[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 142 (Monday, July 26, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 40374-40376]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-18941]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
[Program Announcement 99148]


Program To Establish/Operate Health Promotion and Disease 
Prevention Initiative Program for African Americans Notice of 
Availability of Funds

A. Purpose

    The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announces the 
availability of fiscal year FY 1999 funds for a cooperative agreement 
program to establish a health promotion and disease prevention 
initiative program for African Americans. ``This program addresses the 
`Healthy People 2000' priority area Education and Community-Based 
Programs.'' The program relates as well to recommendations of the 1985 
Secretary's Task Force Report on Black and Minority Health, and the 
Department of Health and Human Services' (DHHS) initiatives to 
eliminate disparities in health status among racial and ethnic 
minorities. The purpose of the cooperative agreement is to assist a 
National or Regional Minority Organization (NRMO) to establish or 
operate the following three components: a Health Program Unit, a 
Speakers Bureau, and a National Health Network. The cooperative 
agreement will enable the grantee to use the three components for the 
following:
    Health Program Unit to implement prevention strategies to improve 
the health of African Americans by targeting the leading causes of 
excess deaths in this population, and to increase the utilization of 
health care resources by African Americans.
    Speakers Bureau consisting of health professionals and other 
professionals to provide oral presentations on salient health promotion 
and disease prevention topics relating to African Americans at 
national, State, and local meetings. Other organizations, including 
community-based and national/regional organizations which serve 
primarily African Americans should have ready access to the Speakers 
Bureau to assist in improving disease prevention and health promotion 
in their areas.
    National Health Network to assist minority organizations to expand 
their internal and external organizational networks, and to facilitate 
the dissemination of health promotion and disease prevention 
information to African Americans.

B. Eligible Applicants

    Eligible applicants are NRMOs which principally serve the African 
American population. The African American community is targeted with 
this activity because of a critical need to eliminate disparities in 
health that currently exist among African Americans. Consistent with 
the findings of the President's Initiative to Eliminating Health 
Disparities and Healthy People 2000 and 2010 program initiatives, 
excess morbidity and mortality continues to disproportionately impact 
African Americans. Eligible applicants must meet the following 
criteria:
    1. Have been granted tax-exempt status under Section 501(c)(3), as 
evidenced by an Internal Revenue Service (IRS) determination letter.
    2. Have a governing body or board that is composed of more than 50% 
African American.
    3. Have a minimum of 12 months documented experience in operating 
and centrally administering a coordinated public health or related 
program serving the African American population within a major portion 
or region (multi-state or multi-territory) of the United States through 
its own offices, organizational affiliates, or the participation of 
other minority organizations.
    4. Have a specific charge from the Articles of Incorporation or 
Bylaws or a resolution from its governing body or board to operate 
nationally or regionally (multi-state or multi-territory) within the 
United States and its territories, i.e, Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, 
Guam.
    5. Have agreements with their participating affiliates and chapters 
that their respective governing body or board is composed of 50% or 
greater African American membership.

    Note: Public Law 104-65 states that an organization described in 
section 501(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 that engages 
in lobbying activities is not eligible to receive Federal funds 
constituting an award, grant, cooperative agreement, contract, loan, 
or any other form.

C. Availability of Funds

    It is anticipated that a minimum of $100,000 will be available in 
FY 1999 to fund one award. It is expected that the award will begin on 
or about September 30, 1999, and will be made for a 12-month budget 
period within a project period of up to five years. Funding estimates 
may vary and are subject to change. Continuation awards within the 
project period will be made on the basis of satisfactory progress and 
the availability of funds.

D. Program Requirements

    In conducting activities to achieve the purpose of this program, 
the recipient shall be responsible for the activities under 1. 
(Recipient Activities), and CDC will be responsible for the activities 
listed under 2. (CDC Activities).

1. Recipient Activities

A. The Health Program Unit
    (1) Communicate science-based health promotion and disease 
prevention strategies throughout the African American communities to 
improve the environment and personal health behaviors of those living 
in these communities.
    (2) Assess ongoing health related activities in various communities 
to determine if African Americans are involved, and to determine if the 
activities (i.e., immunization, STD/HIV prevention) are appropriate for 
the target audience.
    (3) Develop and implement strategies to improve the utilization of 
community health resources by African Americans.
    (4) Focus on the major risk categories for disease and death in the 
African American community, and consult with CDC and other federal 
agencies on the development of strategies to raise awareness within the 
African American community to reduce health risks and improve the 
quality of life.
    (5) Develop informational resources that provide the African 
American community with recommendations for the improvement of health 
and access to related services.
    (6) Identify specific quality of life measures and focus these for 
community members through a consensus building process (e.g., oral 
health, physical activity, nutrition). Inform the target group about 
health promotion and disease prevention activities related to the seven 
leading causes of deaths among African Americans that were found in the 
community.

