PKG00260277-instructions.pdf

Administration for Community Living

Administration on Aging

Expanding the National Capacity for Person-Centered, Trauma-Informed (PCTI) Care: Services and Supports for Holocaust Survivors and Other Older Adults with a History of Trauma and Their Family Caregivers

HHS-2020-ACL-AOA-HSSG-0417

Application Due Date: 05/20/2020

Expanding the National Capacity for Person-Centered, Trauma-Informed (PCTI) Care: Services and Supports for Holocaust Survivors and Other Older Adults with a History of Trauma and Their Family Caregivers

HHS-2020-ACL-AOA-HSSG-0417

TABLE OF CONTENTS

I. Funding Opportunity Description II. Award Information

III. Eligibility Information

1. Eligible Applicants

2. Cost Sharing or Matching

3. Responsiveness and Screening Criteria

IV. Application and Submission Information

1. Address to Request Application Package

2. Content and Form of Application Submission

3. Submission Dates and Times

4. Intergovernmental Review

5. Funding Restrictions

6. Other Submission Requirements

V. Application Review Information

1. Criteria

2. Review and Selection Process

3. Anticipated Announcement Award Date

VI. Award Administration Information

1. Award Notices

2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements

3. Reporting

4. FFATA and FSRS Reporting

VII. Agency Contacts VIII. Other Information

Department of Health & Human Services

ACL Center: Administration on Aging Funding Opportunity Title: Expanding the National Capacity for

Person-Centered, Trauma-Informed (PCTI) Care: Services and Supports for Holocaust Survivors and Other Older Adults with a History of Trauma and Their Family Caregivers

Announcement Type: Initial Funding Opportunity Number: HHS-2020-ACL-AOA-HSSG-0417 Primary CFDA Number: 93.048 Due Date for Letter of Intent: 04/03/2020 Due Date for Applications: 05/20/2020 Date for Informational Conference Call: 04/01/2020

Applications that fail to meet the application due date will not be reviewed and will receive no further consideration. You are strongly encouraged to submit your application a minimum of 3- 5 days prior to the application closing date. Do not wait until the last day in the event you encounter technical difficulties, either on your end or, with https://www.grants.gov. Grants.gov can take up to 48 hours to notify you of a successful submission.

Executive Summary The Administration on Aging (AoA), a division of the Administration for Community Living (ACL) is interested in continuing efforts to advance person-centered, trauma-informed (PCTI) supportive services for Holocaust survivors living in the United States, while at the same time expanding those efforts to include any older adult with a history of trauma. The AoA will fund one cooperative agreement to expand the national capacity for PCTI care to Holocaust survivors, other older adults with a history of trauma, and their family caregivers. The successful grantee will be expected to further the development and testing of community-based PCTI service models and deliver training and technical assistance to advance the national capacity to provide such services to any older adult with a history of trauma and their family caregivers.

AoA plans to fund one (1) cooperative agreement at a federal funding level of up to $4,935,000 per year, for five years (60 months), pending the availability of federal funds.

Prospective applicants should carefully read all application requirements and submit proposals that completely address the priority areas described herein.

A pre-application teleconference for interested applicants has been scheduled as follows:

Date: April 1, 2020 Time: 2:00 PM, EST https://www.grants.gov

Telephone: 1-888-469-3016 Pass Code: 4296886

I. Funding Opportunity Description Background and Overview Trauma: Its Prevalence and Impact According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), trauma is a widespread, harmful and costly public health concern. Trauma and traumatic events are defined as “threats to survival and self-preservation” (Janoff-Bullman, 1992). Trauma can happen in response to experiencing violence, abuse, neglect, loss, disaster, war and other emotionally distressing events. Individuals or entire populations, examples of which include slaves and their descendants, Native Americans, Holocaust survivors, and Japanese American’s interred during World War II (ACF, 2017), can experience trauma. Approximately 70 - 90% of adults in the U.S. have been exposed to some type of traumatic event during their lifetime (Kaiser et al, 2017; Kilpatrick et al, 2013). Trauma can occur at any point during the life course, without regard to age, gender, socioeconomic status, race, ethnicity, geography or sexual orientation (SAMHSA, 2014).

Research has shown the connections between exposure to traumatic events and impaired development, poor immune system responses and subsequent health risk behaviors resulting in chronic physical and behavioral health conditions. If left unaddressed, trauma can significantly increase the risk of chronic physical diseases and substance abuse disorders and can affect one’s responsiveness to intervention (SAMHSA, 2014). Additionally, a history of potentially traumatic life events such as losses of, or changes to, resource availability, social roles and networks and physical and mental health (all potentially traumatic occurrences) are being linked to social isolation in older adults (Elder and Retrum, 2012).

