[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 7 (Tuesday, January 11, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-582]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: January 11, 1994]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
[Program Announcement Number 409]

 

Grants for Injury Prevention Research for Violence Against Women; 
Availability of Funds for Fiscal Year 1994

Introduction

    The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announces that 
applications are being accepted for Injury Prevention Research Grants 
for Violence Against Women. The Public Health Service (PHS) is 
committed to achieving the health promotion and disease prevention 
objectives of Healthy People 2000, a PHS-led national activity to 
reduce morbidity, mortality and improve the quality of life. This 
announcement is related to the area of Violent and Abusive Behavior. 
(For ordering a copy of Healthy People 2000, see the Section Where To 
Obtain Additional Information.)

Authority

    This program is authorized under sections 301 and 391 of the Public 
Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 241 and 280b). Program regulations are 
set forth in title 42 of the CFR part 52.

Eligible Applicants

    Eligible applicants include all non-profit and for-profit 
organizations. Thus state, tribal, and local health departments and 
other state, tribal, and local governmental agencies, universities, 
colleges, research institutions, and other public and private 
organizations, including small, minority and/or woman-owned businesses 
are eligible for these research grants. Current holders of CDC injury 
control research projects are eligible to apply.

Availability of Funds

    Approximately $2.0 million is projected to be available in FY 1994 
to fund approximately 5 to 9 grants. The amount of funding actually 
available may vary and is subject to change. New grant awards will not 
exceed $300,000 per year (including both direct and indirect costs). 
Research grant supplements will generally be no more than $75,000 
(including both direct and indirect costs). Awards will be made for a 
12-month budget period within a project period not to exceed 3 years. 
Continuation awards within the project period will be made on the basis 
of satisfactory progress demonstrated by investigators at work-in-
progress monitoring workshops, the achievement of workplan milestones 
reflected in the continuation application, and the availability of 
Federal funds. In addition, continuation awards will be eligible for 
increased funding to offset inflationary costs depending upon the 
availability of funds.

Purpose

    The purposes of this program are:
    A. To build the scientific base for the prevention of injuries and 
deaths due to violence against women as delineated in Injury Control in 
the 1990s: A National Plan for Action. Atlanta: Centers for Disease 
Control and Prevention, 1993; Healthy People 2000; Violence in America: 
A Public Health Approach; Understanding and Preventing Violence; and 
Injury Prevention: Meeting the Challenge (supplement to the American 
Journal of Preventive Medicine, (Vol. 5, no. 3, 1989);
    B. To identify effective strategies to prevent injuries and deaths 
due to violence against women;
    C. To expand the development and evaluation of current and new 
intervention methods and strategies for the primary prevention of 
violence against women;
    D. To encourage professionals from a wide spectrum of disciplines 
such as medicine, health care, public health, criminal justice, 
behavioral and social sciences, and others to undertake research to 
prevent and control injuries that result from violence against women.

Program Requirements

    The following are applicant requirements:
    A. A principal investigator who has conducted research, published 
the findings, and has specific authority and responsibility to carry 
out the proposed project.
    B. Demonstrated experience in conducting, evaluating, and 
publishing injury control research on the applicant's project team.
    C. Effective and well-defined working relationships within the 
performing organization and with outside entities which will ensure 
implementation of the proposed activities.
    D. An explanation of how research findings could lead to the 
development of injury control interventions within 3-5 years of project 
start-up. Furthermore, how the research findings might be disseminated 
and implemented through organizations (such as public health agencies) 
or systems, both public and private.
    E. The ability to carry out injury control research projects.
    F. The overall match between the applicant's proposed theme and 
research objectives, and the program priorities as described under the 
heading ``Programmatic Interest'' and in Injury Control in the 1990s: A 
National Plan for Action. Atlanta: Centers for Disease Control and 
Prevention, 1993; Healthy People 2000; Violence in America: A Public 
Health Approach; Understanding and Preventing Violence; and Injury 
Prevention: Meeting the Challenge.


    Note: Grant funds will not be made available to support the 
provision of direct care services. Eligible applicants may enter 
into contracts, including consortia agreements (as set forth in the 
PHS Grants Policy Statement) as necessary to meet the requirements 
of the program and strengthen the overall application.

