Use of Community Service Block Grant Discretionary Funds

PURPOSE: This rule outlines how the Family Support Division (division) will use discretionary funds that are awarded to the Family Support Division by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services for the administration of the Community Service Block Grant (CSBG) program. (1) The definitions set forth in 13 CSR 4024.080 shall apply to this rule. (A) “Discretionary grant funds” means no more than ten percent (10%) of the total amount of the CSBG grant annually awarded to the state of Missouri by the United States Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Community Support, for the administration of the CSBG program that may be reserved and/or distributed at the discretion of the division. (2) The division shall use discretionary grant funds for purposes outlined in 42 U.S.C. section 9907(b). The division may use no more than five percent (5%) of the total annual amount of CSBG funds awarded to the state of Missouri by the United States Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Community Services, for administrative expenses, including monitoring activities. Any unused CSBG funds may be used by the division for other discretionary uses pursuant to this section. (3) Subject to the availability of discretionary grant funds, discretionary grant funds may be used for the following purposes consistent with those identified in 42 U.S.C. section 9907(b): (A) Address a priority need identified by the division related to the causes and conditions of poverty or a specific target population impacted by these same causes and conditions; (B) Training and technical assistance to increase the capacity and sustainability of eligible entities and/or discretionary funded providers, as well as improve the quality of their services; (C) Responses to natural or man-made disasters; and (D) Evidence-based, innovative, and/or demonstration projects that improve the causes and conditions of poverty for low-income individuals, families, and communities, including specific target populations, and support efforts that reduce poverty; revitalize lowincome communities; and empower lowincome families and individuals to become fully self-sufficient. (4) Any non-profit entity or local unit of government seeking funding from the discretionary grant funds from the division may contact the division to inquire regarding the availability of discretionary funds. In order to be considered for funding for the following fiscal year, non-profit entities or local units of government must submit applications from July 15 to August 15. An exception to the application time frame may be made due to extenuating circumstances as determined by the division. The application must contain the following: (A) Description of need including information regarding the proposed use of funds including demographic and other relevant data to support need; (B) Proposed target population; (C) Organization and governance including information on the applicant’s organization and governance structure, a description of the agency’s history, vision and mission, services provided, and number and roles of current staff. The applicant must provide information on the applicant’s board of directors, by-laws, and a list of current board members; (D) Coordination of services including a description of how the applicant will ensure services support or complement, but not duplicate, services being provided by other related agencies; 1. The applicant must provide a description of any proposed coalition(s), partnerships, organizations, cooperating entities, consultants, or any other entities or individuals with which the applicant may be contracting or collaborating. The applicant must include a letter of commitment from entities that have identified roles in the use of CSBG discretionary funds; (E) Implementation plan that addresses the program or project goal(s), action steps, person(s) responsible for the completion of the goals, timeline for completion, and evaluation measures; (F) Personnel information including the educational background and work experience of project and management staff. The applicant must include an organizational chart showing the lines of personnel authority. The organizational chart shall include: 1. The relationship of project staff to management and support staff; 2. The names of employees and their titles; and 3. The existence of sub-contractors; (G) Management including a description of how services of the grant agreement will be managed, controlled, and supervised in order to ensure satisfactory grant agreement performance; and (H) Itemized budget and budget narrative. (5) In addition to providing the information set forth in section (6), a non-profit entity submitting an application to receive discretionary grant funds must provide the following information and documentation: (A) Certified copy of the non-profit entity’s articles of incorporation; (B) Certified documents showing that the organization is in good standing; (C) A copy of the most recent audit showing that the non-profit entity is compliant with the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants Standards; (D) Documentation establishing that the non-profit entity is designated as a non-profit organization by the Internal Revenue Service under 26 U.S.C. section 501(c)(3); and (E) Any other documents that the division may request from time-to-time to establish the continued good standing of the organization. (6) A non-profit entity or local unit of government shall fully cooperate with the division including providing all records, documents, and information requested during the application process and at any time upon granting funding to the non-profit entity or local government. (7) Upon review of the application, the division shall issue a determination to the entity. The determination is subject to the division’s discretion. (8) Any previous discretionary funded nonprofit entity or local unit of government is not entitled to discretionary funding awards and must reapply annually. (9) Any unused discretionary grant funds may be carried over into the following federal fiscal year to be used for purposes consistent with this section and for the purposes for which the funds were awarded. AUTHORITY: section 660.376, RSMo 2000.* Original rule filed Oct. 31, 2013, effective June 30, 2014. *Original authority: 660.376, RSMo 1984.