[Federal Register: June 25, 2002 (Volume 67, Number 122)]
[Notices]
[Page 42785-42788]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr25jn02-61]
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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Office of the Secretary
Availability of Funds for Grants for the State and Territorial
Minority HIV/AIDS Demonstration Grant Program
AGENCY: Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the
Secretary, Office of Public Health and Science, Office of Minority
Health.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: The purposes of this Fiscal Year (FY) 2002 State and
Territorial Minority HIV/AIDS Demonstration Program are to:
1. Assist in the identification of needs within the state for HIV/
AIDS prevention and services among minority populations (see definition
of Minority Populations) by collection, analysis, and/or tracking of
existing data on surveillance and existing providers of HIV services
for minority communities;
2. Facilitate the linkage of community-based minority-serving
organizations with other state and local recipients of federal funds
for HIV/AIDS to develop greater resource capacity and interventions in
the identified areas of need; and
3. Assist in coordinating Federal resources coming into high need,
minority communities including identifying the different programs and
facilitating access to federal technical assistance available to
community-based minority-serving organizations.
Authority: This program is authorized under section 1707(e)(1)
of the Public Health Service Act (PHS), as amended.
This program is intended to demonstrate that the involvement of
state and territorial offices of minority health in coordinating a
statewide response to the HIV/AIDS crisis in minority communities can
have a greater impact on the communities' understanding of the disease,
and the coordination of prevention and treatment services for minority
populations, than agencies/organizations working independently.
Project outcomes must include any or all of the following:
Reduction in high-risk behaviors by increasing the
capacity of community-based minority-serving organizations to work
directly with hardly reached minority populations (e.g., youth, women
at risk, men having sex with men, homeless persons, injection drug
users, mentally ill persons, incarcerated persons).
Improved capacity of states to identify gaps in resources
in areas of need to address the HIV/AIDS epidemic.
Increased capacity of community-based minority-serving
organizations to identify, apply for, and receive funding for support
of activities to address identified gaps.
Increased counseling and testing services by increasing
the capacity of community-based minority-serving organizations to work
directly with hardly reached minority populations (e.g., youth, women
at risk, men having sex with men, homeless persons, injection drug
users, mentally ill persons, incarcerated persons).
ADDRESSES: For this grant, applicants must use form PHS 5161-1 (Revised
July 2000 and approved by OMB under Control Number 0348-0043).
Applicants are advised to pay close attention to the specific program
guidelines and general instructions provided in the application kit. To
get an application kit, write to: Ms. Chanee Jackson, OMH Grants
Management Center, c/o Health Management Resources, Inc., 8401
Corporate Drive, Suite 400, Landover, MD 20785, e-mail
grantrequests@healthman.com, fax (301) 429-2315; or call Chanee Jackson
at (301) 429-2300. Send the original and 2 copies of the complete grant
application to Ms. Chanee Jackson at the same address.
DATES: To receive consideration, grant applications must be postmarked
by the OMH Grants Management Center by 5 p.m. EDT on July 25, 2002.
Applications postmarked after the exact date and time specified for
receipt will not be accepted. Applications submitted by facsimile
transmission (FAX) or any other electronic format will not be accepted.
Applications which do not meet the deadline will be returned to the
applicant unread.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Karen Campbell, Grants Management
Officer, for technical assistance on budget and business aspects of the
[[Page 42786]]
application. She may be contacted at the Office of Minority Health,
Rockwall II Building, Suite 1000, 5515 Security Lane, Rockville, MD
20852; or by calling (301) 594-0758. For questions on the program and
assistance in preparing the grant proposal, contact: Ms. Cynthia H.
Amis, Director, Division of Program Operations, at the same address; or
by calling (301) 594-0769.
For additional assistance, contact OMH Regional Minority Health
Consultants listed in the grant application kit. For health
information, call the OMH Resource Center at 1-800-444-6472.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: OMB Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance:
The OMB Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number for this program
is 93.006.
Availability of Funds: About $2.5 million is expected to be
available for award in FY 2002. It is expected that 17 to 25 awards
will be made. Support may be requested for a total project period not
to exceed 3 years.
Those applicants funded through the competitive process:
Are to begin their service demonstration programs on
September 30, 2002.