Trauma’s impact can also pass from generation to generation. Descendants of trauma victims (many of whom are or will become family caregivers), but who may not have directly experienced a traumatic event themselves, can manifest the signs and symptoms often associated with trauma, including depression, anger, low self-esteem and self-destructive behavior (ACF, 2017). Given the likely widespread and multigenerational impact of trauma across the lifespan, developing appropriate services and supports that serve specific individuals as well as the entire family system in a holistic and family-centered manner may is increasingly necessary.

Holocaust Survivors and Trauma Currently, approximately 80,000 Holocaust survivors reside in the United States (Hoffman and Weiner, 2019). Victims of the Holocaust endured torture, starvation, imprisonment, forced migration and extermination. Because of these experiences, Holocaust survivors are at higher risk for a variety of physical and emotional conditions, including heart disease, osteoporosis, dental problems, cancer and an overall greater difficulty performing activities of daily living (Van Pelt, 2013). Holocaust survivors are also at high risk for poverty. Those survivors living in the United States are three times more likely to live in poverty than other older adults are. In fact, nearly 35% of survivors live below the poverty level (Hoffman and Weiner, 2019) and https://www.acf.hhs.gov/trauma-toolkit often struggle to meet their basic needs, including those for meaningful social interactions (Sherman, 2014).

It is critical when serving Holocaust survivors, other individuals with a history of trauma and/or their family caregivers, that health and social service providers do so in a manner that minimizes triggers and reduces the risk of re-traumatization. Doing so, however, requires their specific knowledge and capacity that puts the individual and/or his family members at the center of such an approach.

PCTI Care for Holocaust Survivors: Progress to Date Person-centered approaches to supportive service delivery take into account each individual’s experiences, needs, strengths, preferences, and goals. A trauma-informed approach is one in which all individuals and levels of an organization or system have a basic realization about trauma and understand its impacts on individuals, families, groups, organizations and communities (SAMHSA, 2014). First coined by AoA in its 2015 funding announcement, the term Person-Centered, Trauma-Informed (PCTI) care was envisioned as a holistic approach to service provision that promotes dignity, strength and empowerment of trauma victims by incorporating knowledge about trauma in victims’ lives into agency programs, policies and procedures (Eisinger and Bedney, 2018). In the five years since that project got under way, AoA’s grantee the Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA), has made considerable progress developing the PCTI concept and related approaches by funding local, community-based agencies to provide an array of services and supports to Holocaust survivors.

Central to that work is the training and technical assistance designed to build the national capacity to provide PCTI to Holocaust survivors and other older adult populations. In this regard, JFNA has provided considerable training and support to a range of professionals across the aging services network. To date, outcomes of this initial project include the following:

Measurable improvements in a number of quality of life measure of Holocaust survivors including:

o Reduced anxiety, depression and loneliness;

o Feelings of greater connectedness to others;

o Improved access to available community resources;

o Feeling more optimistic and able to exercise self-care; and o Feeling more confident in their ability to remain at home.

Measureable improvements in the way professionals from across the aging services network view their abilities to work with victims of trauma, including:

o More confidence and comfort working with Holocaust survivors;

o More knowledgeable about trauma-informed care, including PCTI approaches;

o Enhanced ability to identify and avoid potential triggers for re-traumatization of

Holocaust survivors; and o Greater competence in their ability to create and support trauma-informed environments for effective service delivery.

Opportunities to expand PCTI to other older adults and family caregivers Despite the prevalence of trauma histories in adults age 65 and older, prior to AoA’s 2015 project focused on advancing PCTI supportive services for Holocaust survivors, at the federal level, relatively little work had been done to understand and address the needs of this population or other older adult populations with a history of trauma. The aging process is often accompanied by declines in one's health status or functional abilities (e.g., ability to carry out activities of daily living). When combined with a history of trauma, the aging process itself can serve as a triggering event, making it necessary to ensure that there are appropriate interventions and supports for these individuals and their family caregivers (see Davidson, et al, 2016; Kaiser, et al, 2017; Ladson and Bienenfeld, 2007).

Purpose, Goals and Desired Outcomes With the above factors in mind, AoA is interested in building upon and expanding the work begun under the 2015 grant program entitled “Advancing Person-Centered, Trauma-Informed Supportive Services for Holocaust Survivors.” The accomplishments of AoA’s previous grant should serve as a springboard for furthering innovations in the delivery of PCTI, while at the same time strengthening the national capacity for delivering such services and supports through a robust and multi-faceted technical assistance approach. For this new project, the grantee will focus on the following two priority areas:

1. Further the develop and expand the delivery of innovative, community-based PCTI services to:

o Holocaust survivors in the U.S.;

o Other older adult populations with a history of trauma; and o Family caregivers of these individuals.

2. National technical assistance to continue growing the capacity of the aging services network to provide PCTI to any older adult with a history of trauma and their family caregivers.

Priority Area 1: Expand the Provision of PCTI Services and Supports Under this priority area, the successful grantee will further develop and expand the availability and delivery of community-based PCTI supportive services. However, within this priority area, the grantee shall propose approaches for expanding the provision PCTI, supportive services to Holocaust survivors, other older adult populations with a history of trauma, and family caregivers.

