[Federal Register: June 25, 2002 (Volume 67, Number 122)]
[Notices]               
[Page 42775-42778]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr25jn02-58]                         

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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Office of the Secretary

 
Availability of Funds for Grants for the Health Disparities In 
Minority Health Program

AGENCY: Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the 
Secretary, Office of Public Health and Science, Office of Minority 
Health (OMH).

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The purpose of the Fiscal Year (FY) 2002 Health Disparities In 
Minority Health Grant Program is to support the elimination of health 
disparities among racial and ethnic populations (see definition of 
Minority Populations) through local small-scale projects which address 
a demonstrated health problem or health issue. This program is intended 
to demonstrate the merit of using local organizations to develop, 
implement, and conduct small-scale community-based projects which 
address health problems and issues related to health disparities in 
local minority communities.

    Authority: This program is authorized under Section 1701 (e)(1) 
of the Public Health Service (PHS) Act, as amended.

    Outcomes for projects addressing HIV/AIDS must include any or all 
of the following:
     Reduction in high-risk behaviors (e.g., injection drug 
use, multiple partners, unprotected sex).
     Increased counseling and testing services (e.g., hardly 
reached minority populations--youth, women at risk, men having sex with 
men, homeless persons, injection drug users, mentally ill persons, 
incarcerated persons).
     Improved access to health care (e.g., hardly reached 
minority populations--youth, women at risk, men having sex with men, 
homeless persons, injection drug users, mentally ill persons, 
incarcerated persons).
    The outcome for all other projects must be a decrease in the 
targeted health disparity(ies) as demonstrated through:
     Reduction in high-risk behaviors (e.g., tobacco use, 
physical inactivity, poor eating habits); or
     Improved access to health care.

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

[[Page 42776]]

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 
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 the 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 Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number for this program is 
93.100.
    Availability of Funds: About $1 million is expected to be available 
for award in FY 2002. It is expected that 20 to 30 awards will be made. 
Support may be requested for a total project period not to exceed 2 
years.
    Those applicants funded through the competitive process:
    1. Are to begin their projects on September 30, 2002.
    2. Will receive an award up to $50,000 total costs (direct and 
indirect) for a 12 month period.
    3. Will be able to apply for a noncompeting continuation award of 
up to $50,000 (direct and indirect) for an additional 1 year. After 
year 1, funding will be based on:

--The amount of money available;
--Success or progress in meeting project objectives.


    Note: For noncompeting continuation awards, grantees must submit 
a continuation application, written reports, and continue to meet 
the established program guidelines.

    Eligible Applicants: To qualify for funding, an applicant must be a 
private non-profit community-based, minority-serving organization which 
addresses health and human services.

    Note: Faith-based organizations that meet the definition of a 
private nonprofit community-based, minority-serving organization are 
eligible to apply for these Health Disparities In Minority Health 
Grants. Tribal organizations and local affiliates of national, 
state-wide, or regional organizations that meet the definition of a 
private non-profit community-based, minority-serving organization 
are also eligible to apply.

    The organization submitting the application will:
     Serve as the lead agency for the project, responsible for 
its implementation and management.
     Serve as the fiscal agent for the federal grant awarded.
    Organizations may not receive a grant from more than one OMH 
program at the same time. However, an organization with an OMH grant 
that ends by 9/29/02 can submit an application under this announcement.

Background

    The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), OMH is committed 
to working with community-based organizations and minority institutions 
of higher education 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 in the HHS 
for service demonstrations, coalition, and partnership building, and 
related efforts to address the health needs of racial and ethnic 
minorities.
    To that end, OMH implemented the Health Disparities In Minority 
Health Grant Program in FY 2001 to address a wide range of health 
problems, gaps in service, and issues that affect the health and well-
being of local minority communities. It is anticipated that this 
program will strengthen local efforts which have been using innovative 
approaches to address a wide range of health issues affecting local 
minority communities.
    Annual issues of Health, United States \1\ and Healthy People 2010 
\2\, report that the overall health of the Nation continues to steadily 
and significantly improve. Yet, these reports also indicate that racial 
and ethnic minorities have not benefitted equally in this progress over 
time. The fact remains that disparities in the burden of death and 
illness experienced by American Indians or Alaska Natives, Asians, 
Blacks or African Americans, Native Hawaiians or Other Pacific 
Islanders, and Hispanics or Latinos, as compared with the United States 
population as a whole, have persisted, and, in many areas, are growing.
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    \1\ Health, United States, 2001, U.S. Department of Health and 
Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National 
Center for Health Statistics, HHS Publication Number (PHS) 01-1232.
    \2\ Healthy People 2010, U.S. Department of Health and Human 
Services, 2nd ed., volumes I and II, November 2000.
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    Among the many disparities noted, the Healthy People 2010 reports:
     Although the proportion of the adult population having a 
specific source of primary care has increased, Hispanic and African 
American adults and other subgroups continue to be less likely to have 
a specific source of primary care.
     Despite lower overall rates in the United States, infant 
mortality rates for American Indians or Alaska Natives, African 
Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Puerto Ricans are persistently higher 
than for whites. The infant mortality rate for African Americans 
remains twice that of whites.
     Deaths due to breast cancer in African American females 
continues to increase, in part because the breast cancer is diagnosed 
at later stages.
     Hispanics have higher rates of cervical, esophageal, 
gallbladder, and stomach cancers than the white population. New cases 
of female breast and lung cancers are increasing among Hispanics, who 
are diagnosed at later stages and have lower survival rates than 
whites. Some specific forms of cancer affect other ethnic groups at 
rates higher than the national average (for example, stomach and liver 
cancers among Asian American populations and colorectal cancer among 
Alaska Natives).
     The relative number of persons diagnosed with diabetes in 
American Indian, African American, and Hispanic communities is one to 
five time greater than in white communities.
     The number of existing cases of high blood pressure is 
nearly 40 percent higher in African Americans than in whites (an 
estimated 6.4 million African Americans), and the effects are more 
frequent and severe in the African American population.
     African Americans and Hispanics comprised 55 percent 
(251,408 and 124,841, respectively) of the 688,200 cases of AIDS 
reported among persons of all ages and racial and ethnic groups through 
December 1998.
    The HHS supports the effort to eliminate disparities in health 
status experienced by racial and ethnic minority populations by year 
2010. The 28 focus areas embodied in Healthy People 2010 are targeted 
for specific improvements. To learn more information about the health 
disparities that exist among racial and ethnic minorities in the United 
States today, read applicable sections of Healthy People 2010. (See the 
section on Healthy People 2010 in this announcement for information on 
how to obtain a copy.)