Will receive an award up to $150,000 total costs (direct
and indirect) for a 12-month period.
Will be able to apply for a noncompeting continuation
award up to $150,000 (direct and indirect) for each of two additional
years. After year 1, funding will be based on:
--The amount of money available; and
--Success or progress in meeting project objectives.
Note: For the noncompeting continuation awards, grantees must
submit continuation applications, written reports, and continue to
meet the established program guidelines.
Eligible Applicants: Eligibility is limited to state and
territorial\1\ offices of minority health or, for those states and/or
territories that do not have an established office of minority health,
a state or territorial minority health entity located within a state or
territorial department of health which functions in the capacity of an
office of minority health. (See definitions in this announcement.)
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\1\ Includes all 50 states, the District of Columbia, American
Samoa, Federated States of Micronesia, Guam, Marshall Islands,
Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, Republic of Palau, and the
Virgin Islands.
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Documentation to verify official status as a state or territorial
office of minority health or as a state or territorial minority health
entity must be submitted.
A letter of support and commitment to the proposed demonstration
project from an authorizing official such as the state or territorial
Commissioner of Health is also required as part of the application. For
the purposes of this announcement, both the established state and
territorial offices of minority health and any recognized state and/or
territorial minority health entity will be referred to as a state or
territorial office of minority health. Each state and territory may
submit only one proposal under this announcement.
Background
The Office of Minority Health's (OMH) mission is to improve the
health of racial and ethnic minority populations (see definition of
Minority Populations) through the development of health policies and
programs that help to eliminate health disparities and gaps. OMH serves
as the focal point within the Department of Health and Human Services
for service demonstrations, coalition and partnership building, and
related efforts to address the health needs of racial and ethnic
minorities. In keeping with this mission, OMH established the State and
Territorial Minority HIV/AIDS Demonstration Program in FY 1999 to
assist in addressing HIV/AIDS issues facing minority communities across
the United States. This program is based on the premise that a broad,
state-level approach to HIV/AIDS health care promotion and prevention
can be effective in reaching minority populations by both defining
existing needs of prevention and treatment, and supporting strategies
to address those needs. It is anticipated that this approach will
strengthen existing state activities in addressing this health issue by
facilitating infrastructure development or expansion of state or
territorial offices of minority health to: (1) Take a lead role in
identifying major areas of need in minority communities; (2) link
community-based minority-serving organizations with other state and
local partners in the identified areas of need; and (3) assist in
coordinating federal resources coming into high need, minority
communities including identifying the different programs and
facilitating access to federal technical assistance available to
community-based minority-serving organizations.
Effect of HIV/AIDS on Minorities
The Census 2000 Brief \2\ reports the U.S. population as 281.4
million, with 36.4 million\3\ Blacks or African Americans, or 12.9
percent; 35.3 million Hispanics, or 12.5 percent; approximately 12.8
million Asians/Native Hawaiians and Other Pacific Islanders, or 4.5
percent; and approximately 4 million American Indians/Alaska Natives or
1.5 percent of the total population.
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\2\ U.S. Census Bureau, The Black Population: 2000--Census 2000
Brief, August 2001.
\3\ This number includes individuals who self-reported as Black,
or as Black and one or more other race on the Census 2000
questionnaire.
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HIV/AIDS remains a disproportionate threat to minorities. As of
December 31, 2000, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
received reports of 774,467 (cumulative) cases of persons with AIDS in
the U.S.\4\, of whom 38 percent were Black or African American, and 18
percent were Hispanic.
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\4\ HIV/AIDS Surveillance Report-U.S. HIV and AIDS cases
reported through December 2000, Year-End Edition, Vol. 12, No. 2.
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Of the 42,156 AIDS cases reported to CDC during 2000, 41,960 were
adult/adolescent and 196 were children (<13 years of age). For the
adult/adolescent population, 47 percent were Black or African American,
and 19 percent were Hispanic. Of the 196 children reported with AIDS,
65 percent were Black non-Hispanic, and 17 percent were Hispanic.
Through December 2000, the most common exposure category reported
for AIDS cases among African American and Hispanic males was men who
have sex with men (37% and 42%, respectively), with the second most
common exposure being injection drug use (34% and 35%, respectively).
