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24. |
Re: Referral requirements
Please confirm:
With Family Preservation and Support Services, referrals can ONLY be made by the following:
DSS: DFCS CPS
PPS: DFCS CPS, Juvenile or Court
CIS: DFCS, Placement, Adoptive Services
RAC: DFCS CPS
No other community agencies may refer?
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It is possible that 'other' community agencies could refer families for services but those cases would need to meet the 'case status' requirement. For example, they would need to have had an open DFCS case open CPS or placement case. And although the referral may not have come directly from DFCS, there would still be an expectation that services would be coordinated and approved by the county department (to avoid duplication and support case plan goals, etc.) The intent of PSSF is to support county department efforts to prevent removal and disruption and improve reunification, and permanency results. |
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25. |
Re: Funding limits
According to the guideline for Time-Limited Reunification, the maximum award is $60,000. Does this amount include the 25% match portion, or is the 25% in addition to the $60,000 award?
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The award limit refers to the federal award support and does not include the cash match requirement. A maximum award of $60,000 would require a $20,000 cash match for a total services cost of $80,000.
Georgia's PSSF allocation for the current year has been reduced which resulted in the need to reduce the maximum request per proposal.
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26. |
Re: Staff qualifications
Under Crisis Intervention, core services include behavior management training and information and referral services. Can we use the team approach here and have the Licensed Clinician who is providing the therapy on the case supervise a Bachelor's level person to provide these services?
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Yes.
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27. |
Re: Service category
How do we determine what service category our proposal fits? |
The category your proposal will best “fit” is determined primarily by the target population and your service objectives. You must also consider the required elements, qualifications and limitations or restrictions when determining which category is most appropriate for your proposal.
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28. |
Re: List of services
Is the list of services the same as in the past? Also, where could I find definitions of them?
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PSSF has always provided broad descriptions of services as guidelines for activities. This glossary, Schedule B, is not exhaustive, nor is any proposal limited to those descriptions.
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29. |
Re: Relationship between PSSF Public Health and PSSF DFCS
The PSSF website directs applicants to Division of Public Health for information on Family Support services. However, we were re-directed back to the website for technical assistance.
I am a little confused about the relationship between PSSF and the Division of Public Health and the Family Support Services.
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Effective October 1, 2008 the administration of Promoting Safe and Stable Families (PSSF) funding will be divided between the Division of Family and Children Services (DFCS) and the
Division of Public Health (DPH). DPH will be responsible for the administration of all PSSF Family Support funding. PSSF Family Support funding has been utilized primarily to identify and address the needs of at-risk children and families prior to involvement in the Georgia’s child protective system. As the state’s lead prevention agency, DPH will now manage these prevention activities.
The Division of Public Health (DPH) will not be issuing an RFP for Family Support services for fiscal year (FFY 2009). All current PSSF Family Support service providers who have met their contract requirements for the current fiscal year (FFY2008) will be given a contract extension for one additional year - from October 1, 2008 to September 30, 2009. It is anticipated that information on funding opportunities for Family Support services for the next fiscal year (FFY2010) will be made available through an RFP issued by DPH in spring 2009. DPH has asked that any inquiries for PSSF Family Support services be directed to: Maria Fontenelle at mfontenelle@dhr.state.ga.us.
PSSF Family Preservation, Time-Limited Reunification and Adoption Promotion and Post-Permanency services will remain under the administration of DFCS. This RFP only applies to these categories.
Those agencies/organizations interested in applying for PSSF funding for Family Preservation, Time-Limited Reunification and Adoption Promotion and Post-Permanency services through
DFCS for FFY2009 may do so by responding to this RFP.
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30. |
Re: Technical assistance
Will there be an orientation (bidders’ conference)?
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There will be no technical assistance provided at a general bidder's conference associated with the release of this RFP. A contractors’ meeting will be held in early October for all successful applicants.
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31. |
Re: DPH RFP
Is there a separate deadline or application that goes to the Division of Public Health? And if so, does the deadline coincide with the PSSF DFCS grant deadline of August 29th?
