American Recovery and Re-investment Act ( ARRA ) Awards and Expenditures
The Alabama Department of Rehabilitation Services is receiving $16.5 million from
the American Recovery and Re-investment Act (ARRA), more commonly known as the “stimulus
package.” Of this, $6,090,860 million is allocated for Alabama’s Early Intervention
System; $242,913 for the Independent Living program; $565,407 for the OASIS program
providing services to the older blind; and $9,790,730 for Vocational Rehabilitation
Service. Details about the use of the ARRA funds are provided below.
Governor’s ARRA website:
stimulus.alabama.gov
Individuals with Disabilities Education Act ( IDEA ) Part C Early Intervention
Alabama’s Early Intervention System is a statewide system of supports
and services for infants and toddlers (from birth up to a child’s
third birthday) with disabilities and their families. Some children
may have special needs and may require help in reaching developmental
milestones that will prepare them to enter school. When an infant or
toddler doesn’t learn and grow as expected, an evaluation can
determine if the child might benefit from EI. To begin this process,
parents and providers or other referral sources may call the toll
free EI Child Find number at 1-800-543-3098 or the Hispanic line
at 1-866-450-2838. If a child is eligible, an individualized family
service plan is developed with the family and they are assigned to an
EI program in their area to receive the services needed to meet the
identified needs of the child and family.
Grant name: Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)
Part C Early Intervention
CFDA number: 84.393
Status of program/grant: Not applicable
Application date: Not applicable
Award date: 2/17/09
Jobs created/retained: 8.27
Amount awarded: $6,739,356
Amount available: $927,527
Amount expended: $927,527
How program will be administered and funds expended: The Alabama Department of Rehabilitation Services is the lead agency for Alabama’s Early Intervention System (AEIS). The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) ARRA funds constitute a large one-time increment in Part C funding that offers a unique opportunity to improve early intervention service delivery and results for infants and toddlers with disabilities and their families. The IDEA, Part C ARRA funds may be used for any allowable purpose under Part C of the IDEA, including the direct provision of early intervention services to infants and toddlers with disabilities and their families and implementing a statewide, comprehensive, coordinated, multidisciplinary, interagency system to provide early intervention services.
AEIS implements a statewide, comprehensive, coordinated, multidisciplinary, interagency system to provide early intervention services to eligible babies with disabilities and their families. The foundation of AEIS can be found in the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).
ADRS/ AEIS have met with the Early Intervention Interagency Coordinating Council and other key stakeholders to discuss uses for the stimulus funds. With valuable input, the ARRA funds will be used to fund direct services to infants, toddlers and their families.
Number of sub-grantees / sub-recipients awarded: 41
Independent Living Services
The Independent Living Services program is federally funded through the Rehab. Service Administration. The mission of the program is to assist persons with disabilities to remain in homes and communities through the provision of IL Services that include: basic independent living skills training, peer support, information and referral and advocacy. The IL Specialists work collaboratively with the three Independent Living Centers in the state to maximize services.
