Arkansas Administrative Code › Agency 016 - DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES › Division 14 - Department of Finance (Administrative Services) › Rule 016.14.14-003 - Social Services Block Grant Pre-Expenditure Report

Current through Register Vol. 49, No. 6, June, 2024
I.
PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT IN DEVELOPMENT
			 OF THE PRE-EXPENDITURE REPORT
Social Services Block Grant legislation enables states to claim
				limited federal funds to provide social services for individuals and families.
				The services are designed to assist individuals or families to become less
				dependent on others for financial support or personal care; to protect children
				and adults from neglect, abuse, or exploitation and to provide family
				maintenance; to avoid unnecessary or premature institutionalization; and to
				gain appropriate placement if institutionalization is necessary.
Each state is responsible for determining the social services
				most appropriate for its citizens. In Arkansas, citizens are involved in the
				planning process and have an opportunity to respond to planning
				decisions.
Arkansas uses the Pre-expenditure Report to inform the State's
				citizens of its plans for implementing the Social Services Block Grant program
				and to meet the Social Services Block Grant pre-expenditure reporting
				requirements. Arkansas posts the Pre-
expenditure Report at the following website,
http://www.arkansas.gov/dhs/NewDHS/DHSwork.html,
which is available to the public. Arkansas considers any feedback received from
				the public, including service recipients, service providers, and other
				interested citizens, throughout the program year and in its preparation of
				updates that are necessary to reflect substantial changes which affect the
				overall intent of the Pre-expenditure Report. All updates are made available to
				the public at the above website as well.
For an update to the Pre-expenditure Report, in accordance with
				DHS Policy 1052, DHS submits the proposed update to Department of Human
				Services Executive Staff and the Department of Human Services Office of Policy
				and Legal Services for review and comment. Upon their approval, DHS proceeds to
				initiate the public review and comment period by publishing the short Notice of
				Rule Making in a newspaper of general, statewide circulation. In addition, DHS
				forwards a longer Notice of Rule Making to the Arkansas Secretary of State for
				their posting for a 30-day review and comment period on the Secretary of State
				website. This affords all interested members of the public a 30-day opportunity
				to submit comments, orally or in writing.
Questions and comments regarding the Pre-expenditure Report are
				welcomed at any time throughout the program year and should be sent to the
				Office of Finance and Administration at the address listed below.
Arkansas Department of Human Services Office of Finance and
				Administration, Slot W401 P.O. Box 1437 Little Rock, AR 72203
Comments pertaining to aspects of the program for which a
				division or office has responsibility will be forwarded to that division or
				office for response. Changes made as a result of public comment will be
				included in an update to the Pre-expenditure Report.
ARKANSAS DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES SOCIAL SERVICES
				BLOCK GRANT PRE-EXPENDITURE REPORT
II.
ADMINISTRATIVE OPERATIONS OF THE
			 ARKANSAS SSBG PROGRAM
A.
Organization of DHS
Arkansas DHS is the State agency designated to administer the
				State's SSBG program. DHS is a cabinet agency within the executive branch of
				Arkansas government. The DHS Director reports to the Governor of Arkansas and
				is responsible for the administration of this unified human service delivery
				agency. In its delivery of services to the citizens of Arkansas, DHS
				exemplifies its Mission Statement:
"Together we improve the quality of
				life of all Arkansans by protecting the vulnerable, fostering independence, and
				promoting better health."
DHS is organized into the following divisions and
				offices:
Office of Finance and Administration (OFA)
Division of Aging and Adult Services (DAAS)
Division of Behavioral Health Services (DBHS)
Division of Child Care and Early Childhood Education
				(DCCECE)
Division of Children and Family Services (DCFS)
Division of County Operations (DCO)
Division of Developmental Disabilities Services (DDS)
Division of Medical Services (DMS)
Division of Services for the Blind (DSB)
Division of Community Service and Nonprofit Support
				(DCSNS)
Division of Youth Services (DYS)
Office of Policy and Legal Services (OPLS)
The functions of each division and office involved in the
				delivery of services funded through SSBG are described below.
