[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 53 (Friday, March 18, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-6305]
[[Page Unknown]]
[Federal Register: March 18, 1994]
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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Office of Refugee Resettlement
Refugee Resettlement Program; Proposed Availability of Formula
Allocation Funding for FY 1994 Targeted Assistance Grants for Services
to Refugees\1\ in Local Areas of High Need
AGENCY: Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR), ACF, HHS.
\1\In addition to persons admitted to the United States as
refugees, eligibility for targeted assistance includes Cuban and
Haitian entrants, certain Amerasians from Vietnam who are admitted
to the U.S. as immigrants, and certain Amerasians from Vietnam who
are U.S. citizens. (See section II of this notice on
``Authorization.'') The term ``refugee'', used in this notice for
convenience, is intended to encompass such additional persons who
are eligible to participate in refugee program services, including
the targeted assistance program.
\1\Refugees admitted to the U.S. under admissions numbers set
aside for private-sector-initiative admissions are not eligible to
be served under the targeted assistance program (or under other
programs supported by Federal refugee funds) during their period of
coverage under their sponsoring agency's agreement with the
Department of State--usually two years from their date of arrival,
or until they obtain permanent resident alien status, whichever
comes first.
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ACTION: Notice of proposed availability of formula allocation funding
for FY 1994 targeted assistance grants to States for services to
refugees in local areas of high need.
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SUMMARY: This notice announces the proposed availability of funds and
award procedures for FY 1994 targeted assistance grants for services to
refugees under the Refugee Resettlement Program (RRP). These grants are
for service provision in localities with large refugee populations,
high refugee concentrations, and high use of public assistance, and
where specific needs exist for supplementation of currently available
resources. In order to provide States increased flexibility, this
notice proposes to eliminate the specific requirement that at least 85%
of targeted assistance funds must be used for services which directly
enhance refugee employment potential and proposes to replace this
requirement with a more general requirement that targeted assistance
funds must be used primarily for employment-related services. In
addition, this notice proposes to eliminate the requirement that cash
assistance recipients must make up a percentage of the targeted
assistance caseload which is not less than the State's current welfare
dependency rate among refugees. This notice also proposes to eliminate
welfare dependency as a factor in the targeted assistance allocation
formula in light of the unavailability of up-to-date national welfare
dependency data since FY 1989. The formula has been updated to take
into account FY 1993 arrivals. In FY 1994, targeted assistance funds
will be available only for a one-year grant project period.
DATES: Comments on the proposals contained in this notice must be
received by April 18, 1994.
ADDRESSES: Address written comments, in duplicate, to: Toyo A. Biddle,
Office of Refugee Resettlement, Administration for Children and
Families, 370 L'Enfant Promenade, SW., Washington, DC 20447.
APPLICATION DEADLINE: The deadline for applications will be established
by the final notice; applications should not be sent in response to
this notice of proposed allocations.
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 93.566.
(For further programmatic information, States should contact their
State Liaison in ORR.)
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Purpose and Scope
This notice announces the proposed availability of funds for grants
for targeted assistance for services to refugees in counties where,
because of factors such as unusually large refugee populations, high
refugee concentrations, and high use of public assistance, there exists
and can be demonstrated a specific need for supplementation of
resources for services to this population.
The Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) has available $49,397,000
in FY 1994 funds for the targeted assistance program (TAP) as part of
the FY 1994 appropriation for the Department of Health and Human
Services (Pub. L. 103-112).
The House Appropriations Committee Report reads as follows with
respect to targeted assistance funds (H.R. Rept. No. 103-156, p. 93):
This program provides grants to States for counties which are impacted
by high concentrations of refugees and high dependency rates. The
Committee intends that $19,000,000 of the total be provided to continue
the current program of support to communities affected as a result of
the massive influx of Cuban and Haitian entrants during the Mariel
boatlift. The Committee also intends that 10 percent of the total
appropriated for targeted assistance be used for grants to localities
most heavily impacted by the influx of refugees such as Laotian Hmong,
Cambodians, and Soviet Pentecostals, including secondary migrants who
entered the United States after October 1, 1979. The Committee expects
these grants to be awarded to communities not presently receiving
targeted assistance because of previous concentration requirements and
other factors in the grant formulas, as well as those who do currently
receive targeted assistance grants. The Committee intends that the
State of California shall be held harmless in the formula allocation of
targeted assistance funds as a result of any reductions to the total
amount appropriated for the targeted assistance program. California's
total share of funding under the formula allocation in fiscal year 1994
should be no less than the percentage share of California's allotment
under fiscal year 1993 appropriations. In determining the hold harmless
allocation to California, the total amount appropriated for targeted
assistance will be used.
