USVI Public Records

Document text

OMB Control Number 1894-0005 Expiration 2/28/2026 NOTICE TO ALL APPLICANTS: EQUITY FOR STUDENTS, EDUCATORS, AND OTHER PROGRAM BENEFICIARIES Section 427 of the General Education Provisions Act (GEPA) (20 U.S.C. 1228a) applies to applicants for grant awards under this program. ALL APPLICANTS FOR NEW GRANT AWARDS MUST INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION IN THEIR APPLICATIONS TO ADDRESS THIS PROVISION IN ORDER TO RECEIVE FUNDING UNDER THIS PROGRAM. Please respond to the following requests for information: 1. Describe how your entity’s existing mission, policies, or commitments ensure equitable access to, and equitable participation in, the proposed project or activity. The Virgin Islands Infants & Toddlers' mission is to enhance families' capacity to meet the unique needs of their children with developmental disabilities by providing timely, family-centred, multidisciplinary early intervention services in their natural environment and their native language to the best extent possible. All children with disabilities who are referred to the VI ITP are guaranteed enrollment if deemed eligible. Services are provided at no charge with the parents’ consent. 2. Based on your proposed project or activity, what barriers may impede equitable access and participation of students, educators, or other beneficiaries? The VI ITP has problems with recruiting Early Intervention Specialist to meet the needs of all children who may enroll in the program. Parents hesitate to continue with long term services for fear of the stigma that may be attached to their children. Enrollment in the VI ITP is completely voluntary. 3. Based on the barriers identified, what steps will you take to address such barriers to equitable access and participation in the proposed project or activity? The Virgin Islands Infants & Toddlers' vision is to educate the public and partner with clinical agencies and child-care centers to ensure that families of children with disabilities seek services as early as possible. We would teach and provide resources to the families of children with disabilities to be confident in advocating for their children in all situations as these children grow and transition to preschool. Develop a recruitment plan for Early Intervention Specialists. Collaborate with other agencies who utilize the services of professionals in early intervention/education. OMB Control Number 1894-0005 Expiration 2/28/2026 4. What is your timeline, including targeted milestones, for addressing these identified barriers? Recruitment is ongoing. Parent training is ongoing. Notes: 1. Applicants are not required to have mission statements or policies that align with equity in order to submit an application. 2. Applicants may identify any barriers that may impede equitable access and participation in the proposed project or activity, including, but not limited to, barriers based on economic disadvantage, gender, race, ethnicity, color, national origin, disability, age, language, migrant status, rural status, homeless status or housing insecurity, pregnancy, parenting, or caregiving status, and sexual orientation. 3. Applicants may have already included some or all of this required information in the narrative sections of their applications or their State Plans. In responding to this requirement, for each question, applicants may provide a cross-reference to the section(s) and page number(s) in their applications or State Plans that includes the information responsive to that question on this form or may restate that information on this form. Paperwork Burden Statement According to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, no persons are required to respond to a collection of information unless such collection displays a valid OMB control number. The valid OMB control number for this information collection is 1894-0005. Public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 3 hours per response, including time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering, and maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the collection of information. The obligation to respond to this collection is required to obtain or retain a benefit. If you have any comments concerning the accuracy of the time estimate or suggestions for improving this individual collection, send your comments to ICDocketMgr@ed.gov and reference OMB Control Number 1894-0005. All other comments or concerns regarding the status of your individual form may be addressed to either (a) the person listed in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section in the competition Notice Inviting Applications, or (b) your assigned program officer.