Attached you will find Program Instructions that have been developed by the Administration on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (AIDD) at the Administration for Community Living (ACL) for Councils that with wish to enter into Cooperative Agreements, Collaborative Agreements, or MOUs with other Councils. This has been done at the request of DD Councils who sought guidance after multiple major hurricanes this past fall (August/September 2017). AIDD fully supports the intent of the DD Act to allow Councils to enter into agreements with each other. However, it needed to be made clear that the DSA(s) and Council(s) contributing to a State/Territory is responsible for how the funds they contribute are spent. As the DSA is the legal awardee of DD Council funds, they are also responsible for how funds are spent. If the receiving Council(s) do not spend funds per the requirements of the DD Act, both the contributing DSA and DD Council could be at risk for corrective action. It is also imperative that a DSA(s) and Council(s) educate themselves of the financial situation of the Council they may be entering into a collaboration with.

DD Councils may enter into joint activities for any number of reasons. The most common reason that AIDD has seen is post-disaster. This speaks highly of the network and the drive of Councils to help each other, and assist people with developmental disabilities when faced with daunting situations.

Please feel free to reach out to Andrew Morris at xxxxxx@acl.hhs.gov if you have questions regarding the Program Instructions.

Thank you.

Sara Newell-Perez

Program Specialist

Administration on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities

Administration for Community Living

330 C Street, SW | Washington, DC 20201

202-795-7413 | xxxxxx@acl.hhs.gov | www.acl.gov