Opportunity Information: Apply for HHS 2011 AOA CP 1109
Apply for HHS 2011 AOA CP 1109
- The Administration on Aging in the income security and social services sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Accelerating Adoption of Consumer/Participant Direction Philosophy and Models, including the Cash and Counseling Model, throughout the Aging Network Making Consumer Direction Accessible to All" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.048 Special Programs for the AgingTitle IVand Title IIDiscretionary Projects.
- This funding opportunity was created on Apr 6, 2011 and posted on Apr 6, 2011.
- Applicants must submit their applications by May 19, 2011. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $500,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $500,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Unrestricted (i.e., open to any type of entity above), subject to any clarification in text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility.
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Opportunity Summary:
The grant opportunity titled "Accelerating Adoption of Consumer/Participant Direction Philosophy and Models, including the Cash and Counseling Model, throughout the Aging Network: Making Consumer Direction Accessible to All" is a discretionary cooperative agreement offered by the Administration on Aging (AoA) under CFDA 93.048 (Special Programs for the Aging, Title IV and Title II Discretionary Projects). The central purpose is to expand and normalize consumer or participant direction across the Aging Network and the broader long-term services and supports (LTSS) system, so that more people, regardless of disability or age, can access services that put them in charge of decisions about their care. The concept emphasizes building practical capacity in the workforce and systems that surround older adults and people with disabilities, including expanding the infrastructure that supports the Veteran-Directed Home and Community-Based Services (VD-HCBS) program and related consumer-directed models such as Cash and Counseling.
The award is structured as a three-year cooperative agreement, meaning the funded entity is expected to work closely with federal partners rather than operate fully independently. The recommended funding level is $500,000 for year one, with planned increases to $750,000 in year two and $1,000,000 in year three, contingent on continued support and future-year decisions. The announcement also notes the possibility of additional investment from other federal agencies, particularly the Department of Education (DOE) and the Department of Labor (DOL), reflecting the program's strong workforce-development and education-system components. A cost-sharing or matching requirement applies, so applicants should expect to contribute non-federal resources in addition to federal funds.
The main strategy is to create an Aging Network that is genuinely prepared to expand consumer direction to all individuals by strengthening the competencies of the people who assess, plan, authorize, and deliver services. This work is designed to include key stakeholders across the aging and disability communities and to connect directly with the national education system, with the intent of improving not just one program but the entire LTSS workforce pipeline. Rather than focusing only on short-term training events, the project aims to build lasting tools, curricula, and technical assistance supports that states and local partners can keep using to sustain consumer-directed approaches.
Three major deliverables are called out. First is the development of an assessment system that states can use to determine staff core competency related to consumer direction, organized by job classification. In practice, this means creating a standardized way to evaluate whether different roles in the LTSS ecosystem, such as program administrators, case managers, options counselors, fiscal staff, and direct support professionals, have the knowledge and skills needed to make consumer direction work as intended. Second is the development and implementation of course curricula aligned to those core competencies, designed to support all levels of the workforce involved in consumer-directed services. This includes creating training content, rolling it out, and evaluating whether it actually improves performance. Third is establishing or operating a technical assistance center to continue development of the consumer direction component related to the VD-HCBS program, helping states and local entities solve implementation problems, replicate effective practices, and maintain fidelity to consumer-directed principles.
A key feature of the opportunity is that the tools and training are meant to be used broadly by states and by local Aging Network partners, specifically including Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs) and Centers for Independent Living (CILs). The assessment tools are intended to help these organizations identify gaps in workforce readiness, pinpoint who needs training and in what areas, and guide investments in education and professional development. The training programs are expected to be developed, implemented, and evaluated in alignment with the defined competencies and tailored to specific job occupations, which signals a preference for practical, role-based learning over one-size-fits-all training.
