[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 133 (Friday, July 11, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 37273-37274]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-18123]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration


Supplement to the Cooperative Agreement With the National 
Association of State Alcohol and Drug Abuse Directors, Inc.

AGENCY: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration 
(SAMHSA), HHS.

ACTION: Notice of planned single-source supplemental award.

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SUMMARY: SAMHSA plans to supplement an ongoing cooperative agreement 
between SAMHSA and the National Association of State Alcohol and Drug 
Abuse Directors, Inc. (NASADAD). The supplement augments an effort 
already underway, and will fund a detailed inventory of prevention 
activities funded by the ``20 percent set-aside'' within the Substance 
Abuse Prevention and Treatment Block Grant, as well as a detailed 
inventory and analysis of each State's data capability. Consistent with 
the goal of the existing cooperative agreement between SAMHSA and 
NASADAD, these projects will support the States in their efforts to 
establish, improve, and maintain viable and effective substance abuse 
systems that meet the needs of their clients.
    SAMHSA has based its decision to fund these projects through the 
cooperative agreement on NASADAD's unique position as an association of 
Single State Agencies (SSAs) for substance abuse services. As the only 
National organization representing State substance abuse agencies, 
NASADAD's membership is composed of the State officials directly 
responsible for the administration of public substance abuse policies 
and services in the respective States. NASADAD includes State 
membership of all but one of the Substance Abuse Prevention and 
Treatment (SAPT) Block Grant recipients, as well as full and continuous 
communication with the leadership and staff of these agencies. Its 
membership also administers the 20 percent of the States' allotments 
from the SAPT Block Grant that are required by law to be used for 
substance abuse prevention efforts. NASADAD enjoys the confidence of 
its member States, providing the requisite access to carry out the 
activities of these supplements.
    In view of the above considerations, SAMHSA has determined that a 
supplement to the existing cooperative agreement is the most effective 
way to assist the States by developing a detailed inventory of 
prevention activities and an inventory and analysis of each State's 
data capability. The prevention set-aside supplement would address the 
needs of State and local government officials, the service provider 
community, other members of the affected public and the Federal 
government for further information regarding the use of the set aside. 
While the overall use of illicit drugs has declined in recent years, 
there has been an increase in the use of marijuana by youth in the 
United States. This increase is of great concern to the public and the 
State and Federal governments. In response, the Office of National Drug 
Control Policy has developed a National Drug Abuse Strategy, the first 
goal of which is designed to reduce illicit drug abuse by youth. 
Similarly, the Department of Health and Human Services has designed a 
Secretarial Initiative addressing this important issue. While Federal 
efforts can make an important contribution to reducing illicit drug use 
by youth, States and local governments realize it is essential that 
they refine and add to the existing base of prevention programs. For 
maximum effectiveness, these State and local efforts must be science-
based and coordinated with other programs. This project will assist 
States and communities to design more effective programs, and will 
complement other

[[Page 37274]]

SAMHSA initiatives to assist the States and service providers such as 
the Center for Substance Abuse Prevention's (CSAP) State Incentive 
Grant Program, as well as CSAP's new Regional Centers for the 
Application of Prevention Technology. The project will also foster 
technology transfer by making available to all a detailed analysis of 
each State's prevention activities.
    The supplement related to State data capability is intended to 
address the States' need for information regarding each State's 
capability to collect, analyze, and report data on the need for, and 
provision of, substance abuse treatment and prevention services. The 
States are currently engaged in a variety of related data collection 
activities funded directly by, or under the maintenance of effort 
requirements of, the SAPT Block Grant. These activities include 
prevention and treatment needs assessments, evaluation of managed care 
activities, treatment outcome performance pilot studies, a prevention 
minimum data set, the uniform facilities data set, the treatment 
episode data set, and numerous data systems initiated and maintained by 
individual States. By providing information on data activities in all 
States, this project will allow each State to learn from the experience 
of others and improve the availability and quality of substance abuse 
prevention and treatment services.
    The Federal government is moving aggressively in the direction of 
assessing performance by measuring outcomes. In this context, the 
inventory and analysis of State data capability will assist the States 
in addressing two critical needs. First, it will help them efficiently 
use Federal funds for data collection activities, thereby improving the 
performance of the data systems themselves. Second, it will clarify the 
States' capabilities to measure the performance of their service 
programs. This project will assist each State in improving its data 
structure and will provide both the States and the Federal government 
with the information necessary to plan a realistic transition to 
performance-based measurement.
    This notice is not a request for applications; only NASADAD is 
eligible to apply for the supplement to the existing cooperative 
agreement. If the NASADAD supplemental application is recommended for 
approval by the Special Review Committee and the SAMHSA National 
Advisory Council, funds will be made available.

    Authority: The supplement will be made under the authority of 
Sections 501(d)(5) and 1935(b)(1)(C) of the Public Health Service 
Act, as amended (42 U.S.C. 290aa and 42 U.S.C. 300x-35).

    The Catalogue of Federal Domestic Assistance number for this 
program is 93.119.

Availability of Funds

    Up to $200,000 in total costs (direct and indirect costs) will be 
available for the prevention inventory, and up to $200,000 total costs 
(direct and indirect costs) will be available for the evaluation of 
State data capabilities.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Stephen G. Wing, SAMHSA Office of 
Policy and Program Coordination, Room 12C-05 Parklawn Building, (301-
443-0593). The mailing address is: 5600 Fishers Lane, Rockville, 
Maryland 20857.

    Dated: July 7, 1997.
Richard Kopanda.
Executive Officer, SAMHSA.
[FR Doc. 97-18123 Filed 7-10-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4162-20-P