[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 44 (Tuesday, March 5, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 8633-8635]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-5119]



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

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES-
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration


Cosponsorship of the Caring for Every Child's Mental Health: 
Communities Together Campaign

AGENCY: Center for Mental Health Services, Substance Abuse and Mental 
Health Services Administration, HHS.

ACTION: Notice of opportunity for cosponsorship.

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

SUMMARY: The Center for Mental Health Services (CMHS), a component of 
the 

[[Page 8634]]
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), 
announces the opportunity for for-profit and nonprofit organizations to 
cosponsor the Caring for Every Child's Mental Health: Communities 
Together Campaign.

DATES: To receive consideration, requests to participate as a cosponsor 
must be received by Ms. Charlotte Mehuron, Director, Office of External 
Liaison, CMHS, Parklawn Building, Room 13-103, 5600 Fishers Lane, 
Rockville, Maryland 20857; Fax (301) 443-5163. There are no deadlines 
applicable to this cosponsorship opportunity.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Valna Montgomery, Project Officer, 
Office of External Liaison, CMHS, Parklawn Building, Room 13-103, 5600 
Fishers Lane, Rockville, Maryland 20857; (301) 443-2792.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    America's young people are at risk, and they desperately need the 
Nation's attention. Preliminary studies suggest that, at any given 
time, at least one in five children and adolescents may have 
behavioral, emotional, or mental health problems that, without help, 
can lead to school failure, alcohol and other drug use, family discord, 
or violence. At least 1 in 20--or as many as 3 million young people--
may have a serious emotional disturbance that disrupts his or her 
ability to function. Tragically, an estimated two-thirds of all these 
young people are not getting the help they need.
    Recognizing the need for increased national awareness of and 
support for children and adolescents with mental health problems and 
their families, the CMHS initiated a 4-year national education campaign 
in October 1994. The campaign, Caring for Every Child's Mental Health: 
Communities Together, hereinafter called Children's Campaign, is 
managed by the CMHS Office of External Liaison in collaboration with 
the Child, Adolescent and Family Branch, Division of Demonstration 
Programs, CMHS. CMHS is also collaborating with the National Institute 
of Mental Health, a component of the National Institutes of Health 
(NIH) and the Maternal and Child Health Bureau in the Health Resources 
and Services Administration (HRSA). SAMHSA, HRSA, and NIH are agencies 
in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
    The goals of the Children's Campaign are to: (1) Increase public 
awareness that the mental health of every child and adolescent is as 
important as physical health; (2) help families, educators, health care 
and social service professionals, and others recognize mental health 
problems in children and adolescents, and seek appropriate intervention 
and services early; (3) diminish the stigma associated with mental 
health problems; (4) assist and support the Comprehensive Community 
Mental Health Services for Children Program grantees with their 
community-based education; and (5) nationally disseminate knowledge 
gained from model programs and science-based research.

Requirements of Cosponsorship

    The Children's Campaign is seeking partnership with one or more 
public and private for-profit and nonprofit organizations to develop 
and distribute information to effectively impart the Children's 
Campaign messages to target groups, such as children and adolescents 
and their families; teachers, counselors, and principals; youth 
organizations; primary care providers and mental health care 
professionals; government agencies; community organizations; and the 
general public. The Campaign messages are:
     Every child's mental health is important.
     Many children have mental health problems.
     These problems are real and painful and can be recognized 
and treated.
     Caring families and communities working together can help.
     Information is available; call (800) 789-2647.
    CMHS will reserve the right to determine the form and content of 
the information provided to the target groups. We envision 
cosponsorship with a wide variety of organizations concerned about 
children and adolescents with mental health problems and their families 
in the development and dissemination of information. The duties of the 
cosponsors may include such activities as implementation of an 
information campaign for dissemination of the Children's Campaign 
messages, including but not limited to, printing brochures or booklets; 
production of public service announcements or videos; press briefings 
and media events; and production and distribution of other materials, 
such as posters, flyers, paid advertising, and an exhibit designed for 
young people, families, educators or health care providers.

Availability of Funds

    There are no Federal funds available to conduct the cosponsored 
activities for the Children's Campaign. It will be the unilateral 
responsibility of the cosponsor(s) to bear all costs.

Eligibility of Cosponsorship

    To be eligible, an interested party must be: (1) A public or 
private nonprofit or for-profit organization or corporation and (2) an 
entity that, by virtue of its nature and purpose, has a legitimate 
interest in the target groups.

Expression of Interest

    Each request for cosponsorship should be in writing and contain 
information pertinent to the cosponsorship opportunity.

Evaluation Criteria

    The cosponsors will be selected by the Children's Campaign 
management staff, CMHS, based on the following evaluation criteria: (1) 
The qualifications and capability of the interested party to develop 
and produce materials for dissemination of the Children's Campaign 
messages to the target population, and (2) the ability of the 
interested party to arrange for funding for development and 
dissemination of Children's Campaign information materials or messages.
    Neither this notice nor actions pursuant thereto, creates a 
proprietary right or right of any kind in any natural or artificial 
person requesting cosponsorship. CMHS has the unilateral right to 
refuse to enter into a cosponsorship arrangement with any entity; 
exercise of this right is solely within the discretion of CMHS.

Other Information

    Prior to the selection of the cosponsors, the Children's Campaign 
staff will meet separately with interested parties who best meet the 
evaluation criteria. In situations where the Food and Drug 
Administration (FDA) regulates the labeling of products manufactured by 
cosponsors, the inclusion of the Children's Campaign logo on such 
products will be subject to FDA review and may require agency 
authorization, depending on how and the context in which the logo is to 
be used. Moreover, other Federal agencies may be involved in the 
cosponsorship process. Furthermore, as a general rule, restrictions 
will apply to the use of the Children's Campaign logo or other indicia, 
to avoid suggestions that DHHS, or any other department or agency of 
the Federal Government, endorses any of the products involved in the 
Children's Campaign. Once details of the program have been mutually 
agreed upon, cosponsors will be required to enter into a cosponsorship 
agreement with the 

[[Page 8635]]
CMHS setting forth the rights and responsibilities of the cosponsor and 
CMHS, especially the right of CMHS to approve the Children's Campaign 
messages and use of the Campaign logo.

    Dated: February 29, 1996.
Richard Kopanda,
Acting Executive Officer, SAMHSA.
[FR Doc. 96-5119 Filed 3-4-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4162-20-P