[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 132 (Tuesday, July 12, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-16809]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: July 12, 1994]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
[Announcement 454]

 

Cooperative Agreement To Establish a Health Promotion and Disease 
Prevention Initiative Program for African-Americans

Introduction

    The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announces the 
availability of fiscal year (FY) 1994 funds for a cooperative agreement 
program to develop a health promotion and disease prevention initiative 
to reduce preventable death, sickness, and disability; to reduce 
disparities in health; and to enhance the quality of life among 
African-Americans.
    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 and mortality 
and improve the quality of life. This announcement is related to all 
the priority areas of Healthy People 2000 as well as the 1985 
Secretary's Task Force Report on Black and Minority Health. (For 
ordering a copy of ``Healthy People 2000'' or the ``Report of the 
Secretary's Task Force on Black and Minority Health,'' see the section 
Where to Obtain Additional Information.)

Authority

    This program is authorized under Sections 301 (42 U.S.C. 241) 
and 317(k)(2) (42 U.S.C. 247b(k)(2)) of the Public Health Service 
Act, as amended, and the President's Executive Order 12876 of 1993.

Smoke-Free Workplace

    The Public Health Service strongly encourages all grant recipients 
to provide a smoke-free workplace and promote the non-use of all 
tobacco products. This is consistent with the PHS mission to protect 
and advance the physical and mental health of the American people.

Eligible Applicants

    Eligible applicants are National Minority Organizations (NMOs) and/
or Regional Minority Organizations (RMOs) which principally serve 
African-American populations. The African-American population is very 
diverse and more targeted strategies and activities are needed to 
reduce the growing health gap among this group. Consistent with the 
1985 Secretary's Task Force Report on Black and Minority Health, excess 
mortality, morbidity and disability continues to disproportionately 
affect African-Americans. A more current update of that report 
documents continuing excess deaths specifically for African-Americans. 
Eligible applicants must submit documentation to demonstrate that they 
comply with the following:
    1. Are an established tax-exempt organization (a nongovernmental, 
tax-exempt corporation or association whose net earnings in no part 
lawfully accrue to the benefit of private shareholders or individuals). 
The following is acceptable evidence of tax-exempt status: (i) A 
reference to the applicant's organization in the Internal Revenue 
Service's (IRS) most recent list of tax-exempt organizations described 
in Section 501(c)(3) of the IRS code; or (ii) a copy of a currently 
valid IRS tax exemption certificate.
    2. Have a governing body or board that is composed of more than 50% 
racial or ethnic minority group members who are representative of the 
population to be served.
    3. Have a minimum of 12 months documented experience in operating 
and centrally administering a coordinated public health or related 
program serving racial or ethnic minority populations within a major 
portion or region (multistate or multiterritory) of the United States 
through its own offices, organizational affiliates, or the 
participation of other minority organizations.
    4. Have a specific charge from the Articles of Incorporation or 
Bylaws or a resolution from its governing body or board to operate 
nationally or regionally (multistate or multiterritory) within the 
United States and its Territories.
    5. Organizations participating in the program must have agreements 
with their affiliates, chapters, or other minority organizations that 
each organization must have a governing body or board whose membership 
is composed of more than 50% racial or ethnic minority group members 
who are representative of the population to be served.

Availability of Funds

    A minimum of $100,000 is available in FY 1994 to fund one award. 
Additional funds are expected. It is expected that the award will begin 
on or about September 30, 1994, for a 12-month budget period within a 
project period of up to 5 years. Funding estimates may vary and are 
subject to change. Continuation awards within the project period will 
be made on the basis of satisfactory progress and the availability of 
funds.

Purpose

    The principal purpose of the cooperative agreement is to assist an 
NMO or RMO to establish the following three components: a Health 
Program Unit, a Speakers Bureau, and a National Health Network. This 
will allow the awardee to use these components for the following:
    Health Program Unit: The awardee will implement preventive 
strategies to improve the health of African-Americans by targeting the 
seven leading causes of excess deaths in this population. The Health 
Program Unit will also develop and implement strategies to improve the 
utilization of community health resources by African-Americans.
    Speakers Bureau: The awardee will organize a National Speakers 
Bureau of health professionals and other professionals to provide oral 
presentations on salient health promotion and disease prevention topics 
relating to African-Americans at national, State, and local meetings. 
Other organizations will have ready access to the Speakers Bureau to 
assist in improving disease prevention and health promotion activities 
in their areas.
    National Health Network: The awardee will assist minority 
organizations to: (1) Expand their internal and external organizational 
networks, and (2) facilitate the dissemination of health promotion and 
disease prevention information to African-Americans. This network will 
use the communication systems that already exist in the community to 
assist in reaching the target audience.