Service innovations should incorporate the principles of trauma-informed care as described in SAMSHA’s Concept of Trauma and Guidance for a Trauma-Informed Approach in a person-centered and strengths-based manner, enabling those served to maximize their independence and well-being. The successful grantee will build upon and refine interventions begun under the previous project funded by AoA. To the greatest degree possible, services and innovations developed under this new project will leverage existing national and community-level partnerships, develop new ones and share best practices to enhance program development and service delivery. Examples of possible focus areas for such interventions include (but are not limited to):

Comprehensive care management, including care transitions activities;

Innovations in other care settings (e.g., nursing homes, assisted living facilities, senior centers, etc.)

Psychosocial interventions;

Trauma-informed lawyering and legal assistance;

Socialization and wellness programs;

Caregiver support;

Dementia care;

Advance planning, end-of-life and palliative care; and Homecare, nutrition and transportation services.

In proposing approaches in this priority area, applicants should describe how they will make funds available to community-based organizations serving Holocaust survivors, other older adults with histories of trauma and family caregivers. The successful grantee is expected to propose and use a competitive process to solicit, objectively evaluate, select and make sub-awards to community-based programs throughout the United States. Applicants should carefully consider and describe the competitive sub-award process.

IMPORTANT: The successful grantee, including any sub-grantees, will not be permitted to use project funds for construction and/or rehabilitation of buildings; basic research; medical care; income maintenance; or equipment purchases, unless such equipment is demonstrated to be necessary to carry out an activity otherwise fundable under Title IV of the Older Americans Act. Further, the successful grantee shall adhere to all requirements, including those for making and monitoring sub-awards, as outlined in 45 CFR Part 75.

As with other demonstration programs that seek to test new innovations in service delivery and the building of national capacities to meet the needs of specific populations of older adults, the activities conducted in this priority area should closely align with those undertaken in response to Priority Area 2 (described below). Applicants should describe their approaches for ensuring that activities at the local level inform (and are informed by) those at the national level and advance the nationwide capacity and dialogue for more effectively serving Holocaust survivors, other older adults with histories of trauma and family caregivers.

Priority Area 2: National Technical Assistance and Capacity Building Under this priority, AoA seeks to build on previous technical assistance (TA) efforts by continuing to grow national capacity the capacity to effectively deliver PCTI supportive services to Holocaust survivors and other older adults with histories of trauma and their family caregivers. AoA envisions a multi-faceted approach to technical assistance whereby the grantee is providing technical assistance and support to sub-awardees to the project while at the same time undertaking efforts to advance PCTI practices more broadly through the aging services network.

Applicants are encouraged to propose approaches to technical assistance and capacity building that address any the following areas, as well as others they identify as necessary and relevant, includinig:

The creation of a nationally recognized Technical Assistance and Resource Center for PCTI Supportive Services, rooted in serving Holocaust survivors, but with the added focus of other older adult populations with histories of trauma and family caregivers;

The development, testing, validation and dissemination of education and training programs in PCTI Supportive Services for a broad range of health and human services providers and settings;

http://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=e9e43be8e59e0a85f4ac8ee5b8ef7716&node=pt45.1.75&rgn=div5

The development of partnerships and collaborations necessary for the advancement of research, policy development and service delivery across disciplines and populations (e.g., veterans, Tribes, health care settings, veterans, first responders, etc.); and

Education and training opportunities for a broad range of audiences in a variety of formats and settings.

Additional Application Elements and Considerations Priority Area Emphasis and Resource Allocation When developing their proposals, applicants should give careful consideration to the allocation of program resources to each priority area. In doing so, applicants are reminded that Congress and AoA intends for these funds to first be used for supportive services to Holocaust survivors.

However, AoA understands that in order to do this effectively, and to realize advancements in the design and delivery of PCTI supportive services, certain flexibilities may be necessary to permit the grantee to make allocation decisions regarding sub-awards, technical assistance and other activities that may necessitate fluctuating amounts under each area over the course of the project.

In this regard, the project work plan and associated budget should reflect applicants’ best estimates of the range of permissible grant activities that will be undertaken, the level of resources necessary for each, and reflect that information in a detailed manner. Applications will be scored, in part, on the extent to which resource allocation across priority areas reflects an understanding of the needs to be addressed and the approaches to be taken.

Organizational Capacity To successfully meet AoA’s expectations for this initiative, the successful grantee will be one that possesses the organizational capacity to apply multi-faceted and comprehensive approaches in their efforts. To that end, applicants should fully describe their capacity to:

Ensure the expeditious startup of project activities upon notice of award;

Work effectively at both the national and local levels to achieve desired outcomes;

Use efficient and effective strategies that maximize available resources while ensuring measureable impact of service provision and training and TA activities;

Embed all efforts within targeted networks to ensure ownership and long-term sustainability; and Use technology, where possible, to maximize project reach and impact.