Programmatic Interests

    The grants should concentrate on the need to prevent the morbidity, 
mortality, and disability which result from violence against women, in 
order to reduce the devastating social and economic impact on the 
nation. Applicants are encouraged to propose research which either: (1) 
Rigorously evaluates the outcomes of violence prevention strategies 
currently in use, or (2) identifies modifiable risk factors which can 
lead to the development of effective interventions. Examples of 
possible projects listed under the priority areas below are by no means 
exhaustive, and innovative approaches are encouraged. Because of time 
constraints, comments were not solicited from the general public 
regarding funding priorities and special considerations.
    In prevention, there is specific interest in research that 
evaluates the effectiveness of interventions to prevent injuries and 
deaths due to violence against women, or reduce their impact. There is 
also interest in research that develops the basic sciences of injury 
control (i.e., social and behavioral sciences, and epidemiology). This 
research might evaluate one or more different approaches to 
implementing a specific intervention strategy. In addition, there is a 
need to examine intervention strategies for which evidence of 
effectiveness is either sparse or totally lacking. Interventions chosen 
for evaluation should have a significant potential for reducing 
morbidity, mortality, disability, or cost. Special consideration will 
be given to grants which target populations at high risk for violence-
related injuries and their consequences, including adolescents, 
children, racial and ethnic minorities, urban residents, and people 
with low incomes.
    Examples of strategies for preventing violence against women which 
need to be rigorously evaluated for impact on violent outcomes include:
     Establishing protocols for early identification and 
referral of abuse victims in health settings (e.g., Are women who are 
identified as being physically or sexually abused through victim 
identification and referral protocols in hospital emergency 
departments, substance abuse and mental health centers, STD clinics, or 
prenatal care clinics less likely than others to experience future 
abuse? Do home health visits reduce partner abuse in targeted families 
and, as a consequence, reduce the likelihood that children will witness 
such violence?);
     Batterer treatment programs;
     Alcohol and drug abuse treatment services for batterers 
and victims in tandem with batterer treatment programs;
     Public information and awareness campaigns to change 
attitudes and beliefs which perpetuate violence against women (e.g., 
Can well-designed and administered public awareness campaigns change 
knowledge and attitudes that perpetuate violence against women? Are 
hotlines that provide crisis intervention counseling an effective 
mechanism for increasing the use of available services and programs?)
    In epidemiology, there is programmatic interest in analytic 
research that identifies mechanisms, causes, or risks of injury which 
might lead to new or more effective interventions for violence against 
women. Examples of potentially modifiable risk factors which should be 
examined for each area are listed below:
     Attitudes and beliefs which influence violent behavior 
against women (e.g., Are boys and men who hold attitudes conducive to 
violence against women more likely to be violent towards women? What 
role does culture play in perpetuating these attitudes?);
     The impact of early childhood experiences of violence 
(either as a witness or victim of violence) upon the tendency to 
develop violent behavior patterns in adulthood (e.g., What childhood 
experiences mitigate the harmful effects on children of witnessing 
violent acts against women? What role does past exposure to varying 
forms of violence play in repeated victimization?);
     The role of alcohol and other drugs among batterers and 
their victims;
     Factors in a dating relationship which precipitate violent 
behavior (e.g., Are young men who commit violent acts against a date 
likely to continue these behaviors?);
     Factors which precipitate battering during pregnancy.
    Also of programmatic interest is epidemiologic research having as 
its focus the development of improved methods for and the evaluation of 
injury surveillance systems that accurately quantify the incidence and 
severity of injuries that result from violence against women (e.g., 
emergency department-based surveillance of injuries due to violence 
against women). Research is needed that more accurately defines the 
cost of violence against women, from a social, physical, and 
psychological perspective (e.g., How does violence against women affect 
productivity in the workplace? How does such violence affect the cost 
of health care in general?).
    Cost analysis should be included in the plans, where appropriate, 
to evaluate an intervention(s) that addresses violence against women. A 
more complete discussion of methodologies for assessing cost analysis 
is presented in, A Framework for Assessing the Effectiveness of Disease 
and Injury Prevention, (CDC, Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, 
March 27, 1992, Volume 41, Number RR-3, pages 5-11). (To receive 
information on these reports see the section Where To Obtain Additional 
Information.)

