Grants to States for Access and Visitation Programs

The objective is to fund States programs that facilitate access and visitation by non-custodial parents.

The purpose of this program is to enable States to create programs which support and facilitate access and visitation by non-custodial parents with their children. Activities may include mediation, counseling, education, development of parenting plans, visitation enforcement and development of guidelines for visitation and alternative custody arrangements.

All States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands and Guam.

Custodial and non-custodial parents.

A State to which a grant is made under this section may not use the grant to supplant expenditures by the State for allowable activities, but must use the grant to supplement such expenditures at a level at least equal to the level of such expenditures for fiscal year 1995.

Funds are awarded for a two-year project period.

The statute addresses the funding ceilings, how allotments are determined by formula, funding restrictions, and administration requirements: Sec. 469B. [42 U.S.C. 669b] (a) In General-The Administration for Children and Families shall make grants under this section to enable States to establish and administer programs to support and facilitate noncustodial parents' access to and visitation of their children, by means of activities including mediation (both voluntary and mandatory), counseling, education, development of parenting plans, visitation enforcement (including monitoring, supervision and neutral dropoff and pickup), and development of guidelines for visitation and alternative custody arrangements. (b) Amount of Grant-The amount of the grant to be made to a State under this section for a fiscal year shall be an amount equal to the lesser of- 1. 90 percent of State expenditures during the fiscal year for activities described in subsection (a); or 2. the allotment of the State under subsection (c) for the fiscal year. (c) Allotments to States- 1. In general-The allotment of a State for a fiscal year is the amount that bears the same ratio to $10,000,000 for grants under this section for the fiscal year as the number of children in the State living with only 1 biological parent bears to the total number of such children in all States. 2. Minimum allotment-The Administration for Children and Families shall adjust allotments to States under paragraph (1) as necessary to ensure that no State is allotted less than- (A) $50,000 for fiscal year 1997 or 1998; or (B) $100,000 for any succeeding fiscal year. (d) No Supplantation of State Expenditures for Similar Activities-A State to which a grant is made under this section may not use the grant to supplant expenditures by the State for activities specified in subsection (a), but shall use the grant to supplement such expenditures at a level at least equal to the level of such expenditures for fiscal year 1995. (e) State Administration-Each State to which a grant is made under this section- 1. May administer State programs funded with the grant directly or through grants to or contracts with courts, local public agencies, or nonprofit private entities; 2. Shall not be required to operate such programs on a statewide basis; and 3. Shall monitor, evaluate, and report on such programs in accordance with regulations prescribed by the Secretary. Official notice of approved grant applications is made through issuance of a Notice of Award (NoA). This provides the amount of funds awarded, the purpose of the award, the terms and conditions of the award, the budget period for which support is given, the total project period, and the total grantee participation.

From 60 to 120 days.

Extensions and continuations of grants are not available.

There is no appeal process for unsuccessful applicants. For existing recipients, appeals regarding disputes may take place in accordance with 45 CFR Part 16, subject to the limitations in Appendix A.