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The Division of Public Health IS NOT releasing an RFP for Family Support Services this year. This RFP was released by the Division of Family and Children Services for Family Preservation, Time-Limited Reunification and Adoption Promotion and Post-Permanency services ONLY.
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32. |
Re: Next PSSF grant cycle
Is there more than one grant application cycle throughout the year? If so, when will we be able to apply?
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There is only one RFP release each year for PSSF Family Preservation, Time-limited Reunification and Adoption Promotion and Post-Permanency services. Information on the on the FFY2010 funding cycle will be posted on the PSSF website in April 2009.
The Division of Public Health will release information about their RFP for Family Support services in spring 2009. This will be available on the Department of Human Resources website.
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33. |
Re: Eligible applicants
We work with the Department of Juvenile Justice and when we mentioned this grant, they were not aware of it. Are they eligible recipients of this funding?
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Yes, DJJ would be an eligible recipient provided they could satisfy all the required elements. |
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34. |
Re: Cash match
This year’s budget of expenses form is different from previous years and does not include a separate column for cash match. Does this mean that the cash match amount does not have to be tied to a particular budget item? Should the budget total listed on the budget of expenses include the cash match amount or should they only reflect the federal grant amounts? |
There is no separate column for cash match contribution because in 99% of all proposals, there are not any expenses that are ineligible. If you will be satisfying your cash match contribution with an ineligible expense item (such as the purchase of computer equipment that will be used to document case activity), highlight the item and add an explanation to the budget page.
Your budget MUST reflect total expenses. That will include the portion covered by the federal award and the cash match. |
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35. |
Re: Submitting proposals
Where do we send our proposal?
If it is “post-marked” by the deadline, is that sufficient?
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All proposals must be submitted to:
DHR Promoting Safe and Stable Families Program
c/o Care Solutions, Inc.
500 Sugar Mill Road, Suite 170A
Atlanta, GA 30350
Deadline: Friday, August 29, 2008 1:00PM
Proposals must be RECEIVED by the deadline.
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36. |
Re: RFP format
Are graphs and tables allowed in the narrative portion of parts 1-4? If so, is there a specific format that should be followed?
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There is no restriction on graphs and tables. However, you cannot exceed the specified number of pages for any one section. |
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37. |
Re: Community assessment
Could you provide an example of an approved assessment process? Would most recent data from an administered survey to capture need for services, services rendered, and outcome results be appropriate? Would current data collected from sources other than the applicant be appropriate (i.e. law enforcement statistics, CPS statistics, DHR statistics, etc.)?
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There is no 'approved' assessment process. I would recommend consulting one of the resources listed on Schedule A in the back of the RFP. These sites may have recommendations on community assessment and the need for this type of early intervention activity (Diversion). You should consult your local county DFCS. As the source of referrals, they should be able to provide you with some insight into the needs for early intervention services.
Using recent data from such a survey could be appropriate. However, we cannot comment on whether or not it would capture the need as you have described.
Other sources may also provide supporting data for your proposal. They would be acceptable if they were applicable. |
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38. |
Re: Funding limits
In the past when we have submitted a proposal we were funded at an amount less than we requested. Should we requesting the same amount as we have received in the past or can we apply for more? If we are a current provider, should we submit a proposal at the same amount we received before or should we submit a proposal for a higher amount?
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DHR reserves the right to fund any successful proposal at an amount they deem appropriate. Several factors are taken into consideration when this kind of decision is made.
PSSF funding (the state allocation) has been reduced for FFY2009, so there are less funds to distribute. You should only propose what you can be assured of being able to deliver given any restrictions or limitations described in the RFP. |
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39. |
Re: Proposal format
The RFP says that we must submit one original proposal, three paper copies and one copy on CD. Do we need to include attachments on the CD? What if we don’t have the capability of burning a CD or scanning attachments?
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You are only required to provide an electronic copy of the proposal itself, not any of the appendices. However, this copy must include Forms 1-4.
All copies must be received by the deadline. |
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