Using Grants to Improve Program Performance and How to Write a Competitive Application

Transcription

1 Using Grants to Improve Program Performance and How to Write a Competitive Application Karen Anthony OCSE Section 1115 Coordinator WICSEC 26 th Annual Training Conference September 13-17, 2009

2 OCSE Offers Two Grant Programs Special Improvement Projects Open to all types of domestic applicants other than individuals Section 1115 Grants Open to State Title IV-E or Umbrella Agencies of the IV-D Program

3 Grant Amounts SIP grants go out in set amount-- $50,000 to $125,000 Section 1115 grants account for 29% of the total project cost. Example: 100,000 (award amount-29%) $227,586 (FFP-66%) $17,241 (State share-5%) $344,827=total project cost

4 How to Find Grant Opportunities Grants.gov Notification Feature IV-D Listserv OCSE Website ants/ Let your IV-D Director and Regional OCSE contact know of your interest

5 How Will We Know What the Priorities Are? OCSE often selects grant priorities that support Goals of National Strategic Plan Program Performance Goals Commissioner s Initiatives ACF/ Departmental/White House Keep a wish list your ideas might fit.

6 OCSE Looks For Projects that: Are innovative Promote Collaboration Can be Replicated That build on other projects/experience That can be sustained (if allowable)

7 How to Read the Announcement OMB requires a lot of boilerplate look to the boilerplate for general guidance but focus on specifics found in the evaluation criteria Read carefully these sections: Funding Opportunity Description Priority Description Evaluation Criteria

8 OCSE Will Not Award Grants That: Are considered pass throughs Duplicate automation work that is covered by Advance Planning Document Updates (enhancements are o.k.) Cover routine child support work

9 Follow the Checklist Several Forms are required, so check the list and check it twice. Forms are available on ACF website Call us if you have difficulty

10 What Reviewers Look For Well written proposals are easier to read and therefore, easier to score Who, what, where, when, why and how not just for journalists Grant writing courses net results Materials that are in order a table of contents helps organize materials

11 What Reviewers Look For in Needs and Objectives Section Current data and references to current research Clearly stated objectives and goals How this project will improve a situation or problem References to similar work done in the past and how yours is different

12 What Reviewers Look For in Approach Section A clear set of steps needed to complete the project An appropriate staffing level Who s in charge? Credentials/expertise Are all the partners in place?

13 What Reviewers Look For in Benefits Expected Section How the project benefit will your program How the project will help meet the goals and objectives the title IV-D program Provide specifics, if possible (e.g., we anticipate reducing arrears by X)

14 What Reviewers Look For in Evaluations How project impact will be measured (what questions do you hope to answer) Independent evaluators Random assignment still preferred, but other methods are acceptable

15 What Reviewers Look For in Budgets Budgets they can follow (see website for guidance) A breakout of costs for contracts A narrative that spells out what each category of costs covers

16 OCSE Wants to Attract Applicants Awarding bonus points Adjusting grant amounts Making evaluations fit the project

17 Common Obstacles We don t have anyone to write a grant. We don t have the staff to oversee a grant We have too many layers to get the buyin we need We run into hiring issues. We run into procurement issues. We don t have the evaluation expertise.

18 For information: SIP grant information, contact: (202) Section 1115 grants, contact: (202)