**OILP Newsletter- January 2024**

Happy New Year and welcome to the OILP Monthly Newsletter! We are pleased to share recent updates from ACL, TA Resources, and other IL resources below.

To improve user friendliness, we have included a Table of Contents with links to each section. 

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***Table of Contents***

***Reporting and Guidance***

***Staffing Updates***

***Conferences, Trainings and Technical Assistance***

***Opportunities for Engagement***

***Funding Opportunities***

***Transition Services***

***Sharing Your Stories***

***Resources***

# **Reporting and Guidance**

1. ***Q90 Portal Open and Programmatic Reporting Deadlines:***The Q90 portal is now open at https://portal.q90.com/external/login.php. As a reminder, the FY22 CIL Programmatic Performance Report (PPR) was due in the portal by 12/31/23. The 723 states PPRs are due by 1/31/24. 

For our grantees that requested a no cost extension (NCE) for their CDC funding, a PPR was due on 12/31/2023 for the reporting period of 10/1/2022 – 9/30/2023. The CDC PPR Excel sheet was submitted to their Program Officer. 

The FY23 ILS PPR is due in the portal by 1/31/24. For our DSE’s that received PHWF funding, the PHWF PPR is included with the ILS PPR and is due by 1/31/24.

	Should you have any questions, please contact your Program Officer and thank you to everyone who has already submitted their CIL and ILS PPRs.

1. ***Open for Public Comment- Independent Living Program Performance Report:***The Administration for Community Living (ACL) is announcing an opportunity for the public to comment on the proposed collection of information listed above. Under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), Federal agencies are required to publish a notice in the Federal Register concerning each proposed collection of information, including each proposed extension of an existing collection of information, and to allow 60 days for public comment in response to the notice. This Proposed Extension of a Currently Approved Information Collection (IC Ext) solicits comments on the information collection requirements relating to the Administration on Disabilities' Independent Living Services Program Performance Report. View the Federal Register Notice.

Submit electronic comments to Peter Nye at OILPPRAComments@acl.hhs.gov. Submit written comments to Administration for Community Living, 330 C Street SW, Washington, DC 20201, Attention: Peter Nye.

Comments on the collection of information must be submitted electronically by***11:59 p.m. (EST) or postmarked by January 16, 2024.***

More information is available at https://acl.gov/about-acl/public-input.

1. ***Federal Financial Reporting Deadlines:***Please see below for Federal Financial Reporting deadlines. If you have questions, please contact the ACL fiscal officer located on your notice of award.

**Part B (States)**

Federal Financial Reports (FFRs/SF-425s) are due for the period ending September 30, 2023. The following awards have SF-425s due:

1. Part B State Grant (Program Code ILSG)

0. FY 2021 - Final SF-425 (only applicable if a no-cost extension was received) – Due January 31, 2024

0. FY 2022 - Final or Annual SF-425 (only Annual if a no-cost extension was received) – Annual SF-425s due December 31, 2023 and Final SF-425s due January 31, 2024.

0. FY 2023 - Annual SF-425 - Due December 31, 2023

1. Public Health State Grant (Program Code ISPH)

1. FY 2022 - Annual SF-425 – Due December 31, 2023

**Part C (CILs)**

Federal Financial Reports (FFRs/SF-425s) are due for the periods ending September 29 and 30, 2023. The following awards have SF-425s due:

1. Part C Grants (Program Code ILCL)

2. FY2021 - Final SF-425 (only applicable if a no-cost extension was received) - Due January 31, 2024 

2. FY 2022 - Annual SF-425 (only Annual if a no-cost extension was received) - Due December 31, 2023

1. CDC Awards – Vaccine Access Grants (Program Code ILC5)

3. FY 2021 - Final SF-425 (only applicable if a no-cost extension was received) - Due January 31, 2024

1. Public Health Workforce (PHWF) Grants (Program Code ILPH)

4. FY 2022 - Annual SF-425 - Due December 31, 2023

1. ***Ed Roberts Day:***Ed Roberts Day is ***January 23, 2024,*** and OILP staff would love to hear about how you are honoring him on this day. If any CILs or SILCs are planning or holding events, etc., please send the information to your Program Officer.

