NATIONAL FAMILY CAREGIVER SUPPORT PROGRAM FAQS

# faqs based on call with ACL and SUA Directors on april 15, 2020

## These FAQs contains questions and answers from ACL’s call with SUA Directors on April 15, 2020. It also includes summaries from two presentations given during the call.

## (Issued 4/21/2020)

April 21, 2020

# Presentation Summaries:

Paula Basta, Director of the Illinois Department on Aging

The Illinois Department of Aging was able to secure vital personal protective equipment (PPE) during the early stages of the pandemic.  The SUA contributes this victory to advocating for its stakeholders and collaborating with the Community Care Programs (CCP) who provide home and community based services and the CCP association of providers network.  The SUA looked to CCP to help prioritize affected agencies and determine the location of hotspots.   Then the SUA used the information at daily meetings with the Illinois Emergency Management Agency.  During the meetings, the SUA discussed their PPE needs as expressed by their partners and providers.  In fact, many at the meetings were surprised by the quality and quantity of work the aging network does in Illinois. 

Richard Prudom, Secretary for the Florida Department of Elder Affairs

Florida has about 700 nursing homes and 3000 assisted living facilities, with approximately 171,000 individuals residing between the two.  Some of those residents became isolated from their loved ones and their connection with the outside world during the pandemic.  The state of Florida recognizes the importance of practicing social distancing, but does not believe social distancing must equal complete social isolation for these residents. In partnership with the Alzheimer’s Association, Florida started Project Vital (Virtual Inclusive Technology for All) to provide specialized tablets for the older adults within these facilities to stay connected.

Prior to the pandemic, Florida provided about 45,000 meals a day to older adults via home delivery and congregate settings.  However, Florida is now providing 190,000 meals a day due to the pandemic.  To accomplish this, Florida contracted with restaurants impacted by the pandemic to make and deliver meals to older adults in their homes.  Florida determined that was a great way to not only meet the needs of older Floridians but also provide much needed income to restaurants and restaurant workers to prepare and deliver meals to seniors. 

# Intrastate Funding Formula

**Question:**

Do states have to distribute the COVID-19 supplemental funding according to the intrastate funding formula?

**Answer:**

A State may choose to expedite its COVID-19 emergency response in a manner consistent with Expediting Expenditures at the State Level in Responding to the COVID-19 Emergency.  After doing so, funds must then be distributed based on the State’s approved Intrastate Funding Formula.

# fiscal

**Question:**

During the major disaster declaration, is there a need for either the AAAs or the SUAs to submit transfer requests to ACL? 

**Answer:**

States do not have to make transfers once a major disaster declaration has been approved.  States have the ability to designate funds as “disaster relief” and spend them in response to the identified needs out of any Part of the Act, and can include FFCRA and CARES Act funding.

**Question:**

How should states report Program Income when collecting and extending funds out of multiple funding sources?

**Answer:**

Program income must be reported on financial reports under the grant award number in which funds were expended for the service,  i.e. Title IIIE funds are paying for home delivered meals which would typically be paid out of C-2, the program income should still be reported under Title III E and not C-2. 

**Question:**

Can states use supplemental COVID-19 funding to support pre-award costs going back to January 20, 2020?

**Answer:**

Because the SUAs and networks have been impacted by COVID-19, ACL has waived prior approval requirements for pre-award costs incurred from January 20, 2020 to the effective date of the Federal Awards for the FFCRA and CARES Act funds.

**Question:**

What is the window for disaster declarations transfers since the normal window would close on August 15 or 17th?

**Answer:**

While final transfer requests are due by 8/17/2020, transfer requests can be submitted at any time to ACL within the grant’s funding year. For example, for FFY 2020 grants (with grant numbers start with “20xxxxxxxx”) transfer requests must be submitted before 9/20/2020, 10 days before the end of FFY 2020.  We ask that the number of transfer requests per SUA be minimized and consolidated as much as possible since a new Notice of Award (NOA) is issued for every transfer request received.

# OAA Title III-B

**Question:**

Can states use COVID-19 supplemental funding to support senior centers that are not operating by covering ongoing monthly costs, such as their utilities or leases so that when the pandemic is over those centers are able to open back up for congregate meals?

**Answer:**

Yes. Title III-B allows for the support of senior centers. States are able to pay for the maintenance and operation of senior centers during the pandemic even though the centers are not currently operating.

# strategic planning

**Question:**

Is there guidance for bringing the senior centers and congregate settings back safely?

**Answer:**

ACL has begun those discussions and plans to provide guidance in that regard.  ACL is interested in hearing from states about thoughts in this area as well.

# image2.jpg

# image1.jpg