[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 217 (Thursday, November 7, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 57689-57691]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-28638]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Availability of Funds to Provide Technical and Non-financial 
Assistance to Federally Funded Migrant Health Centers

AGENCY: Health Resources and Services Administration, HHS.

ACTION: Notice of availability of funds.

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CFDA #: 93.129.


[[Page 57690]]


SUMMARY: The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) 
anticipates that approximately $1.1 million will be available in FY 
1997 to support two cooperative agreements for the purpose of providing 
technical and non-financial assistance to Migrant Health Centers (MHCs) 
receiving funding under Section 330(g) of the Public Health Service 
(PHS) Act.
    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 for setting health priorities. These 
cooperative agreements are related to the objectives cited for special 
populations, particularly people with low income and minorities, which 
constitute a significant portion of the migrant and seasonal farmworker 
(MSFW) population. 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, 
D.C. 20402-9325 (telephone 202/783-3238).
    The PHS strongly encourages all cooperative agreement recipients to 
provide a smoke-free workplace and promote the non-use of all tobacco 
products. In addition, Public Law 103-227, the Pro-Children Act of 
1994, prohibits smoking in certain facilities (or in some cases, any 
portion of a facility) in which regular or routine education, library, 
day care, health care or early childhood development services are 
provided to children.

DATES: Applications are due December 9, 1996. Applications will be 
considered to have met the deadline if they are: (1) received on/or 
before the deadline date; or (2) postmarked on/or before the deadline 
date and received in time for submission to the review committee. 
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 are not acceptable as proof 
of timely mailing. Faxed copies of applications will not be accepted. 
Applications received after the announced closing date will not be 
considered for funding.

ADDRESSES: Application kits (PHS form 5161-1 with revised face sheets 
DHHS Form 424, as approved by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) 
under control number 0937--0189), may be obtained from: HRSA Grants 
Application Center, Suite 100, 40 W. Gude Drive, Rockville, MD 20850. 
The telephone number is toll-free 1-888-300-HRSA. The e-mail address is 
[email protected]. Completed applications for awards for the 
provision of technical and other non-financial assistance to MHCs must 
be sent to: HRSA Grants Application Center at the above address. For 
information on grants management issues, please contact the Grants 
Management Specialist, Nancy Benson, at 301/594-4232.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For general program information and 
information about these technical assistance funds, contact Jack Egan, 
Deputy Director, Migrant Health Program (MHP), 4350 East-West Highway, 
Room 7-4A2, Bethesda, MD 20814 (301) 594-4303 ([email protected]) or 
Susan Hagler at the same address and phone number 
([email protected]).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: One cooperative agreement of up to $750,000 
will be for a national clearinghouse on MSFW health issues. The 
``clearinghouse'' grantee will provide technical assistance that helps 
MHCs increase access to health care for MSFWs. The grantee will develop 
such products as a MHC directory and a newsletter, establish a toll 
free health center referral line, and serve as a repository for MSFW 
health issues. The other cooperative agreement of up to $325,000 will 
be for a clinical network for clinicians serving MSFWs. The ``clinical 
network'' grantee will provide technical assistance that helps 
farmworker clinicians give the best possible care to MSFWs. The grantee 
will develop such products as a clinical newsletter, bilingual patient 
education materials, new provider orientation materials and will 
establish a network of clinical colleagues upon whom to call when 
needed. These cooperative agreements will be awarded under section 
330(k) of the PHS Act (42 U.S.C. 254b (k)) with a budget period of one 
year and a project period of up to five years.
    There are an estimated 3 to 5 million farmworkers in the United 
States who experience multiple health problems associated with the 
nature of farm labor and numerous barriers to accessing primary health 
care and human services. The health of MSFWs is a major concern of the 
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Section 330(k) of 
the PHS Act authorizes Federal funding for the provision of 
comprehensive primary health services, supplemental health services, 
referral to providers for supplemental services, environmental health 
services, accident prevention programs, and information on the 
availability and proper use of health services and services which 
promote optimal use of health services by MSFWs and their families. 
MHCs must provide services which are accessible, affordable, and 
appropriate for the population served.
    Often, however, the staff of MHCs feel very isolated from each 
other and the health care environment in which they are working. MHCs 
are expected to be part of comprehensive systems of care through 
networking with local health departments and other providers of 
services in the community. Yet this can be a difficult task to 
accomplish, given the size of most MHCs. For this reason, the Bureau of 
Primary Health Care (BPHC) provides funding for technical and non-
financial assistance for the MHCs.
    The two grantees will help the MHCs keep abreast of the latest 
health issues facing MSFWs, both clinically and administratively. They 
will help the clinicians and administrators of the MHCs coordinate care 
and network resources for a population that is desperately in need. 
Finally, these grantees will provide MHCs with access to information 
and other MHCs so that together they can improve the health of MSFWs.

Eligible Applicants

    Eligible applicants for the technical assistance cooperative 
agreement are public and private nonprofit entities.

Criteria for Evaluating Applications

    Applications will be evaluated and rated on the applicant's ability 
to meet the following criteria:
    (1) The extent to which the applicant demonstrates an adequate 
understanding of the total health needs of MSFWs;
    (2) The extent to which the applicant demonstrates a capability to 
serve as a resource to federally funded Migrant Health Centers/Projects 
to maximize collaboration, identify and integrate resources in 
assisting farmworkers;
    (3) Experience of the proposed project personnel in working with 
migrant farmworker health issues;
    (4) The adequacy and appropriateness of the proposed work plan that 
addresses specific Migrant Health Program priorities and focuses on the 
outcomes as well as the methodology to be employed;
    (5) Appropriateness of proposed budget and staffing;

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    (6) Adequacy of the proposal to evaluate the outcomes of the 
activities proposed; and
    (7) The cost effectiveness of the application.

Federal Responsibilities Under Cooperative Agreements

    Federal responsibilities under the cooperative agreement, in 
addition to the usual monitoring and technical assistance, will 
include: (1) Participation in the development and approval of an 
initial workplan, in accord with changing events in government policies 
and in the health care environment, and modification thereof, as 
appropriate; (2) consultation and cooperation with the grantee 
regarding the grantee's preparation and dissemination of materials; and 
(3) approval of specific studies and projects.

Other Award Information

    These awards are not subject to the provision of Executive Order 
12372 or the Public Health System Reporting Requirement.

    Dated: November 1, 1996.
Ciro V. Sumaya,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 96-28638 Filed 11-6-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4160-15-P