Applicants must possess direct, in-house experience and expertise to carry out the desired activities outlined in this FOA. Applications will be reviewed and scored based, in part, on how well applicants demonstrate key subject-matter expertise, the experience, and the capacity to carry out the tasks proposed.

The use of sub-grants or subcontracts to carry out specific activities is expected in Priority Area

1. Sub-grants/contracts are permissible in Priority Area 2, when the applicant identifies areas where additional expertise is necessary to complete specified goals and objectives. In both priority areas, applicants should fully describe their rationale and criteria for selecting sub-grantees/sub-contractors as well as their approach for managing the activities of all sub-grantees/contractors to ensure successful completion of all tasks in either Priority Area.

Performance Measurement, Outcomes and Evaluation Performance measurement and evaluation are important components of any new project and allows the project administrators to understand both project strengths and weaknesses and to ensure continuous improvement. Applicants to this funding opportunity should include a comprehensive plan for evaluating and reporting project performance and effectiveness. This plan should include measurable outcomes that demonstrate the benefit of project activities to target populations.

Over the course of this new, five-year project, AoA seeks outcomes that might include, but are not limited to, the following:

1. Measurable reductions in isolation, depression, anxiety and poor health outcomes of Holocaust survivors, other older adults with histories of trauma and family caregivers;

2. Measureable decreases in emergency room visits and/or hospital readmissions;

3. Measurable improvements in the ability of Holocaust survivors and other older adults with a history of trauma to exercise self-care tasks and to remain in their homes and communities;

4. Documented increases in the number of PCTI programs and services for family caregivers of any older adult with a history of trauma;

5. Measurable and sustained increases in both organizational and individual staff knowledge and comfort working with Holocaust survivors and other older adults with a history of trauma;

6. Enhanced national capacity to provide person-centered, trauma-informed supportive services to any older adult with a history of trauma and/or their family caregivers.

Applicants are encouraged to propose additional and/or different outcomes, based on the approaches they opt to employ in response to this FOA and should describe how they will identify and collect information necessary to document and describe both outputs and outcomes for all activities undertaken in both priority areas of this cooperative agreement. Applications should include a description of expected sources for output and outcome data and the methods for how such data will be gathered (e.g., surveys of consumers and/or providers, collection and review of administrative data and records), analyzed, evaluated and reported.

Collaboration, Partnerships and Project Governance To most effectively accomplish the goals and objectives outlined in this FOA, AoA anticipates that the successful applicant will demonstrate the commitment to broad collaboration with other national and local organizations with diverse areas of expertise. Potential partnerships might include those with organizations that work specifically with Holocaust survivors; mainstream aging services providers; entities with expertise in trauma-informed and/or person-centered approaches; entities that focus on evaluation and performance measurement and others with expertise relevant to this initiative.

Applicants should describe the partner organizations and the role of each in the planning, development and implementation of the proposed project. Letters of support from partnering organizations should be included as part of the application package and should reflect the unique contributions of each entity. Letters of support will be reviewed and evaluated to determine likely value of each named partner and its relative impact to the proposed project.

In addition, a steering committee can be an effective method of ensuring that diverse ideas are considered in the planning and implementation of any new project. Applicants for this opportunity should explain if, and how, they will use a steering committee to assist their efforts and include a listing of the types individuals (e.g. consumers, professionals and organizations) that will be invited to participate.

Information Dissemination Given this project's orientation as a demonstration program, AoA anticipates that the grantee will develop a robust and far-reaching dissemination strategy designed to ensure that project information, best practices and other information are available and shared broadly. Applicants should describe their dissemination plans and articulate the methods (e.g., electronic, in-person, print, etc.) by which such activities are to occur.

Sustainability Through this funding opportunity, AoA expects to realize tangible, measurable and sustainable enhancements to national and local capacities to provide person-centered, trauma-informed supportive services to Holocaust survivors, other older adults with histories of trauma and their family caregivers. Applications will be scored, in part, on the extent to which a plan for the project’s sustainability beyond the period of Federal funding is articulated and appears feasible.

References:

Davison, E.H.,Kaiser, A.P., Spiro,A., Moye, J., King, L.A., and King, D.W. (2016). From late-onset stress symptomatology to later adulthood trauma reengagement in aging combat veterans:

Taking a broader view. The Gerontologist, 56, 14-21.

Eisinger, M.A., and Bedney, B. (2018). Teaching about trauma: Models for training service providers in person-centered, trauma-informed care. Kavod, 8, http://kavod.claimscon.org/2018 /02/teaching-about-trauma-models-for-training-service-providers-in-person-centered-trauma-informed-care/ Elder, K., and Retrum, J. (2012). Framework for Isolation in Adults Over 50. AARP Foundation. https://www.aarp.org/content/dam/aarp/aarp_foundation/2012_PDFs/AARP-Found ation-Isolation-Framework-Report.pdf Hoffman, Y., and Weiner, M., (2019). When More than Half a Billion Dollars is Not Enough.