1. ***IL Network Contact Updates:***As a reminder, if there are any contact information changes for CIL Executive Directors, SILC Executive Directors, SILC Chairs or DSE’s, please let your Program Officer know. To verify the current name and contact information for your Program Officer, please view the OILP staff list on ACL’s website. For guidance on changes in Executive Directors, please visit this link under Frequently Asked Questions.

1. ***OILP Monthly Newsletters Posted on Website:***The OILP newsletters from May 2023—present are now available on our website here under the heading of Office of Independent Living Programs Monthly Newsletters. 

1. ***SPIL Instrument and Instructions Posted on Website:***The updated SPIL instrument and instructions are now available on our website here under the heading of Submitting State Plans for Independent Living.

1. ***Audit Confirmation Requests:*** Many Centers for Independent Living have reached out to request verifications for their independent fiscal audits. Please be advised that audit confirmation requests should be sent to pmsoigaudit@psc.hhs.gov. 

1. ***Indirect Cost Rates:***For questions regarding indirect cost rates, contact information can be found at https://www.hhs.gov/about/agencies/asa/psc/indirect-cost-negotiations/index.html.

1. ***Allowable Expenses:***OILP has recently received questions from our grantees regarding allowable costs. For additional guidance, please consult 45 CFR 75.403 and contact the fiscal officer listed in your notice of award.

1.  ***Public Health Workforce Funding:***The Public Health Workforce funding was released for both CIL and ILS Programs in March 2022.  The guidance is available here under Guidance for ACL Programs, subheading of Public Health Workforce Grants.  

# **Staffing Updates**

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· ***Welcoming Hindley Williams to OILP:***Please join me in welcoming Hindley Williams (Hindley.Williams@acl.hhs.gov) to OILP! She started with us on January 2nd. We are excited to have her with us as a Program Analyst for the Office of Independent Living Programs. She will be providing technical assistance to ACL grantees to support them in meeting grant requirements, and overseeing the awards over her assigned regions. She has spent the last five years working for a Center for Independent Living in Maryland, where she was the Program Director for Independent Living Services. In this role, she supervised the implementation of all Independent Living Services, oversaw five projects and budgets, and ensured grant compliance and met and exceeded grant expectations. She held a year-long fellowship with the National Council on Independent Living in 2018, which began her career in Independent Living. Hindley holds a Bachelor’s degree in English from Villanova University. She is excited to bring her passion for Independent Living, her technical knowledge, and her prior experience to ACL. 

# **Conferences, Trainings and Technical Assistance**

1. ***SILC Congress 2024:***SILC Congress 2024 will be held in Little Rock, Arkansas on March 11-13, 2024. To register, please visit https://form.jotform.com/232506406195050**

1. ***Webinar on the Role of Person-Centered Planning for Employment Support:***Please join the Disability Employment Technical Assistance Center (DETAC) and the National Center on Advancing Person-Centered Practices and Systems (NCAPPS) for a webinar on ***January 9, 2024 from 3:00 – 4:00 P.M. Eastern Time*** focused on strengthening the connection between person-centered planning and advancing competitive, integrated employment. For more information or to register, please visit here.

1. ***SPIL Training and Technical Assistance Series:***Please join IL-NET's newly launched monthly virtual meeting on ***January 11, 2024, from 4:00 – 5:00 P.M. Eastern Time***that offers comprehensive training and technical assistance for the State Plan for Independent Living (SPIL). These sessions are aimed at providing you with in-depth training on SPIL requirements, while also offering a platform to discuss how to leverage your plan to build cross-coordination and elevate the IL network in your state. By participating, you will have the opportunity to learn from experts and peers alike and gain valuable insights on how to make the most of your SPIL. Don't miss out on this opportunity and join us on the first Thursday of every month. To register or for more information, please visit this link.