The grant also places strong emphasis on embedding consumer-direction training into mainstream education pathways so the field is not constantly forced to retrain from scratch. The funded entity is expected to work with AoA, the Office of Disability, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), and potentially DOL and DOE to integrate the training programs into curricula in high schools, community colleges, and universities. The goal is to ensure both the current workforce and the future workforce enter LTSS jobs already prepared to support consumer-directed long-term services and supports, including the values and operational mechanics behind models like Cash and Counseling and VD-HCBS (for example, supporting participant choice, managing individualized service plans, understanding the role of fiscal/employer agent functions, respecting participant authority, and ensuring appropriate safeguards without undermining autonomy).
Performance measurement is framed around both outputs and outcomes. Output measures include the percentage of the existing workforce assessed, the percentage identified as needing training and completing training, and the percentage of trainees who show improvement in knowledge and performance of consumer-directed activities based on the core competencies. Outcome measures include increased access to consumer-directed programs within LTSS, with the announcement noting that additional outcomes will be identified as the project develops. Overall, the grant is aimed at turning consumer direction from a specialized option into a routine, well-supported part of aging and disability services by strengthening competencies, building standardized training and assessment infrastructure, and institutionalizing those resources within education and workforce systems.
Administratively, this opportunity was posted April 6, 2011, with a closing date of May 19, 2011, and it anticipated a single award (ExpectedAwards: 1) with an award ceiling and floor both listed as $500,000 for the first year. Eligibility is listed as unrestricted, meaning a wide range of entities could apply, subject to any additional eligibility details in the full announcement. The funding opportunity number is HHS-2011-AOA-CP-1109, and the agency contact listed for access issues is Heather Wiley (heather.wiley@aoa.hhs.gov).
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1) What is the official title of this grant opportunity?
The opportunity is titled "Accelerating Adoption of Consumer/Participant Direction Philosophy and Models, including the Cash and Counseling Model, throughout the Aging Network: Making Consumer Direction Accessible to All."
2) Which federal agency is offering this funding?
The grant is offered by the Administration on Aging (AoA).
3) What type of award is this?
This is a discretionary cooperative agreement. A cooperative agreement generally means the funded entity is expected to work closely with federal partners during the project period, rather than operating fully independently.
4) What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?
The CFDA is 93.048, listed as "Special Programs for the Aging, Title IV and Title II Discretionary Projects."
5) What is the overall purpose of the project?
The central purpose is to expand and normalize consumer or participant direction across the Aging Network and the broader long-term services and supports (LTSS) system, so more people (regardless of disability or age) can access services that put them in charge of decisions about their care.
6) What does "consumer/participant direction" mean in this context?
In this opportunity, consumer/participant direction refers to service philosophies and models that place the individual receiving services in charge of key decisions about their care and supports, including choices related to planning, control, and how services are delivered, while still maintaining appropriate safeguards.
7) Which consumer-directed models are specifically referenced?
The announcement specifically references the Cash and Counseling model and the Veteran-Directed Home and Community-Based Services (VD-HCBS) program, along with related consumer-directed models.
8) How long is the project period?
The award is structured as a three-year cooperative agreement.
9) How much funding is expected for each year?
The recommended funding level is $500,000 for year one, with planned increases to $750,000 in year two and $1,000,000 in year three, contingent on continued support and future-year decisions.
10) Is there an award ceiling or floor listed?
For the first year, both the award ceiling and the award floor are listed as $500,000.
11) How many awards does the opportunity anticipate making?
The announcement anticipates a single award (ExpectedAwards: 1).
12) Is cost sharing or matching required?
Yes. A cost-sharing or matching requirement applies, so applicants should expect to contribute non-federal resources in addition to federal funds.
13) Could additional federal agencies contribute funding or support?
The announcement notes the possibility of additional investment from other federal agencies, particularly the Department of Education (DOE) and the Department of Labor (DOL), reflecting workforce-development and education-system components.
14) What is the main strategy the project is expected to pursue?
The main strategy is to create an Aging Network that is prepared to expand consumer direction broadly by strengthening the competencies of the people who assess, plan, authorize, and deliver services. The project is designed to build lasting tools, curricula, and technical assistance supports that states and local partners can continue using.
