Crisis Counseling
Assistance is short-term in nature and provided at no cost to the disaster
Examples of Funded Projects
Immediate Crisis Counseling Services for victims of floods, earthquakes, hurricanes, tornadoes, and other Federally declared major disasters as defined by the Stafford Act.
The Department of Homeland Security has three primary missions: Prevent terrorist attacks within the United States, reduce America's vulnerability to terrorism and minimize the damage from potential attacks and natural disasters.
Program Accomplishments
During fiscal year 2007, this program responded to 13 major disaster declarations in 11 States or Territories.
Uses and Use Restrictions
The Crisis Counseling Assistance and Training Program (CCP) is designed to provide supplemental funding to States for technical assistance and training, as well as, short-term crisis counseling services to people affected by the disaster.
CCP services involve the counseling goals of assisting disaster survivors in understanding their current situations and reactions, mitigating additional stress, assisting survivors in reviewing their options, promoting the use or development of coping strategies, providing emotional support and encouraging linkages with other individuals and agencies who may help survivors recover to their pre-disaster level of functioning.
The Program is divided into an Immediate Services Program and a Regular Services Program.
The Immediate Services Program enables the State or local agency to respond to the immediate crisis counseling needs of people affected by the disaster.
The Regular Services Program grant provides up to 9 months of crisis counseling, outreach, consultation and education services to people affected by a disaster.
Funding for this program is separate from the Immediate Services Program.
Eligibility Requirements
Applicant Eligibility
States are eligible for grants.
If the Governor determines, during an assessment of the need for crisis counseling services, that because of unusual circumstances or serious conditions within the State or local mental health network, the State cannot carry out the crisis counseling program, he/she may identify a public or private mental health agency or organization to carry out the program or request the Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Regional Director to identify, with assistance of the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), such an agency or organization.
Beneficiary Eligibility
In order to be eligible for services under this program, an individual must be a resident of the designated disaster area or must have been in the designated area at the time the disaster occurred.
Credentials/Documentation
Costs will be determined in accordance with OMB Circular No. A-87 for State and local governments. Grant awards will be determined in accordance with OMB Circulars No. A-102 and No. A-87 for State and local governments. Awards made to Institutions of Higher Education, Hospitals and Other Nonprofit Organizations will be required to follow the requirements of OMB Circulars No. A-110 and No. A-21.
Aplication and Award Process
Preapplication Coordination
Consultation and assistance are available from FEMA and the Department of Health and Human Service's Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).
This program is excluded from coverage under E.O.
12372.
Application Procedures
Application deadline and other information are contained in the application/program guidance.
Award Procedures
Immediate Services Crisis Counseling Program - Applications s are reviewed by FEMA program staff in consultation with SAMHSA. Grant award is provided by FEMA to the State Emergency Management Agency. Regular Services Crisis Counseling Program Applications are reviewed by FEMA with formal recommendation from SAMHSA. Grant funds are provided by FEMA to SAMHSA for award to the State's mental health agency.
Deadlines
Refer to announcement or application guidance for further information.
Authorization
Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, Section 416, Public Law 93-288, as amended; 42 U.S.C. 5182, Crisis Counseling Assistance and Training Act, Public Law 100-707.
Range of Approval/Disapproval Time
Refer to program guidance document.
Appeals
Immediate Services Crisis Counseling Program - The State may appeal the Regional Director's decision in writing within 60 days of the date of notification of the application decision. The State may further appeal the Regional Director's decision to the Assistant Associate Director within 60 days of the date of the Regional Director's notification of the application decision. Regular Services Crisis Counseling Program - The State may appeal FEMA's decision in writing within 60 days of the date of notification of the decision.
Renewals
None.
Assistance Considerations
Formula and Matching Requirements
None.
Length and Time Phasing of Assistance
Refer to program guidance. Awards are subject to the Cash Management Improvement Act for payment and/or reimbursement of expenditures.
Post Assistance Requirements
Reports
Grantees are required to submit quarterly financial and performance reports.
Quarterly "Progress Reports" must include the progress of each sub-grant award.
Final financial and performance reports are due 90 days after the expiration or termination of grant award.
Audits
In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular 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 (or receive property, or a combination of both, within the fiscal year) 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 A-133. These audits are due to the cognizant Federal agency, submitted through the Federal Audit Clearinghouse, not later than 9 months after the end of the grantees fiscal year.
Records
Grant records shall be retained for a period of 3 years from the day the recipient submits its final expenditure report. If any litigation, claim, negotiation, audit, or other action involving the records has been started before the expiration of the 3-year period, the records must be retained until completion of the action and resolution of all issues which arise from it, or until the end of the regular 3-year period, whichever is later. Grant records include financial and program/progress reports, support documents, statistical records, and other documents that support the activity and/or expenditure of the recipient or sub-recipient under the award.
Financial Information
Account Identification
70-0702-0-1-453.
Obigations
(Grants) FY 07 3,903,177; FY 08 est 3,014,521 ; and FY 09 est not available.
Range and Average of Financial Assistance
None.
Regulations, Guidelines, and Literature
44 CFR 206.171, Crisis Counseling Assistance and Training; and RR-9, State Handbook Crisis Counseling Assistance and Training.
Information Contacts
Regional or Local Office
See Appendix IV of the Catalog for a listing of addresses for FEMA's Regional Offices.
Headquarters Office
Department of Homeland Security 245 Murray Lane - Bldg. #410, Washington, DC 20528.
Criteria for Selecting Proposals
Presidential declaration of a major Federal disaster. The State must justify that the needs are disaster related and beyond State and local resources.
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