HHS To Give Money To States To Help States Build Disabilities Programs

US Senior Government Information Senior Dating

HHS To Give Money To States To Help States Build Disabilities Programs

On May 22, 2001, HHS Secretary Tommy G. Thompson announced the release of solicitations for new grants totaling around $70 million for states to develop new programs for people with disabilities.

The Health Care Financing Administration (HCFA) announced the new grant funds to states. Today's action invites the states to apply for those funds. The grants will help states enable people with disabilities or long term illness to reside in their own homes and participate fully in community life. These grants build on the New Freedom Initiative's goals of removing barriers to equality for the 54 million Americans living with disabilities.

Interested states, in partnership with their disability and aging communities, will design and implement improvements in community long-term support systems. These systemic changes will allow children and adults with a disability or long term illness to live in the most integrated setting suited to their needs, exercise meaningful choices about their living arrangements and exercise some control over the providers of the services they receive.

"These grants will help to extend new opportunities and freedom to Americans who have disabilities or long-term illnesses and allow them to live and prosper in their communities," Thompson said. "Working in cooperation with consumers and other partners, states can use these resources to support a wide range of innovative programs to help people with disabilities."

Four distinct grant solicitations comprise the "Systems Changes for Community Living" grants that are being released today. They are:

	Nursing Facility Transitions Grants: HCFA is making available between $10 to $14 million to help states eligible individuals move from nursing facilities to the community. Two types of grants are offered: state program grants will be made to support state program initiatives; Independent Living Partnership grants will be made to selected Independent Living Centers to promote partnerships in helping people make the transition to the community.
	Community-integrated Personal Assistance Services and Supports grants: Personal assistance is the most frequently used service that enables people with a disability or long term illness to live in the community. Grants totaling $5 to $8 million are available to support states' efforts to improve personal assistance services that are consumer-directed or offer maximum individual control.
	Real Choice Systems Change grants: Approximately $41 to $43 million is available to states to design and implement improvements in their community long term support systems. These systems enable children and adults with disabilities or long-term illnesses to live in their communities.
	National Technical Assistance Exchange for Community Living grant: This initiative will provide technical assistance, training and information to states, consumers, families and other agencies and organizations. Funds under this grant will be between $4 to $5 million.

Grant applications will be due in July 2001. Grant awards will be made prior to Oct. 1, 2001. States will have up to 36 months to spend the money.

Thompson also released $50,000 "starter" grants to each of 28 states and territories that completed a simple application. No state matching funds are required. The funds will help pay for the development of public-private partnerships, including consumer task forces, in each state to advise on the use of the federal grants that have been announced today.

The states and territories that received these initial awards are: Alaska, Arkansas, California, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Florida, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Vermont, West Virginia, Wisconsin, the Northern Mariana Islands and American Samoa. Several other states have submitted applications. Additional awards will be announced at a later date.

For more details about the grants, go to: http://www.hcfa.gov/medicaid/systemschange.