Arkansas Administrative Code › Agency 016 - DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES › Division 14 - Department of Finance (Administrative Services) › Rule 016.14.06-007 - Social Services Block Grant (SSBG) Program Manual

Current through Register Vol. 49, No. 6, June, 2024
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INTRODUCTION TO THE
			 SOCIAL SERVICES BLOCK GRANT (SSBG) PROGRAM
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Purpose
The purpose of the SSBG program is to provide financial
				assistance to states in delivering social services most appropriate to their
				population.
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Background
Since 1962, the United States Congress has authorized funds to
				states for social services for low income families and individuals. Prior to
				1975, social services funding was provided through two separate titles of the
				Social Security Act: Title IV-A (social services to families with dependent
				children) and Title VI (social services for the aged, blind and disabled).
				Eligibility was closely tied to related income maintenance programs (Aid to
				Families with Dependent Children provided under Title IV-A and Aid to the Aged,
				Blind and Disabled provided under Title VI). Under each program only certain
				specified services could be funded. On January 4, 1975, Public Law 93-647 was
				signed into law. This law removed the social services provisions for Title
				IV-A, abolished Title VI, and added Title XX to the Social Security Act
				effective October 1, 1975.
The Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1981, Public Law
				97-35, amended Title XX of the Social Security Act to establish the Social
				Services Block Grant (SSBG) program effective October 1, 1981. This program
				provides federal assistance to states for social services directed at the goals
				of achieving economic self-support or self- sufficiency; preventing or
				remedying neglect, abuse, or exploitation of children or adults; preventing or
				reducing inappropriate institutionalization; and securing referral for
				institutional care, where appropriate. Under the SSBG program, states have the
				sole responsibility for determining what services will be provided, who will be
				eligible for services, and how the funds will be distributed within the state.
				The State of Arkansas currently operates under this SSBG program.
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Legal
			 Basis
The following federal laws and regulations form the basis for
				the operation of the SSBG program.
A.
			 Laws Title XX
of the Social Security Act
Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1981 (Section
				2352)
In addition there are laws which apply to all federally funded
				programs. These include:
Title VI
of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as
				amended
-prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, or
				national origin (including persons with limited English proficiency)in all
				federal programs.
Section 503
of the Rehabilitation Act of
				1973
- requires government agencies and contractors to take
				affirmative action in the employment and advancement of qualified handicapped
				individuals.
Section 504
of the Rehabilitation Act of
				1973
- prohibits discrimination on the basis of handicap in
				federally funded programs.
Age Discrimination Act of 1975
-
				prohibits discrimination on the basis of age in federally funded
				programs.
Americans with Disabilities Act of
				1990
- prohibits discrimination against a qualified individual
				with a disability with regard to employment and the provision of public
				services.
B.
Regulations
The following are the major federal regulations which govern
				the operation of the SSBG program. Regulations are initially issued into the
				Federal Register and subsequently codified into the Code of Federal
				Regulations. Copies of the Code of Federal Regulations and the Federal Register
				are available in most public libraries.
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CFR (Code of Federal Regulations) Part
				96
- block grant regulations issued by the Department of Health
				and Human Services.
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CFR Part 80
- regulations
				implementing the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
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CFR Part 84
- regulations to
				implement nondiscrim-ination against the handicapped (Section 504 of
				Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended).
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CFR Part 90
- regulations to
				implement the Age Discrimination Act of 1975.
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CFR 60-741
- regulations
				implementing Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (affirmative action
				regulations for handicapped workers).
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CFR Part 35
- regulations to
				implement subtitle A of Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act,
				Public
				Law 101-336 (prohibiting discrimination on the
				basis of disability in the services, programs, or activities of all state and
				local governments).