[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 138 (Tuesday, July 20, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 38910-38911]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-18385]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Health Resources and Services Administration


Notice of a Cooperative Agreement With the University of Southern 
California AIDS Social Policy Archive

    The Health Resources and Services Administration's (HRSA) HIV/AIDS 
Bureau (HAB) announces that it will award a cooperative agreement to 
The University of Southern California AIDS Social Policy Archive (USC).
    The purpose of this cooperative agreement is to (1) assist USC in 
an expansion of training programs to help community-based organizations 
train, place, and support a cadre of HIV/AIDS peer treatment educators 
from racial and ethnic minority groups as a strategy to engage and 
retain more persons of color in high quality care and to evaluate the 
effectiveness of this type of intervention; and (2) establish a Center 
for Peer HIV/AIDS Treatment Educators in order to support the training 
and development of knowledgeable peer educators to work within minority 
communities on treatment education, to increase the awareness, 
acceptance and appropriate utilization of effective new therapies by 
HIV positive persons. This project is an essential part of HAB's 
response to address HIV/AIDS among racial and ethnic minority 
populations as a part of the Congressional Black Caucus Initiative. 
HRSA's role in the cooperative agreement will include providing 
consultation and technical assistance in planning, operating, and 
evaluating program activities; facilitating collaboration with Ryan 
White grantees and other HIV national and community organizations to 
reach the target population; facilitating efforts in the provision of 
technical assistance and training to specified individuals and 
organizations; participating, as appropriate, in planning and producing 
any conferences, meetings, or workgroups conducted during the period of 
the cooperative agreement; and maintaining an ongoing dialogue with the 
applicant concerning program plans, policies, and other issues which 
may have major implications for any activities undertaken by the 
applicant under the Cooperative Agreement.

Authorizing Legislation

    An award will be made under the program authority of Section 2692 
(a) of the Public Health Service Act, 42 U.S.C. 300ff-11.

Background

    Assistance will only be provided to USC. No other applications are 
solicited, nor will they be accepted. This organization is the only 
qualified entity to administer this cooperative agreement because:
    1. The University of Southern California AIDS Social Policy Archive 
is the only entity that has designed a university-based peer treatment 
educator training program that will create a cadre of highly-trained 
HIV/AIDS peer treatment educators for the purpose of increasing the 
numbers of HIV infected African Americans entering and remaining in 
health care, adhering to treatment regimes, and advocating for their 
own health care needs.
    2. This organization and its staff are established leaders in 
developing and promoting national and local HIV-related treatment 
education and policy campaigns aimed at reducing the impact

[[Page 38911]]

of HIV in minority populations and improving health outcomes.
    3. This organization has developed a base of critical knowledge, 
skills, and abilities related to HIV treatment and barriers to 
accessing and adhering to prescribed treatments.
    4. This organization has nationally recognized experts in HIV 
treatments (FDA approved and experimental), process and outcome 
evaluation, and curriculum development as core resources to support the 
project through out the project period.
    5. This organization has demonstrated the ability to work with 
minority and non-minority entities, the Federal Government, academic 
institutions, and health groups on mutually beneficial education, 
research, and health endeavors related to the goal of health promotion 
and disease prevention among racial and ethnic minority populations; 
the national leadership necessary to focus the Nation's attention on 
minority-related health issues; and the leadership needed to organize 
health care professionals to work with and train racial/ethnic minority 
treatment educators and advocates.
    Up to $2,000,000 is available in fiscal year (FY) 1999 for a 12-
month budget period with a project period of 3 years. Continuation 
awards within the project period will be made on the basis of 
satisfactory progress and the availability of funds.

Where to Obtain Additional Information

    Additional information may be obtained from Ms. Brenda Woods-
Francis, HIV/AIDS Bureau, HRSA, 5600 Fishers Lane, Room 7-29, 
Rockville, MD 20857 or telephone (301) 443-0415.

    Dated: July 14, 1999.
Claude Earl Fox,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 99-18385 Filed 7-19-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4160-15-P