Program Authorization: R.S. 36:477
The mission of the Community Based Services Program is to provide aid to vulnerable individuals through purchase of services contracts for energy assistance payments, home weatherization services and refugee resettlement services. This program also provides aid to local communities for emergency shelters for the homeless and battered women.
The goals of the Community-Based Services Program are:
1. Enhance the quality of life of vulnerable individuals through the provision of contracted services designed to mitigate the effects of age, poverty, physical or socially handicapping conditions.
2. Secure available federal funding to support community based social services programs by providing staffing levels adequate to develop grant applications, and to manage planning and reporting activities for grants to meet federal requirements on a timely basis.
3. Ensure the availability of and the quality of services statewide by providing adequate staffing levels to maintain an in-house capability to develop and monitor contracts and provide technical assistance to providers.
The Community Based Services program contracts for the provision of social services to individuals and families who are experiencing or are at risk of abuse, neglect, dependency and/or isolation from the larger community. Many of these services are more efficiently and effectively provide by local agencies, or governments who have the knowledge, and expertise and manpower necessary to match resources with need, determine eligibility, and provide services. Several of the services including home weatherization and emergency shelter grants for the homeless are required by State and federal law to be provided by local agencies and organizations, or governments. However, the state must apply for the funding and is held accountable for the proper administration of the funds. The Office of Community Services assures accountability by entering into purchase of service agreements or contracts with local organizations and by monitoring the contracts and providing technical assistance to sub-recipients to improve their performance. In order to ensure that the federal dollars are secured for the citizens of Louisiana, and that there is proper accountability for the funds, staff is required to manage federal grants, develop program policy and procedures, and monitor the contracts and corrective actions.
OBJECTIVES AND PERFORMANCE INDICATORS
Unless otherwise indicated, all objectives are to be accomplished during or by the end of FY 1999-2000. Performance indicators are made up of two parts: name and value. The indicator name describes what is being measured. The indicator value is the numeric value or level achieved within a given measurement period. For budgeting purposes, performance indicator values are shown for the prior fiscal year, the current fiscal year, and alternative funding scenarios (continuation budget level and Executive Budget recommendation level) for the ensuing fiscal year (the fiscal year of the budget document).
RESOURCE ALLOCATION FOR THE PROGRAM
This program is funded with General Fund, Interagency Transfers, Statutory Dedications and Federal Funds. Interagency transfer means of financing is obtained from the Office of Family Support for assistance to eligible refugees. The statutory dedication is the Homeless Trust Fund (see table below for a listing of expenditures out of each statutory dedicated fund.) Federal funds are obtained from the Department of Energy for home Weatherization services; The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program grant; The Refugee Social Services Grant; The Refugee Targeted Assistance Grant; The Refugee Job Links Grant; The Challenge Grant; Title XX, Social Services Block Grant (SSBG), and from the Department of Housing and Urban Development for the Emergency Shelter grant.
ANALYSIS OF RECOMMENDATION
The total means of financing for this program is recommended at 34.8% of the existing operating budget. It represents 88.6% of the total request ($14,883,077) for this program. Major changes include: decreased funding in the amount of $11,525,683 for nonrecurring carry forwards; a decrease in the amount of $9,633,559 for "heat crisis" emergency funding added by BA-7 during FY 1998-99; a decrease in the amount of $400,000 to non-recur funding for the Louisiana Center Against Poverty added by line item amendment during the FY 1998-99 appropriations process; a decrease in the amount of $400,000 to non-recur funding for various unspecified community based services added by line item amendment during the FY 1998-99 appropriations process; a decrease in the amount of $300,000 to non-recur funding for the Louisiana Housing and Community Development Corporation added by line item amendment during the FY 1998-99 appropriations process; a decrease in the amount of $304,000 to non-recur funding for Sunrise Human Development added by line item amendment during the FY 1997-98 appropriations process; a decrease in the amount of $178,000 to non-recur funding for Treme Community Education added by line item amendment during the FY 1997-98 appropriations process; a reduction of $500,000 to reflect the transfer of the Families in Need of Services activity to the Child Welfare Services program, and a reduction of $1,322,356 to reflect the transfer of the Children’s Trust Fund child abuse and neglect activities to the Child Welfare Services program.
PROFESSIONAL SERVICES
OTHER CHARGES
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Department of Health and Hospitals for the Perinatal Commission |
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DSS, Office of the Secretary for purchase of office supplies |
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ACQUISITIONS AND MAJOR REPAIRS
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This program does not have funding for Acquisitions and Major Repairs for Fiscal Year 1999-2000. |