[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 227 (Friday, November 26, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 66500-66502]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-30770]


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DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

National Institute of Corrections


Solicitation for a Cooperative Agreement

AGENCY: National Institute of Corrections, Department of Justice.

ACTION: Solicitation for a Cooperative Agreement.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Justice (DOJ), National Institute of 
Corrections (NIC), announces the availability of funds in FY 2000 for a 
cooperative agreement to fund the project ``Effective Prison Mental 
Health Services''. NIC will award a one year cooperative agreement to: 
develop a handbook or manual that will provide information to state 
correctional agencies in identifying current practices, policies, and 
procedures and their impact on offenders with mental health disorders.
    A cooperative agreement is a form of assistance relationship where 
the National Institute of Corrections is substantially involved during 
the performance of the award. An award is made to an organization that 
will, in concert with the Institute, identify the ``effective practices 
and intervention'' regarding the care and management of offenders with 
mental health problems.

Background

    According to recent estimates, nearly 95,000 (12.5%) of all prison 
inmates have significant psychiatric problems, problems requiring 
intermittent care, and 54,000 (7%) have serious mental health problems. 
Research indicates persons displaying the signs and symptoms of mental 
disorders are more likely to be arrested than members of the general 
public, and more likely to be incarcerated for violent offenses 
compared to the rest of the inmate population. The prevalence of 
offenders with a mental disorder among correctional populations 
presents enormous challenges to correctional personnel. Limited 
availability of in prison treatment programs, coupled with the lack of 
community resources, enhance the likelihood that their mental disorders 
may cause them to recidivate, often returning with a worst condition. 
There is a paucity of information about in-prison mental health 
programs and services, transition and community mental health services 
for released offenders, and effective linkages between prison systems 
and state and local mental health systems/departments.

[[Page 66501]]

Purpose

    To document and make available to correctional practitioners and 
state mental health providers the current knowledge on effective mental 
health services and interventions for mentally ill offenders in 
prisons.

Objectives:
    1. To develop a publication that addresses the effective management 
and care, treatment modalities, their effectiveness, and innovative 
approaches for offenders with mental health needs; and
    2. To develop a consistent operational definition of an offender 
with mental health needs.

    NIC considers it important for the applicant to discuss how the 
following questions or other criteria identified by the applicant would 
be employed for documenting effective prison mental health services and 
interventions:
     Are there explicit models or research evidence of how the 
mental health services or interventions are supposed to work within 
prisons?
     Is there information or substantiation that mental health 
services and interventions employs methods which have been consistently 
effective with mentally ill offenders in prison?
     Are the services or interventions delivered in ways which 
engage the mentally ill offender in active participation--e.g., 
responsivity?
     Are the services or intervention(s) rigorously managed and 
designed?
     Do the mental health services support the principle of 
continuum of care--e.g., screening, assessment for diagnosis and risk, 
treatment planning, range of interventions, transitional care from 
prison to the community, relapse prevention and intervention, and 
linkages to appropriate community mental health and other support 
services?
     What evidence or information is available that services or 
interventions are delivered and overseen by qualified professionals 
consistent with generally accepted protocols--i.e., valid assessment 
and screening tools, treatment interventions matched to the level of 
the offender need, case management strategies, treatment providers who 
are licensed and meet specific standards, etc.?
     What research efforts have been conducted to assess the 
effectiveness of the intervention being reviewed by the project?

Project Scope

    The project's strategy or design should address the following 
areas:

--Screening and assessment
--Intervention techniques
--Community and aftercare linkages
--Treatment approaches
--Case management
--Relapse Prevention or Intervention
--Planning
--Transitional services
--Staff Training
--Peer Support
--Alternative Sanctions
--Instruments to assess, develop or identify treatment programs
--Individualized Treatment approaches
--Cultural competency
--Gender based treatment
--Monitoring, evaluating program integrity.