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B. The National Speakers Bureau
    (1) Establish access to a national Speakers Bureau that will 
improve the information available to minority organizations concerning 
health promotion and disease prevention activities among African 
Americans.
    (2) Develop/enhance a strategy to access and/or create a cadre of 
professional speakers to address local, State and national audiences on 
health promotion and disease prevention needs and practices among 
African Americans.
    (3) Utilize culturally specific measures to encourage African 
Americans to improve their health.
    (4) Identify subject area experts who will address and integrate 
the structural units of health, i.e., physical, social and 
psychological well-being. Develop a consensus building strategy to 
educate the community about the overlapping influence of these three 
health components.
    (5) Develop and deliver effective mechanisms through community 
based organizations (CBOs), radio, television, or open forums to 
communicate current/updated information on health promotion and disease 
prevention to individuals and groups in African American communities.
    (6) Develop and deliver mechanisms to advance health promotion and 
disease prevention activities among members of community groups, health 
practitioners, educators, consumer groups, health professionals, health 
professions schools, and public schools. Share the information at 
national conventions and meetings.
C. The National Health Network
    (1) Identify national, State/district and local African American 
groups with directly related links to collaborate with the CDC and 
State and local health departments.
    (2) Establish a distribution methodology in a minimum of 10 cities 
with predominate African American population to disseminate health 
promotion and disease prevention information.
    (3) Collaborate with national minority health professional 
associations, community based organizations, HHS agencies to develop an 
effective plan to implement health promotion and disease prevention 
activities (e.g., immunization, tobacco control, diabetes, etc.) in the 
African American community.
D. Evaluate the Effectiveness of the Program in Achieving Goals and 
Objectives.

2. CDC Activities

    A. As requested, provide consultation, assistance and support to 
the recipient in planning, implementing and evaluating activities 
undertaken under the cooperative agreement.
    B. As needed, assist the recipient in identifying areas of the 
project that need evaluation.
    C. As needed or requested, assist the recipient in identifying 
priority areas of focus for public health programs at the national, 
State and local levels.
    D. As needed, assist the recipient in developing, testing and 
validating more effective and efficient disease prevention and health 
promotion models for African Americans.
    E. Collaborate with the grantee and other concerned parties in 
developing workshops and conferences to exchange current information, 
opinions and findings in fields of public health and minority health.

E. Application Content

    Use the information in the Program Requirements, Other 
Requirements, and Evaluation Criteria sections to develop the 
application content. Your application will be evaluated on the criteria 
listed, so it is important to follow them in laying out your program 
plan. The narrative should be no more than 40 double-spaced pages, 
printed on one side, with one inch margins, and unreduced font.

F. Submission and Deadline

Application

    Submit the original and two copies of the application (PHS Form 
5161-1). Forms are available at the following Internet address: 
www.cdc.gov/...Forms, or in the application kit. On or before September 
7, 1999 submit the application to: Albertha Carey, Grants Management 
Specialist, Grants Management Branch, Procurement and Grants Office, 
[Program Announcement 99148], Centers for Disease Control and 
Prevention, 2920 Brandywine Road, Room 3000, Atlanta, GA 30341-4146.

Deadline

    Applications shall be considered as meeting the deadline if they 
are either: (a) Received on or before the deadline date; or (b) sent on 
or before the deadline date and received in time for submission to the 
independent review group. (Applicants must request a legibly dated 
receipt from a commercial carrier or U.S. Postal Service. Private 
metered postmarks will not be acceptable as proof of timely mailing.)

Late Applications

    Applications which do not meet the criteria in (a) or (b) above are 
considered late applications, will not be considered, and will be 
returned to the applicant.

G. Evaluation Criteria

    Each application will be evaluated individually against the 
following criteria by an independent review group appointed by CDC.:

1. Applicant's Understanding of the Problem (15%)

    The extent to which the applicant has a clear, concise 
understanding of the requirements, objectives, and purpose of the 
cooperative agreement. The extent to which the application reflects an 
understanding of the complexities surrounding health promotion, health 
disparities and health promotion issues, that have an impact in the 
African American community.

