EJIG Improving Guardianship 2022 FAQ.pdf

Notice of Funding Opportunity Elder Justice Innovation Grants - Improving Guardianship FY2022

HHS-2022-ACL-AOA-EJIG-0071

Frequently Asked Questions

April 6, 2022

On March 30, 2022, the Administration for Community Living, Office of Elder Justice and Adult Protective Services held an informational call about the Elder justice Innovation Grant – Improving Guardianship funding opportunity (HHS-2022-ACL-AOA-EJIG-0071). These frequently asked questions reflect the questions that were received and addressed during the informational call.

I. Preparing Grant Proposals

Can you clarify if an assessment at the beginning of the project period is required? Or can an applicant simply propose an intervention and conduct an evaluation at the end of the project?

The Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) states that the grantees will assess their guardianship system, develop and implement innovations to address guardianship issues identified during the assessment, and evaluate the effect of the grant activity. An assessment is part of what ACL is expecting. It is up to the applicant to determine what this assessment will entail as each state is unique. The NOFO describes the assessment and evaluation components of this grant opportunity at pages 5, 15, and 17.

Can you discuss the part of the NOFO that speaks about diversity and inclusion?

The NOFO asks applicants to describe how, whether, and if the proposed intervention will target hard-to-reach populations, including limited-English speaking populations, those of greatest economic need, and/or those of greatest social need. The NOFO additionally requires identification of stakeholder groups who will be involved and/or targeted to ensure success of the project. Stakeholder involvement may reflect an applicant’s understanding of how diversity and inclusion will be incorporated into grant objectives and activities. Applications should also reflect ACL’s commitment to advancing equity, racial justice, and equal opportunity, ensuring that project activities consider and are inclusive of people from underrepresented and underserved communities. Please see page 16 of the funding opportunity for more information.

II. Grant Requirements

Can you clarify the level of involvement that the grantee would have to have in the day-to-day activities of a funded grant project? Through the Administrative Office of the Courts, we may include a pilot in one of our state county court offices. The county court office would spearhead the day-to-day activities, which could if successful be implemented statewide. We may also involve partner agencies that are not within the Office of the Courts in the proposed project.

Through this NOFO, ACL is seeking proposals that would lead to changes affecting the guardianship system statewide. Regarding level of involvement and organizational capacity, please see pages 25-26 of the NOFO to see how that will be scored by reviewers. ACL cannot comment on the merits or content of any proposal, such as how an applicant interprets elements of the funding opportunity description. We recommend that potential applicants closely consult the NOFO and review their idea against the information in the NOFO—including the review and scoring criteria—to determine if their proposal is in line with the funding opportunity.

III. Budget and Allowable Expenses

Can you provide an overview of other Elder justice Innovation Grant (EJIG) ACL grant funding opportunities and then speak more about why and how you are “flexing funds” across these grant opportunities?

ACL has two other EJIG funding opportunities, “Enhancing APS Approaches to Cases Involving Opioids and Substance Use Disorders” and “Improving Results for APS Clients.” ACL will award $6 million dollars across all three EJIG funding opportunities. A planned total of 20 cooperative grants across all three opportunities will be awarded. The number of grants awarded in each of the three Elder Justice Innovation Grants will depend upon the number of grant applications that are received, the amount of each grantees’ request for funding, and how objective reviewers score each application.

Is that $6 million total for all 3 years?

The $6 million dollars is not the total for the full three-year project period. It is the total amount to be awarded in each budget period (one year) of the three-year project period, depending upon the availability of funds. See page 7 of the NOFO.

Could you clarify whether the “ceiling” amount that can be awarded through this NOFO would be for all three years or per year?

The floor and the ceiling referenced in the NOFO is per budget period (one year). The full project period is three years. When considering the floor ($150,000 per one-year budget period) and ceiling ($1,000,000 per one-year budget period), the minimum amount a grantee https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=337805 https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=337805 https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=335067 could receive for the whole project period (three years) would be $450,000, and the maximum amount would be $3,000,000. See page 7 of the NOFO.

If a highest state court requests the maximum funding amount, for example $1,000,000, is that more difficult to award because of the amount?

Per the review criteria, objective reviewers assess whether the proposed budget is reasonable.

They are not tasked with determining how many grants may be awarded given the total sum available to fund awards. ACL will seek to fund as many projects as possible with the available funding. Please see pages 24-26 of the NOFO for the review criteria.

Is it possible that ACL may award only a portion of what an applicant has requested in the budget and budget narrative sections of the application?

It is possible that grantees may receive a reduction in the amount that was requested depending upon the availability of funding, or because an applicant requested funds for costs that are not allowable under the terms and conditions set forth in the NOFO. For more information on the terms and conditions, see page 28 of the NOFO.

IV. Timeline

When do you anticipate announcing grant awards?

Several factors impact the date when successful applicants are notified of their grant award, so ACL is unable to provide an estimated award date at this time. All applicants will be notified as to whether their project has or has not been selected for the funding. The target project start date is September 1, 2022.

When will grant funds be available or when can states expect to begin their grant activities?

ACL will provide a Notice of Award to the successful awardees, with an anticipated start date of September 1, 2022. The Notice of Award will include the date that funds are available for withdrawal. These grants include three one-year budget periods, for a total project period of three years. ACL anticipates that grantees will complete activities by August 31, 2025. See page 27 of the NOFO for information on Anticipated Announcement Award Date and Award Notices.