The Senate Appropriations Committee Report (S. Rept. No. 103-143,
p. 162) is less specific than, but consistent with, the above-quoted
House Report.
The Director of the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) proposes
to use the $49,397,000 appropriated for FY 1994 targeted assistance as
follows:
$25,457,300 is proposed for allocation under the updated
formula, as set forth in this notice.
$19,000,000 will be awarded to Florida for the Dade County
public schools and Jackson Memorial Hospital, Miami.
$4,939,700 (10% of the total) will be awarded under
discretionary grant announcements which will be issued separately
setting forth application requirements and evaluation criteria.
The purpose of targeted assistance grants is to provide, through a
process of local planning and implementation, direct services intended
to result in the economic self-sufficiency and reduced welfare
dependency of refugees through job placements.
The targeted assistance program reflects the requirements of
section 412(c)(2)(B) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA),
which provides that targeted assistance grants shall be made available
``(i) primarily for the purpose of facilitating refugee employment and
achievement of self-sufficiency, (ii) in a manner that does not
supplant other refugee program funds and that assures that not less
than 95 percent of the amount of the grant award is made available to
the county or other local entity.''
II. Authorization
Targeted assistance projects are funded under the authority of
section 412(c)(2) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), as
amended by the Refugee Assistance Extension Act of 1986 (Pub. L. 99-
605), 8 U.S.C. 1522(c); section 501(a) of the Refugee Education
Assistance Act of 1980 (Pub. L. 96-422), 8 U.S.C. 1522 note, insofar as
it incorporates by reference with respect to Cuban and Haitian entrants
the authorities pertaining to assistance for refugees established by
section 412(c)(2) of the INA, as cited above; section 584(c) of the
Foreign Operations, Export Financing, and Related Programs
Appropriations Act, 1988, as included in the FY 1988 Continuing
Resolution (Pub. L. 100-202), insofar as it incorporates by reference
with respect to certain Amerasians from Vietnam the authorities
pertaining to assistance for refugees established by section 412(c)(2)
of the INA, as cited above, including certain Amerasians from Vietnam
who are U.S. citizens, as provided under title II of the Foreign
Operations, Export Financing, and Related Programs Appropriations Acts,
1989 (Pub. L. 100-461), 1990 (Pub. L. 101-167), and 1991 (Pub. L. 101-
513).
III. Client and Service Priorities
Targeted assistance funding should be used to assist refugee
families to achieve economic independence. To this end, ORR expects
States and counties to ensure that a coherent plan of services is
developed for each eligible family that addresses the family's needs
from time of arrival until attainment of economic independence. Each
service plan should address a family's needs for both employment-
related services and other needed social services.
Services funded under the targeted assistance allocations are
required to focus primarily on those refugees who, either because of
their protracted use of public assistance or difficulty in securing
employment, continue to need services beyond the initial years of
resettlement. The targeted assistance program, however, is not intended
to be limited to cash assistance recipients. TAP-funded services may
also be provided to other refugees in need of services, regardless of
whether the refugees are receiving cash assistance.
In addition to the statutory requirement that TAP funds be used
``primarily for the purpose of facilitating refugee employment''
(section 412(c)(2)(B)(i)), funds awarded under this program are
intended to help fulfill the Congressional intent that ``employable
refugees should be placed on jobs as soon as possible after their
arrival in the United States'' (section 412(a)(1)(B)(i) of the INA).