1. ***NCIL 2024 Annual Conference Call for Workshop Proposals***: NCIL is excited to announce our 2024 Annual Conference on Independent Living! The theme of this year’s conference is Back to the Future. With this theme, we invite everyone to revisit our foundational values and look to a future that embraces disability justice – loving all bodies and leaving no one behind. 

***Deadline for Submission is January 22, 2024.*** No proposals will be accepted after ***11:59 P.M. Eastern time.***

NCIL will host 25 in-person workshops this year. Select workshops may be asked to voluntarily record their presentations to be posted to the NCIL archives. 

**Read full Request for Workshop Proposals**: members.ncil.org/ncil2024/rfp

1. ***HSRC Webinar - Expanding Access to Service Coordination: Two Models of Braiding Funding:***Please join the HSRC for this webinar on ***January 31, 2024 from 2:00 – 3:00 P.M. Eastern Time***. This Housing and Services Resource Center (HSRC) webinar will feature two models for braiding funding streams across sectors to maximize the use of existing resources and broaden access to service coordination in a sustainable way.

To register, please visit here. 

· ***ILRU IL-NET National Training and Technical Assistance (T&TA) Center: Management 101: A Guide for New CIL Executive Directors:***Are you a New Center for Independent Living (CIL) Executive Director, or planning to become an Executive Director in the future? 

This course will focus your attention on important aspects of the job that you need to know about early on and that might get lost in the daily conflicting demands for attention.

Concrete action steps are provided in easy-to-use checklists, bullet points, dos and don’ts, and general knowledge to support newly hired Executive Directors of Centers for Independent Living.

Visit ILRU's website to view this training

· ***2024 Rural Conversation Series: 3rd Wednesday of the Month at 1:00 p.m. Eastern***

The Rural Conversation Community series is provided by ILRU's IL-NET National Training and Technical Assistance Center for Independent Living and facilitated by APRIL, the Association of Programs for Rural Independent Living. There are no presenters or designated speakers in these conversations; they are an informal time and space to gather with your peers and share about current events and ask your peers questions. Captioning and ASL are provided. Bring your questions for your peers and updates on your CIL’s creative solutions and activities to share.Click this link for more information.

· ***Youth Coordinator Connect Meetings: 1st Tuesday of the Month at 2:00 p.m. Eastern***

Join us to begin building a community of peer support and sharing for Youth Program Coordinators. Come share your experiences and tips and tricks and problem solve barriers to growing and implementing youth programs in your Center for Independent Living. Meet and learn from your colleagues throughout the country who are working towards the common goal of improving services for youth with disabilities.

Each month we will discuss a topic as it relates to youth programs and services.  These topics are chosen as a group.  We will also brainstorm solutions for barriers that may come up in your programs.Click Here for more information.

· ***Advocacy Committee Meetings: 1st Wednesday of the Month at 4:00 p.m. Eastern***

APRIL is a national membership organization dedicated to advancing the rights and responsibilities of people with disabilities in rural America.

APRIL is committed to an aggressive and culturally appropriate advocacy strategy tied to its Vision statement: “APRIL is the unified voice of independent living in rural America.” In furtherance of that Vision, APRIL has engaged hundreds of members and dedicated many hours aimed at developing a mission-focused system-change agenda to further the civil rights of all people with disabilities regardless of age, disability, income, gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity, religion, or nationality.

Equally important to us, is ensuring that young people with disabilities are integrated into all facets of program development and delivery. We are truly committed to the mantra “Nothing About Us, Without Us.”  The advocacy committee works to address APRIL’s advocacy priorities.Click Here for more information.

1. ***Emergency Prep Committee: 2nd Monday of the Month at 3:00 p.m. Eastern***

APRIL began this committee to support CILs and SILCs in their efforts on emergency preparedness, mitigation, response, and recovery. 

