[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 66 (Wednesday, April 6, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-8154]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: April 6, 1994]


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Part VII





Department of Health and Human Services





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Public Health Service



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General Family Planning Training Projects; Grant Availability; Notice
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Public Health Service
RIN 0905-ZA30

 

Announcement of Availability of Grants for General Family 
Planning Training Projects

AGENCY: Office of Family Planning, OPA, PHS.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Office of Family Planning (OFP) of the Office of 
Population Affairs requests applications for grants under the Family 
Planning Service Training Program authorized under section 1003 of the 
Public Health Service (PHS) Act (42 U.S.C. 300a-1(a)). Funds are 
available to train family planning personnel in order to maintain the 
high level of performance of family planning services projects funded 
under Title X of the PHS Act. Training is provided at general training 
centers in the ten Department of Health & Human Services' (DHHS) 
regions.

ADDRESS: Application kits may be obtained from and applications must be 
submitted to: Grants Management Office, Office of Population Affairs, 
East-West Towers, suite N1115, Rockville, MD 20857.

DATES: Applications must be postmarked or received at the above address 
no later than June 6, 1994. Private metered postmarks will not be 
acceptable as proof of timely mailing. Applications which are 
postmarked or delivered to the Grants Management Office later than June 
6, 1994 will be judged late and will not be accepted for review. 
Applications which do not conform to the requirements of the program 
announcement or meet the applicable requirements of 42 CFR part 59, 
subpart C will not be accepted for review. Applicants will be notified, 
and applications will be returned.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Sam Taylor, Acting Director, 
Office of Family Planning at (301) 594-4008 is available for assistance 
on scientific, technical and program aspects, or Mrs. Barbara N. 
Rosenberg, Grants Management Officer at (301) 594-4012 is available for 
business management issues. Staff are available to answer questions and 
provide limited technical assistance in the preparation of grant 
applications.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Title X of the PHS Act, 42 U.S.C. 300, et 
seq., authorizes the Secretary of Health and Human Services to award 
grants for projects to provide training for family planning service 
personnel. (Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number 93.260). This 
notice announces the availability of approximately $2.7 million in 
funding and solicits applications for ten general training projects to 
assist in the establishment and operation of regional training centers. 
Grants will be funded within certain ranges, as set out below. The 
funding ranges for the regions are determined based on the assessment 
of the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Population Affairs (DASPA) of the 
regions' relative need for training funds; funding of individual grants 
within each funding range will be based on the DASPA's assessment of 
such factors as the training needs within the region and the cost and 
availability of personnel for funding.
    The training projects are as follows:
    One general training grant for DHHS Region I (Connecticut, Maine, 
Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont). A funding 
range of $181,500-$200,600 is available for this grant.
    One general training grant for DHHS Region II (New Jersey, New 
York, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands). A funding range of 
$288,500-$318,900 is available for this grant.
    One general training grant for DHHS Region III (Delaware, Maryland, 
Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia and the District of Columbia). A 
funding range of $299,500-$331,000 is available for this grant.
    One general training grant for DHHS Region IV (Alabama, Florida, 
Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, N. Carolina, S. Carolina and 
Tennessee). A funding range of $350,300-$387,200 is available for this 
grant.
    One general training grant for DHHS Region V (Illinois, Indiana, 
Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, Wisconsin). A funding range of $315,400-
$348,600 is available for this grant.
    One general training grant for DHHS Region VI (Arkansas, Louisiana, 
New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas). A funding range of $269,800-$298,200 is 
available for this grant.
    One general training grant for DHHS Region VII (Iowa, Kansas, 
Missouri, Nebraska). A funding range of $168,400-$186,100 is available 
for this grant.
    One general training grant for DHHS Region VIII (Colorado, Montana, 
N. Dakota, S. Dakota, Utah, Wyoming). A funding range of $169,300-
$187,100 is available for this grant.
    One general training grant for DHHS Region IX (Arizona, California, 
Hawaii, Nevada, American Samoa, Federated States of Micronesia, 
Republic of Marshall Islands, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana 
Islands, Republic of Palau and Guam). A funding range of $252,200-
$278,700 is available for this grant.
    One general training grant for DHHS Region X (Alaska, Idaho, 
Oregon, Washington). A funding range of $154,900-$171,200 is available 
for this grant.