Therefore targeted assistance funds must be used primarily for services
which directly enhance refugee employment potential, have specific
employment objectives, and are designed to enable refugees to obtain
jobs with less than one year's participation in the targeted assistance
program. Examples of these activities are: Job development; job
placement; job-related and vocational English; short-term job training
specifically related to opportunities in the local economy; on-the-job
training; business and employer incentives (such as on-site employee
orientation, vocational English training, or bilingual supervisor
assistance); and business technical assistance. General or remedial
educational activities--such as adult basic education (ABE) or
preparation for a high school equivalency or general education diploma
(GED)--may be provided within the context of an individual
employability plan for a refugee which is intended to result in job
placement in less than one year. ORR encourages the continued provision
of services after a refugee has entered a job to help the refugee
retain employment or move to a better job. Targeted assistance funds
cannot be used for long-term training programs such as vocational
training that last for more than a year or educational programs that
are not intended to lead to employment within a year. If TAP funds are
used for the provision of English language training, such training
should be provided concurrently, rather than sequentially, with
employment or with other employment-related services, to the maximum
extent possible.
A portion of a local area's allocation may be used for services
which are not directed toward the achievement of a specific employment
objective in less than one year but which are essential to the
adjustment of refugees in the community, provided such needs are
clearly demonstrated and such use is approved by the State.
Reflecting section 412(a)(1)(A)(iv) of the INA, the Director of ORR
expects States to ``insure that women have the same opportunities as
men to participate in training and instruction.'' In addition, States
are expected to make sure that services are provided in a manner that
encourages the use of bilingual women on service agency staffs to
ensure adequate service access by refugee women. In order to facilitate
refugee self-support, the Director also expects States to implement
strategies which address simultaneously the employment potential of
both male and female wage earners in a family unit. States and counties
are expected to make every effort to assure availability of day care
services in order to allow women with children the opportunity to
participate in employment services or to accept or retain employment.
To accomplish this, day care may be treated as a priority employment-
related service under the targeted assistance program. Refugees who are
participating in TAP-funded or social services-funded employment
services or have accepted employment are eligible for day care
services. For an employed refugee, TAP-funded day care must be limited
to one year after the refugee becomes employed. States and counties,
however, are expected to use day care funding from other publicly
funded mainstream programs as a prior resource and are encouraged to
work with service providers to assure maximum access to other publicly
funded resources for day care.
Targeted assistance services should be provided in a manner that is
culturally and linguistically compatible with a refugee's language and
cultural background. In light of the increasingly diverse population of
refugees who are resettling in this country, refugee service agencies
will need to develop practical ways of providing culturally and
linguistically appropriate services to a changing ethnic population. To
the maximum extent possible, particularly during a refugee's initial
years of resettlement, targeted assistance services should be provided
through a refugee-specific service system rather than through a system
in which refugees are only one of many client groups being served.
ORR strongly encourages States and counties when contracting for
targeted assistance services, including employment services, to give
consideration to the special strengths of MAAs, whenever contract
bidders are otherwise equally qualified, provided that the MAA has the
capability to deliver services in a manner that is culturally and
linguistically compatible with the background of the target population
to be served.
ORR defines MAAs as organizations with the following
qualifications:
a. The organization is legally incorporated as a nonprofit
organization; and
b. Not less than 51% of the composition of the Board of Directors
or governing board of the mutual assistance association is comprised of
refugees or former refugees, including both refugee men and women.
Finally, in order to provide culturally and linguistically
compatible services in as cost-efficient a manner as possible in a time
of limited resources, ORR strongly encourages States and counties to
promote and give special consideration to the provision of services
through coalitions of refugee service organizations, such as coalitions
of MAAs, voluntary resettlement agencies, or a variety of service
providers. ORR believes it is essential for refugee-serving
organizations to form close partnerships in the provision of services
to refugees in order to be able to respond adequately to a changing
refugee picture. Coalition-building and consolidation of providers is
particularly important in communities with multiple service providers
in order to ensure better coordination of services and maximum use of
funding for services by minimizing the funds used for multiple
administrative overhead costs.
The award of funds to States under this notice would be contingent
upon the completeness of a State's application as described in section
IX, below.
IV. [Reserved for Discussion of Comments in Final Notice]
V. Eligible Grantees
The following requirements, which have previously applied to TAP,
would continue to apply with respect to FY 1994 awards: Eligible
grantees are those agencies of State governments which are responsible
for the refugee program under 45 CFR 400.5 in States containing
counties which qualify for FY 1994 targeted assistance awards. The use
of targeted assistance funds for services to Cuban and Haitian entrants
is limited to States which have an approved State plan under the Cuban/
Haitian Entrant Program (CHEP).
