Children and Families Administration July 14, 2005 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Office of Community Services (OCS) within the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) announces that competing applications will be accepted for a new grant pursuant to the Secretary's authority under section 678(A) of the Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) Act, as amended, by the Community Opportunities, Accountability, and Training and Educational Services (COATES) Human Services Reauthorization Act of 1998 (Pub. L. 105-285). These activities must fund training and technical assistance resources for the Community Services Network to ensure that the needs of eligible entities and programs relating to improving program quality (including quality of financial management practices) are addressed to the maximum extent feasible; and incorporate mechanisms to ensure responsiveness to local needs. The proposed grants will fund training and technical assistance resources for the Community Services Network focusing on improving the quality of programs carried out under the CSBG act and the delivery of healthy marriage strategies among low income people served by local community action agencies. Specifically, OCS will offer one-year grants to fund a one year project period for the creation and dissemination of ``best practice'' technical assistance materials from local community organizations, including those that are faith-based, that have demonstrated success in promoting or sustaining healthy marriages among clients as part of an overall strategy to help low-income people achieve family and child development, and/or self-sufficiency goals. Special emphasis is being placed on the development and dissemination of ``best practice'' materials that focus on a wide range of low-income populations, including racial and ethnic minorities.