HIV infection among U.S. women has increased significantly over the
last decade, especially in communities of color. Between 1985 and 1999,
the proportion of all AIDS cases reported among adult and adolescent
women more than tripled, from 7 to 23 percent. African American and
Hispanic women account for more than three-fourths, or 77 percent, of
the AIDS cases reported among women in the U.S. Through December 2000,
the most common exposure categories for AIDS cases among African
American and Hispanic females were heterosexual contact (47%, Hispanic;
38%, African American) and injection drug use (41%, African American;
40%, Hispanic). Young African American and Hispanic women accounted for
more than three-fourths of the HIV infections reported among females
between the ages of 13 to 24, according to reports to the CDC from the
32 areas with confidential HIV reporting for adults and adolescents for
all years combined through 1999.
Project Requirements
Each applicant to this demonstration grant program must:
[[Page 42787]]
1. Address the three purposes of the program announcement:
Assist in the identification of needs within the state
for HIV/AIDS prevention and services for minority populations by
collection, analysis, and/or tracking of existing data on surveillance
and existing providers of HIV services for minority communities;
Facilitate the linkage of community-based minority-
serving organizations with other state and local recipients of federal
funds for HIV/AIDS to develop greater resource capacity and
interventions in the identified areas of need; and
Assist in coordinating federal resources coming into high
need, minority communities including identifying the different programs
and facilitating access to federal technical assistance available to
community-based minority-serving organizations.
2. Describe plans to establish a project advisory committee to
assist the applicant in carrying out the activities specified in the
project. The membership is to be comprised of five to seven individuals
with the applicant serving as an ex officio member. Committee
membership must include: a representative from a state office on AIDS
or state HIV/AIDS coordinator, an HIV/AIDS health care provider, and a
representative from an AIDS service organization serving a substantial
number of people of color. Other potential members may include: a
minority person living with HIV/AIDS, a representative from an HIV/AIDS
community planning committee or group, an outreach worker/social
worker, or a consumer/patient advocate.
Use of Grant Funds: Budgets up to $150,000 total costs (direct and
indirect) may be requested per year to cover costs of:
Personnel
Consultants
Supplies
Equipment
Grant-related travel
Other grant related costs
Note: All budget requests must be fully justified in terms of
the proposed purpose, objectives, and activities. Funds to attend an
annual OMH grantee meeting must be included in the budget.
Funds may not be used for:
Medical treatment
Medical supplies
Direct services
Fund raising activities
Building alterations or renovations
Construction
Review of Applications:
Applications will be screened upon receipt. Those that are
judged to be incomplete, non-responsive, or non-conforming to the
announcement will not be accepted for review and will be returned.
Each organization may submit no more than one proposal
under this announcement.
Accepted applications will be reviewed for technical merit
in accordance with PHS policies.
Accepted applications will be evaluated by an Objective
Review Committee. Committee members will be chosen for their expertise
in minority health and their understanding of the health problems and
related issues confronted by racial and ethnic minority populations in
the United States.
Application Review Criteria: The technical review of applications
will consider the following 5 generic factors.
Factor 1: Program Plan (35%)
Appropriateness of proposed plan and specific activities
for each objective
Logic and sequencing of the planned approaches in relation
to the objectives and program evaluation
Extent to which the applicant demonstrates access to
community-based minority-serving organizations
Factor 2: Evaluation (20%)
Thoroughness, feasibility and appropriateness of the
evaluation design, and data collection and analysis procedures
Clarity of the intent and plans to document activities and
their outcomes
Potential for proposed project to impact the HIV/AIDS
health disparities experienced by minority populations within the state
or territory
Factor 3: Background (15%)
Demonstrated knowledge of the impact of HIV/AIDS on the
state and within minority communities
Appropriateness of the description of the HIV/AIDS problem
confronting the state and minority communities and the needs to be
addressed
Extent and documented outcome of past efforts/activities
in addressing HIV/AIDS in minority communities (Currently funded State
and Territorial Minority HIV/AIDS grantees [competing continuation
applicants] must attach a progress report describing project
accomplishments and outcomes.)
