[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 32 (Thursday, February 18, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 8106-8109]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-3939]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention


Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Prevention Activities for 
African American Populations

AGENCY: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Department of 
Health and Human Services (HHS).

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The Fiscal Year 1999 appropriation for CDC includes an 
increase in funds to support Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) 
prevention activities predominantly for African American populations. 
CDC is proposing to award approximately $15.5 million to fund three 
cooperative programs to address the needs of these populations: 
community-based organizations (CBO) program, minority organization 
technical assistance (MOTA) program, and community coalitions 
demonstration program to develop linkages among HIV, STD (sexually 
transmitted diseases), TB (tuberculosis), and substance abuse services. 
On the basis of demonstrated need and available funds, other 
disproportionately affected racial and ethnic minority populations may 
be considered for funding.
    Under separate announcements, an additional $500,000 will be 
awarded to CBOs in the Virgin Islands to provide HIV prevention 
services, and $300,000 to Divinity Schools affiliated with Historically 
Black Colleges and Universities to develop HIV prevention training and 
curricula.
    The purpose of this notice is to request comments on these proposed 
programs. After consideration of comments submitted, CDC will publish 
program announcements to solicit applications. A more complete 
description of the goals of these programs, the target applicants, 
availability of funds, program requirements, and evaluation criteria 
follows.

DATES: The public is invited to submit comments by March 4, 1999.


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ADDRESS: Submit comments to: Technical Information and Communication 
Branch National Center for HIV, STD and TB Prevention Centers for 
Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) 1600 Clifton Road, NE., Mailstop 
E-49 Atlanta, GA 30333.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Technical Information and 
Communications Branch National Center for HIV, STD, and TB Prevention 
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Road, NE., 
Mail Stop E-49, Atlanta, GA 30333, Fax (404) 639-2007, E-mail address: 
[email protected], Telephone (404) 639-2072.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

CBO Program

    The purpose of this program is to support the development and 
implementation of effective community-based HIV prevention programs, 
including programs provided by faith-based CBOs, that serve African 
American communities.

1. Goals (CBO)

    A. Provide financial and technical assistance to indigenous CBOs to 
provide HIV prevention services to primarily African American 
populations for which gaps in services are demonstrated. For this 
program, indigenous organizations are defined as organizations that 
evolved from and are located within the communities they serve.
    B. Support HIV prevention programs that reflect national program 
goals and are consistent with the HIV prevention priorities outlined in 
the jurisdiction's comprehensive HIV prevention plan.
    C. Promote the collaboration and coordination of HIV prevention 
efforts among CBOs and other local, State, and federally funded 
programs.

2. Eligible Applicants (CBO)

    Eligible applicants are minority CBOs, including faith-based 
organizations, that meet the following criteria:
    A. An IRS-determined 501(c) tax-exempt status
    B. A governing board composed of more than 50 percent of the racial 
or ethnic population to be served. This body must also include, or 
demonstrate the ability to obtain meaningful input and representation 
from, members of the target populations, for example, men who have sex 
with men, youth, women at risk, transgender populations, substance 
abusers.
    C. Located and providing services in any of the following:
    (1) The 20 metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs) with more than 
1000 AIDS cases in African American populations in 1997. These MSAs 
are: Atlanta, GA; Baltimore, MD; Boston, MA; Chicago, IL; Dallas, TX; 
Detroit, MI; Ft. Lauderdale, FL; Houston, TX; Jacksonville, FL; Los 
Angeles-Long Beach, CA; Miami, FL; Newark, NJ; New Haven, CT; New 
Orleans, LA; New York, NY; Oakland, CA; Philadelphia, PA; San 
Francisco, CA; West Palm Beach, FL; and Washington, D.C.; or
    (2) The counties and independent city with the most syphilis cases 
in 1997 but not included in the list of MSAs above. The counties are: 
Cumberland, NC; Cuyahoga, OH; Davidson, TN; Forsyth, NC; Franklin, OH; 
Fresno, CA; Guilford, NC; Hinds, MS; Jefferson, AL; Jefferson, KY; 
Maricopa, AZ; Marion, IN; Milwaukee, WI; Oklahoma, OK; Prince Georges, 
MD; Shelby, TN; and Tuscaloosa, AL. The independent city is St. Louis, 
MO.
    D. Minority CBOs currently funded under program announcement 704 
that are located and provide services in the areas specified in B and C 
are eligible to apply for funding under this program announcement. 
However, awards to currently funded minority CBOs will not exceed 
$100,000.
    E. Faith-Based Organizations: For the purpose of this program 
announcement, a faith-based community organization is a non-profit 
organization which
    (1) Has a religious, faith, spiritual focus or constituency, and
    (2) Has access to local religious, faith, and spiritual leaders.
    Eligible organizations include:
    (1) Individual church, mosque, or temple or network of same, or
    (2) A community-based organization whose primary constituency is 
faith, spiritual, or religious communities, organizations, or leaders 
thereof.