Program Requirements

    In conducting activities to achieve the purpose of this program, 
the recipient will be responsible for the activities under A. 
(Recipient Activities), and CDC will be responsible for the activities 
under B. (CDC Activities).

A. Recipient Activities

1. The Health Program Unit
    a. Communicate science-based health promotion and disease 
prevention strategies developed with CDC throughout African-American 
communities to improve the environment and personal health behaviors of 
those living in these communities.
    b. Assess ongoing health related activities in various communities 
to determine if African-Americans are involved, and to determine if the 
activities are appropriate for the target audience (i.e., immunization, 
STD/HIV prevention).
    c. Focus on the seven leading causes of deaths in African-American 
populations, and help design health promotion and disease prevention 
materials relevant to the populations served.
    d. Improve the utilization of the community health resources by 
African-Americans.
    e. Develop and disseminate audio-visual and written health 
promotion material for the target population.
    f. Develop quality of life measures for community members through a 
consensus building process (e.g., oral health, mental health). Inform 
the target group about health promotion and disease prevention 
activities related to the seven leading causes of deaths among African-
Americans that were found in the community.
2. The Speakers Bureau
    a. Establish a Speakers Bureau that will improve the information 
available to minority organizations concerning health promotion and 
disease prevention activities among African-Americans.
    b. Design a strategy to access and/or create a reservoir of 
professional speakers to address local, State and national audiences on 
health promotion and disease prevention needs and practices among 
African-Americans.
    c. Develop culturally specific measures to encourage African-
Americans to improve their health.
    d. Identify subject area experts who will address and integrate the 
structural units of health: physical, social, and psychological well-
being. Develop a consensus building strategy to educate the community 
about the overlapping influence of these three health components.
    e. Develop an effective mechanism through community based 
organizations (CBOs), radio, television, or open forum to communicate 
current/updated information on health promotion and disease prevention 
to individuals and groups in African-American communities.
    f. Develop a mechanism to advance health promotion and disease 
prevention activities among members of community groups, health 
practitioners, educators, advocacy groups, health professions, health 
professional schools, and public schools. Share the information at 
national conventions and meetings.
3. The National Health Network
    a. Identify national, State/district and local African-American 
groups to collaborate with the CDC and State and local health 
departments.
    b. Establish a distribution system to disseminate health promotion 
and disease prevention information.
    c. Collaborate with national minority health professional 
associations, community based organizations, and PHS agencies to 
develop an effective plan to implement health promotion and disease 
prevention activities in the African-American communities (e.g., 
immunization).

B. CDC Activities

    1. Provide consultation, assistance and support to the grantee in 
planning, implementing and evaluating all aspects of the agreement.
    2. Collaborate with the grantee in identifying areas of the project 
that need evaluation.
    3. Collaborate with grantee in identifying priority needs for 
public health programs at the local, State, and national levels.
    4. Collaborate with the grantee in developing, testing and 
validating more effective and efficient disease prevention and health 
promotion models to African-Americans.
    5. Collaborate with grantee and other concerned parties in 
workshops and conferences to exchange current information, opinions and 
findings in fields of public health and minority health.

Evaluation Criteria

    Applications will be reviewed and evaluated according to the 
following criteria:

A. Applicant's Understanding of the Problem (15%)

    The extent to which the applicant has a clear, concise 
understanding of the requirements, objectives, and purpose of the 
cooperative agreement. The extent to which the application reflects an 
understanding of the complexities surrounding health promotion, health 
disparities and health promotion issues, that have an impact in the 
African-American community.

B. Organizational Experience (30%)

    The extent to which the applicant has demonstrated skill and 
experience in working effectively with community based projects, and 
has the ability to establish meaningful relationships with various 
community based organizations. The applicant must demonstrate 
experience in providing leadership for community projects at the 
national, State and local levels. The applicant must provide proof of 
experience in sharing financial or technical resources with CBOs, 
affiliates, and chapters that provide a variety of services directly to 
racial and ethnic minority populations.