OFA
manages SSBG funding for DHS and is
				responsible for preparation of the Pre-expenditure Report and Post-expenditure
				Report. OFA develops and reviews DHS contracts for social services funded by
				SSBG and monitors them for administrative compliance and compatibility with the
				five statutory goals of SSBG.
DAAS
is responsible for promoting the health,
				safety, and independence of older citizens and adults with physical
				disabilities by advocating, planning, and developing programs to meet their
				specific needs. DAAS is involved with chore services, adult day care, in-home
				services, and protective services for adults. Priority services include
				transportation, nutrition, and socialization. DAAS has also been charged with
				the Office of Public Guardian for Adults and the State Long Term Care Ombudsman
				Program.
DBHS
is responsible for:
*
developing comprehensive mental health programs
				at the community and state levels;
*
searching for new prevention and treatment
				programs;
*
providing leadership in mental health research
				and training;
*
providing detoxification services;
*
providing Drug and Alcohol Safety Educational
				Programs;
*
planning, establishing, maintaining,
				coordinating and evaluating projects for the development of more effective
				prevention, intervention and treatment programs/activities to deal with alcohol
				and other drug abuse;
*
administering the Governor's Office portion of
				the Department of Education Drug-Free Schools and Communities;
*
developing and implementing broadly-based
				programs of alcohol and drug abuse education and prevention, including programs
				for high-risk youth; and
*
providing drug abuse resistance education and
				replication of successful drug education programs.
DBHS assists several facilities to provide varying types of
				mental health and substance abuse services, including the Arkansas State
				Hospital at Little Rock, AR (for intensive care), the Arkansas Health Center at
				Benton, AR (for comprehensive care), and local private nonprofit organizations
				(which provide inpatient and out-patient mental health services and drug and
				alcohol abuse and treatment services).
DCFS
is responsible for the delivery and
				coordination of services for children and families, including foster care,
				protective services and other child welfare services. DCFS also purchases
				treatment programs for youth with emotional/behavioral problems. DCFS has the
				responsibility to inspect, monitor, investigate and make licensing
				recommendations to the Child Welfare Agency Review Board. The Board licenses
				all non-exempt child welfare agencies (residential, foster care and adoption).
				DCFS is a member of the Child Welfare League of America.
DCO
has responsibility for the administration of
				the DHS county offices. DCO determines eligibility for the Medicaid, Temporary
				Assistance to Needy Families (Transitional Employment Assistance [TEA] and WORK
				PAYS), and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) programs. DCO also
				provides Commodity Distribution, Community Services (which includes Community
				Services Block Grant services, Homeless services and Low Income Home Energy
				Assistance), and Emergency Food.
DDS
is charged with development, funding, and
				licensing of program services for persons of all ages with a developmental
				disability. This includes the coordination of a continuum of services ranging
				from case management to residential placement. DDS provides technical
				assistance and program support functions to all service providers. The Board of
				Developmental Disabilities Services operates human development centers which
				offer residential care to persons with developmental disabilities at six
				locations in the state.
DSB
provides services which aid blind and visually
				impaired persons in attaining self-sufficiency and self-support through
				training, counseling, and other supportive activities. DSB operates programs
				focusing on independent living and vocational counseling. In addition, DSB
				operates the State's blind vending facility program.
DYS
provides overall management and administration
				of juvenile services for adjudicated delinquents and families in need of
				services and certain categories of non-adjudicated youth. DYS is responsible
				for funding, oversight and monitoring and for providing technical assistance to
				the contracted juvenile treatment and specialized treatment centers throughout
				Arkansas and to a statewide network of community-based programs. DYS also
				administers the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act formula grant
				funds for the development and implementation of juvenile justice education,
				prevention, diversion, treatment and rehabilitative programs. The Arkansas
				Coalition on Juvenile Justice, appointed by the Governor, provides policy
				direction and sub-grant approval.
