CFR

377.11—What is the content of an application for an award?

(a) The grant application must include a description of—

(1) The manner in which the applicant intends to promote increased client choice in the geographical area identified in the application;

(2) The manner in which the applicant intends to provide individuals, including individuals with cognitive disabilities, the information necessary to make informed choices, including, at a minimum, informed choices in the selection of goals, services, and providers.

(3) The outreach activities the applicant plans to conduct to obtain eligible clients, including clients who are individuals with a severe disability;

(4) The manner in which the applicant will ensure that service providers are accredited or meet any quality assurance and cost-control criteria established by the State;

(5) The manner in which the applicant will ensure that eligible clients are satisfied with the quality and scope of services provided;

(6) The manner in which the applicant will monitor and account for use of funds to purchase services;

(7) The manner in which the applicant will determine the monetary value of the services or products available to clients, including, if appropriate, the monetary value of vouchers;

(8) The manner in which the applicant will address the needs of individuals with disabilities who are from minority backgrounds; and

(9) Those features of the proposed project that the applicant considers to be essential and a discussion of their potential for widespread replication.

(b) The application also must include assurances from the applicant that—

(1) A written plan to provide vocational rehabilitation services will be established for, and with the full participation of, each eligible client, and, if the client elects, with the participation also of family members, guardians, advocates, or authorized representatives, that at a minimum will include—

(i) A statement of the client's vocational rehabilitation goals, which must include goals that are designed to lead to an employment outcome consistent with the client's unique strengths, resources, priorities, concerns, abilities, and capabilities;

(ii) A statement of the specific vocational rehabilitation services to be provided and the projected dates for the initiation and termination of each service; and

(iii) A description of an evaluation procedure for determining whether the client's vocational rehabilitation goals are being achieved, including—

(A) Objective evaluation criteria; and

(B) An evaluation schedule;

(2) The Federal funds granted under this part will be used to supplement, and in no case to supplant, funds made available from other Federal and non-Federal sources for projects providing increased choice in the rehabilitation process;

(3) At least 80 percent of the funds awarded for any project under this part will be used to provide vocational rehabilitation services, as specifically chosen by eligible clients;

(4) The applicant will cooperate fully with the Secretary in a national evaluation, including assisting the Department's contractor in selecting and obtaining data for a control group established through random assignment or by the selection of a matched comparison group; and

(5) Individuals with disabilities will be involved in the development and implementation of the project.

(c) Each applicant also shall submit to the Secretary any other information and assurances that the Secretary determines to be necessary.

(Approved by the Office of Management and Budget under control number 1820-0018)

Code of Federal Regulations

(Authority: Secs. 21(b)(6), 802(g)(2), 802(g)(3), 802(g)(5), 802(g)(6), and 802(g)(7) of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973; 29 U.S.C. 718b and 29 U.S.C. 797a(g)(2), (3), (5), (6), and (7))

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