C. Approach and Capability (40%)

    The extent to which the applicant has included a description of 
their approach and track record on developing a network which includes 
the various segments of the African-American community at national, 
State and local levels. The grantee must demonstrate geographical 
distributions, and their ability to influence policy of the various 
community groups.

D. Program Personnel (15%)

    The adequacy of the description for present staff and capabilities 
of the organization to assemble culturally competent and trained staff 
to conduct all three components proposed in this health promotion and 
disease prevention initiative. The applicant shall identify all current 
and potential personnel who will be utilized to work on this 
cooperative agreement, including qualifications and specific experience 
as it relates to the requirements set forth in this request. The 
organization must provide proof that their program and administrative 
staff and the program and administrative staff of affiliates and 
participating organizations involved in the project are representative 
of the communities and population to be served.

E. Budget Justification and Adequacy of Facilities (not scored)

    The budget will be evaluated for the extent to which it is 
reasonable, clearly justified, and consistent with the intended use of 
cooperative agreement funds.

F. Evidence of Compliance With Eligibility Requirements

    Each applicant must provide documentation that they comply with all 
eligibility requirements specified under the ``Eligible Applicants'' 
section. Failure to provide this documentation will result in 
disqualification. It is suggested that each applicant provide a 
separate section in their application entitled ``eligibility 
narrative.''

Executive Order 12372

    Applications are not subject to review by Executive Order 12372, 
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

    The Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number is 93.283.

Other Requirement

Human Subjects

    If the proposed project involves research on human subjects, the 
applicant must comply with the Department of Health and Human Services 
Regulations, 45 CFR Part 46, regarding the protection of human 
subjects. Assurance must be provided to demonstrate that the project 
will be subject to initial and continuing review by an appropriate 
institutional review committee. The applicant will be responsible for 
providing assurance in accordance with the appropriate guidelines and 
forms provided in the application kit.

Application Submission and Deadline

    The original and two copies of the application PHS Form 5161-1 must 
be submitted to Clara M. Jenkins, Grants Management Officer, Grants 
Management Branch, Procurement and Grants Office, Centers for Disease 
Control and Prevention (CDC), 255 East Paces Ferry Road, NE., Room 320, 
Mail Stop E-15, Atlanta, GA 30305, on or before August 15, 1994.
    1. Deadlines: Applications shall be considered as meeting the 
deadline if they are either:
    (a) Received on or before the deadline date; or
    (b) Sent on or before the deadline date and received in time for 
submission to the objective review group. (Applicants must request a 
legibly dated U.S. Postal Service postmark or obtain a legibly dated 
receipt from a commercial carrier or U.S. Postal Service. Private 
metered postmarks shall not be acceptable as proof of timely mailing.)
    2. Late Applications: Applications which do not meet the criteria 
in 1.(a) or 1.(b) above are considered late applications. Late 
applications will not be considered in the current competition and will 
be returned unread to the applicant.

Where To Obtain Additional Information

    A complete program description, information on application 
procedures, application package and business management technical 
assistance may be obtained from Van Malone, Grants Management 
Specialist, Grants Management Branch, Procurement and Grants Office, 
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 255 East Paces Ferry 
Road, NE., Room 320, Mail Stop E-15, Atlanta, Georgia 30305, telephone 
(404) 842-6872. Programmatic technical assistance may be obtained from 
Karen Harris, Staff Specialist for Minority Health, Office of the 
Director, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 1600 
Clifton Road, Mail Stop D-39, Atlanta, GA 30333, telephone (404) 639-
0029.
    Please refer to Announcement Number 454 when requesting information 
and submitting an application.
    Potential applicants may obtain a copy of ``Healthy People 2000'' 
(Full Report, Stock No. 017-001-00474-0), ``Healthy People 2000'' 
(Summary Report, Stock No. 017-001-00473-1) or ``Report of the 
Secretary's Task Force on Black and Minority Health'' (Full report, 
Stock No. 491-313-44706) referenced in the ``Introduction'' through the 
Superintendent of Documents, Government Printing Office, Washington, 
DC, 20402-9325, telephone (202) 783-3238.

    Dated: July 6, 1994.
Martha Katz,
Acting Associate Director for Management and Operations, Centers for 
Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
[FR Doc. 94-16809 Filed 7-11-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4163-18-P