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Applicants may elect to address any of the 28 focus areas contained in 
Healthy People 2010 or other health problems where there is a health 
disparity in a local minority community.

    Note: The Healthy People 2010 focus areas will also be listed in 
the grant application kit.

Project Requirements

    Each project funded under this demonstration program must:
    1. Address at least 1, but no more than 3, of the health focus 
areas addressed in Healthy People 2010 or other documented health 
problems or issues that affect the targeted local minority group(s);
    2. Identify problems, such as gaps in services, or issues affecting 
the targeted area which will be addressed by the proposed project;
    3. Identify existing resources in the targeted area which will be 
linked to the proposed project; and
    4. Implement an innovative approach to address the problem(s).
    Use of Grant Funds: Budgets up to $50,000 total costs (direct and 
indirect) may be requested per year to cover costs of:
     Personnel;
     Consultants;
     Equipment;
     Supplies;
     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 may not be used for:
     Activities that may compromise privacy and confidentiality 
of the target population;
     Building alterations or renovations;
     Conferences;
     Construction;
     Fund raising activities;
     Job training;
     Medical treatment;
     Political education and lobbying;
     Research studies involving human subjects;
     Vocational rehabilitation.

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 unique 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 the overall approach, and likelihood of 
successful implementation of the project.
     Logic and sequencing of the planned approach, and 
appropriateness of specific activities for each objective.
     Adequacy of time allowed to accomplish the proposed 
activities.

Factor 2: Evaluation (20%)

     Thoroughness, feasibility, and appropriateness of the 
evaluation design, data collection, and analysis procedures for each 
objective.
     Clarity of the intent and plans to document the activities 
and their outcomes.
     Potential for replication of the project for similar 
target populations and communities.
     Potential for proposed project to impact the targeted 
health disparity(ies).

Factor 3: Background (15%)

     Significance and prevalence of the identified health 
issue(s) in the target population.
     Need for the intervention within the proposed minority 
community and target population.
     Approach for bringing together community-based resources 
to address the problem(s).
     Extent to which the applicant demonstrates access to the 
target minority community(ies), and whether it is well positioned and 
accepted within the community(ies) to be served.
     A track record that describes the extent and documented 
outcomes of past efforts and activities with the target population. 
(Currently funded Health Disparities In Minority Health 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 stated problems.
     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
--Management experience of the applicant
--The applicant's organizational structure
--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 of the OMH and will take under 
consideration:
     The recommendations and ratings of the review panel.
     Geographic and racial/ethnic distribution.
     Health disparity(ies) addressed.

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 74.51-
74.52, with the exception of State and local governments to which 45 
CFR part 92, subpart C reporting requirements apply.
    Public Health System Reporting Requirements: This program is 
subject to Public Health Systems Reporting Requirements. Under these 
requirements, a community-based nongovernmental applicant must prepare 
and submit a Public Health System Impact Statement (PHSIS). The PHSIS 
is intended to provide information to State and local health officials 
to keep them apprised of proposed health services grant applications 
submitted by community-based organizations within their jurisdictions.
    Community-based nongovernmental applicants are required to submit, 
no later than the Federal due date for receipt of the application, the 
following information to the head of the appropriate State and local 
health agencies in the area(s) to be impacted: (a) A copy of the face 
page of the application (SF 424); and (b) a summary of the project 
(PHSIS), not to exceed one page, which provides: (1) A description of 
the population to be served; (2) a summary of the services to be 
provided;

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and (3) a description of the coordination planned with the appropriate 
State or local health agencies. Copies of the letters forwarding the 
PHSIS to these authorities must be contained in the application 
materials submitted to the Office of Minority Health.
    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 list 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 OMH Grants Management Officer.
    The OMH does not guarantee that it will accommodate or explain its 
responses to State process recommendations received after that date. 
(See ``Intergovernmental Review of 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 the 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 
$70.00 for the printed version or $19.00 for the CDROM). Another 
reference is the Healthy People 2000 Review 1998-99.
    For 1 free copy of the Healthy People 2010, contact: The National 
Center for Health Statistics (NCHS), 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:
    Community-Based Organization: A private non-profit 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 the 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).

    Dated: June 20, 2002.
Nathan Stinson, Jr.,
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Minority Health.
[FR Doc. 02-15986 Filed 6-24-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4150-29-P