3. Availability of Funds (CBO)

    Approximately $9,600,000 is available for funding approximately 45 
minority CBOs, including faith-based community organizations. 
Approximately $600,000 of this total will be awarded to faith-based 
organizations;
    A. Approximately $7,000,000 will be awarded to CBOs in the 20 MSAs 
with more than 1000 AIDS cases in African American populations in 1997. 
Awards for new organizations will range from $150,000 to $300,000 and 
the average award will be approximately $200,000. Applications for more 
than $300,000 will be deemed ineligible.
    B. Approximately $1,600,000 will be awarded to CBOs located and 
providing services in the counties and independent city with the most 
syphilis cases in 1997 not included in the top 20 MSAs. These awards 
will average $200,000 and will range from $150,000 to $250,000. 
Applications for more than $250,000 will be deemed ineligible.
    C. Approximately $1,000,000 may be awarded to minority CBOs 
currently funded under Program Announcement 704 that are located and 
provide services in the MSAs, counties, and independent city listed 
above. Supplemental awards for currently funded minority CBOs will not 
exceed $100,000. Applications for more than $100,000 will be deemed 
ineligible. Funds awarded to currently funded CBOs must be used to 
enhance or expand existing activities.
    D. Funding Priorities: In making funding decisions, efforts will be 
made to ensure a national geographic distribution of funded CBOs, based 
on AIDS morbidity, and to ensure a national distribution of funded CBOs 
in terms of targeted risk behaviors, based on AIDS morbidity.

4. Program Requirements (CBO)

    A. Conduct HIV counseling, testing, and referral services and 
health education and risk reduction (HE/RR) interventions for persons 
at high risk of becoming infected or transmitting HIV to others. 
Counseling, testing, and referral services as well as the following 
four HERR interventions will be funded: Individual Level, Group Level, 
Community Level, and Street and Community Outreach. Each recipient must 
conduct at least one of these priority interventions. Applicants are 
encouraged not to apply for more interventions than they can conduct 
effectively.
    B. Assist high-risk clients in gaining access to HIV antibody 
counseling, testing, and referral for other needed services.
    C. Assist HIV positive persons in gaining access to appropriate HIV 
treatment and other medical care, substance abuse prevention services, 
STD treatment, partner counseling and referral services, and health 
education and risk reduction services.
    D. Coordinate and collaborate with health departments, community 
planning groups, and other organizations and agencies involved in HIV 
prevention activities, especially those serving the same target 
population.
    E. Evaluate all major program activities and services.

