Rehabilitation Services-Vocational Rehabilitation Grants to States, Recovery Act
The Department of Education ensures equal access to education and promotes educational excellence through coordination, management and accountability in Federal education programs. The Department works to supplement and complement educational efforts on all levels, encouraging increased involvement by the public, parents and students.
Program Accomplishments
Fiscal Year 2008: As a group, persons who achieve employment as a result of vocational rehabilitation services each year show notable gains in their ability to function in economic terms, regardless of their employment status when they apply for services. In fiscal year 2008, approximately 985,475 persons received services. Approximately 58 percent of those individuals who exited the program after receiving services achieved an employment outcome. Fiscal Year 2009: No information provided. Fiscal Year 2010: No information provided.
Uses and Use Restrictions
Federal and State funds are used to cover the costs of providing vocational rehabilitation services which include: assessment, counseling, vocational and other training, job placement, reader services for the blind, interpreter services for the deaf, medical and related services and prosthetic and orthotic devices, rehabilitation technology, transportation to secure vocational rehabilitation services, maintenance during rehabilitation, and other goods and services necessary for an individual with a disability to achieve an employment outcome.
Services are provided to families of disabled individuals when such services will contribute substantially to the rehabilitation of such individuals who are being provided vocational rehabilitation services.
Funds can also be used to provide Vocational Rehabilitation services for the benefit of groups of individuals with disabilities including the construction and establishment of community programs.
Eligibility Requirements
Applicant Eligibility
State (includes District of Columbia, public institutions of higher education and hospitals): Elementary/Secondary Education
Beneficiary Eligibility
State; Local; Public nonprofit institution/organization; Other public institution/organization; Individual/Family; Specialized group (e.g. health professionals, students, veterans); Education Professional; Student/Trainee; Disabled (e.g. Deaf, Blind, Physically Disabled); Mentally Disabled; School; Education (9-12); Education (13+)
Credentials/Documentation
Costs will be determined in accordance with OMB Circular No. A-87 for State and local governments. OMB Circular No. A-87 applies to this program.
Aplication and Award Process
Preapplication Coordination
Preapplication coordination is not applicable.
Environmental impact information is not required for this program.
This program is excluded from coverage under E.O.
12372.
Application Procedures
This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-102. This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-110. There is no separate application required for States to be eligible to receive funds under the ARRA. This program is eligible for coverage under E.O. 12372, "Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs." An applicant should consult the office or official designated as the single point of contact in his or her State for more information on the process the State requires to be followed in applying for assistance, if the State has selected the program for review.
State Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) agencies do not need to submit a new or amended State Plan to receive ARRA grant funds for the State Vocational Rehabilitation Services program. However, State VR agencies will be required to submit information for review and approval by the Department that addresses the record-keeping and reporting requirement that are specified in the ARRA.
Award Procedures
ARRA grant awards will be made to State VR agencies with an approved FY 2009 State Plan. States are notified of their allotment under the formula. Grant awards are issued to State VR agencies and funds are withdrawn under the Electronic Transfer System.
Deadlines
Contact the headquarters or regional office, as appropriate for application deadlines.
Authorization
Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Title I, Parts A and B, Sections 100-111; and the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA).
Range of Approval/Disapproval Time
There is no deadline associated with the first 50 percent of each State s ARRA grant allocation for the State Vocational Rehabilitation Services program. Funds will be made available to each State agency based on the State s eligibility determination for FY 2009 Vocational State Grant funds. Changes to the State Plan and annual updates related to the regular appropriation must be submitted to the Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA) by July 1 of each year. The State Plan must be approved before the State agency can receives its annual allotment of funds. In order to receive the remaining 50 percent of the State s allocation for the State VR Services program under the ARRA, States must submit information for review and approval by the Department that addresses the record-keeping and reporting requirements that are specified in the ARRA.
Appeals
Not Applicable.
Renewals
Not Applicable.
Assistance Considerations
Formula and Matching Requirements
Title Title I, Part Part A, Subpart Section 110, Public Law Funds are distributed based on population weighted by per capita income. The statistical factors for fund allocation are: 1) The per capita income 3-year average by State and the source is the Survey of Current Business, Bureau of Economic Analysis; 2) th.Statutory formulas are not applicable to this program. MOE requirements are not applicable to this program.
Length and Time Phasing of Assistance
Funds are available for obligation at the Federal level until September 30, 2010. State VR agencies have an additional 12-month period to obligate the funds they receive. See the following for information on how assistance is awarded/released: No information provided.
Post Assistance Requirements
Reports
No program reports are required.
Annual and quarterly progress reports; annual budget and case service reports; quarterly financial reports.
Grantees must report on how ARRA funds under this program are spent.
Information on ARRA reporting requirements will be included in grant award documents.
Additional information on ARRA record keeping and reporting requirements will be provided later.
No progress reports are required.
Annual and quarterly progress reports; annual budget and case service reports; quarterly financial reports.
Grantees must report on how ARRA funds under this program are spent.
Information on ARRA reporting requirements will be included in grant award documents.
Additional information on ARRA record keeping and reporting requirements will be provided later.
No performance monitoring is required.
Audits
This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-133. Conducted by ED Office of Inspector General and by site visits of regional staff. Both are periodic but no set schedule. In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-133 (Revised, June 27, 2003), "Audits of States, Local Governments, and Nonprofit Organizations," nonfederal entities that expend financial assistance of $500,000 or more in Federal awards will have a single or a program- specific audit conducted for that year. Nonfederal entities that expend less than $500,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in Circular No. A-133.
Records
Case service records for individual consumers. Financial and programmatic records for a prescribed period of 3 years (34 CFR 80.42).
Financial Information
Account Identification
91-0302-0-1-506.
Obigations
(Formula Grants) FY 08 not reported.; FY 09 est $540,000,000; FY 10 est not reported.
Range and Average of Financial Assistance
The range of ARRA grant awards is expected to be $204,598 to $56,470,213.
Regulations, Guidelines, and Literature
Vocational Rehabilitation Regulations (34 CFR 361). Vocational Rehabilitation Manual. Rehabilitation Services Policy Directives and Technical Assistance Circulars.
Information Contacts
Regional or Local Office
None.
Headquarters Office
William Bethel Rehabilitation Services Administration, 400 Maryland Avenue, S.W., Washington 20202 Email: william.bethel@ed.gov Phone: (202) 245-6775
Criteria for Selecting Proposals
Not Applicable.
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