FAPL 89 (Chafee Stimulus Grant)
Fiscal Administrative Procedure Letter No. 89
April 6, 2021
TO: Fiscal Administrative Procedure Manual Holders
FROM: Matt Damschroder, Interim Director
SUBJECT: Chafee Stimulus Grant

The Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS) issues the Chafee Stimulus Grant to public children services agencies (PCSAs) to assist with preventing youth from aging out of foster care and to facilitate re-entry into foster care for youth, who previously aged out of foster care. Additionally, the grant temporarily waives certain Title IV-E foster care eligibility requirements for youth age 18 and older and provides additional funding for the Chafee program for fiscal year (FY) 2021. The funding may also be used for expenses traditionally allowable under Chafee through September 30, 2022.

The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 Public Law (P.L.) 116-260 was enacted on December 27, 2020 and provides temporary flexibility and assistance to support foster youth and families in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and public health emergency.  Division X of P.L. 116-260, Supporting Foster Youth and Families through the Pandemic Act, provides additional funding to protect and support youth or young adults currently or formerly in foster care.  The additional Chafee funding may be used to provide immediate, critically needed assistance.

This allocation consists of one hundred percent federal funds. The Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) number for the Chafee Stimulus allocation is 93.674. ODJFS communicates the funding period and the liquidation period through the county finance information system (CFIS).

Age Requirements

  • Services and assistance are available for any youth or young adult in foster care age 14 or older and those who have emancipated from foster care and have not yet reached the age of 27.
  • Room and Board for any young adult in foster care or has emancipated from foster care who at the time of receiving services is age 18 to 26.
  • Driving and transportation assistance for eligible youth ages 15 to 26.  

Temporary Flexible Allowable Costs

The Chafee stimulus grant may be used to pay for: 

  • Costs preventing youth from aging out of foster care;
  • Re-entry into foster care;
  • Paying for maintenance payments and cost management costs for youth who are not Title IV-E eligible; and
  • Public awareness campaigns related to re-entry into foster care.
  • Usage of more than 30 percent for room and board payments; and
  • Providing up to $4,000 in driving and transportation assistance per young adult through September 30, 2021.  

Unallowable Costs

No Chafee funds may be used to pay for foster care maintenance cost incurred on behalf of a title IV-E eligible youth.

Methodology

ODJFS uses the same methodology to distribute funds as the regular Chafee allocation described in rule 5101:9-6-35 of the Revised Code.

For questions regarding eligibility, additional allowable activities and reporting requirements, please direct them to the Office of Families and Children at HELP-DESK-OCF@jfs.ohio.gov. For fiscal questions, such as coding, please contact your ODJFS Fiscal Supervisor or the BCFTA Helpdesk at CFIS_Help_Desk@jfs.ohio.gov.