§ 1208.3-1 - Sponsor responsibility.

The sponsor is responsible for all programmatic and fiscal aspects of the project and may not delegate or contract this responsibility to another entity. The sponsor has the responsibility to:

(a) Employ, supervise and support a Project Director, who will be directly responsible to the sponsor for the management of the project, including selection, training and supervision of project staff:

(b) Provide for the recruitment, assignment, supervision and support of Foster Grandparents. Special efforts are to be made to recruit and assign persons from minority groups, handicapped and hard-to-reach individuals, and groups in the community which are underrepresented in the project. The sponsor will stress the recruitment and enrollment of persons not already volunteering;

(c) Provide financial and in-kind support to fulfill the project's local share commitment;

(d) Establish, orient and support an independent FGP Advisory Council;

(e) Provide Foster Grandparents with not less than the minimum accident, personal liability, and excess auto liability insurance required by ACTION:

(f) Provide for appropriate recognition of the Foster Grandparents and their activities;

(g) Establish personnel practices, including provision of position descriptions for project staff, and service policies for Foster Grandparents, including grievance and appeal procedures for both volunteers and project staff;

(h) Ensure compliance with ACTION requirements relating to nondiscrimination, religious activity, political activity, lobbying, patronage toward persons related by blood or marriage, labor or anti-labor organization or related activities, nondisplacement of employed workers, nonimpairment of contracts, and noncompensation for services;

(i) Maintain project records in accordance with generally accepted accounting practice and provide for the accurate and timely preparation and submission of reports required by ACTION;

(j) Develop Foster Grandparent service opportunities through volunteer stations;

(k) Obtain ACTION concurrence in the selection of volunteer stations prior to the placement of Foster Grandparents.

(l) Negotiate, prior to placement of Foster Grandparents, a written Memorandum of Understanding with each volunteer station, identifying sponsor responsibilities, volunteer station responsibilities and joint responsibilities;

(m) Orient volunteer station staff to the Program and its activities;

(n) Provide not less than 40 hours of pre-service orientation to Foster Grandparents;

(o) Arrange group in-service training for Foster Grandparents for a minimum of four hours each month;

(p) Provide or arrange for direct benefits (insurance, meals, physical examinations, recognition, stipends, transportation and uniforms, if needed) for the Foster Grandparents in a timely manner;

(q) Ensure provision for volunteer safety;

(r) Comply with program regulations, policies and procedures prescribed by ACTION;

(s) Ensure that appropriate liability insurance is maintained for owned, nonowned, or hired vehicles used in the project;

(t) Develop a realistic transportation plan for the project based on the lowest cost transportation modes; and

(u) Conduct an annual appraisal of volunteers’ performance and an annual review of volunteers’ income eligibility.

(v) Assure that individuals whose income is at or below 100 percent of the poverty level receive special consideration for participation in the Program.