The State agency will submit a single application on behalf of all
county governments of the qualified counties in that State. Subsequent
to the approval of the State's application by ORR, local targeted
assistance plans will be developed by the county government or other
designated entity and submitted to the State.
A State with more than one qualified county is permitted, but not
required, to determine the allocation amount for each qualified county
within the State. However, if a State chooses to determine county
allocations differently from those set forth in this notice, the FY
1994 allocations proposed by the State must be included in the State's
application.
Applications submitted in response to this notice are not subject
to review by State and areawide clearinghouses under Executive Order
12372, ``Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs.''
VI. Qualification and Allocation Formula
A. Qualification Criteria
The INA authorizes the Director at section 412(c)(2)(A) ``to make
grants to States for assistance to counties and similar areas in the
States where, because of factors such as unusually large refugee
populations (including secondary migration), high refugee
concentrations, and high use of public assistance by refugees, there
exists and can be demonstrated a specific need for supplementation of
available resources for services to refugees''.
ORR is willing to consider data for the purpose of determining the
eligibility of new counties to participate in TAP in FY 1994.
Interested counties should submit the following written evidence: (a) A
list of refugees identified by name, alien number, social security
number, date of birth, and date of arrival; and (b) a description of
the source of data. Listings of refugees who are not identified by
their alien numbers will not be considered. Written evidence should be
submitted separately from comments on the proposals in this notice no
later than 30 days from date of publication of this notice and should
be addressed to: Loren Bussert, Office of Refugee Resettlement, 370
L'Enfant Promenade, SW., Washington, DC 20447, Telephone: (202) 401-
4732.
In determining whether a new county would be eligible to
participate in the targeted assistance program, the same four criteria
used previously will be used, including the same cutoff points. Updated
information on refugee arrivals, concentrations, dependency rates, and
receipt of cash assistance will be taken into account. To qualify for
TAP funds, a county (or group of adjacent counties within the same
Standard Metropolitan Statistical Area, or SMSA) is required to be
above the median or above a specified cutoff point of jurisdictions for
which data are reviewed in three of the four following criteria: (1)
The number of refugees placed in the county during FY 1983-1993; (2)
the ratio of the overall county population to the refugees in item (1),
above; (3) the number of refugees in the county who were receiving cash
assistance under the programs of aid to families with dependent
children (AFDC) and refugee cash assistance (RCA) on October 1, 1993;
and (4) the ratio of refugees in item (3) to the number of refugees in
item (1). A county which places above the cutoff point in any three of
the above categories is determined to be qualified to apply for
targeted assistance funds.
The median for Criterion 1, above, is 2,066.5. The median for
Criterion 2 is 244.5. The cutoff point for Criterion 3 is 1,000. The
cutoff point for Criterion 4 was established at 50%. Counties which
meet three of the four criteria are qualified for the program.
B. Allocation Formula
Since current welfare dependency data on refugees are not available
at the national level, the Director of ORR proposes to eliminate
welfare dependency rates as a factor in calculating targeted assistance
formula allocations to States in FY 1994. In all other respects, the FY
1994 TAP formula allocations would be based on the same formula as in
FY 1993, updated to reflect arrivals through September 30, 1993.
Under this formula, one portion of the allocation is based on
refugee and Cuban/Haitian entrant arrivals during FY 1980-1982; funds
for this portion of the formula are allocated on the same proportionate
basis among participating counties as in FY 1992. The second portion of
the allocation is based on refugee and entrant placements in these
counties during calendar year (CY) 1983--September 30, 1993.
For the participating counties, the $25,457,300 which is proposed
to be allocated by formula would be apportioned as follows:
a. $8,655,482 or 34%, would be allocated on the basis of the
formula which has been used for all previous targeted assistance
allocations (``old formula'') and which is based on initial placements
during FY 1980-1982 and other factors as described under ``Formula Used
to Date'' in the FY 1989 TAP notice published in the Federal Register
on July 3, 1989 (54 FR 27944).
b. $16,801,818 or 66%, would be allocated on the basis of arrivals
during CY 1983--September 30, 1993 (``new formula'').
