Each year, the federal Office of Child Support Enforcement (OCSE) announces opportunities for discretionary grants.  Two types of grants are available:  Special Improvement Project (SIP) Grants and Section 1115 Grants.  SIP grants are generally smaller and of shorter duration than Section 1115 grants.

Both types of grants are available to provide funding for projects that further the national child support mission and goals and help improve program performance.  In its announcements of grant opportunities, OCSE solicits projects that are designed to meet its goals in key priority areas.

For example, in 2009, OCSE’s priority areas for SIP grants included projects:

• Using new methods to improve child support collection rates
• Improving child support enforcement and court collaboration

OCSE’s 2009 priority areas for Section 1115 grants included projects:

• Supporting the prisoner re-entry initiative
• Involving data analysis of child support arrearages
• Providing family-centered services for unwed parents
• Supporting the Project to Avoid Increasing Delinquencies (PAID) initiative

SIPs are authorized under Section 452(j) of the Social Security Act.  Eligible applicants include state and local public agencies, non-profit agencies (including faith-based organizations), and tribal organizations.  SIP grants are 100% federal dollars, with no local match requirement.

On the other hand, only state title IV-D agencies or their umbrella agencies can receive Section 1115 grants, although these agencies can contract with other public and private entities to provide services. Additionally, 1115 grants require a funding match from the applicant:  grantees must provide at least 5 percent of the total approved cost of the project, as Section 1115 of the Act allows for a 29% enhancement of Federal Financial Participation on the regular 66% match.  As these grants are designed to demonstrate new approaches, an evaluation component is required.

Other public, private, and non-profit organizations (such as fatherhood, marriage and children’s organizations, the Department of Justice, etc.) also fund grants that may be of interest to the IV-D community.

Many states and partner agencies have exciting new ideas that would meet criteria for grants; however, they may not have personnel available to commit the time required to thoroughly digest the instructions, gather information, and prepare a well-supported grant application. 

Grant writing is not rocket science, but it does require a dedicated effort to prepare and submit a successful grant application and the accompanying certifications within the relatively short time frames allotted. A cogent and concise narrative is essential, as is a realistic and well-documented budget.

Fortunately, YoungWilliams has grant-writing experts on staff.  We are committed to forwarding the vision, goals, and ideals of the IV-D community and would be pleased to  help you develop and package your ideas to create a winning grant application and/or implement your grant proposal.