    The successful applicant would be required to: (1) Use some portion 
of the funds to collaborate with other correctional and mental health 
professionals (experts) to review the current state of mental health 
programs in corrections; (2) Develop an understanding of the types of 
behavior which indicate mental health needs and develop a consistent 
operational definition of an offender with a mental disorder; (3) 
Identify sample programs, addressing relevant standards and legal 
issues; (4) Develop a document for practitioners that presents 
guidelines and criteria for successful mental health programs specific 
incarcerated populations, including youthful offenders, women 
offenders, segregation, and general populations; (5) Fully discuss how 
in-prison mental health programs can assist in public protection and 
the more effective use of community resources, and; (6) Provide an 
instrument to be used to assess effective in-prison mental health 
programs.
--In consultation with NIC prepare and edit a final camera-ready copy 
of the document for NIC publication in accordance with the NIC 
Preparation of Printed Materials for Publication. Submit the final 
product in hard copy and Word Perfect format.

Application Requirement

    The applicant must provide goals, objectives, and methods of 
implementation for the project that are consistent with the 
announcement. Objectives should be clear, measurable, attainable, and 
focused on the methods used to conduct the project. Applicant should 
provide an implementation plan for the project and include a schedule 
which will demonstrate milestones for significant tasks in chart form. 
The project will be initiated in early 2000 and is to be completed in 
early 2001.

Authority

    Public Law 93-415.

Funds Available

    The award will be limited to a maximum of $150,000 (direct and 
indirect costs). Funds may only be used for the activities that are 
linked to the desired outcome of the project. No funds are transferred 
to state or local governments. This project will be a collaborative 
venture with the NIC Prisons Division.

Deadline for Receipt of Applications

    Applications must be received by 4:00 pm Eastern Time on Tuesday, 
December 21, 1999. Applications mailed or express delivery should be 
sent to: National Institute of Corrections, 320 First Street, NW, Room 
5007, Washington, DC 20534, Attn: Director. Hand delivered applications 
can be brought to 500 First Street, NW, Washington, DC 20534. The front 
desk will call Bobbi Tinsley (307-3106 and press 0) to come to the desk 
for pickup.

Addresses and Further Information

    Requests for the application kit should be directed to Judy Evens, 
Cooperative Agreement Control Office, National Institute of 
Corrections, 320 First Street, NW, Room 5007, Washington, DC 20534 or 
by calling (800) 995-6423, extension 159 or (202) 307-3106, extension 
159. She can also be contacted by E-mail via [email protected]. All 
technical and or programmatic questions concerning this announcement 
should be directed to Madeline M. Ortiz at the above address or by 
calling (800) 995-6423, extension 141 or (202) 307-1300, extension 141, 
or by E-mail via [email protected]. A copy of this announcement and 
application forms may also be obtained through the NIC web site: http:/
/www.nicic.org (click on ``What's New'' and ``Cooperative 
Agreements'').

Eligible Applicants

    An eligible applicant is any state or general unit of local 
government, private agency, educational institution, organization, or 
individual with expertise in correctional mental health services.

Review Considerations

    Applications received under this announcement will be subjected to 
an NIC 3 to 5 member Peer Review Process.

Number of Awards

    One (1).

NIC Application Number

    00P10 This number should appear as a reference line in the cover 
letter and also in box 11 of Standard Form 424.

[[Page 66502]]

Executive Order 12372

    This program is subject to the provisions of Executive Order 12372. 
Executive Order 12372 allows States the option of setting up a system 
for reviewing applications from within their States for assistance 
under certain Federal programs. Applicants (other than Federally-
recognized Indian tribal governments) should contact their State Single 
Point of Contract (SPOC), a list of which is included in the 
application Kit, along with further instructions on proposed projects 
serving more than one State.

    The Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance number is 16.603.

    Dated: November 18, 1999.
Larry Solomon,
Acting Director, National Institute of Corrections.
[FR Doc. 99-30770 Filed 11-24-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4410-36-M