Statutory and Regulatory Background

    Title X of the PHS Act, enacted by Public Law 91-572, authorizes 
grants for projects to provide family planning services to persons from 
low-income families and others. Section 1001 of the Act, as amended, 
authorizes grants ``to assist in the establishment and operation of 
voluntary family planning projects which shall offer a broad range of 
acceptable and effective family planning methods and services, 
(including natural family planning methods, infertility services, and 
services for adolescents).'' Section 1003 of the Act, as amended, 
authorizes the Secretary to make grants to entities to provide the 
training for personnel to carry out the family planning services 
programs.
    The regulations set out at 42 CFR part 59, subpart C, govern grants 
for family planning services training. Prospective applicants should 
refer to the regulations in their entirety.

Role and Operation of the Training Program

    Under the regulations, ``training'' means job-specific skill 
development. Continuing education activities that are innovative or 
non-traditional are encouraged. The development or use of self-paced, 
self-instructional or mediated training materials which utilize 
technological advancements in the learning field are also acceptable.
    The purpose of the general training program is to provide short-
term training, continuing education, inservice education and staff 
development for personnel to improve or maintain at a high level the 
performance of Title X family planning services providers.
    Successful applicants will be required to work closely with a 
network of other PHS agencies, including the central and regional 
office staffs, Title X service delivery providers, and regional 
training advisory committees which provide representation from all 
service grantees. Successful applicants will be required to review and 
consider policy and program goals of the Title X family planning 
program, solicit advice from the regional training advisory committee, 
and consult with Title X service delivery providers about training 
priorities, course content, and curriculum. Because of outcomes from 
the community planning process and emphasis on community involvement, 
successful applicants should also stress mechanisms that solicit input 
from the ``customer,'' both clinician and client.
    In developing their curricula and training schedules, general 
training programs supported under this announcement should be sensitive 
to the importance of supporting the program priorities of the Title X 
services program, which include:
     Expansion of current clinic sites and development of new 
clinics in high need areas;
     Outreach to low-income women, adolescents and persons at 
high risk of unintended pregnancy or infection with STD (including HIV) 
not now receiving family planning services;
     Increased emphasis on services to adolescents, including 
enhanced counseling as well as new service arrangements for providing 
services to teens;
     Increased focus on quality and comprehensiveness of 
services, including treatment of STD's, screening for cervical cancer 
and prevention of breast cancer, substance abuse counseling, and 
counseling on avoidance of high risk behavior which may place clients 
at risk for STD and HIV, and
     Increased emphasis on training and retention of Family 
Planning nurse practitioners, particularly minority nurse practitioners 
and those working in clinics serving high risk populations.
    Training programs should also be sensitive to the need to focus 
training on emerging priorities, such as the revised Title X Guidelines 
(when issued), the requirements of the Americans With Disabilities Act, 
health care reform, changes in delivery of traditional family planning 
in nontraditional sites and program data reporting requirements 
currently under revision.
    The application should set out how the general training program 
will address the national health objectives relating to family planning 
that are discussed in section 5 of the PHS document, Healthy People 
2000. In the context of Healthy People 2000, attention should be given 
to training which would enable trainees to: Work more effectively to 
reduce teen pregnancy; reduce unintended pregnancy among all women; 
reduce the initiation of sexual activity by teenagers; increase the 
effectiveness of contraception, including barrier contraception, among 
all women; implement pre-conception care; and reduce sexually 
transmitted diseases, including HIV.
    Successful applicants will be responsible for the overall 
management of a general training program within the geographic area for 
which the grant is made. This responsibility includes:
     Developing an annual training plan, which reflects 
national and regional goals and the training needs of local Title X 
service grantees;
     Developing criteria for selection of staff for training, 
including prerequisite qualifications. Such criteria should reflect a 
sensitivity to the unique needs of grantees for certain types of 
training, priority for trainees serving rural areas or Health 
Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs), or other relevant factors;
     Developing a process to review training applications 
submitted by Title X services grantee personnel. Training grantees will 
make the final decision about candidates' suitability for training, 
applying the criteria discussed above;
     Maintaining data on general training characteristics 
sufficient to allow evaluation by central and regional offices, and 
self-evaluation by the training grantees;
     Developing and implementing general training plans and 
continuing professional education programs which include measurable 
objectives;
     Sharing materials developing with other training programs 
so as to avoid unnecessary duplication of effort. All materials 
developed with Title X funds must be made available at cost to other 
Title X projects upon request;
     Facilitating trainees' receipt of continuing education 
units where appropriate, and
     Planning an annual continuing education conference and 
attending at least one national training meeting annually.