Prepared for the Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation National Convening on Jewish Poverty, March 19, 2019.

Janoff-Bulman, R. (1992). Shattered Assumptions: Towards a New Psychology of trauma. New York: The Free Press Kaiser, A.P., Wachen, J.S., Potter, C., Moye, J., Davison, E., with the Stress, Health and Aging Research Program (2017) Posttraumatic stress symptoms among older adults: A review.

National Center for PTSD. https://www.ptsda.va.gov/professional/treat/specific/symptoms_o lder_adults.asp.

Kilpatrick, D.G., Resnick, H.S., Minanak, M.E., Miller, M.W., Keyes, K.M., and Friedman, M.J. (2013). National estimates of exposure to traumatic events and PTSD prevalence using http://kavod.claimscon.org/2018/02/teaching-about-trauma-models-for-training-service-providers-in-person-centered-trauma-informed-care/ http://kavod.claimscon.org/2018/02/teaching-about-trauma-models-for-training-service-providers-in-person-centered-trauma-informed-care/ http://kavod.claimscon.org/2018/02/teaching-about-trauma-models-for-training-service-providers-in-person-centered-trauma-informed-care/ https://www.aarp.org/content/dam/aarp/aarp_foundation/2012_PDFs/AARP-Foundation-Isolation-Framework-Report.pdf https://www.aarp.org/content/dam/aarp/aarp_foundation/2012_PDFs/AARP-Foundation-Isolation-Framework-Report.pdf https://www.ptsda.va.gov/professional/treat/specific/symptoms_older_adults.asp https://www.ptsda.va.gov/professional/treat/specific/symptoms_older_adults.asp

DSM-IV and DSM 5 criteria. Journal of Traumatic Stress, 26, 537-547.

Ladson, D., and Bienenfeld, D. (2007). Delayed reaction to trauma in an aging woman. Psychiatry, June, 2007. Downloaded October 15, 2018. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov /pmc/articles/PMC2921251/pdf/PE_4_6_46.pdf Sherman, L. (2014). Aging in Comfort: Assessing the Special Needs of America’s Holocaust Survivors. Testimony before the U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging, January 15, 2014.

https://www.aging.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/Sherman_1_15_14.pdf United States Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families (ACF). (2017). Resource Guide to Trauma-Informed Human Services.

United States Department of Health and Human Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). (2014). SAMHSA’s Concept of Trauma and Guidance for a Trauma-Informed Approach. HHS Publication No. (SMA) 14-4884. Rockville, MD: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.

Van Pelt, J. (2013). Supporting Elder Holocaust Survivors. Social Work Today, 13, 8.

Statutory Authority The statutory authority for grants under this FOA is contained in Title IV, Section 411 of the OAA (42U.S.C. 3032), as amended by the OAA Amendments of 2006, P.L. 109-365. (Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance 93.048, Title IV Discretionary Projects).

II. Award Information Funding Instrument Type: Cooperative Agreement Estimated Total Funding: $4,935,000 Expected Number of Awards: 1 Award Ceiling: $4,935,000 Per Budget Period Award Floor: $0 Per Budget Period Length of Project Period: 60-month project period with five 12-month budget periods

This funding opportunity will be administered as a Cooperative Agreement. As such, the successful applicant should expect substantial AoA involvement in grant activities as appropriate or requested, including reviewing products for compliance with federal grant rules and participating in planning and training activities, which will be determined by the needs and priorities of the grantee and AoA. The terms and conditions for this cooperative agreement are as follows and will be incorporated by reference in the Notice of Award (NOA).

The AoA will carry out the following activities for the cooperative agreement noted above:

Perform the day-to-day Federal responsibilities of grants management while working with the grantee to ensure that the minimum requirements for the grant are met.

Assist the grantee project leadership in understanding the policy concerns and/or priorities of AoA by conducting periodic briefings and by carrying out ongoing consultations.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2921251/pdf/PE_4_6_46.pdf https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2921251/pdf/PE_4_6_46.pdf https://www.aging.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/Sherman_1_15_14.pdf https://www.acf.hhs.gov/trauma-toolkit https://store.samhsa.gov/system/files/sma14-4884.pdf https://store.samhsa.gov/system/files/sma14-4884.pdf

Work cooperatively with the grantee to clarify the programmatic and budgetary issues to be addressed by the project.

Provide guidance to the grantee, as necessary, in making sub-awards (i.e., sub-grants/contracts) as permitted in this FOA.

Provide guidance to the grantee on the provision of technical support and associated tasks related to the fulfillment of the goals and objectives of this grant.

Review and provide technical advice to the grantee on work products and other project deliverables and processes.

Provide consultation to the grantee in identifying emerging issues as they relate to the goals and objectives of this grant program.

Work with the grantee on the development and implementation of evaluation and quality assurance systems to ensure that performance is measured and continuous improvement occurs.

Attend and participate in major project events as appropriate.

