Administration for Children and Families 2011 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Administration of Children and Family (ACF), Office of Community Services (OCS), announces the award of a replacement grant under the Strengthening Communities Fund (SCF) for the State, Local, and Tribal Government Capacity Building Program grant to Humboldt State University Sponsored Programs Foundation, Arcata, CA. Humboldt State is an eligible designate of the Governor's Office on Economic Development in California. California Volunteers, Inc., Sacramento CA was originally awarded an FY 2009 grant as the result of a competition under the SCF program. In October 2010, California Volunteers submitted a letter relinquishing their grant. Humboldt State University Sponsored Programs Foundation submitted their letter along with their grant application requesting approval as the replacement grantee. OCS reviewed the application from Humboldt State University Sponsored Programs Foundation and found that the proposed project is significantly similar to the one initially chosen for the award. ACF, OCS now announces that Humboldt State University Sponsored Programs Foundation has been awarded the grant in the amount of $233,866 as the permanent successor grantee for the remainder of the project period, which will end on September 29, 2011. Under the award, Humboldt State University Sponsored Programs Foundation will continue to provide coordinated, timely capacity- building outreach, training and technical assistance to faith-based and community organizations in California.

This notice announces a forthcoming meeting of a public advisory committee of the Administration for Children and Families (ACF). The meeting will be open to the public. Name of Committee: Advisory Committee for Head Start Research and Evaluation. General Function of Committee: The Advisory Committee for Head Start Research and Evaluation will provide feedback op the published final report for the Head Start Impact Study, offering interpretations of the findings, discussing implications for practice and policy, and providing recommendations on follow-up research, including additional analysis of the Head Start Impact Study data. The Committee will also be asked to provide recommendations to the Secretary regarding how to improve Head Start and other early childhood programs by enhancing the use of research-informed practices in early childhood. Finally, the Committee will be asked to provide recommendations on the overall Head Start research agenda, includingbut not limited tohow the Head Start Impact Study fits within this agenda. The Committee will provide advice regarding future research efforts to inform HHS about how to guide the development and implementation of best practices in Head Start and other early childhood programs around the country.

This notice announces to LIHEAP grantees the estimated median income of four-person families in each State and the District of Columbia for FFY 2012 (October 1, 2011, to September 30, 2012). LIHEAP grantees that choose to base their income eligibility criteria on these State median income (SMI) estimates may adopt these estimates (up to 60 percent) on the estimates' date of publication in the Federal Register or on a later date as discussed below. This enables these grantees to implement this notice during the period between the heating and cooling seasons. However, by October 1, 2011, or the beginning of the grantees' fiscal years, whichever is later, these grantees must adjust their income eligibility criteria so that such criteria are in accord with the FFY 2012 SMI. This listing of 60 percent of SMI provides one of the maximum income criteria that LIHEAP grantees may use in determining a household's income eligibility for LIHEAP. LIHEAP appropriations for FFY 2009 through FFY 2010 raised this criterion from 60 percent of SMI to 75 percent of SMI for those years. The Continuing Resolutions covering FFY 2011 through the date of this publication have maintained this criterion at 75 percent of SMI. This criterion will remain at 75 percent SMI for FFY 2011 unless Congress acts otherwise after the date of this publication. This criterion will return to 60 percent of SMI for FFY 2012 unless Congress acts otherwise in providing FFY 2012 appropriations after the publication of this notice. This is because no change to the LIHEAP authorizing statute has been made.