The above percentages are based on the proportion of initial
placements in these counties during the two periods: 338,247 refugee
arrivals, or 34% of the total number of placements, during the old-
formula period; and 658,930 or 66%, during the new-formula period.
The old-formula allocation of $8,655,482 follows the same
distribution among counties as in the past.
The new-formula allocation of $16,801,818 is based on the number of
initial placements in each county during CY 1983--September 30, 1993.
Welfare dependency rates were not used as a factor in this portion of
the formula.
VII. Proposed Allocations
Table 1 lists the participating counties, the number of placements
in each county during CY 1983--September 30, 1993, the amount of each
county's proposed allocation which is based on the old formula, the
amount of each county's allocation which is based on the new formula,
and the county's total proposed allocation.
Although Table 1 shows an amount for each county, the Director
proposes, in the case of a State which contains more than one qualified
county, to continue to permit the State to determine (in accordance
with the requirements set forth in this notice) the appropriate
allocation of the State's targeted assistance award among the qualified
counties in the State. If a State chooses to make allocations which are
different from the notice, the State, as in the FY 1993 TAP, would be
responsible for determining an appropriate and equitable basis for
allocating the funds among the qualified counties in the State and for
including in its application a description of this allocation basis,
the data to be used, and the allocation proposed for each county.
Table 2 provides State totals for the proposed county allocations
set forth in Table 1.
Table 3 indicates the areas that each participating county
represents.
Table 1.--Proposed Targeted Assistance Allocations by County: FY 1994
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Portion of
Arrivals proposed FY Portion of Total proposed
Jan. 1983- 1994 proposed FY 1994 FY 1994
County State Sep. 1993 allocation allocation under allocation\1\
(A) under old new formula (C) (D)
formula (B)
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Alameda......................... CA 14,333 $215,050 560,739 775,789
Contra Costa.................... CA 4,042 61,488 158,132 219,620
Fresno.......................... CA 12,854 118,751 502,878 621,629
Los Angeles..................... CA 90,912 1,085,976 3,556,683 4,642,659
Merced.......................... CA 4,118 144,945 161,105 306,050
Orange.......................... CA 39,745 483,225 1,554,914 2,038,139
Sacramento...................... CA 15,339 184,062 600,096 784,158
San Diego....................... CA 22,382 360,162 875,635 1,235,797
San Francisco................... CA 22,850 279,500 893,944 1,173,444
San Joaquin..................... CA 8,797 185,730 344,159 529,889
Santa Clara..................... CA 30,856 359,731 1,207,157 1,566,888
Stanislaus...................... CA 3,210 33,604 125,582 159,186
Tulare.......................... CA 5,207 0 203,710 203,710
Denver.......................... CO 7,815 72,548 123,180 195,728
Broward......................... FL 2,709 120,171 42,699 162,870
Dade............................ FL 43,871 2,096,472 691,493 \2\21,787,965
Hillsboro....................... FL 3,009 37,765 47,428 85,193
Palm Beach...................... FL 3,058 49,922 48,200 98,122
Honolulu........................ HI 3,134 79,887 49,398 129,285
Cook/Kane....................... IL 32,482 375,262 511,980 887,242
Sedgwick........................ KS 3,788 89,424 59,706 149,130
Orleans......................... LA 3,678 61,090 57,972 119,062
Montgomery/Prince Georges....... MD 8,100 74,318 127,672 201,990
Middlesex....................... MA 5,727 58,710 90,269 148,979
Suffolk......................... MA 14,877 134,742 234,491 369,233
Hennepin........................ MN 9,349 94,663 147,359 242,022
Ramsey.......................... MN 9,191 133,102 144,868 277,970
Jackson......................... MO 3,795 34,751 59,817 94,568
Essex........................... NJ 5,498 20,111 86,659 106,770
Hudson.......................... NJ 2,355 134,572 37,119 171,691
Union........................... NJ 1,586 27,015 24,998 52,013
New York........................ NY 117,363 300,254 1,849,870 2,150,124
Multnomah....................... OR 14,793 203,998 233,167 437,165
Philadelphia.................... PA 16,863 139,637 265,794 405,431
Providence...................... RI 4,601 99,736 72,521 172,257
Harris.......................... TX 19,383 163,680 305,514 469,194
Salt Lake....................... UT 6,632 49,759 104,533 154,292
Arlington....................... VA 2,886 86,228 45,489 131,717
Fairfax......................... VA 7,908 103,974 124,646 228,620
King/Snohomish.................. WA 25,694 248,385 404,988 653,373
Pierce.......................... WA 4,140 53,082 65,254 118,336
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Total..................... ............. 658,930 8,655,482 16,801,818 \2\44,457,300
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\1\Based on arrivals through September 30, 1993.
