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G3.15 Grant Services and Eligibility-Social Services Block Grant (SSBG)

Legal Authority

45 CFR Part 96 Subpart G-Social Services Block Grants...

Introduction

Federal block grants are one type of federal funding provided to state and local governments to support social service programs at the state and community levels. Among the major block grants received and administered by the Department for Community Based Services to support service provision are the Social Services Block Grant (SSBG), Community Services Block Grant (CSBG), Child Care Development Block Grant (CCDBG), Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF).

SSBG is the primary block grant which provides funding for protection and permanency services. It is used by the Cabinet for Health and Family Services (CHFS/Cabinet) to fund the following services:

Adult services, including those designed to prevent and remedy abuse, neglect, or exploitation, increase employability and /or self-sufficiency, prevent inappropriate placement, or secure appropriate placement;
Child and family services including services to children and their families to prevent or remedy abuse, neglect, or exploitation;
Home safety or in home services to:

Prevent the removal or repeat maltreatment of a child and promote family well being; or
Maintain an adult safely in their home or community;

Juvenile services that include services to youth and their families to prevent or remedy abuse, neglect, or exploitation, and to help remedy or prevent the youth's future involvement with the juvenile or criminal justice system;
Residential treatment services that provide a comprehensive treatment-oriented living experience, in a twenty-four (24) hour residential facility, for a juvenile offender committed to the Cabinet or at-risk youth with behavioral health needs; and
Training and professional development for DCBS staff.

Practice Guidance

Often the activities and documentation of direct service staff provide evidence of how funding was utilized and justification for future receipt of funding to support service provision. Therefore, clear, accurate, and timely documentation of services is critical.
Even though the SSBG may be used to provide services for both child(ren) and adults, many of the services provided for child protection have alternate funding sources, whereas there are limited funding sources available for vulnerable adults. The service regions are encouraged to access alternative funding sources for child protection services, when available, before using SSBG funds.
To be eligible for social services provided under SSBG, a person must be a resident of Kentucky, or a juvenile classified as a runaway. The provision of service depends not only upon the needs of the individual or family but also upon the availability of the service at that time. The quantity of block grant services available at any given time must be maintained at a level that ensures service availability throughout the program year, within budget limitations. SSBG is a revenue/funding source and not a particular program.
SSBG funds are generated based on the number of clients documented in specific program areas to help fund salaries.
The SSW may provide home safety or in-home services to an individual or family to prevent removal or repeat maltreatment of a child or maintain an adult in their home/community that:

Currently receives:

Child protective services;
General adult services; or
Adult protective services;

Is unable to acquire similar services through other community partner resources; and
Has a household income equal to or less than 200 percent (200%) of the federal poverty level as determined annually by the United States Department of Health and Human Services.

The SSW or social service aide may provide home safety or in-home services to include:

Assisting the individual or family with developing a plan to maintain a safe home environment (e.g., making a daily cleaning schedule, family chore chart, accessing services for repairs);
Assisting with meal planning or accessing resources to ensure food security (e.g., food banks or application for benefits);
Assisting with personal hygiene instruction;
Budgeting;
Home safety instruction;
Transportation on a limited basis;
Coordinating community partner resources; and
Preparing for Family Team Meetings (FTM).

Procedure

The SSW:

Makes an initial determination of the need for home safety or in-home services within forty-five (45) calendar days of the date of referral, report, or request for services using the prevention plan or case plan to document the:

Home safety or in-home services required;
Individual/family eligibility, to include annual household income equal to or less than two hundred percent (200%) of the federal poverty level; and
Client’s signature requesting/requiring services and verifying annual income;

Documents the provision of home safety or in home services in the service recordings;
Makes a redetermination for home safety services at a minimum every six (6) months at the case planning conference/periodic review to:

Determine if services are still required; and
Verify income eligibility;

Documents in the service recordings that services are still required and income eligibility has been verified, upon redetermination of eligibility and subsequent affirmation;
Upon redetermination of eligibility and subsequent denial:

Documents in the service recordings the reason for denial;
Provides the family (hand delivery or mail) the DPP-154A Notice of Intended Action, at minimum, ten (10) calendar days prior to the denial, reduction, modification, suspension or termination of services and the DPP-154 Protection and Permanency Service Appeal, informing the family of their right to an administrative hearing to appeal; and
Documents in case record when the DPP-154 and DPP-154A is given directly to the family or sent by mail.

The SSW and Social Services Aide:

Accurately complete the random moment time studies (RMTS) as requested and described in SOP G3.14.
Accurately code timesheets to capture activities that may be reported and reimbursed unde SSBG.

The FSOS: