictions should 
contact their SPOCs as soon as possible to alert them of the 
prospective applications and receive instructions. Applicants must 
submit any required material to the SPOCs as soon as possible so that 
the program office can obtain and review SPOC comments as part of the 
award process. The applicant must submit all required materials, if 
any, to the SPOC and indicate the date of this submittal (or the date 
of contact if no submittal is required) on the Standard Form 424, item 
16a. Under 45 CFR 100.8(a)(2). A SPOC has 60 days from the application 
deadline to comment on proposed new or competing continuation awards. 
SPOCs are encouraged to eliminate the submission of routine 
endorsements as official recommendations. Additionally, SPOCs are 
requested to clearly differentiate between mere advisory comments and 
those official State process recommendations, which may trigger the 
``accommodate or explain'' rule.
    When comments are submitted directly to ACF, they should be 
addressed to: Department of Health and Human Services, Administration 
for Children and Families, Office of Grants Management, Division of 
Discretionary Grants, 370 L'Enfant Promenade SW., Mail Stop 6C-462, 
Washington, DC 20447. (Note: State/Territory participation in the 
intergovernmental review process does not signify applicant eligibility 
for financial assistance under a program. A potential applicant must 
meet the eligibility requirements of the program for which it is 
applying prior to submitting an application to its SPOC, if applicable, 
or to ACF.)

    Dated: May 12, 2003.
Wade F. Horn,
Assistant Secretary, Administration for Children and Families.
[FR Doc. 03-12242 Filed 5-15-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4184-01-P