5. Evaluation Criteria (CBO)

    A. Assessment of Need and Justification for the Proposed Activities 
(15 points)
    B. Long-term Goals (5 points)

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    C. Organizational History and Capacity. (20 points)
    D. Program Plan (30 total points)
    E. Evaluation Plan (20 points)
    F. Communications/Dissemination Plan (5 points)
    G. Plan for Acquiring Additional or Matching Resources (5 points)
    I. Budget/Staffing Breakdown and Justification (not scored)
    J. Training and Technical Assistance Plan (not scored)
    K. Before final award decisions are made, CDC may make site visits 
to CBOs whose applications are highly ranked or may review the 
following items with the local or State health department and 
applicant's board of directors:
    1. The organizational and financial capability of the applicant to 
implement the proposed program;
    2. The application and program plans for priority interventions, 
compliance with the jurisdiction's HIV prevention priorities as 
outlined in the comprehensive plan or, if the proposed program varies 
from the jurisdiction's comprehensive plan, evaluate the rationale for 
the variance; and
    3. The special programmatic conditions and technical assistance 
requirements of the applicant.
    A fiscal Recipient Capability Assessment may be required of 
applicants prior to the award of funds.

MOTA Program

1. Goal (MOTA)

    Improve the capacity of CBOs, including faith-based organizations, 
to deliver effective HIV prevention services to African Americans and 
increase the effectiveness and responsiveness of the HIV prevention 
community planning process and health department HIV prevention 
programs to meet the needs of African American communities heavily 
affected by HIV and other STDs.

2. Eligible Applicants (MOTA)

    A. National, regional, or local minority organizations.
    B. National, regional, or local minority religious, spiritual, or 
faith-based organization, which may include churches, mosques, or 
temples.

3. Availability of Funds (MOTA)

    A. Approximately $2.4 million will be available. Approximately 
$600,000 of the $2.4 million will be available for faith-based 
projects.
    B. Funding priorities will ensure
    (1) A national geographic distribution of available technical 
assistance and training services, consistent with AIDS morbidity;
    (2) Availability of technical assistance and training services to 
organizations predominantly serving African Americans and highly 
affected subgroups consistent with AIDS morbidity of these subgroups; 
and
    (3) An appropriate balance in the types of technical assistance and 
training services available.

4. Program Requirements (MOTA)

    Delivery of technical assistance must be specified according to (1) 
racial or ethnic population and (2) targeted high-risk group (e.g., men 
who have sex with men [MSMs], injecting drug users [IDUs] and non-
injecting substance users, women at risk, transgender, high-risk 
heterosexuals, youth).
    Organizations may apply to provide technical assistance in one or 
more of the following areas. However, applicants need not apply to 
provide service in all areas and should not attempt to provide 
technical assistance in areas in which they do not currently have 
expertise and capacity.
    A. Technical Assistance for HIV Prevention Service Delivery;
    B. Technical Assistance for Management and Administrative Capacity;
    C. Technical Assistance to ensure the needs of racial and ethnic 
minority populations are addressed in Community Planning; or
    D. Technical Assistance to develop community capacity for 
leadership in HIV prevention programs and policy making.

5. Evaluation Criteria (MOTA)

    Criteria A through G will be scored, but weights have not been 
assigned. Public comment is encouraged.
    A. Assessment of Need and Justification for Proposed Activities.
    B. Long-term Goals.
    C. Organizational History and Capacity.
    D. Program Proposal.
    (1) Involvement of Target Population.
    (2) Appropriateness of Interventions.
    (3) Objectives.
    (4) Plan of Operations.
    (5) Scientific, Theoretical, Conceptual, or Program Experience 
Foundation.
    (6) Coordination and Collaboration.
    (7) Time Line.
    E. Evaluation Plan.
    F. Communication and Dissemination Plan.
    G. Plan for Acquiring Additional or Matching Resources.
    H. Budget/Staffing Breakdown and Justification (not scored).
    I. Training and Technical Assistance Plan (not scored).

Community Coalition Demonstration Program

    The purpose of this program is to improve the health status of 
African American community members by increasing access to linked 
networks of health services including HIV, STD, TB, and substance abuse 
prevention, treatment, and care.

1. Goals (Community Coalition)

    A. Plan and develop a linked network of HIV, STD, TB, and substance 
abuse prevention, treatment, and care services for African American and 
Latino community members,
    B. Strengthen existing linkages among local prevention, treatment, 
and care providers to better serve African American and Latino 
communities heavily affected by HIV, STD, TB, and substance abuse.