\2\The allocation for Dade County, Florida, includes $19,000,000 for Jackson Memorial Hospital (Miami) and the
Dade County (Miami) public schools. This is referred to in the House and Senate Reports on the appropriation
``to continue the current program of support to communities affected as a result of the massive influx of
Cuban and Haitian entrants during the Mariel boatlift.'' The amounts are $10,636,376 for Jackson Memorial and
$8,363,624 for the Dade County schools.
Table 2.--Proposed Targeted Assistance Allocations by State: FY 1994
------------------------------------------------------------------------
FY 1994 proposed
State allocation\1\
------------------------------------------------------------------------
California............................................ 14,256,958
Colorado.............................................. 195,728
Florida............................................... \2\22,134,150
Hawaii................................................ 129,285
Illinois.............................................. 887,242
Kansas................................................ 149,130
Louisiana............................................. 119,062
Maryland.............................................. 201,990
Massachusetts......................................... 518,212
Minnesota............................................. 519,992
Missouri.............................................. 94,568
New Jersey............................................ 330,474
New York.............................................. 2,150,124
Oregon................................................ 437,165
Pennsylvania.......................................... 405,431
Rhode Island.......................................... 172,257
Texas................................................. 469,194
Utah.................................................. 154,292
Virginia.............................................. 360,337
Washington............................................ 771,709
-----------------
Total........................................... 44,457,300
------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\Based on arrivals through September 30, 1993.
\2\The allocation for Florida includes $19,000,000 for Jackson Memorial
Hospital (Miami) and the Dade County (Miami) public schools. See
footnote 2 to Table 1.
Table 3.--Targeted Assistance Areas
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Targeted Assistance Area\1\ Definition
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CA Alameda
Contra Costa
Fresno
Los Angeles
Merced
Orange
Sacramento
San Diego
San Francisco............... Marin, San Francisco, & San Mateo Counties.
San Joaquin
Santa Clara
Stanislaus
Tulare
CO Denver...................... Adams, Arapahoe, Boulder, Denver, & Jefferson Counties.
FL Broward
Dade
Hillsboro
Palm Beach
HI Honolulu
IL Cook/Kane
KS Sedgwick
LA Orleans..................... Jefferson & Orleans Parishes.
MD Montgomery/Prince Georges
MA Middlesex
Suffolk
MN Hennepin
Ramsey
MO Jackson..................... Jackson County, MO, & Wyandotte County, KS.
NJ Essex
Hudson
Union
NY New York.................... Bronx, Kings, New York, Queens, & Richmond Counties.
OR Multnomah................... Clackamas, Multnomah, & Washington Counties, OR, & Clark County,
WA.
PA Philadelphia
RI Providence
TX Harris
UT Salt Lake Davis, Salt Lake, & Utah Counties.
VA Arlington Fairfax County & Independent Cities of Alexandria, Fairfax, & Falls
Fairfax..................... Church.
WA King/Snohomish
Pierce
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\Consists of named county/counties unless otherwise defined.
VIII. Application and Implementation Process
Under the FY 1994 targeted assistance program, States would apply
for and receive grant awards on behalf of qualified counties in the
State. A single allocation would be made to each State by ORR on the
basis of an approved State application. The State agency would, in
turn, receive, review, and determine the acceptability of individual
county targeted assistance plans.
Beginning in FY 1994, TAP funds will be awarded through a more
streamlined grant process similar to that used for the ORR social
services formula grant program. An application and assurances will
still be required of the States eligible to receive TAP funding.
Guidance on application content will be provided later this year in the
FY 1994 final targeted assistance notice. FY 1994 funds will be
available for obligation by the State agency for a period of one year
from the date of the grant award. There will be no carryover of
unobligated funds into the FY 1995 grant award. Funds obligated by the
States during this one-year period must be liquidated within 2 years
from the date of obligation.