The grantee will execute the responsibilities of the cooperative agreement as listed below:

Immediately inform, and collaborate with, the AoA on any in-scope modification of the work plan.

Evaluate the impact of overall project activities and ensure quality assurance systems are in place.

Share information with AoA, national and local organizations, and other entities as appropriate.

Fulfill all of the requirements of the grant initiative as detailed in this program announcement.

Report semi-annually on project accomplishments, challenges and progress towards measurable objectives.

Work with the AoA program project officer to evaluate performance results reported semiannually and jointly develop strategies to address those areas requiring improvement.

AoA will assist the grantee in understanding the strategic goals and objectives, policy perspectives, and priorities of the Administrator/Assistant Secretary for Aging and the Department of Health and Human Services, by sharing such information via email, conference calls, briefings, memos, and other consultations. The AOA project officer will provide technical assistance and guidance on issues related to grant management and implementation, including the execution of the cooperative agreement. The project officer will also share information with the grantee about other federally sponsored projects and activities relevant to activities funded under this announcement.

Once a cooperative agreement is in place, requests to modify or amend it or the work plan may be made by AoA or the awardee at any time. Modifications and/or amendments of the Cooperative Agreement or work plan shall be effective upon the mutual agreement of both parties, except where AOA is authorized under the Terms and Conditions of award, 45 CFR Part 74 or 92, or other applicable regulation or statute to make unilateral amendments. When an award is issued, the cooperative agreement terms and conditions from the program announcement are incorporated by reference.

III. Eligibility Information

1. Eligible Applicants Domestic public or private non-profit entities including state and local governments, Indian tribal governments and organizations (American Indian/Alaskan Native/Native American), faith-based organizations, community-based organizations, hospitals, and institutions of higher education.

2. Cost Sharing or Matching

Cost Sharing / Matching Requirement: Yes Under this ACL program, ACL will fund no more than 75% of the project’s total cost, which means the applicant must cover at least 25% of the project’s total cost with non-federal resources. In other words, for every three (3) dollars received in federal funding, the applicant must contribute at least one (1) dollar in non-federal resources toward the project’s total cost.

This “three-to-one” ratio is reflected in the formula included under Item 18 in the “Instructions for Completing Requested Forms.” You can use this formula to calculate your minimum required match. A common error applicants make is to match 25% of the federal share, rather than 25% of the project’s total cost.

There are two types of match: 1) non-federal cash and 2) non-federal in-kind. In general, costs borne by the applicant and cash contributions of any and all third parties involved in the project, including sub-grantees, contractors and consultants, are considered matching funds.

Volunteered time and use of facilities to hold meetings or conduct project activities may be considered in-kind (third party) donations. Examples of non-federal cash match includes budgetary funds provided from the applicant agency’s budget for costs associated with the project. ACL encourages you to not exceed the minimum match requirement. Applications with a match greater than the minimum required will not receive additional consideration under the review. Match is not one of the responsiveness criteria as noted in Section III, 3 Application Screening Criteria.

3. Responsiveness and Screening Criteria

Application Responsiveness Criteria Applications that fail to meet each of the responsiveness criteria described below will not be reviewed and will receive no further consideration:

A copy of the applicant organization’s current and valid 501c3 is included in the application package;

Documented history of working at the national level;

The commitment of (at least) a full-time project director with recognized expertise in the field of PCTI and Holocaust survivors; and Demonstrated expertise in working with entities serving the non-Holocaust survivor older adult population in the U.S.

Application Screening Criteria All applications will be screened to assure a level playing field for all applicants. Applications that fail to meet the three screening criteria described below will not be reviewed and will receive no further consideration.

In order for an application to be reviewed, it must meet the following screening requirements:

1. Applications must be submitted electronically via http://www.grants.gov by 11:59 p.m., Eastern Time, by the due date listed in section IV.3 Submission Dates and Times.

2. The Project Narrative section of the Application must be double-spaced, on 8.5” x 11” plain white paper with 1” margins on both sides, and a standard font size of no less than 11 point, preferably Times New Roman or Arial.

3. The Project Narrative must not exceed 25 pages. Project Narratives that exceed 25 pages will have the additional pages removed and only the first 25 pages of the Project Narrative will be provided to the merit reviewers for funding consideration. NOTE: The Project Work Plan, Letters of Commitment, and Vitae of Key Project Personnel are not counted as part of the Project Narrative for purposes of the 25-page limit.

Unsuccessful submissions will require authenticated verification from http://www.grants.gov indicating system problems existed at the time of your submission. For example, you will be required to provide an http://www.grants.gov submission error notification and/or tracking number in order to substantiate missing the application deadline.

IV. Application and Submission Information

1. Address to Request Application Package Application materials can be obtained from http://www.grants.gov or https://www.acl.gov/grant s/applying-grants.