Evaluation Criteria

    Upon receipt, applications will be screened by CDC staff for 
completeness and responsiveness as outlined under the previous heading, 
Program Requirements (A-F). Incomplete applications and applications 
that are not responsive will be returned to the applicant without 
further consideration. Applications which are complete and responsive 
may be subjected to a preliminary evaluation by a peer review group to 
determine if the application is of sufficient technical and scientific 
merit to warrant further review; the CDC will withdraw from further 
consideration applications judged to be noncompetitive and promptly 
notify the principal investigator/program director and the official 
signing for the applicant organization. Those applications judged to be 
competitive will be further evaluated by a dual review process. The 
primary review will be a peer evaluation by the Injury Research Grants 
Review Committee (IRGRC) of the scientific and technical merit of the 
application. The final review will be conducted by the CDC Advisory 
Committee for Injury Prevention and Control (ACIPC), which will 
consider the results of the peer review together with program need and 
relevance. Funding decisions will be made by the Director, National 
Center for Injury Prevention and Control (NCIPC), based on merit and 
priority score ranking by the IRGRC, program review by the ACIPC, and 
the availability of funds.
    A. The first review will be a peer review to be conducted on all 
applications. Factors to be considered will include:
    1. The specific aims of the research project, i.e., the broad long-
term objectives, the intended accomplishment of the specific research 
proposal, and the hypothesis to be tested;
    2. The background of the proposal, i.e., the basis for the present 
proposal, the critical evaluation of existing knowledge, and specific 
identification of the injury control knowledge gaps which the proposal 
is intended to fill;
    3. The significance and originality from a scientific or technical 
standpoint of the specific aims of the proposed research, including the 
adequacy of the theoretical and conceptual framework for the research;
    4. For competitive renewal and supplemental applications, the 
progress made during the prior project period. For new applications, 
(optional) the progress of preliminary studies pertinent to the 
application.
    5. The adequacy of the proposed research design, approaches, and 
methodology to carry out the research, including quality assurance 
procedures, plan for data management, and statistical analysis plan.
    6. The extent to which the evaluation plan will allow for the 
measurement of progress toward the achievement of the stated 
objectives.
    7. Qualifications, adequacy, and appropriateness of personnel to 
accomplish the proposed activities.
    8. The degree of commitment and cooperation of other interested 
parties (as evidenced by letters detailing the nature and extent of the 
involvement).
    9. The reasonableness of the proposed budget to the proposed 
research and demonstration program.
    10. Adequacy of existing and proposed facilities and resources.
    B. The second review will be conducted by the Advisory Committee 
for Injury Prevention and Control. The factors to be considered will 
include:
    1. The results of the peer review.
    2. The significance of the proposed activities in relation to the 
objectives stated in Injury Control in the 1990s: A National Plan for 
Action. Atlanta: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1993; 
Healthy People 2000; Violence in America: A Public Health Approach; 
Understanding and Preventing Violence; and Injury Prevention: Meeting 
the Challenge.
    3. National needs.
    4. Overall distribution among:
     The major disciplines of violence-related injury 
prevention: social and behavioral sciences, and epidemiology;
     Populations addressed (e.g., adolescents, minorities, the 
elderly, urban, rural); and
    5. Budgetary considerations (e.g., preference may be given to 
applicants who submit proposals requesting funding for research 
projects of one to two years) .
    C. Continued funding. Continuation awards made after FY 1994, but 
within the project period, will be made on the basis of the 
availability of funds and the following criteria:
    1. The accomplishments reflected in the progress report of the 
continuation application indicate that the applicant is meeting 
previously stated objectives or milestones contained in the project's 
annual workplan and satisfactory progress demonstrated through 
monitoring presentations or work-in-progress workshops;
    2. The objectives for the new budget period are realistic, 
specific, and measurable;
    3. The methods described will clearly lead to achievement of these 
objectives;
    4. The evaluation plan will allow management to monitor whether the 
methods are effective; and
    5. The budget request is clearly explained, adequately justified, 
reasonable and consistent with the intended use of grant funds.
    D. Supplementary funding. Competing Supplemental grant awards may 
be made when funds are available, to support research work or 
activities not previously approved by the Injury Research Grants Review 
Committee (IRGRC). Applications should be clearly labelled to denote 
their status as requesting supplemental funding support. These 
applications will be reviewed by the IRGRC and the secondary review 
group.