We are in a constant climate crisis. Disasters and emergencies are increasing in intensity and frequency. Persons with disabilities are 26% of the US population. Disabled people are disproportionately impacted by disasters and emergencies. We are 2-to-4 times more likely to die or be injured during a disaster. 

We are all first responders when disasters strike in our localities. Let’s get together to share good practices and strategies, information and resources, and peer support before, during, and after disasters and emergencies. 

Click Here for more information.

# **Opportunities for Engagement**

1. ***Calling CILs Working with Care Transitions:***The Administration for Community Living (ACL) invites CILs to join in the conversation with other organizations, hospitals, and health systems, in developing collaborative approaches to health-related social needs (HRSN) screening within healthcare settings, connection to community services and supports, and pre and post discharge transition support for people with disabilities and older adults.

The overall goal is to leverage existing partnerships and assets to address unmet social needs among people with disabilities and older adults in healthcare settings. Through collaboration, CILs can use their voice to potentially impact social determinants of health for people with disabilities. The monthly meeting series will run from January through August 2024. The meeting series uses a peer-based learning model, Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes (ECHO) Model®. 

**To participate in the series, CILs should have a formal or informal relationship with a local hospital.**Participating CILs and their hospital partners will learn from leaders about successful approaches to HRSN screening, referral, and transition support programs. They will gain actionable strategies to implement improved collaboration for building and sustaining care transitions programs.

If your organization is interested in participating, complete this brief survey ***prior to January 12, 2024*** to indicate interest: ACL Care Transitions ECHO (smartsheet.com). If you have any questions, please reach out to caretransitions@lewin.com. We look forward to hearing from you!

1. ***Nominations Now Being Accepted for HHS Long COVID Advisory Committee:***The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced the establishment of the HHS Secretary’s Advisory Committee on Long COVID. The advisory committee will bring perspectives from outside the government to make recommendations on research and innovation for a whole-of-government response to the longer-term impacts of COVID-19 and associated conditions.***Nominations are due by January 16, 2024.***People with multidisciplinary experience supporting and caring for those affected by Long COVID are encouraged to apply. HHS is specifically interested in receiving nominations of people who have had Long COVID and other disability stakeholders. 

Nominations are being sought from representatives of:

1. Disability and chronic illness groups

0. Associations, advocates, researchers, or organizations focused on disability and chronic illness and their possible interplay with Long COVID. 

1. Other groups

Please see the Federal Register Notice for more details and information on how to apply. 

1. ***Comment Period Now Open:*** ACL’s disability network, people with disabilities, and advocates have until ***January 29, 2024,*** to submit comments on the FDA Workshop to Enhance Clinical Study Diversity, which included a session focused on inclusion of people with disabilities. For more information, please visit here.

1. ***Federal Communications Commission Announces Disability Advisory Committee Meeting:***The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Disability Advisory Committee (DAC) is scheduled to meet on ***Tuesday,******January 30, 2024,******from 9:00 AM until approximately 12:00 PM Eastern Time***. The DAC meeting will be held in the Commission Meeting Room at FCC Headquarters, located at 45 L Street, NE, Washington, DC 20554, and livestreamed on the FCC website. The meeting will be open to the public. For more information, please visit here.

1. ***Innovative Coordinated Access and Mobility Grants:***FTA announced the availability of $4.7 million in Fiscal Year 2023 competitive grant funding for projects that improve access to vital services for older adults and people with disabilities, and in low-income communities. FTA’s Innovative Coordinated Access and Mobility (ICAM) Grants, supports public transportation projects that improve state and regional coordination and will help advance the goals of the President’s Executive Order on Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities Through the Federal Government.

