Louisiana Administrative Code › Title 67 - SOCIAL SERVICES › Part V - Child Welfare › Subpart 2 - Community Services › Chapter 7 - Social Services Block Grant › Section V-717 - Allocation of Hurricane Relief Funds SSBG Supplemental Appropriation

Current through Register Vol. 50, No. 6, June 20, 2024
A. Purpose, Need,
				  and Eligibility
1. Under the Department of
				  Defense Appropriations Act (H.R. 2863), $220,901,534 has been allocated to
				  Louisiana in a supplemental appropriation to Social Service Block Grant (SSBG)
				  funds for necessary expenses related to the consequences of hurricanes in the
				  Gulf of Mexico in calendar year 2005. In addition to other uses permitted by
				  Title XX of the Social Security Act, funds appropriated under this heading may
				  be used for health services, including mental health services, and for repair,
				  renovation and construction of facilities, including mental health facilities.
				  The Administration for Children and Families, (ACF) approved a waiver of the
				  provisions under Section 2005(a) of the Social Security Act on June 2, 2006 to
				  allow the use of SSBG Supplemental funds for the rebuilding and construction of
				  childcare facilities in Louisiana.
2. The Office of Community Services (OCS)
				  proposes to enter into contracts, memoranda of understanding, or other
				  agreements with the entities listed in this Rule including but not limited to
				  such services as health services, including mental health services, for repair,
				  renovation, and construction of facilities, including Class A child care
				  facilities and mental health facilities, intensive benefits, and case
				  management for the citizens of this state effected by the hurricanes. This Rule
				  is effective for the SSBG allotment of federal fiscal year 2006.
3. It recognizes that the hurricanes in the
				  Gulf of Mexico in calendar year 2005 have imposed extreme demands for social
				  and health care services in affected states. States may use SSBG funds for a
				  wide array of human services.
4.
				  Because of the nature of the natural disaster, many affected individuals and
				  families will not have in their possession customary documentation of their
				  economic status to substantiate eligibility for SSBG supported services. Also,
				  many individuals or families who may not have been eligible for assistance
				  prior to the hurricanes may be, because of the devastation, eligible now.
				  Therefore, "presumptive eligibility" determinations may be made based on
				  applicant residence in known areas of devastation at the time of hurricane
				  Katrina (H Katrina) or hurricane Rita (H Rita) or post-hurricane experience of
				  affected individuals or families. Each entity that receives the SSBG funding
				  can have additional or different eligibility requirements.
5. The following areas to be addressed
				  include:
a. The health care needs of people
				  affected by the hurricanes in the Gulf of Mexico in calendar year 2005 and who
				  lack health insurance or other adequate access to care and to help health care
				  create a "safety net." This would include intended uses of these funds in areas
				  of mental health service provision and provision for substance and addictive
				  disorder interventions and services.
b. Expanding services to meet the needs of
				  families in the child welfare system in the areas of foster care, adoption,
				  prevention, intervention, and protective services in child welfare.
c. Institutions serving these populations in
				  order to build community health centers, rural hospitals and clinics, community
				  mental health centers, public hospitals, and other providers with substantial
				  percentages of uninsured patients. Funds may be made available for repairs and
				  reconstruction needed to allow health centers and similar providers to resume
				  or expand operations, or to help key providers meet salary and other costs
				  associated with resuming or restoring health services.
d. Providing social service delivery and case
				  management services to families in order to assist with identification of
				  housing needs, development of individualized recovery plans and referral of
				  families to available disaster relief services, provide for case management and
				  follow-up with families, and to provide for direct emergency assistance in
				  human services.
e. Restoring
				  critical child care services will support families as they return to work in
				  hurricane affected parishes. Child care supports are vital to reestablishing a
				  workforce and strengthening our state's economy. Child care is a critical need
				  to promote independence and safety of families and children. Restoring the
				  child care infrastructure is a current need in Louisiana. Funds will be
				  available to rebuild the child care infrastructure by repairing and/or building
				  Class A child care centers and providing training and technical assistance
				  necessary in attracting and retaining a child care workforce.