Header:
CODE OF RHODE ISLAND RULES
AGENCY 15. DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES
SUB-AGENCY 010. COMMUNITY SERVICES DIVISION
CHAPTER 005. SOCIAL SERVICES BLOCK GRANT
Date:
05/06/2014
Document:
15 010 005. SOCIAL SERVICES BLOCK GRANT
INTRODUCTION
Title XX of the Social Security Act provides states with federal funds for social services. In 1981, Congress amended Title XX, making it a Social Services Block Grant (SSBG), thereby giving states considerable flexibility in the use of the federal dollars.
The Pre-Expenditure Report fulfills the statutory requirements of Title XX of the Social Security Act and regulatory requirements at 45 CFR Section 96.10 (1981).
Under the Act, states are required to make an annual report to the Secretary, Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), on the intended use of Title XX funds. The Pre-Expenditure Report must satisfy the statutory re-quirements of the Act by relating:
1. The intended use of Title XX funds;
2. Information on the types of activities to be supported; and
3. Information on the categories or characteristics of persons to be served.
FEDERAL GOALS
Services will be offered to help clients reach one or more of the five federal goals which have been identified by Congress for Title XX:
1. Achieving or maintaining economic self-support to prevent, reduce, or eliminate dependency.
2. Achieving or maintaining self-sufficiency, including reduction or prevention of dependency.
3. Preventing or remedying neglect, abuse or exploitation of children and adults unable to protect their own in-terests, or preserving, rehabilitating, or reuniting families.
4. Preventing or reducing inappropriate institutional care by providing for community-based care, home-based care, or other forms of less intensive care.
5. Securing referral or admission for institutional care when other forms of care are not appropriate or providing services to individuals in institutions.
Section I. Administrative Operations.
The Rhode Island Department of Human Services (DHS) has been designated by the Governor as the agency re-sponsible for the planning and administration of the Social Services Block Grant.
The Department of Human Services is a multi-service agency which administers a broad range of financial aid, medical assistance and social services programs under several funding sources. The Director is appointed by the Gov-ernor with the advice and consent of the Senate (Title 40 of the General Laws of Rhode Island ). The Director provides leadership in planning and directing all activities and functions of the Department; serves as liaison with all other state agencies and federal agencies; coordinates Department activities in respect to state and federal legislation; and re-sponds to inquiries and requests regarding departmental activities from individuals and organizations outside of the Department. The Director is assisted by the Deputy Director in the discharge of her responsibility by Associate Direc-tors and Administrators who head the divisions within the Department: (1) Division of Economic and Family Support, (2) Division of Management and Operations Services, (3) Division of Elderly Affairs, (4) Division of Veterans Affairs (5) Division of Child Support Services. They are responsible for establishing priorities, program standards and policies, insuring provision for training of staff within their programs and providing general assistance to staff in program areas under their supervision. Within the divisions, specific programs are headed by an Administrator (or equivalent title) that has day to day responsibility for program operation.
The Division of Economic and Family Support has overall responsibility for the operation of the Assistance Payment Programs (TANF and GPA), Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program ( SNAP ), Child Care and Social Service programs including Social Service Block Grant.
The Division of Elderly Affairs is responsible for the development of comprehensive and coordinated systems for the delivery of services to the elderly in Rhode Island.
The Division of Veterans Affairs has administrative responsibility for the Veterans Home, Veterans Cemetery and other Veterans affairs.
Section II. State Offices/Departments.
A. SSBG RESOURCES
Funds to support the Block Grant (SSBG) are appropriated by the Rhode Island General Assembly to the Depart-ment of Human Services as a component of the total budget of the Department for the variety of services it provides. When expenditures are made for social service activities, federal and state resources are distributed concurrently. Federal funds received by the state are deposited in the General Fund. The estimate of the amount of federal reim-bursement is considered one of the revenue sources when the State Budget is developed and is considered by the Legislature when appropriations are made.
B. SERVICES
Department of Human Services
Services provided directly by the Department of Human Services consist primarily of casework counseling and case management and include the cost of planning and administration of all SSBG activities and some staff training. They also include the referral to and authorization of contracted services.
Health services assist people to attain and maintain better physical and mental health by helping them to identify and understand their health needs and resources available to them including the Rhode Island Medical Assistance Program, EPSDT and Residential Services.
Housing services help people to obtain and retain adequate housing in the community, avert heating and utility shutoffs, mediate landlord/tenant problems, and address emergency shelter needs.
The Department's social workers play a key role in the area of Information and Referral Services linking people with appropriate community resources. Crisis intervention and follow-up activities are included in this component.
Specialized services are provided to individuals with physical or mental disabilities including individuals who are blind or visually impaired.
