Section 6: Role of the Administration for Community Living's Office of Independent Living Programs

The Administration for Community Living (ACL) was created by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) in 2012. ACL brings together the efforts and achievements of the Administration on Aging (AoA) and the Administration on Disabilities (AoD), and others, to serve as the Federal agency responsible for increasing access to community supports, while focusing attention and resources on the unique needs of older Americans and people with disabilities across the lifespan.

The ACL’s Office of Independent Living Programs (OILP) administers and awards the federal funds for CILs and SILCs. All references in the Act to the “Independent Living Administration” and “administrator” are fulfilled by the ACL/OILP. As part of the ongoing responsibility to ensure the proper stewardship of federal funds, ACL/OILP provides oversight and monitoring for CILs and SILCs which includes:

  • Assess compliance with the assurances and evaluation standards in Sections 725(b) and 725(c)(3) of the Act.
  • Study the program operation, organizational structure and administration of the CIL, under Section 725(c)(1), (2), (5), and (6) of the Act.
  • Review documentation sufficient to verify the accuracy of the information submitted in the most recent annual program performance report (PPR).
  • Verify that the CIL is managed in accordance with federal program and fiscal requirements.
  • Assess CIL conformance with its work plan, developed in accordance with Section 725(c)(4) of the Act, conditions of the CIL’s approved application, and consistency with the State Plan for Independent Living (SPIL).
  • Identify areas of suggested or necessary improvements in the CIL’s programmatic and fiscal operation and provide TA resources available on the local, state, regional, and national level.
  • Identify areas of exemplary work, projects, and coordination efforts and make this information available to the larger CIL community.

ACL/OILP has identified Program Officers (PO) for each CIL and for all the SILCs/DSEs (Designated State Entities). The PO is also the individual who will review your Program Performance Report annually. This report is submitted for the prior fiscal year and is due no later than December 31 following year-end. If there are changes needed to this report, you will hear from your PO.

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