Applications for funding will be evaluated based on criteria outlined in the Notice of Funding Opportunity in the Federal Register including how the project will enhance access and mobility to vital community services for older adults, people with disabilities, and people of low income. An additional $4.8 million is authorized for Fiscal Year 2024 and FTA may award additional funding that is made available to the program prior to the announcement of project selections. Applications are due by ***11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on February 13, 2024.***

1. ***USDOT Extends Comment Period for Public Input on Improving Accessibility of Transit Facilities for People with Disabilities:***To continue to promote equity in public transportation, the U.S. Department of Transportation is seeking public input on ways to improve the accessibility of public transportation facilities for people with disabilities. The Department recently extended through ***February 20, 2024*** the period for people to submit comments to its Request for Information (RFI).

1. ***Ongoing Recruitment of CILs and SILCs for COVID Test Distribution:*** CILs and SILCs are encouraged to participate in the Administration for Community Living and the HHS Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR) which provides COVID 19 tests to be distributed freely in your communities. For more information, please contact Ed Ahern. 

1. ***Seeking Partnerships around Disasters in Mid-West States:***We are looking for CILs in mid-west states who are engaging in collaborative partnerships (aging, emergency management, housing, public health and health) around disaster and other emergency management issues.  ACL and FEMA will be working together throughout 2024 to raise awareness to issues important to people with disabilities and older adults during disaster. 

As we plan these activities, we’re looking to ensure our grantee work is spotlighted. Our first event topic will be ‘preparing for mid-west disasters’ (tornados, flood, heat, e.g.). Please email edward.ahern@acl.hhs.gov for more information or to share your story.

# **Funding Opportunities**

1. ***Supporting Crisis Services to Serve Children and Adults with Cognitive Disabilities and Behavioral Health Conditions:***For more information on this opportunity and to apply, please visit this link. The deadline to apply is ***January 19, 2024.***

1. ***FTA Announces Nearly $5 Million Funding Opportunity to Improve Transit Access for Older Adults, People with Disabilities, and Low-Income Individuals:***FTA recently announced the availability of $4.7 million in Fiscal Year 2023 competitive grant funding for projects that improve access to vital services for older adults and people with disabilities, and in low-income communities. FTA’s Innovative Coordinated Access and Mobility (ICAM) Grants, supports public transportation projects that improve state and regional coordination and will help advance the goals of the President’s Executive Order on Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities Through the Federal Government.

Applications for funding will be evaluated based on criteria outlined in the Notice of Funding Opportunity in the Federal Register including how the project will enhance access and mobility to vital community services for older adults, people with disabilities, and people of low income. An additional $4.8 million is authorized for Fiscal Year 2024 and FTA may award additional funding that is made available to the program prior to the announcement of project selections.

Applications are due on ***February 13, 2024, by 11:59 P.M. Eastern Time***.

1. ***Environmental and Climate Justice Community Change Grants:***EPA’s new Environmental and Climate Justice Community Change Grants program (Community Change Grants) has announced a Notice of Funding Opportunity for approximately $2 billion dollars in Inflation Reduction Act funds in environmental and climate justice activities to benefit disadvantaged communities through projects that reduce pollution, increase community climate resilience, and build community capacity to address environmental and climate justice challenges.******

EPA is accepting applications on a rolling basis for $2 billion in Inflation Reduction Act funding available to support community-driven projects that build capacity for communities to tackle environmental and climate justice challenges, strengthen their climate resilience, and advance clean energy.

Read the announcement for the NOFO

To apply for this opportunity, view the RFA on Grants.gov.  Applications packages must be submitted on or before ***November 21, 2024,******at 11:59 PM Eastern Time.***

For more information, please visit this link or contact CCGP@epa.gov. 

# **Transition Services**

1. ***Center for Transition to Adult Health Care for Youth with Disabilities Launches New Website:***For more information, please visit here.

1. ***Think College: Inclusive Postsecondary Education Programs and Centers for Independent Living: A Partnership Worth Pursuing:***Please see this great article authored by Chelsea Stinnett, PhD and Kimberly Tissot, MSW.