Factor 4: Objectives (15%)
Merit of the objectives
Relevance to the program purpose and the stated problem
Attainability in the stated time frames
Factor 5: Management Plan (15%)
Applicant organization's capability to manage and evaluate
the project as determined by:
--Qualifications and appropriateness of proposed staff or
requirements for ``to be hired'' staff
--Proposed staff level of effort
--Composition of proposed advisory committee and defined role
Appropriateness of defined roles including staff reporting
channels and that of any proposed contractors
Award Criteria
Funding decisions will be determined by the Deputy Assistant
Secretary for Minority Health, OMH and will take under consideration:
The recommendations and ratings of the review panel
Geographic and racial/ethnic distribution
Reporting And Other Requirements
General Reporting Requirements: A successful applicant under this
notice will submit: (1) Progress reports; (2) an annual Financial
Status Report; and (3) a final progress report and Financial Status
Report in the format established by the OMH, in accordance with
provisions of the general regulations which apply under 45 CFR part
74.51-74.52, with the exception of State and local governments to which
45 CFR part 92, subpart C reporting requirements apply.
State Reviews: This program is subject to the requirements of
Executive Order 12372 which allows States the option of setting up a
system for reviewing applications from within their States for
assistance under certain Federal programs. The application kit
available under this notice will contain a listing of States which have
chosen to set up a review system and will include a State Single Point
of Contact (SPOC) in the State for review. Applicants (other than
federally recognized Indian tribes) should contact their SPOCs as early
as possible to alert them to the prospective applications and receive
any necessary instructions on the State process. For proposed projects
serving more than one State, the applicant is advised to contact the
SPOC of each affected State. The due date for State process
recommendations is 60 days after the application deadline established
by the Office of Minority Health's Grants Management Officer. The
Office of Minority Health does not guarantee that it will accommodate
or explain its responses to State process recommendations received
after that date. (See ``Intergovernmental Review of
[[Page 42788]]
Federal Programs'' Executive Order 12372 and 45 CFR part 100 for a
description of the review process and requirements).
Healthy People 2010
The PHS is committed to achieving the health promotion and disease
prevention objectives of Healthy People 2010, a PHS-led national
activity announced in January 2000 to eliminate health disparities and
improve years and quality of life. More information on the Healthy
People 2010 objectives may be found on the Healthy People 2010 web
site: http://www.health.gov/healthypeople. Copies of the Healthy People
2010: Volumes I and II can be purchased by calling (202) 512-1800 (cost
$70 for printed version or $19 for CDROM). Another reference is the
Healthy People 2000 Review--1998-99.
For 1 free copy of Healthy People 2010, contact NCHS: The National
Center for Health Statistics, Division of Data Services, 6525 Belcrest
Road, Hyattsville, MD 20782-2003, or telephone (301) 458-4636; ask for
HHS Publication No. (PHS) 99-1256.
This document may also be downloaded from the NCHS web site: http:/
/www.cdc.gov/nchs.
Definitions
For purposes of this grant announcement, the following definitions
are provided:
AIDS Service Organization (ASO): A health association, support
agency, or other service actively involved in the prevention and
treatment of AIDS. (HIV/AIDS Treatment Information Service's Glossary
of HIV/AIDS-Related Terms, March 1997.)
Community-Based Organization: A private nonprofit organization that
is representative of communities or significant segments of
communities, and where the control and decision-making powers are
located at the community level.
Community-Based Minority-Serving Organization: A community-based
organization that has a history of service to racial/ethnic minority
populations. (See definition of Minority Populations below.)
Minority Populations: American Indian or Alaska Native, Asian,
Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, and Native Hawaiian or
Other Pacific Islander. (Revision to the Standards for the
Classification of Federal Data on Race and Ethnicity, Federal Register,
Vol. 62, No. 210, pg. 58782, October 30, 1997.)
State or Territorial Offices of Minority Health: An entity
established by an Executive Order, a statute or a state/territorial
health officer to improve the health of racial and ethnic populations.
State or Territorial Minority Health Entity: A unit or contact
located within a state or territorial department of health that
addresses the health disparities experienced by minority populations.
Dated: June 20, 2002.
Nathan Stinson, Jr.,
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Minority Health.
[FR Doc. 02-15985 Filed 6-24-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4150-29-P