2. Eligible Applicants (Community Coalition)

    A. Local non-profit health, social service, or voluntary service 
organizations, or CBOs with IRS-determined 501(c) tax-exempt status and 
a governing or advisory body composed of more than 50 percent of the 
racial or ethnic minority population to be served.
    B. Applications under this announcement will be categorized into 
one of two mutually exclusive groups:
    (1) Organizations serving communities located in high HIV 
prevalence MSAs, or
    (2) Organizations serving communities located in lower HIV 
prevalence geographic areas.

3. Availability of Funds (Community Coalition)

A. Phase 1 (Year 1)
    Approximately 20 organizations will be funded in 1999 to plan and 
design a linked network of services in African American or Latino 
communities highly affected by HIV, STD, TB, and substance abuse. 
Approximately $2,750,000 will be available to fund approximately 15 
projects in the high prevalence MSAs listed under CBOs. It is estimated 
that the average award will be $180,000, ranging from $75,000 to 
$300,000. Approximately $750,000 will be available in FY 1999 to fund 
approximately 5 projects in lower HIV prevalence geographic areas 
listed under CBOs. It is estimated that the average award will be 
$150,000, ranging from $50,000 to $200,000.
B. Phase 2 (Year 2-5)
    Three to five of the Phase 1 grantees will receive continuation 
awards for

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Phase 2. Selection of Phase 2 grantees will be based on the extent and 
quality of progress in the planning and designing phase. The number of 
Phase 2 awards will be based on availability of funds. Phase 2 awards 
will be made for a 12-month budget period within a project period of up 
to four years.
    Applications for more than $300,000 in high prevalence areas and 
$200,000 in low prevalence areas will be deemed ineligible.
C. Funding Priorities
    In making awards for Phase 1, priority will be given to assuring 
geographic distribution nationally consistent with HIV/AIDS morbidity.

4. Program Requirements (Community Coalition)

A. Phase 1
    The recipient will be responsible for coordinating efforts among 
collaborating organizations and agencies and will:
    (1) Identify a full-time position with the responsibility, 
authority, professional training, and experience needed to lead and 
coordinate program activities of the coalition;
    (2) Convene a work group consisting of representatives from local 
service providers and affected community members to develop a plan for 
a linked network of services;
    (3) Identify key community leaders and engage them as part of the 
coalition;
    (4) Establish linkages with local HIV prevention community planning 
groups;
    (5) Conduct a community needs assessment, as appropriate;
    (6) Develop an inventory of existing community resources, as 
appropriate;
    (7) Use information developed by the community planning groups 
pertinent to the targeted community;
    (8) Establish linkages with existing local and community-based 
organizations funded by the federal government to prevent and treat 
HIV/AIDS, other STDs, TB, and substance abuse including local health 
departments, neighborhood health clinics, WIC programs and family 
planning clinics;
    (9) Participate in at least one CDC sponsored meeting of funded 
agencies; and
    (10) Begin to implement the plan for a linked network of services.
B. Phase 2
    The recipient will:
    (1) Fully implement the plan;
    (2) Serve as liaison among members of the coalition to provide 
management oversight, facilitate program implementation and operations, 
and maintain effective working relationships; and
    (3) Conduct an evaluation of the system and of client outcomes.

5. Evaluation Criteria (Community Coalition)

    A. Assessment of Need and Justification for Proposed Activities 
(Total 20 Points).
    B. Long-term Goals (Total 5 points).
    C. Existing Collaborative Activities and Organizational History and 
Capacity (25 points).
    D. Program Plan (25 points).
    E. Program Management and Staffing Plan (10 points).
    F. Communication and Dissemination Plan (5 points).
    G. Evidence of Support from the Target Community (10 points).
    H. Plan for Acquiring Additional or Matching Resources (not 
scored).
    I. Budget Breakdown and Justification (not scored).
    J. Training and Technical Assistance Plan (not scored).

    Dated: February 11, 1999.
Joseph R. Carter,
Acting Associate Director for Management and Operations, Centers for 
Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
[FR Doc. 99-3939 Filed 2-17-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4163-18-P