Q. Do we need to get employees to do another background check for this new year or can we just send copies of the ones e used for FFY2011? A. If staff have received OIS fitness determinations during the past 5 years, it is not necessary to do new criminal background checks again this year.
The DHS/DFCS contract requirement is that staff have criminal background investigations and receive OIS fitness determinations. You will be required to provide a notarized statement certifying that this is the case if you are awarded PSSF funds. You do not provide copies of the investigation results.
Q. On many of the forms it asks for "Program Name". What is this referring to specifically? A. Agencies may identify program services funded by PSSF with a specific program name to distinguish them from other services they provide. This is an important distinction when submitting more than one proposal and usually includes some reference to the types of services, the target population or the service objectives.
Q. We are a homeless shelter for abused women and children. Are we eligible for a grant from the PSSF program? A. If you are an active, non-profit organization (501c3), can meet the contract requirements have the financial and professional capacity and qualifications stipulated, you may submit a proposal.
PSSF does not award “grants”. Successful proposals receive a purchase of service contract with DHS/DFCS. You must provide services in order to be compensated up to the limit of your federal award.
Q. We are a visitation center and we receive referrals from DFCS and Court orders. Can we serve cases that have no DFCS involvement? A. It depends on your proposal and what has been identified as your target populations and service objectives. The primary focus the proposal should include the target populations and service objectives identified for Time-Limited Reunification. Visitation for families whose children are in foster care with a concurrent plan for reunification is the priority, however, other populations identified in the SoN, can be served if the proposal meets service model requirements and is supportive of PSSF goals.
Q. If we want to enhance services at a visitation center by providing tutoring for children, how do we calculate the unit? A. By number of children in the tutoring session, by subject being tutored, by how long the session is or by the number of children in attendance? If you are providing group tutoring sessions, then your unit would be based on the length of each session regardless of the number of participants and subjects. This is true of any group activity. The service unit is based on the length of time the group is engaged in that activity.
Q. Historically, we have provided one-hour and two-hour visits. Do we need to complete two service description forms? Or can we do one form and describe our visits as 1-2 hour visits for both Do we have to list visitation units and guess at the number of units for each duration? What happens if the referring agency elects to use another time frame not listed, how would it be claimed? A. If you want to charge a higher rate for two-hour visits then you will have to complete two service descriptions forms. If your visits range from 1-2 hours and you want to only charge one rate per visit then you will need to determine an average unit cost. The difficulty is determining where on the cost spectrum that unit cost falls as you still need to project the expenses you will incur to provide the number of visits you propose.
Q. If I am a DFCS office submitting a proposal and will use a subcontractor to provide services, do I need to provide any Secretary of State information? A. No
Q. It states that we have to pick a minimum of 2 Ancillary Services that should complement the core services. We provide pre & post-natal parent education can that count as 2 Ancillary Services or do we have to pick another one from a additional bullet point. Can our Labor & delivery education & support count as an ancillary service? A. Parent education is a core service requirement for Family Support programs, and as such should not be viewed as an ancillary service. For your population, teen parents, well baby visits and/or child development screenings and/or peer support groups all might be examples of ancillary services, as would prenatal labor and delivery preparation/instruction.
Q. Do we list all agency grants awarded to our agency or just the grants awarded to the program for which we are applying for the grant? A. List all those most relevant to the work being proposed to demonstrate your agency’s capacity and qualifications and its collaborative activities.
Q. Should the narrative piece be done as a 'narrative' or should they number the answers to correspond to the questions in the SoN? A. Although either way would be acceptable, answering each question is preferred.