OPLS
, through its sections of Legal Operations,
				County Operations, Quality Assurance (Fraud Investigations and Audit), Appeals
				and Hearings, and Policy, provides legal review and representation, fraud, and
				internal investigations, audit functions, administrative hearings, and policy
				development for all of DHS.
The following Arkansas State agencies, which are NOT within
				DHS, also utilize SSBG funding:
Arkansas Department of Career Education, Arkansas
				Rehabilitation Services
(ARS) Arkansas Spinal Cord Commission (SCC)
B.
Non-discrimination Policy
DHS is in compliance with Titles VI and VII of the Civil Rights
				Act and is operated, is managed, and delivers services without regard to age,
				religion, disability, political affiliation, veteran status, sex, race, creed,
				color or national origin. DHS gives assurance that it will comply with the
				applicable nondiscrimination provisions of the Civil Rights Act of 1964,
				Sections 503 and 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Title IX of the
				Education Amendments of 1972, the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, the Americans
				with Disabilities Act of 1990, and the provisions of 45 CFR, Part 92.
C.
Certifications
In consideration of and for the purpose of obtaining the
				federal financial assistance requested through this Pre-expenditure Report, DHS
				certifies adherence to the following, copies of which can be found in the
				Appendices.
Certification Regarding Debarment, Suspension and Other
				Responsibility Matters
Certification Regarding Environmental Tobacco Smoke
Certification Regarding Drug-free Workplace Requirements
Certification Regarding Lobbying
D.
Program Coordination and
			 Utilization
The provision of social services under SSBG is coordinated with
				other programs providing related human services within the State. It is vital
				to continually coordinate these programs in order to appropriately utilize
				social service dollars and service programs to meet the needs of the low income
				population. Some of the programs with which the provision of social services
				under SSBG is coordinated include:
1.
Coordination with Economic Assistance Programs
Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (Title
				IV-A):
The provision of financial assistance to low income persons
				is mandated under Title IV-A of the Social Security Act. Social Services are
				provided for TEA/WORK PAYS recipients through the SSBG program. The TEA/WORK
				PAYS program includes a work and training program for TEA/WORK PAYS recipients,
				has an integral part in the provision of supportive services, and requires
				coordination with SSBG programs.
Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
:
				The Social Security Administration determines eligibility and issues payments
				for the SSI program for the needy, blind, disabled and aged citizens of
				Arkansas.
2.
Coordination with Medical Assistance Programs
Medicaid (Title XIX)
: Title XIX of the
				Social Security Act, the federal statutory basis for the Medical Assistance
				Program, allows the state to provide financial assistance for low income
				persons to assist them in securing certain necessary medical services. The cost
				of the medical services provided to social service clients is covered primarily
				through the Medical Assistance Program and in accordance with the Arkansas
				Title XIX Medical Assistance Plan which defines those medical services
				reimbursable under Title XIX. Services which are inherent responsibilities of a
				Title XIX facility and intrinsic to its purpose must be provided by the
				facility under its Title XIX program, not from SSBG funds. Any costs of
				services not reimbursable through other provisions of the Medical program must
				be paid from the Title XIX vendor payment. Activities or services which meet,
				duplicate, or substitute for a facility's service requirements under Title XIX
				may not be paid for under SSBG. The state may receive reimbursement on a
				case-by-case basis for some medical or remedial services under SSBG if the
				client is eligible, if the service is not covered in the Title XIX State Plan
				or by Medicare, and if the service provided is clearly an integral but
				subordinate part of a discrete social service specifically defined as such in
				this Pre-expenditure Report.
3.
Coordination with Child Welfare
			 Programs
Child Welfare Programs
: Both federal
				and state law mandate a child welfare service delivery system directed at
				safety and child protection, preserving and strengthening family life,
				providing permanency for children who cannot remain or be reunited with their
				families, and support services for other youth until they reach the age of
				majority. Title IV-E and Title IV-B, parts I and II, fund the preponderance of
				the DCFS program budget for social services and foster care, adoptions, and
				child welfare training. SSBG funds a relatively smaller portion of the program
				budget for purchased services costs.