# **Sharing Your Stories**

1. ***OILP is Seeking Success Stories:***The Office of Independent Living Programs wants to highlight examples of the amazing work of our CIL and ILS colleagues! Therefore, we are asking you, our colleagues, to help us share your stories by copying your Program Officer on any press releases that are distributed. Please visit our website at https://acl.gov/programs/aging-and-disability-networks/centers-independent-living# to view the contact list for the Office of Independent Living Programs. We appreciate your support!

# **Resources**

1. ***OIB-TAC resources/information***: Resources are provided below for the Older Individuals who are Blind Technical Assistance Center.

1. www.oib-tac.org

This is our website with continuing education, webinar and other information. 

1. www.timetobebold.org

This is a referral website if looking for connecting someone with services in a specific state.

1. ***HHS Provides Additional Tools to Strengthen Access to Quality Home and Community-Based Services:***For more information, please visit here. 

1. ***Breaking Language Barriers: Biden-Harris Administration Announces New Plan to Address Language Barriers and Strengthen Language Access:***HHS released our new language access plan, which includes critical actions to improve access to HHS programs and services for people with disabilities and/or limited English proficiency. With provisions that specifically address the effective communication and accessibility requirements found in sections 504 and 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the HHS Language Access Plan is the latest in a series of important actions taken by ACL and our partners across federal government over the last several years to uphold the rights of people with disabilities.

The updated Language Access Plan may be found here: https://www.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/language-access-plan-2023.pdf.

More information is available here*.*****

1. ***Biden-Harris Administration Announces Resource to Support Inclusion of Children with Disabilities in Early Childhood Programs:***For more information, please visit here*.*

1. ***Voting Accessibility Resources from ACL:***To view ACL’s updated voting resource page, please visit here. 

1. ***Disability Vaccine Access Opportunities Center Resource Hub Launched:***Resources and toolkits are available to serve people with disabilities before, during and after public health emergencies at this link.

1. ***A Universal Mobility Implementation Resource:***New mobility solutions have provided more options for the public to travel, and transit agencies have increasingly explored these options to enhance their services. Public transit and its riders must be at the center of this mobility ecosystem, and while these new mobility options hold great promise, deliberate planning and attention are needed to ensure that they are equitable and universally available. This resource defines universal mobility, offers insight into the importance of various universal mobility components, and provides recommendations and resources to promote universal mobility. Check out the learning module on universal mobility by SUMC and NCMM here.

1. ***NIDILRR Grant Tips:***NIDILRR has published a resource, *Tips for NIDILRR Grant**Applicants*, available in the Noteworthy from NIDILRR section of the About NIDILRR page. The tip sheet includes guidance for prospective grantees which may be helpful before and during the application process, such as how to contact NIDILRR, ways to learn about new funding opportunities, registering at grants.gov, language use in applications, and tracking applications throughout the review process. 

1. ***FHWA Launches Updated Interactive Website with State DOT ADA Transition Plans and Inventories:***The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) is committed to Americans with disabilities and removing barriers to access to our transportation systems. The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), in partnership with the Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS), recently launched a new *Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Transition Plan and Inventory* interactive website and accompanying background and tutorial to help State Departments of Transportation (DOTs), including planners and policymakers, understand and prioritize the elimination of inaccessible infrastructure when making transportation investments.

1. ***HHS Launches Office of Long COVID Research and Practice:***For more information and to view the announcement, please visit here.

1. ***ACL Expands DIAL to include self-service features:***ACL’s Disability Information and Access Line (DIAL) launched in September a new tool to help people with disabilities find local services and resources to support community living. Through DIAL’s enhanced website and its searchable database, users can now find the information they need, at any time of day, every day of the year. We encourage you to provide any contact information updates for your CIL through the DIAL website.

1. ***Disability, Diversity, and Intersectionality in CILs:***For research, training, and technical assistance resources, please visit ILRU’s website at https://www.ilru.org/projects/cil-diversity. 

Please share this newsletter with your staff so they can use these great resources. As always, please feel free to contact our office if you have questions.

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