CNCS – Justice AmeriCorps (2015)

By NLADA on June 3, 2015 • ( 0 )

Applications Due: June 9, 2015 at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time

Description:

The purpose of this program is to use the AmeriCorps service model to improve the efficient and effective adjudication of immigration court proceedings involving certain unaccompanied children. Grants awarded in response to this Notice will enable grantees to enroll lawyers and paralegals1 to serve as AmeriCorps members (“AmeriCorps members” or “members”) providing direct legal representation and other legal services to this vulnerable population.

Specifically, the program is intended to provide direct representation to children under the age of 16 who: (1) are not in the custody of the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) or the Department of Homeland Security; (2) have received a Notice to Appear in removal proceedings before EOIR;, (3) have not had their cases consolidated with removal proceedings against a parent or legal guardian (Unaccompanied Children or Unaccompanied Child); and (4) for continuation of existing programs, have their initial Master Calendar hearing in immigration court scheduled on or after January 2, 2015, one month prior to any new program’s start date. EOIR may consider exceptions to the date listed in (4). Applicants are encouraged to visit the Program FAQ page: http://www.nationalservice.gov/sites/default/files/documents/justice_AmeriCorps_FAQ_FINAL _7914.pdf for program updates.

The legal services shall be limited to representation of the Unaccompanied Child (and not to any other family members, legal guardians, or sponsors) in immigration or custody proceedings before EOIR Immigration Courts; appellate proceedings before the Board of Immigration Appeals; proceedings before United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), including applications for asylum, Special Immigrant Juvenile (SIJ) status, and/or T or U nonimmigrant status; and state court proceedings seeking orders necessary to support applications for SIJ status (Immigration Proceedings). Immigration Proceedings shall not include any claims, litigation, or other proceedings before federal district courts, courts of appeals, or the Supreme Court.

Funding Title: Justice AmeriCorps FY 2015

Agency Name: Corporation for National and Community Service

Funding Instrument Type: Providing volunteer(s)

Express Language for Legal Aid: Yes. The Announcement of Federal Funding Availability states:

“Proposed programs must provide direct representation and other legal services to certain Unaccompanied Children in Immigration Proceedings thereby increasing the effective and efficient adjudication of immigration court cases involving those children. Direct representation must be provided regardless of the child’s potential eligibility for relief, gender, nationality, or other factors (except for the eligibility requirements stated above.) In addition, programs should facilitate the identification of Unaccompanied Children who have been victims of human trafficking or abuse and decrease the risk that those children may be trafficked upon return to their country of nationality or last habitual residence; screen Unaccompanied Children for abuse, trafficking, and trauma; refer suspected cases of abuse, trafficking, and trauma to appropriate law enforcement authorities and/or appropriate support services; build pro bono capacity to support the populations of unaccompanied children in the immigration court location(s) in which AmeriCorps members will serve; and strengthen national service so that participants engaged in CNCS-supported programs consistently find satisfaction, meaning and opportunity. For further guidance regarding the scope of pro bono capacity building see: http://www.americorps.gov/for_organizations/funding/nofa.asp.”

Target Population: Children under the age of 16 who: (1) are not in the custody of the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) or the Department of Homeland Security; (2) have received a Notice to Appear in removal proceedings before EOIR;, (3) have not had their cases consolidated with removal proceedings against a parent or legal guardian (Unaccompanied Children or Unaccompanied Child); and (4) for continuation of existing programs, have their initial Master Calendar hearing in immigration court scheduled on or after January 2, 2015, one month prior to any new program’s start date. EOIR may consider exceptions to the date listed in (4).

Cost Sharing or Matching Requirement:

Fixed Amount Grants and Education Award Program Grants
There is no specific match requirement for Fixed Amount and Education Award grants, but CNCS does not provide all the funds necessary to operate the program. Applicants must raise the additional revenue required to operate the program.

Cost Reimbursement Grants

A first-time successful applicant is required to match federal funds at 24 percent for the first three-year funding period. Starting with year four, the match requirement gradually increases every year to 50 percent by year ten, according to the minimum overall share chart found in 45 CFR §2521.60 and Pub. L. 113-235, Division G, Title IV, § 402 https://www.congress.gov/bill/113th-congress/house-bill/83/text

How to Apply: Applicants must submit applications electronically via eGrants, CNCS’s web-based system (https://egrants.cns.gov/espan/main/login.jsp). CNCS recommends that applicants create an eGrants account and begin the application at least three weeks before the deadline. Applicants should draft the application as a word document, then copy and paste the document into the appropriate eGrants field no later than 10 days before the deadline.

Current Closing Date for Applications: June 9, 2015 at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time

Estimated Total Program Funding: $2,000,000

Eligible Applicants: Public or private nonprofit organizations (including faith-based and other community organizations); institutions of higher education; government entities within states or territories (e.g., cities, counties); government-recognized veteran service organizations; labor organizations; partnerships and consortia; and Indian tribes.

Policy and Regulations on Use of Funds:

The National and Community Service Act of 1990 as amended by the Serve America Act (PDF)
AmeriCorps Regulations (45 CFR Chapter XXV (2012) (PDF) (XML)
Other Information: CNCS – Managing AmeriCorp Grants:http://www.nationalservice.gov/build-your-capacity/grants/managing-americorps-grants

Link to Full Announcement: Here

Contact Information: Contact the National Service Hotline at (800) 942-2677 or via (https://questions.nationalservice.gov/app/ask_eg) if a problem arises when creating an account or preparing or submitting the application. National Service Hotline hours are Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Eastern Time. Be prepared to provide the application ID, organization’s name, and the Notice to which the organization is applying. If the issue cannot be resolved by the deadline, applicants must continue working with the National Service Hotline to submit via eGrants.

If technical issues prevent an applicant from submitting an application on time, please contact the National Service Hotline prior to the deadline to explain the technical issue and receive a ticket number. If the issue cannot be resolved by the deadline, the applicant must continue working with the National Service Hotline to submit via eGrants.