[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 172 (Wednesday, September 4, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Page 46659]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-22433]



[[Page 46659]]

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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Division of Nursing's Third Minority Congress; ``Caring for the 
Emerging Majority: A Blueprint in Action''

AGENCY: Health Resources and Services Administration, HHS.

ACTION: Request for team proposals.

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SUMMARY: The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), 
Bureau of Health Professions (BHPr), Division of Nursing (DN), 
announces plans for a Third Minority Congress and requests team 
proposals that will be the basis for selection of attendees at the 
Congress. The Third Congress, ``Caring for the Emerging Majority: A 
Blueprint in Action,'' will bring together approximately 100 minority 
nurses and community leaders from across the country to further the 
development of an agenda for meeting the health care needs of the 
emerging majority. This is a national invitational meeting. Attendees 
will be invited participants selected from teams submitting the most 
promising proposals to advance this agenda. Teams will receive advice 
from experts in the field and receive assistance with writing a strong 
proposal which may be submitted to other funding sources for funding 
consideration. DN is soliciting proposals from teams composed of 
minority nurse leaders and others who have entered into partnerships 
with key community leaders committed to enhancing the health care of 
minority and underserved populations. These proposals will be reviewed 
and evaluated by a DN Selection Committee. Team members from selected 
proposals will be invited to attend the Congress. Each proposal must 
address one of the three themes of the Congress (see Supplementary 
Information section).

DATES: Proposals must be submitted to the Division of Nursing, Bureau 
of Health Professions, Health Resources and Services Administration, 
5600 Fishers Lane, Parklawn Building, Room 9-36, Rockville, Maryland 
20857, on or before October 18, 1996. FAXED proposals will not be 
accepted. The Congress will be held in Denver, Colorado on May 28 to 
30, 1997.

ADDRESSES: The review of proposals and actual selection of teams to be 
invited to attend the Congress will occur on November 6, 1996 at the 
Parklawn Building, Division of Nursing, 5600 Fishers Lane, Room 9-36, 
Rockville, Maryland 20857.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Captain Audrey M. Koertvelyessy, Nurse 
Consultant, Division of Nursing, at telephone number (301) 443-6333; or 
E-mail address at [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: One of the national strategic directions 
identified by the Division of Nursing is to enhance racial and ethnic 
diversity and cultural competence in the nursing workforce. Two 
Minority Congresses held in 1992 and 1993 identified a series of 
important recommendations in the areas of policy, legislation, 
practice, research, and education. These recommendations revolved 
around key issues of concern which affect the health of the emerging 
majority and underserved populations in the country. The Third Minority 
Congress will build on the two previous Congresses.
    In preparation for the Third Minority Congress, a national planning 
committee of minority nurse leaders was assembled to identify critical 
issues and areas of concern in implementing a national agenda, and to 
plan the design for the Third Minority Congress. The themes of the 
Third Minority Congress are to increase the recruitment, retention, and 
graduation of minority students in schools of nursing; to increase the 
numbers of well prepared minority nurse leaders; and to develop the 
cultural competency of all nurses to care for the emerging majority 
populations in the Nation.
    The participants selected to attend the Congress will consist of 
teams composed of minority nurse leaders and identified key community 
leaders. Community leaders should be identified as key stakeholders 
committed to enhancing the health care of minority and underserved 
populations. Teams may be composed of 3-5 members with five serving as 
the maximum number per team. Each team roster should include at least 
one minority nurse who is in the early phase of her/his career 
development as a leader. Other team members should be those individuals 
(this includes both nurses and non-nurses) who can contribute to the 
successful implementation of the proposed action plan contained in the 
proposal. A rationale for each member's presence on the team should be 
provided in the narrative. A diverse team membership that is 
appropriate to accomplishing the goals of the proposal is strongly 
encouraged. All team members from each team selected must be able to 
attend the entire Congress.
    Each proposal should address an issue or problem and describe its 
relationship to one of the three main themes of the Congress. The 
proposal may be in a preliminary state when submitted to the Division 
of Nursing for review since it is expected that the Congress workshops 
will assist teams in refining their proposals. The originality of the 
approach as described in the proposal will be considered in the final 
evaluation and selection to attend the Congress.
    The team proposals should be limited to 3-5 written pages in 
length. Each proposal should contain the following: Title of the 
proposal; identification with the name, title, address, phone, Internet 
and FAX number of the primary contact person on the team; 
identification of each team member and rationale for being on the team; 
description of issue or problem to be addressed; objectives; outcome 
measures; methodology; and an evaluation plan.
    A Selection Committee within the Division of Nursing will review 
and evaluate each proposal received. Criteria used to evaluate each 
proposal and the weights assigned to each element are as follows:

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                                                                  Points
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Presence of at least one minority nurse team member at                  
 beginning of career...........................................        5
Diverse team membership appropriate to meeting goals described.       15
Objectives and methodology appropriate to the stated problem/           
 issue described...............................................       25
The proposal shows a relationship to one of the three main              
 themes of the Congress........................................        5
Proposal problem/issue is described............................       20
Outcome measures of success are described......................       15
Originality of proposal problem/issue..........................       15
                                                                --------
                                                                     100
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    The Selection Committee will meet to evaluate the proposals on 
November 6, 1996. Selected teams will be notified by November 29, 1996.
    Travel and per diem expenses to attend the Congress in May 1997 
will be provided for selected teams. The team proposals will contribute 
to the national agenda, which when implemented, will further the 
national goal of caring for the emerging majority populations in the 
Nation.

    Dated: August 27, 1996.
Ciro V. Sumaya,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 96-22433 Filed 9-3-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4160-15-P