Application Requirements

    Applications must be submitted on the forms supplied (PHS-5161-1) 
(OMB Approval No. 0937-0189) and in the manner prescribed in the 
application kits available from the Office of Grants Management. 
Applicants are required to submit an application signed by an 
individual authorized to act for the applicant agency or organization 
and to assume for the organization the obligations imposed by the terms 
and conditions of the grant award. Applicants are required to submit an 
original application and two copies.
    Accepted applications will be subjected to a competitive review 
process. The results of this review will assist the Deputy Assistant 
Secretary for Population Affairs in considering competing applications 
and in making the final funding decisions.
    Any public or private nonprofit organization or agency is eligible 
to apply for a grant. It is not required that an entity applying for a 
grant be physically located in the region to be served by the proposed 
project.
    A copy of the legislation and regulations governing this program 
will be sent to applicants as part of the application kit package. 
Applicants should use the legislation, regulations and information 
included in this announcement to guide them in developing their 
applications. Applications should be limited to 50 doubled-spaced 
pages, not including appendices providing curriculum vitae or 
statements of organizational capabilities. Awards will be made only to 
those applicants who have met all applicable requirements.
    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 which involves the establishment and 
pursuit of goals designed to prevent disease and promote health. This 
announcement is related to the priority areas of Family Planning and 
Educational and Community-Based Programs. 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 20402-0325. (Telephone (202) 783-3238.)

Grant Award

    Eligible competing grant applications will be reviewed and assessed 
against the following criteria:
    1. The extent to which the proposed training program will increase 
the delivery of services to Title X clients, particularly persons from 
low-income families. (15 points)
    2. The extent to which the proposed training program has the 
potential to fulfill the training needs of the family planning services 
grantees in the areas to be served, which may include among other 
things:
    a. Development of a capability within family planning services 
projects to provide pre- and in-service training to their own staffs;
    b. Improvement of the family planning service delivery skills of 
family planning and health services personnel; and
    c. Improvement in the utilization and career development of 
paraprofessional and paramedical manpower in family planning services.
    Total consideration for a, b, and c. (15 points)
    3. The extent to which the training program proposes appropriate 
strategies to improve the provision of family planning services in 
rural areas and HPSAs. (15 points)
    4. The capacity of the applicant to make rapid and effective use of 
the training grant. (10 points)
    5. The administrative and management capability and competence of 
the applicant. (15 points)
    6. The competence of the project staff and/or trainers in relation 
to the services to be provided. (15 points)
    7. The degree to which the project plan adequately provides for the 
requirements set forth in 42 CFR 59.205, including the applicant's 
presentation of the project's objectives, the methods for achieving 
project objectives, the ability to involve providers and the regional 
office, and the results or benefits expected. (15 points)
    In making grant award decisions the Deputy Assistant Secretary for 
Population Affairs (DASPA) will fund those projects which will in his 
judgment best promote the purposes of section 1003 of the Act, within 
the limits of funds available for such projects.
    Grants will be approved for project periods of up to 5 years. 
Grants are funded in annual increments (budget periods). Funding for 
all approved budget periods beyond the first year of the grant is 
contingent upon satisfactory progress of the project, efficient and 
effective use of grant funds provided, and availability of funds.

Review Under Executive Order 12372

    Applicants under this announcement are subject to the review 
requirements of Executive Order 12372, State Review of Applications for 
Federal Financial Assistance, as implemented by 45 CFR part 100. As 
soon as possible, the applicant should discuss the project with the 
State Single Point of Contact (SPOC) for each State in the area to be 
served. The application kit contains the currently available listing of 
the SPOCs which have elected to be informed of the submission of 
applications. For those States not represented on the listing, further 
inquiries should be made by the applicant regarding the submission to 
the relevant SPOC. The SPOC's comment(s) should be forwarded to the 
Grants Management Office, Office of Population Affairs, East-West 
Towers, suite N1115, 5600 Fishers Lane, Rockville, MD 20857. Such 
comments must be received by the Office of Population Affairs by June 
6, 1994 to be considered.
    When final funding decisions have been made, each applicant will be 
notified by letter of the outcome. The official document notifying an 
applicant that a project application has been approved for funding is 
the Notice of Grant Award, which specifies to the grantee the amount of 
money awarded, the purposes of the grant, and terms and conditions of 
the grant award.

    Dated: February 22, 1994.
Gerald J. Bennett,
Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary for Population Affairs.
[FR Doc. 94-8154 Filed 4-5-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4160-17-M