Please note, ACL requires applications for all announcements to be submitted electronically through http://www.grants.gov in Workspace. Grants.gov Workspace is the standard way for organizations and individuals to apply for federal grants in Grants.gov. An overview and training on Grants.gov Workspace can be found here at: https://www.grants.gov/web/grants /applicants/workspace-overview.html The Grants.gov registration process can take several days. If your organization is not currently registered, please begin this process immediately. For assistance with http://www.grants.gov, please contact them at support@grants.gov or 800-518-4726 between 7:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m. Eastern Time.

At the http://www.grants.gov website, you will find information about submitting an application electronically through the site, including the hours of operation. ACL strongly recommends that you do not wait until the application due date to begin the application process because of the time involved to complete the registration process.

All applicants must have a DUNS number (http://fedgov.dnb.com/webform/) and be http://www.grants.gov/ http://www.grants.gov/ http://www.grants.gov/ http://www.grants.gov/ https://www.acl.gov/grants/applying-grants https://www.acl.gov/grants/applying-grants http://www.grants.gov/ https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/workspace-overview.html https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/workspace-overview.html http://www.grants.gov/ http://www.grants.gov/ http://fedgov.dnb.com/webform/ registered with the System for Award Management (SAM, www.sam.gov) and maintain an active SAM registration until the application process is complete, and should a grant be made, throughout the life of the award. Effective June 11, 2018, when registering or renewing your registration, you must submit a notarized letter appointing the authorized Entity Administrator. Please be sure to read the FAQs located at www .sam.gov to learn more. Applicants should allot sufficient time prior to the application deadline to finalize a new, or renew an existing registration. This action should allow you time to resolve any issues that may arise. Failure to comply with these requirements may result in your inability to submit your application or receive an award. Maintain documentation (with dates) of your efforts to register or renew at least two weeks before the deadline. See the SAM Quick Guide for Grantees at: https://www.sam.gov/SAM /pages/public/help/samQUserGuides.jsf

Note: Once your SAM registration is active, allow 24 to 48 hours for the information to be available in Grants.gov before you can submit an application through Grants.gov. This action should allow you time to resolve any issues that may arise. Failure to comply with these requirements may result in your inability to submit your application or receive an award.

Note: Failure to submit the correct EIN Suffix can lead to delays in identifying your organization and access to funding in the Payment Management System.

Effective October 1, 2010, HHS requires all entities that plan to apply for and ultimately receive federal grant funds from any HHS Operating/Staff Division (OPDIV/STAFFDIV) or receive subawards directly from the recipients of those grant funds to:

1. Register in SAM prior to submitting an application or plan;

2. Maintain an active SAM registration with current information at all times during which it has an active award or an application or plan under consideration by an OPDIV; and

3. Provide its DUNS number in each application or plan to submit to the OPDIV.

Additionally, all first-tier subaward recipients must have a DUNS number at the time the subaward is made.

Since October 1, 2003, The Office of Management and Budget has required applicants to provide a Dun and Bradstreet (D&B) Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number when applying for federal grants or cooperative agreements. It is entered on the SF-424. It is a unique, nine-digit identification number, which provides unique identifiers of single business entities. The DUNS number is free and easy to obtain.

Organizations can receive a DUNS number at no cost by calling the dedicated toll-free DUNS Number request line at 866-705-5711

You must submit all documents electronically, including all information included on the SF424 and all necessary assurances and certifications.

After you electronically submit your application, you will receive an automatic acknowledgement from http://www.grants.gov that contains http://www.grants.gov tracking number. The Administration for Community Living will retrieve your application form from http://www.grants.gov.

http://www.sam.gov/ http://www.sam.gov/ http://www.sam.gov/ https://www.sam.gov/SAM/pages/public/help/samQUserGuides.jsf https://www.sam.gov/SAM/pages/public/help/samQUserGuides.jsf http://www.grants.gov/

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

Greg Link Administration on Aging Phone Number: (202) 795-7386 E-mail: greg.link@acl.hhs.gov

2. Content and Form of Application Submission

Letter of Intent

Due Date for Letter of Intent: 04/03/2020 Applicants are requested, but not required, to submit a letter of intent to apply for this funding opportunity to assist ACL in planning for the application independent review process. The purpose of the letter of intent is to allow our staff to estimate the number of independent reviewers needed and to avoid potential conflicts of interest in the review. The deadline for submission of the letter of intent is (Insert date here). Letters of intent should be sent to:

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Administration for Community Living Greg Link Administration on Aging Email: greg.link@acl.hhs.gov

Project Narrative The Project Narrative must be double-spaced, on 8.5” x 11” paper with 1” margins on both sides, and a standard font size of no less than 11 point, preferably Times New Roman or Arial.

You can use smaller font sizes to fill in the Standard Forms and Sample Formats. The suggested length for the Project Narrative is 20 to 25 pages; 25 pages is the maximum length allowed.

Project Narratives that exceed 25 pages will have the additional pages removed and only the first 25 pages of the Project Narrative will be provided to the merit reviewers for funding consideration. The Project Work Plan, Letters of Commitment, and Vitae of Key Personnel are not counted as part of the Project Narrative for purposes of the 25-page limit, but all of the other sections noted below are included in the limit.