2. Organizational Experience (25%)

    The extent to which the applicant has demonstrated skill and 
experience in working effectively with community based projects, and 
has the ability to establish meaningful relationships with various 
community based organizations. The applicant must demonstrate 
experience in providing leadership for community projects at the 
national, State and local levels. The applicant must provide proof of 
experience in sharing financial or technical resources with CBOs, 
affiliates, and chapters that provide a variety of services directly to 
racial and ethnic minority populations.

3. Approach and Capability (35%)

    The extent to which the applicant has included a description of 
their approach and track record on developing a network which includes 
the various segments of the African American community at national, 
State and local levels.

4. Project Management and Staffing (15%)

    The adequacy of the description for present or proposed staff and 
capabilities of the organization to assemble culturally competent and 
trained staff to conduct all three components proposed in this health 
promotion and disease prevention initiative. The applicant shall 
identify all current and potential personnel who will be utilized to 
work on this cooperative agreement, including qualifications and 
specific experience as

[[Page 40376]]

it relates to the requirements set forth in this request. The 
organization must provide proof that their program and administrative 
staff and the program and administrative staff of affiliates and 
participating organizations involved in the project are representative 
of the communities and populations to be served.

5. Evaluation (10%)

    The extent and method by which the applicant proposes to measure 
progress in meeting objectives and program effectiveness, and presents 
a reasonable plan for: (1) Establishing the three program components 
and measuring their effectiveness; (2) Utilizing the three program 
components to share information on health promotion and disease 
prevention activities with the African American community. For example, 
how will information sharing be increased as a result of the program? 
What type of databases or materials will be created to facilitate 
information sharing? How will the program handle referrals? (3) 
Evaluating the effectiveness of collaborative processes, i.e., 
developing partnerships and types of organizations involved, providing 
training, continuity, and involvement e.g., frequency of meetings, 
participation of group members, etc.; (4) Obtaining, reporting and 
sharing programmatic results.

6. Budget (Not Scored)

    The budget will be evaluated for the extent to which it is 
reasonable, clearly justified, and consistent with the intended use of 
cooperative agreement funds.

H. Other Requirements

Technical Reporting Requirements

    The recipient is required to provide CDC with an original plus two 
copies of semi-annual progress reports 30 days after the end of each 
semi-annual time period. An original and two copies of a progress 
report and financial status report are required no later than 90 days 
after the end of each budget period. Final financial status and 
performance reports are required no later than 90 days after the end of 
the project period.
    The following additional requirements are applicable to this 
program. For a complete description of each, see Attachment (List all 
applicable requirements by number and title. The Grants Management 
Branch will include the applicable descriptions in the application 
kit.)

AR98-4  HIV/AIDS Confidentiality Provisions
AR98-9  Paperwork Reduction Act Requirements
AR98-10  Smoke-Free Workplace Requirements
AR98-11  Healthy People 2000
AR98-12  Lobbying Restrictions
AR98-14  Accounting System Requirements

I. Authority and Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number

    This program is authorized under Sections 301(a) and 317(k)(2) of 
the Public Health Service Act [42 U.S.C. 241(a) and 247b(k)(2), as 
amended. The Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance number is 93.283.

J. Where To Obtain Additional Information

    To receive additional written information and to request an 
application kit, call toll-free 1-888-GRANTS4 (1-888-472-6874). You 
will be asked to leave your name and address and will be instructed to 
identify the Announcement number of interest.
    If you have questions after reviewing the contents of all the 
documents, business management technical assistance may be obtained 
from: Albertha Carey, Grants Management Specialist, Grants Management 
Branch, Procurement and Grants Office [Program Announcement 99148], 
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 2920 Brandywine Road, Room 
3000, Atlanta, GA 30341-4146, Telephone: 770-488-2735, Email: 
[email protected].
    For program technical assistance, contact: Yvonne H. Lewis, 
Minority Health Program Specialist, Centers for Disease Control and 
Prevention, Room 4326, 1600 Clifton Road, N.E., M/S D39, Atlanta, GA 
30333, Telephone: 404-639-7220, Email: [email protected].
    See also the CDC home page on the Internet. You may view and/or 
download the program announcement and application forms here: http://
www.cdc.gov.

    Dated: July 20, 1999.
John L. Williams,
Director, Procurement and Grants Office, Centers for Disease Control 
and Prevention (CDC).
[FR Doc. 99-18941 Filed 7-23-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4163-18-P