$50 Million to Strengthen Non-Profits, Faith Based Groups

On May 11, The Department of Health and Human Services today announced the availability of grants worth $50 million from the Strengthening Communities Fund, a new fund created by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The fund will strengthen nonprofit and faith-based organizations that aid families and communities who are struggling in the economic downturn.

The Strengthening Communities Fund (SCF) is divided into two parts. The Nonprofit Capacity Building program will make one-time, two-year awards of up to $1 million to lead organizations that will use the funds to support other faith-based or secular nonprofit organizations.

The State, Local and Tribal Government Capacity Building program will make one-time, two-year awards of up to $250,000 to state, city, county and Indian/Native American tribal governments. Governments will use these grants to strengthen nonprofit organizations and increase the nonprofits' involvement in projects that help turn our economy around.

Grantees for both programs must provide at least 20 percent of the total approved cost of the project from non-federal funds. This match may be met by cash or in-kind contributions.

HHS' Administration for Children and Families' Office of Community Services will administer the SCF programs. Applicants interested in applying for funds should visit their Web site.

$95 million is available for Housing for the Elderly/Persons with Disabilities

On May 11, the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced the availability of fundingto improve public housing units and create community facilities for the delivery of medical and other services to this vulnerable population. These funds are part of the nearly $1 billion made available by HUD the same day.

Public Housing Capital Funding will be awarded competitively through a Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) that can be accessed on HUD's Recovery Act Web site. HUD will accept applications from public housing authorities from June 1 until August 18, 2009 for Housing for the Elderly/Persons with Disabilities.

Disability Policy Collaboration
News and Information:
Economic Recovery Information

April 6, 2009

Health and Human Services Transitional Assistance to Needy Families

On April 3, HHS announced the availability of up to an additional $5 billion in emergency funding for the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program. In order to be eligible to receive resources from the Emergency Fund, a state must demonstrate an increase in the number of families receiving assistance from the TANF program or an increase in expenditures on employment subsidies or short-term, one-time benefits in at least one quarter during Fiscal Years 2009 or 2010. In addition, the Recovery Act provides states with more flexibility in using TANF funds unspent from prior years to assist families in need and temporarily modifies the caseload reduction credit to ensure states are not punished as the number of families seeking assistance increase during these difficult economic times. The Recovery Act also continues a supplemental grant program that provides additional support to 17 states with growing populations.

http://www.hhs.gov/news/press/2009pres/04/20090403a.html

Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA) Formula Grant Awards

On April 1, the RSA announced that it had made the following formula grant awards

• 50 percent of the ARRA Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) State Grant Program funds;
• 100 percent of the ARRA Independent Living (IL) State Grant Program funds; and
• 100 percent of the ARRA IL Services for Older Individuals Who are Blind (OIB) Program funds.

In addition, the Department has posted Fact Sheets and Guidance on funds made available under the ARRA for the VR State Grant, IL State Grant, and IL OIB programs. The Department will provide separate guidance regarding the Centers for IL program authorized under Title VII, Chapter 1, Part C of the Rehabilitation Act. In April, RSA is planning on conducting a number of webinars on the ARRA VR, IL Part B, IL Part C, and OIB funds.

http://www.ed.gov/policy/gen/leg/recovery/index.html

Education State Stabilization Funds

OMB Director Peter Orzsag's March 31 memo supports the interpretation of the ARRA that 1) Governors have the ability to reject State Stabilization Funds from the Department of Education by not applying for these funds; and 2) State legislatures do not have the legal authority to override the Governor's decision to not apply for the funds. The state stabilization fund consists of a one time appropriation in the ARRA. It consists of approximately $48.6 billion to be awarded to minimize or avoid reductions in education and other services. The bulk (81%) of a state's allocation must be used "for the support of a elementary, secondary, and post secondary education."

http://www.ucp.org/uploads/09Mar31_OMB.pdf

Health and Human Services Community Health Centers

On March 27, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced the release of $338 million to expand services offered at the nation's community health centers. The grants -- titled Increased Demand for Services (IDS) grants -- will be distributed to 1,128 federally qualified health center grantees. Health centers will use the funds over the next two years to create or retain approximately 6,400 health center jobs.

http://www.hhs.gov/news/press/2009pres/03/20090327a.html

Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) correspondence to States

This document includes a fact sheet which presents background information on the new FMAP methodology and grant issuance, clarifications on the eligibility maintenance of effort (MOE) requirements, and procedures for States to regain eligibility for the increased FMAP. It also includes specific questions raised by States regarding the FMAP increase since the enactment of the ARRA.

http://www.astho.org/pubs/ARRASection5001-FMAP-FactSheet.pdf

Department of Education

The Department of education has a number of important resources:

• Title I, Part A grants to school districts: http://www.ed.gov/policy/gen/leg/recovery/factsheet/title-i.html
• IDEA, Part B grants to states and preschool grants: http://www.ed.gov/policy/gen/leg/recovery/factsheet/idea.html
• The State Fiscal Stabilization Fund: http://www.ed.gov/policy/gen/leg/recovery/factsheet/stabilization-fund.html
• Draft application for the state fiscal stabilization fund (SFSF) pending at OMB: http://edicsweb.ed.gov/browse/downldatt.cfm?pkg_serial_num=3976
• The timetable for funding available under ARRA: http://www.ed.gov/policy/gen/leg/recovery/index.html
• Resource page for states and LEAs on the best ideas on school modernization. http://www.ed.gov/policy/gen/leg/recovery/modernization
• Sign up for ED ARRA news by visiting www.ed.gov/recovery/ or by subscribing to the ED ARRA RSS feed at http://www.ed.gov/rss/arracomms.xml

Education Recovery and Reinvestment Center

This web site is a one-stop for educators and policymakers to help them track developments and find current information on the ARRA. New section beginning this week addresses the 4 assurances that states are required to address in their applications for funds under the SFSF. Fund Finder tool quickly calculates the amount of funds a school district will receive under Title I and IDEA. Also, a Research and Policy Update is posted on the site that addresses The Recovery and Reinvestment Act: Opportunities and Strategies to Advance Teacher Effectiveness.http://www.learningpt.org/recovery/

Kaiser Family Foundation's American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA): Medicaid and health care provisions

Three page fact sheet that provides a summary of the Medicaid provisions in the ARRA and highlights some of the other key health provisions.

http://www.kff.org/medicaid/upload/7872.pdf

For all ARRA resources to date and discussion, please visit http://statestimulusforum.activeboard.com and choose "American Reinvestment and Recovery Act".