[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 38, Volume 2]
[Revised as of July 1, 2003]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 38CFR61.43]

[Page 940-941]
 
            TITLE 38--PENSIONS, BONUSES, AND VETERANS' RELIEF
 
          CHAPTER I--DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS (CONTINUED)
 
PART 61--VA HOMELESS PROVIDERS GRANT AND PER DIEM PROGRAM--Table of Contents
 
Sec. 61.43  Rating criteria for special needs grant applications.

    (a) Applicants that meet the threshold requirements in Sec. 61.42 of 
this part, will then be rated using the selection criteria listed in 
paragraphs (b) and (c) of this section. To be eligible for a special 
needs grant, an applicant must receive at least 300 points (out of a 
possible 500) and must score points in all areas (paragraphs (b)(1) 
through (c)(3)).
    (b) VA will award up to 200 points based on the extent to which the 
applicant demonstrates why the service, operation, or personnel for 
which the special needs grant:
    (1) Is needed for the project;
    (2) Is integral to the project;
    (3) Is appropriate to the population and overall project design; and
    (4) Meets the special needs population provided per diem in the 
previous year.
    (c) VA will award up to 300 points based on the extent the 
applicant's goals, objectives, and measures for the population to be 
served are:
    (1) Appropriate;
    (2) Reasonable; and
    (3) Measurable.

[[Page 941]]

    (d) The information provided under paragraphs (b) and (c) of this 
section for women, including women who have care of minor dependents, 
should demonstrate how the program design will:
    (1) Ensure transportation for women and their children, especially 
for health care and educational needs;
    (2) Provide directly or offer referrals for adequate and safe child 
care;
    (3) Ensure children's health care needs are met especially age 
appropriate wellness visits and immunizations; and
    (4) Address safety and security issues including segregation 
procedures from other program participants if deemed appropriate.
    (e) The information provided under paragraphs (b) and (c) of this 
section for the frail elderly should demonstrate how the program design 
will:
    (1) Ensure the safety of the residents in the facility to include 
preventing harm and exploitation;
    (2) Ensure opportunities to keep residents mentally and physically 
agile to the fullest extent through the incorporation of structured 
activities, physical activity, and plans for social engagement within 
the program and in the community;
    (3) Provide opportunities for participants to address life 
transitional issues and separation and/or loss issues;
    (4) Provide access to assistance devices such as walkers, grippers, 
or other devices necessary for optimal functioning;
    (5) Ensure adequate supervision, including supervision of medication 
and monitoring of medication compliance; and
    (6) Provide opportunities for participants either directly or 
through referral for other services particularly relevant for the frail 
elderly, including services or programs addressing emotional, social, 
spiritual, and generative needs.
    (f) The information provided under paragraphs (b) and (c) of this 
section for the terminally ill should demonstrate how the program design 
will:
    (1) Help participants address life-transition and life-end issues;
    (2) Ensure that participants are afforded timely access to hospice 
services;
    (3) Provide opportunities for participants to engage in ``tasks of 
dying,'' or activities of ``getting things in order'' or other 
therapeutic actions that help resolve end of life issues and enable 
transition and closure;
    (4) Ensure adequate supervision including supervision of medication 
and monitoring of medication compliance; and
    (5) Provide opportunities for participants either directly or 
through referral for other services particularly relevant for terminally 
ill such as legal counsel and pain management.
    (g) The information provided under paragraphs (b) and (c) of this 
section for the chronically mentally ill should demonstrate how the 
program design will:
    (1) Help participants join in and engage with the community;
    (2) Facilitate reintegration with the community and provide services 
that may optimize reintegration such as life-skills education, 
recreational activities, and follow up case management;
    (3) Ensure that participants have opportunities and services for re-
establishing relationships with family;
    (4) Ensure adequate supervision, including supervision of medication 
and monitoring of medication compliance; and
    (5) Provide opportunities for participants, either directly or 
through referral, to obtain other services particularly relevant for a 
chronically mentally ill population, such as vocational development, 
benefits management, fiduciary or money management services, medication 
compliance, and medication education.

(Authority: 38 U.S.C. 501, 2002, 2011, 2012, 2061, 2064, 7721 note)