Executive Order 12372 Review

    Applications are not subject to the review requirements of 
Executive Order 12372, entitled Intergovernmental Review of Federal 
Programs.

Public Health System Reporting Requirement

    This program is not subject to the Public Health System Reporting 
Requirements.

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number (CFDA)

    The Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance number is 93.136.

Application Submission and Deadline

A. Preapplication Letter of Intent

    Although not a prerequisite of application, a non-binding letter of 
intent-to-apply is requested from potential applicants. The letter 
should be submitted to the Grants Management Officer (whose address is 
reflected in section B, ``Applications''). It should be postmarked no 
later than one month prior to the planned submission deadline, (e.g., 
February 15 for March 15 submission). The letter should identify the 
specific program announcement number, indicate the intended submission 
deadline, and include the name of the principal investigator. The 
letter of intent does not influence review or funding decisions, but it 
will enable CDC to plan the review more efficiently, and will ensure 
that each applicant receives timely and relevant information prior to 
application submission.

B. Applications

    Applicants should use Form PHS-398 and adhere to the ERRATA 
Instruction Sheet for Form PHS-398 contained in the Grant Application 
Kit. Please submit an original and five copies, on or before March 15, 
1994 to: Henry S. Cassell, III, Grants Management Officer, Grants 
Management Branch, Procurement and Grants Office, Centers for Disease 
Control and Prevention (CDC), 255 East Paces Ferry Road, NE., room 300, 
Atlanta, Georgia 30305.

C. Deadlines

    1. Applications shall be considered as meeting the deadline if they 
are either:
    A. Received at the above address on or before the deadline date, or
    B. Sent on or before the deadline date to the above address, and 
received in time for submission for the review process. Applicants 
should request a legibly dated U.S. Postal Service postmark or obtain a 
legibly dated receipt from a commercial carrier or the U.S. Postal 
Service. Private metered postmarks shall not be acceptable as proof of 
timely mailings.
    2. Applications which do not meet the criteria in 1.A. or 1.B. 
above are considered late applications and will be returned to the 
applicant.

Where To Obtain Additional Information

    To receive additional information, call (404) 332-4561. You will be 
asked to leave your name, address, and phone number and will need to 
refer to Announcement Number 409. You will receive a complete program 
description, information on application procedures, and application 
forms. If you have questions after reviewing the contents of all 
documents, business management technical assistance may be obtained 
from Lisa Tamaroff, Grants Management Specialist, Procurement and 
Grants Office, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 255 
East Paces Ferry Road, NE., room 300, Atlanta, GA 30305, (404) 842-
6796. Programmatic technical assistance may be obtained from Ted Jones, 
Project Officer, Extramural Research Grants Branch, National Center for 
Injury Prevention and Control, Centers for Disease Control and 
Prevention (CDC), Mailstop K-58, 4770 Buford Highway, NE., Atlanta, 
Georgia 30341-3724, (404) 488-4824.
    Potential applicants may obtain a copy of Healthy People 2000 (Full 
Report, Stock No. 017-001-00474-0) or Healthy People 2000 (Summary 
Report, Stock No. 017-001-00473-1) through the Superintendent of 
Documents, Government Printing Office, Washington, DC 20402-9325, 
telephone (202) 783-3238. Copies of Injury Control in the 1990s: A 
National Plan for Action. Atlanta: Centers for Disease Control and 
Prevention, 1993; Injury Prevention: Meeting the Challenge; and A 
Framework for Assessing the Effectiveness of Disease and Injury 
Prevention, (CDC, Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, March 27, 
1992, Volume 41, Number RR-3, pages 5-11) may be obtained by calling 
(404) 488-4646. Also, information for obtaining Violence in America: A 
Public Health Approach and Understanding and Preventing Violence can be 
received by calling the previously listed phone number (404/488-4646).

    Dated: January 4, 1994.
Ladene H. Newton,
Acting Associate Director for Management and Operations, Centers for 
Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
[FR Doc. 94-582 Filed 1-10-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4160-18-P