Q. Can grant funds be utilized to pay rent or should rent funds come from the 25% match. A. Rent is an allowable expense.
Q. Can grant funds assist in remodeling costs? Such as addition of a kitchen? A. No.
Q. Can grant funds be used to purchase audio video equipment to video tape visitations and utilize in parent education classes? A. Yes, however, you can only allocate a portion of the cost relative to the use of the equipment in the provision of proposed services.
Q. Could funds be used to purchase and install a two-way mirror/window? A. No.
Q. If a proposal is submitted under several categories because you are not sure what category it should be placed under, will this disqualify your proposals from the review process? A. It is important to identify the program area and service model before beginning your proposal as you must meet service requirements for the selected model or your proposal will be disqualified. The program area and service model selected are dependent on the target population, needs identified and service objectives. Please review Section C of the SoN carefully to help you determine whether or not proposed services are responsive to the needs identified by the Department and how proposed services might meet these service objectives. Please review Section C of the SoN carefully to help you determine whether or not proposed services are responsive to the needs identified by the Department and how proposed services might meet these service objectives. As a general guideline:
If the target population is primarily families with no current CPS involvement, you are most likely applying under Family Support if proposed services meet the requirements stipulated for those service models.
If the target population is primarily families with DFCS involvement (CPS investigating, Ongoing CPS, Family Preservation), you are most likely applying under Family Preservation if proposed services meet the requirements stipulated for the service models and objectives identified.
If the target population is families whose children are in out-of-home care, with a concurrent plan for reunification, you are most likely applying under Time-Limited Reunification if proposed services meet the requirements and objectives for the service models identified.
If the target population is families or children obtaining permanency through adoption or legal guardianship, or youth with another planned permanency arrangement such as emancipation, you are most likely to be applying under Adoption Promotion and Post-Permanency Supports if proposed services meet requirements and objectives for the service models identified.
Q. Can you tell me what a 'notarized certification' of a cash match means? A. If proposal is successful, applicant will need to provide a statement of their match commitment certified by a notary public under seal. This is not provided with your proposal but will be required to prepare a contract.
Q. In reviewing the requirements for Transition and Emancipation Support, it says that we may serve Youth ages 16-24 preparing for emancipation, but that service duration must not exceed 12 months post permanence or emancipation. A. As a result of Fostering Connections, services may be provided to youth up to the age of 24 who have signed themselves back into foster care (and meet the Fostering Connections criteria). Other than that specific group of youth over age 18, transition and emancipation support services may be provided pre- and post-discharge from foster care based on the guidelines described in the SoN.
Q. Can a new non-profit agency apply? A. Any non-profit or public entity may apply. They must be able to meet all contract, proposal and service delivery requirements stipulated in the SoN. If there is any requirement that they cannot meet then they would not be eligible to apply.
Q. The assessment requirements on page 43 of the SoN specify areas, at a minimum, that should be included in the assessment. Do these need to be assessed at intake or can some of them (such as living conditions or parenting capacity) be assessed as the case progresses? A. Assessment is an ongoing process. The assessment at intake, at a minimum, should examine the conditions that determine whether or not there is a need for services. This initial inquiry should also solicit the parent or caregiver perspective on their strengths and needs. Assessment of the safety of living conditions and parental capacity is an ongoing process throughout the life of the case.
Q. We have had a PSSF grant over the past few years and this year we are changing the scope of service. Would we apply as a brand new grantee, or would we still be continuing as the same grantee with a different service delivery plan? A. You would be applying as a new program as your service objectives would also change.
Q. We currently provide forensic interviews within our child advocacy center under Family Preservation. My question revolves around the limits on time for this part of the pram which limits contact to 6-9 months. We are interacting with the families through therapy, advocacy and case management in some cases longer than this 9 month period and wondered if this time frame was set in stone? A. PSSF services are intended to be short-term supports. Service duration limits are reflective of child welfare legislation and Departmental practices and guidelines. If long-term supports and/or services are needed, you should identify an alternate funding source once the PSSF limits have been reached.
Q. On the application, there is a question that asks about individuals served for the month and year. Is this an unduplicated count? A. Estimate the total number you expect to serve during the year – unduplicated and the average number (or caseload) per month (may be duplicated).
Q. Can foster care support services be applied for in the Adoption Promotion and Post-Permanency Support program? A. These may be eligible if the service objective was to prepare (or transition) the children in foster care for adoption or another permanency option. You need to meet the criteria stipulated for the service model.
Q. Can Healthy Marriage/Co-Parenting programs be serviced under the Adoption Promotion and Post-Permanency Support program? A. Although you may utilize a Healthy Marriage/Co-Parenting approach to complement other services, to qualify as a Healthy Marriage/Co-Parenting program you must apply under Family Support.
Q. For APS, in my service delivery form, how do I list my service activities? For example, for the category “adoption promotion services”, do I list each of the bullet points in the description or just this category? A. "Adoption Promotion" is a broad description for a wide range of services. You must identify each different service or activity and complete a Service Description form for each one you are including in your proposal.
Q. We have agreements with collaborative partners to provide supplemental services to families at no cost to us. Should we include these on our service plan, if they will be made available to families? A. If these are not part of your proposed PSSF service plan (what you are requesting PSSF support for) then they should not be included. However, they could be include them on the list of other supports and services (Q#7) you provide in your narrative.
Q. For ancillary services, are you limited to the ones listed in Section E under 'Ancillary Services' or can you provide any of the other services in Section E? A. Proposed services are not limited to the ancillary services included on the list in Section E.
Q. As a continuing program, can we change or add services not on this year's schedule? A. New year, new proposal. You may change your deliverables. However, please be aware that if you make substantial changes in the service array and service objectives, you might not qualify as a “continuing” program.
Q. Will the fact that we've been funded before have a bearing on funding decision? A. Previous funding does not impact the proposal review process. However, current contract performance and compliance influences award decisions for continuing programs.
Q. We have a current contract as a Board of Education. Services are provided by Family Connection, which is a 501c3. Should we apply as a public entity or a non-profit?
A. If you apply as Family Connection as a 501c3 then you must comply with all non-profit requirements. If you apply as a public entity, then you will follow those guidelines, and Family Connection would be a subcontractor.
Q. I already have a pdf file of our agency’s actual registration with the Secretary of State. Will this be sufficient to upload for our Secretary of State Registration or do you need the print out from their website showing the agency as active? A. Please follow the instructions on page 38 of the SoN for Secretary of State Registration.