15) What are the major deliverables required by the announcement?
The opportunity highlights three major deliverables: (1) an assessment system for staff core competency related to consumer direction, organized by job classification; (2) development and implementation of course curricula aligned to those core competencies (including evaluation of effectiveness); and (3) establishing or operating a technical assistance center to continue development of the consumer-direction component related to VD-HCBS, including support for states and local entities.
16) What is meant by an "assessment system" for core competencies?
This refers to a standardized approach that states can use to determine whether staff in different job roles have the knowledge and skills needed to implement consumer-directed services effectively. The assessment is organized by job classification, so competencies can be evaluated in a role-specific way.
17) Which job classifications are mentioned as part of the competency assessment approach?
The opportunity gives examples of roles in the LTSS ecosystem such as program administrators, case managers, options counselors, fiscal staff, and direct support professionals.
18) What is expected for the curriculum deliverable?
The funded entity is expected to develop and implement course curricula aligned to the defined core competencies, designed to support all levels of the workforce involved in consumer-directed services. The announcement also emphasizes evaluating whether the training improves performance.
19) Is the training expected to be role-based?
Yes. The announcement signals a preference for practical, role-based learning. Training is expected to be tailored to specific job occupations and aligned with competency definitions, rather than using a one-size-fits-all approach.
20) What is the purpose of the technical assistance center in this project?
The technical assistance center is intended to support continued development and implementation of the consumer direction component related to the VD-HCBS program by helping states and local entities solve implementation problems, replicate effective practices, and maintain fidelity to consumer-directed principles.
21) Who are the intended users of the tools and training developed under this project?
The tools and training are intended to be used broadly by states and local Aging Network partners, specifically including Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs) and Centers for Independent Living (CILs).
22) How are states and local partners expected to use the assessment tools?
The assessment tools are intended to help organizations identify gaps in workforce readiness, determine who needs training and in what areas, and guide investments in education and professional development.
23) Does the project focus on short-term trainings or long-term capacity?
The project is designed to go beyond short-term training events by building lasting tools, curricula, and technical assistance supports that can be sustained and reused by states and local partners.
24) How does the opportunity connect to the education system?
The announcement places strong emphasis on embedding consumer-direction training into mainstream education pathways. The funded entity is expected to work with federal partners to integrate training into curricula in high schools, community colleges, and universities.
25) Which federal partners are mentioned for collaboration on workforce and education integration?
The announcement states the funded entity is expected to work with AoA, the Office of Disability, and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), and potentially with the Department of Labor (DOL) and the Department of Education (DOE).
26) What kinds of topics or skills are implied by the consumer-direction competencies?
Examples described include supporting participant choice, managing individualized service plans, understanding the role of fiscal/employer agent functions, respecting participant authority, and ensuring appropriate safeguards without undermining autonomy.
27) What performance measures are described in the announcement?
Performance measurement includes outputs and outcomes. Output measures include the percentage of the existing workforce assessed, the percentage identified as needing training and completing training, and the percentage of trainees who improve in knowledge and performance of consumer-directed activities based on core competencies. Outcome measures include increased access to consumer-directed programs within LTSS, with additional outcomes to be identified as the project develops.
28) What is the desired long-term impact of this grant?
The grant aims to make consumer direction a routine, well-supported part of aging and disability services by strengthening workforce competencies, building standardized training and assessment infrastructure, and institutionalizing those resources within education and workforce systems.
29) What is the funding opportunity number?
The funding opportunity number is HHS-2011-AOA-CP-1109.
30) When was the opportunity posted and when was it due?
The opportunity was posted April 6, 2011, and had a closing date of May 19, 2011.
31) Who is listed as the contact for access issues?
The listed agency contact for access issues is Heather Wiley at heather.wiley@aoa.hhs.gov.
32) Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is listed as unrestricted, meaning a wide range of entities could apply, subject to any additional eligibility details included in the full announcement.
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