Although funding for educational services in Dade County, FL, and
for medical services at Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami, FL, is part
of the appropriation amount for targeted assistance, the scope of
activities for these special projects will be administratively
determined. Applications for those funds are therefore not subject to
provisions contained in this notice but to other requirements which
have been conveyed separately. Similarly, the requirements regarding
the 10% portion of the targeted assistance appropriation that will be
awarded separately will be addressed in the grant announcement for
those funds.
IX. Application Requirements
The proposed State application requirements for grants for the FY
1994 targeted assistance formula allocation are as follows: States that
are currently operating under approved management plans for their FY
1993 targeted assistance program and wish to continue to do so for
their FY 1994 grants may provide the following in lieu of resubmitting
the full currently approved plan: The State's application for FY 1994
funding shall provide: A. Assurance that the State's current management
plan for the administration of the targeted assistance program, as
approved by ORR, will continue to be in full force and effect for the
FY 1994 targeted assistance program, subject to any additional
assurances or revisions required by this notice which are not reflected
in the current plan. Any proposed modifications to the approved plan
will be identified in the application and are subject to ORR review and
approval. Any proposed changes must address and reference all
appropriate portions of the FY 1993 application content requirements to
ensure complete incorporation in the State's management plan.
B. Assurance that, for each qualified local area, targeted
assistance funds will be used primarily for, but not limited to,
services to cash assistance recipients.
C. Assurance that targeted assistance funds will be used primarily
for the provision of services which directly enhance refugee employment
potential, have specific employment objectives, and are designed to
enable refugees to obtain jobs with less than one year's participation
in the targeted assistance program. States must indicate what
percentage of FY 1994 targeted assistance formula allocation funds will
be used for employment services.
D. Timetables for awarding funds to the local areas consistent with
the conclusion of services under the FY 1993 program.
E. A line item budget and justification for State administrative
costs limited to a maximum of 5% of the total award to the State. Each
total budget period funding amount requested must be necessary,
reasonable, and allocable to the project.
States Administering the Program Locally
States that have administered the program locally or provide direct
service to the refugee population (with the concurrence of the county)
must submit a program summary to ORR for prior review and approval. The
summary must include a description of the proposed services; a
justification for the projected allocation for each component including
relationship of funds allocated to numbers of clients served,
characteristics of clients, duration of training and services,
projected outcomes, and cost per placement. In addition, the program
component summary should describe any ancillary services or
subcomponents such as day care, transportation, or language training.
States With Two or More Counties Receiving Targeted Assistance Funds
As in FY 1993, a State with two or more local areas which qualify
for the program may choose to determine respective county allocations.
If the State chooses to determine county allocations differently from
those set forth in Table 1 of this notice, the State should provide a
description of the State's proposed allocation plan and the basis for
the proposed allocations. The allocation approach should be based upon
existing FY 1993 funds, prior-year funds carried forward, and
indicators of refugee need for targeted assistance services. The
application should contain a description of the allocation approach,
data used in its determination, the calculated allocation amount for
each county, and the rationale for the proposed allocations. States are
encouraged to revise allocation formulas to assure appropriate funding
among eligible counties for the duration of the grant such that
targeted assistance activities within the State conclude
simultaneously. Where the State chooses not to determine county
allocation amounts, the State must provide the allocations which are
specified in this notice.
X. Reporting Requirements
States would be required to submit quarterly reports on the
outcomes of the targeted assistance program, using the same form which
States use for reporting on refugee social services formula grants.
This is Schedule A and Schedule C of the ORR-6 Quarterly Performance
Report form. ORR is no longer using the ORR-12 form which was
originally used to report on the outcomes of the targeted assistance
program. ORR is in the process of consolidating its reporting
requirements. The new reporting form will consolidate social services
and targeted assistance performance reporting in one format in order to
simplify and coordinate reporting. ORR expects this new form to be
available when reporting on FY 1994 grants begins, which would be at
the end of the first quarter of FY 1995.
Dated: March 9, 1994.
Lavinia Limon,
Director, Office of Refugee Resettlement.
[FR Doc. 94-6305 Filed 3-17-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4184-01-P
