Citizen Corps Grant Information and Financial Resources

The Citizen Corps Program (CCP) did not receive its own appropriation in the FY2012 Homeland Security Grant Program. Although it does not have its own distinct funding stream this year, Citizen Corps activities and costs that were previously allowable are still allowable and highly encouraged under the State Homeland Security Grant Program (SHSP) and Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI) programs. Community and individual preparedness investments should also still be coordinated with Councils and Programs.

All approved investments should still receive funding – the loss of the CCP allocation does not negate or eliminate plans that were put in place in previous fiscal years. In addition, the State Administrative Agencies (SAAs) and Homeland Security Agencies (HSAs) will receive information regarding CCP activities that remain allowable under SHSP and UASI as well as how Citizen Corps is an effective strategy for engaging the Whole Community.

The FY12 guidance encourages States, Urban Areas, and regions to work with the Whole Community to advance community and individual preparedness and to work as a nation to build and sustain resilience. Citizen Corps Councils engage the Whole Community while supporting local preparedness efforts to effectively meet the needs of the community. Councils facilitate partnerships and leverage existing networks to collaborate and coordinate resources that can be used to strengthen resilience and if needed, can be brought to bear in times of disaster. Councils also serve as a planning body and facilitate the engagement of Homeland Security and Emergency Management officials and first responder organizations with all sectors of the community as required by the FY12 guidance.

The FY12 guidance also plays an important role in the implementation of Presidential Policy Directive 8 (PPD-8). As part of building and sustaining preparedness, PPD-8 calls for providing Federal financial assistance to support a comprehensive campaign to build and sustain national preparedness, including public outreach and community-based and private-sector programs to enhance national resilience. Many Citizen Corps Councils support public outreach and promote programs to increase awareness and move individuals from awareness to action in an effort to enhance preparedness and keep members of the Whole Community engaged year-round.

Allowable Expenditures in Support of Individual and Community Preparedness: We encourage states to consider using available grant funding from any source to support the development, participation in, and maintenance of activities that promote whole community engagement and citizen involvement. Below are some effective ways in which states can foster individual and community preparedness, and referenced allowable expenses in the FY12 Homeland Security Grant Program (HSGP) Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) that support each one.

Citizen Corps and Whole Community Engagement

Establishing and sustaining Citizen Corps Councils (HSGP p. 55)
Leveraging already existing structures and mechanisms, such as Citizen Corps, for sharing information and engaging members of the Whole Community (HSGP p. 56)
Developing whole community partnerships (HSGP p. 41)
Working with youth-serving organizations to develop and sustain a youth preparedness program (HSGP p. 56)
Designing programs to address targeting at-risk populations and engaging them in emergency management planning efforts (HSGP p. 51)
Training and exercises for the public or civilian volunteer programs supporting first responders before, during, and after disasters that address the needs of the Whole Community (HSGP p. 60)

Public information/education and awareness campaigns

Developing and conducting public education and outreach campaigns (HSGP p. 51 and p. 52)
Accessible public information/education coordinated through local Citizen Corps Councils (HSGP p. 52)
Innovative approaches for reaching the Whole Community, to include translated material for individuals that are blind or have low vision capability and those with English as a second language and coalitions among citizens (HSGP p. 56)

Volunteer programs

Volunteer programs and other activities to strengthen citizen participation (HSGP p. 52)
Establishing, expanding, and maintaining volunteer programs and volunteer recruitment efforts that support disaster preparedness and/or response, including Citizen Corps and its Partner and Affiliate Programs and Organizations and jurisdiction specific volunteer efforts (HSGP p. 55)
Developing or enhancing plans for donations and volunteer management and the engagement /integration of private sector/non-governmental entities in preparedness, mitigation, response, and recovery activities (HSGP p. 54)
Developing or enhancing plans to prepare for surge capacity of volunteers (HSGP p. 54)

Community preparedness strategic planning

Community-based planning to advance “whole community” security and emergency management (HSGP p. 53)
Developing and implementing a community preparedness strategy for the State/local jurisdiction (HSGP p. 55)
Incorporating government/non-government collaboration, citizen preparedness, and volunteer participation into State and local government homeland security strategies, policies, guidance, plans, and evaluations (HSGP p. 53)

Eligible Applicants: The SAA is the only entity eligible to apply to FEMA for HSGP funds. Recipients for the HSGP include all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

For more information, visit: http://www.fema.gov/government/grant/hsgp/index.shtm#5

Effective Financial Practices

While federal grants continue to support community preparedness activities, it is important for Councils to leverage existing resources and plan for cuts in funding. Some strategies for leveraging funding and program sustainment include:

Regionalization: Local Councils, in order to do more with less, can regionalize their structure to maximize reach with more robust resources and opportunities that cross county lines. Councils can establish Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) with other Councils or organizations in order to support one another in times of need.

Private sector partnerships: Establish partnerships with private sector entities or a community foundation to co-sponsor initiatives.

Free resources: FEMA and other organizations offer free volunteer training materials. Social media resources are effective for improving outreach and communication efforts to increase program awareness. Most Citizen Corps Partner and Affiliate trainings, tools, and resources are free and available through local chapters for via download on their national websites. The general public can also be a valuable outlet for creative ideas.

2012 Homeland Security Grant Program Funding Opportunity Announcement Resources

Allowable Individual and Community Preparedness Activities in the 2012 Non-Disaster Grants (7-page PDF)
FY2012 HSGP Guidance and Application Kit (82-page PDF)
FY2012 HSGP Frequently Asked Questions (4-page PDF)
DHS Announces Grant Guidance for Fiscal Year (FY) 2012 Preparedness Grants
FY2012 HSGP Fact Sheet (4-page PDF)
FY 2012 HSGP Supplemental Resource: Support for Public-Private Collaboration (8-page PDF)
FY 2012 HSGP Supplemental Resource: Children in Disaster Guidance (25-page PDF)
In March we hosted a webinar about changes to the grant program and some promising funding options. The recording has been posted here.
Funding levels for Citizen Corps programs and activities will be determined by each state’s State Administrative Agency (SAA). Contact information for the SAAs and the State Homeland Security Advisors can be found here.
Information about FEMA’s Non-Disaster Grant Management system can be found here. Inquires about grant updates should be made to ASKCSID@fema.gov.
We encourage you to reach out to your State Citizen Corps points of contact, who are a great resource for addressing any questions you may have about the grants. You can find them all listed here.
The Allowable Equipment List for Citizen Corps programs can be found here.
Grants Management Technical Assistance Program

Homeland Security Grant Program (HSGP) Guidance from Previous Years

2011 Homeland Security Grant Program Guidance

2010 Homeland Security Grant Program Guidance

2009 Homeland Security Grant Program Guidance

2008 Homeland Security Grant Program Guidance

2007 Homeland Security Grant Program Guidance

DHS Announces $29.1 Million Available For National Preparedness Training Initiatives

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