Transportation services are provided to the population 60 years or older for doctors' appointments, therapy, medical tests, adult day care, and congregate meal sites for lunches.
Department of Children, Youth and Family
The System of Care addresses the needs of children and families in Rhode Island who are involved, or at risk of being involved, with the child welfare, children's behavioral health and juvenile corrections system. Funding is used for community-based prevention, family support and crisis intervention services as well as a full array of foster care and residential services.
Department of Administration
The Office of Housing and Community Development funding is provided to community agencies for the estab-lishment and operation of shelters for the homeless.
Department of Behavioral Healthcare, Developmental Disabilities and Hospitals
This program provides access to services and supports for Rhode Islanders with developmental disabilities, mental health and substance abuse issues, and chronic long term medical and psychiatric conditions. Funding is used for resi-dential services to individuals with mental health and/or substance abuse issues who cannot be cared for at home and could not otherwise afford to have access to treatment.
C. PURCHASE OF SERVICE AGREEMENTS AND CONTRACTS
Purchase of service agreements and contracts are negotiated with a number of community agencies and organi-zations for the provision of specific services to include:
-- Emergency shelter services providing housing when a resident's dwelling is made uninhabitable as the result of catastrophe such as fire or flood, or when severe domestic problems endanger the safety of family members.
-- Information and referral services 24/7 by phone and via website covering local healthcare and social services.
-- Residential maternity home placement facility providing counseling and related services to unmarried pregnant girls.
-- Family planning services that enable individuals of childbearing age voluntarily to limit their family size by providing counseling, information, and medical services. (Medical Services are provided through title XIX for persons eligible for that program).
-- Comprehensive prevention, education and services for victims of domestic violence.
Section III. Fiscal Operations.
Criteria for Distribution
In allocating funds to various programs, DHS considers funds available through SSBG, TANF transfer and other state and federal sources. These funds are allocated within federal regulations to reflect the needs of Rhode Islanders and the geography of the state.
Distribution and Use of Funds
Agencies which enter into a contract with the Department of Human Services (or have subcontracts under Title XX) may not charge a fee for Title XX services, except in connection with an approved co-payment system. An agency may, of course, charge for other services not funded by DHS.
All providers agree to meet the requirements of all applicable State and Federal law including Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1965 and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as well as the longstanding policies of nondis-crimination in all DHS programs and the Drug Free Workplace Regulations.
All providers agree to comply with the requirements of the Governor's Executive Order No. 05-01 and the Federal Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1988.
All providers agree to report to DHS and to submit economy, efficiency and program results, reviews, investiga-tions and evaluations and audits which may be required on a quarterly fiscal basis with annual audits.
Program Services Related to Federal Goals
Display Table
Description of Financial Operations System
RI DHS uses the Direct Allocation method to assign contract and vendor costs. For salary and fringe benefits of program staff, RI DHS uses the time study methodology of cost allocation. The purpose of the time studies is to de-termine the amount of time that specific groups of employees spend in administering to the different benefit programs functioning within the Department of Human Services so that the costs may be properly allocated among the appropriate agencies.
Section IV. Program Operations.
Services are available in every community in the State of Rhode Island. All persons in the State may apply for social services. There is no requirement of citizenship nor are there requirements related to duration of residence.
Although an individual or family may be eligible for most Block Grant Social Services, this does not mean that enti-tlement for a specific service exists. Additional eligibility requirements may be prescribed by the governing contracts and/or DHS Policy Manual. For example, transportation is only provided for the elderly or individuals with disabilities, and documentation of the disability is required.
Provision of services depends not only upon the need of the individual or family, but also upon the availability of funding and the capacity of the provider agency. Waiting lists may be established when a provider is at the limit of its capacity to respond.
The State provides a system and procedure for fair hearings under which applicants or recipients may appeal de-nial, reduction or termination of services or failure to act upon a request for service within a reasonable time.
Medical care may be provided only as an integral but subordinate part of a social service.
Room and board will only be provided for a short-term as an integral but subordinate part of a social service or when temporary emergency shelter is provided as a protective service.
Public participation and comment are encouraged in all DHS programs and facilitated through wide dissemination of this report, by the legislative hearings open to the public, through the accessibility of all levels of department staff from field worker to the Office of the Director.
Specific comments regarding this plan may be addressed to the Division of Individual and Family Support Services, Office of the Associate Director, 57 Howard Avenue, Cranston, Rhode Island 02920. Comments will be considered when Social Service Block Grant plans and reports are developed.
Attachment A Estimated Expenditures and Proposed Provision Method.
Display Image
Attachment B Estimated Recipients.
Display Image
|