The sample components of the Project Narrative counted as part of the 25 page limit include:

Summary/Abstract Problem Statement Goal(s) and Objective(s) Proposed Intervention Special Target Populations and Organizations Outcomes Project Management mailto:greg.link@acl.hhs.gov

Evaluation Dissemination Organizational Capability

The Project Narrative is the most important part of the application, since it will be used as the primary basis to determine whether your project meets the minimum requirements for grants under the authorizing statutes. The Project Narrative should provide a clear and concise description of your project. ACL recommends that your project narrative include the following components:

Summary/Abstract This section should include a brief (265 words maximum) description of the proposed project, including: goal(s), objectives, outcomes, and products to be developed. Detailed instructions for completing the summary/abstract are included in the “Instructions for Completing the Project Summary/Abstract.”

Problem Statement This section should describe, in both quantitative and qualitative terms, the nature and scope of the particular problem or issue the proposed intervention is designed to address, including how the project will potentially affect older adults and /or people with disabilities, their families and caregivers and the health care and social services systems.

Goals and Objectives This section should consist of a description of the project’s goal(s) and major objectives. Unless the project involves multiple, complex interventions, we recommend you have only one overall goal.

Proposed Intervention This section should provide a clear and concise description of the intervention you are proposing to use to address the problem described in the “Problem Statement”. You should also describe the rationale for using the particular intervention, including factors such as: “lessons learned” for similar projects previously tested in your community, or in other areas of the country; factors in the larger environment that have created the “right conditions” for the intervention (e.g., existing social or economic factors that you’ll be able to take advantage of, etc.). Also note any major barriers you anticipate encountering, and how your project will be able to overcome those barriers. Be sure to describe the role and makeup of any strategic partnerships you plan to involve in implementing the intervention, including other organizations, supporters, and/or consumer groups.

Special Target Populations and Organizations This section should describe how you plan to involve organizations in a meaningful way in the planning and implementation of the proposed project. This section should also describe whether, and if so, how the proposed intervention will target disadvantaged populations, including limited-English speaking populations, those of greatest economic need and those of greatest social need.

Outcomes This section of the project narrative must clearly identify the measurable outcome(s) that will result from the project. (NOTE: ACL will not fund any project that does not include measurable outcomes). This section should also describe how the project’s findings might benefit the field at large, (e.g., how the findings could help other organizations throughout the nation to address the same or similar problems.) List measurable outcomes in the optional work plan grid (“Project Work Plan – Sample Template”) under “Measurable Outcomes” in addition to any discussion included in the narrative along with a description of how the project might benefit the field at large.

A “measurable outcome” is an observable end-result that describes how a particular intervention benefits consumers. It demonstrates the functional status, mental well-being, knowledge, skill, attitude, awareness or behavior.) It can also describe a change in the degree to which consumers exercise choice over the types of services they receive, or whether they are satisfied with the way a service is delivered. Additional examples include: a change in the responsiveness or cost-effectiveness of a service delivery system; a new model of support or care that can be replicated in the ACL network; new knowledge that can contribute to the field of community living; a measurable increase in community awareness; or a measurable increase in persons receiving services. A measurable outcome is not a measurable “output”, such as: the number of clients served; the number of training sessions held; or the number of service units provided.

You should keep the focus of this section on describing what outcome(s) will be produced by the project. You should use the Evaluation section noted below to describe how the outcome(s) will be measured and reported.

Your application will be scored on the clarity and nature of your proposed outcomes, not on the number of outcomes cited. It is totally appropriate for a project to have only ONE outcome that it is trying to achieve through the intervention reflected in the project’s design.

Project Management This section should include a clear delineation of the roles and responsibilities of project staff, consultants and partner organizations, and how they will contribute to achieving the project’s objectives and outcomes. It should specify who would have day-to-day responsibility for key tasks such as: leadership of project; monitoring the project’s on-going progress (i.e., measure of performance towards the goals stated in the funding opportunity announcement and for your specific intervention/activities), preparation of reports; communications with other partners and ACL. It should also describe the approach that will be used to monitor and track progress on the project’s tasks and objectives.

Evaluation This section should describe the specific outcomes (e.g., changes in clients, organizations, and/or communities) expected as a result of this funding as well as method(s), techniques and tools that will be used to: 1) determine whether the proposed intervention achieved its anticipated outcome(s), and 2) document the “lessons learned” – both positive and negative -from the project that will be useful to people interested in replicating the intervention, if it proves successful.

Dissemination This section should describe the method that will be used to disseminate the project’s results and findings in a timely manner and in easily understandable formats, to parties who might be interested in using the results of the project to inform practice, service delivery, program development, and/or policy-making, including and especially those parties who would be interested in replicating the project.

Organizational Capacity Statement Each application should include an organizational capability statement and vitae for key…