Grant name: Independent Living Services
CFDA number: 84.398
Status of program/grant: Not applicable
Application date: Not applicable
Award date: 2/17/09
Jobs created: 0
Jobs retained: 0
Amount awarded: $242,913
Amount received: $44,398
Amount expended: $44,355
How program will be administered and funds expended: The goal of
the Independent Living (IL) program is to provide independent living services to
Alabamians with disabilities in all 67 counties. Independent Living services include
independent living skills training, peer support, advocacy, and information and
referral. As the designated state unit (DSU) for the Independent Living Part B program
in Alabama, the IL program plans to use stimulus funds primarily to:
- Enhance program availability to underserved and unserved populations within the
state through direct client services
- Staff development and training
- Systems change (design and implementation of IL needs assessment for persons with
disabilities in Alabama)
- Further development of peer support networks
OASIS – Services to the Older Blind
Older Alabamians System of Information and Services (OASIS) provides
a comprehensive array of independent living skills instruction and
resources to Alabamians who are age 55 and over and who have
functional vision loss. This program goal is met through the
achievement of four objectives:
1) Establishing local interagency networks of service providers and
consumers to facilitate problem solving and service delivery
2) Increasing the number of persons receiving comprehensive
services 3) Increasing the community integration of persons
who are elderly and blind
4) Facilitating the formation of consumer based support groups
and providing peer support/advocacy training for consumers
Grant name: OASIS – Services to the Older Blind
CFDA number: 84.399
Status of program/grant: Not applicable
Application date: Not applicable
Award date: 2/17/09
Jobs created: 0
Jobs retained: 0
Amount awarded: $565,407
Amount received: $27,840
Amount expended: $27,840
How program will be administered and funds expended: The Older
Alabamians System of Information and Services (OASIS) Program serves Alabamians
55 years and older who have an age-related visual impairment which prevents them
from being able to accomplish their everyday tasks. This is a federally funded program
with a 10 percent state match that provides instruction in compensatory skills and
the provision of low-vision products to assist these individuals in maintaining
their independence. This program plans to use ARRA stimulus funds to build capacity
for sustainable outcomes in the following areas:
- Provide grants to OASIS support groups
- Purchase orientation and mobility services for consumers
- Provide orientation and mobility group seminars at OASIS support groups
- Place low-vision devices with consumers
- Provide training for OASIS consumers
- Provide training for OASIS staff
- Upgrade computer software and hardware
- Update communication devices and equipment
Basic Support (Vocational Rehabilitation)
Vocational Rehabilitation Service funding offers a unique opportunity
to improve employment outcomes for idividuals with disabilities,
especially those with the most significant disabilities by providing
specialized employment-related services, training and education.
Grant name: Basic Support (Vocational Rehabilitation)
CFDA number: 84.390
Status of program/grant: Not applicable
Application date: Not applicable
Award date: 2/17/09
Jobs created: 0
Jobs retained: 0
Amount awarded: $9,790,731
Amount received: $891,282
Amount expended: $859,121
How program will be administered and funds expended: The majority
of ARRA funds for Vocational Rehabilitation Service will be used for consumer services.
Additionally, it is anticipated that the use of stimulus funds for the areas below
will cover fiscal years 2009 and any future fiscal years for which Recovery Act
funds are available.
Direct Consumer Services
- Improve services to underserved and hard-to-serve consumers (e.g. autism, mental
illness)
- Improve service delivery to geographically underserved areas of the state
- Improve on-the-job training activities engaging both employers and consumers
- Strengthen service capacity of community rehabilitation programs
- Improve access to and acquisition of assistive technology and specialized services
- Implement placement activities through Alabama’s network of community rehabilitation
programs
Capacity and Infrastructure
- Develop accountability improvements for the blind vendor program
- Improve and carry out program evaluation and quality assurance activities
- Improve Consumer Satisfaction Survey capability
- Develop a long-range strategic plan
- Improve and conduct a statewide needs assessment to determine service needs
- Realign the case management system to comply with new Rehabilitation Services Administration
(RSA) reporting requirements
- Execute required upgrades to software and hardware to realign the case management
system with RSA reporting requirements
Training
- Conduct VR staff development and training
- Implement training for community service providers
Evaluation and Award
Evaluation & Award (31 Kb  )
Project Awards
Project Awards (49 Kb )
Reporting Fraud
Any credible evidence that a principal, officer, employee, agent, contractor, sub-recipient,
subcontractor, or other person has submitted a false claim under the False Claims
Act or has committed a criminal or civil violation of laws pertaining to fraud,
conflict of interest, bribery, gratuity, or similar misconduct involving ARRA funds
should promptly be reported to
stimulus.alabama.gov/fraud.aspx
.
Last revision:
1/27/2010
©2010 Alabama Department of Rehabilitation Services
Document last modified:
1/27/2010
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