[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 96 (Thursday, May 17, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 27514-27517]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-12424]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

[Program Announcement 01122]


National Programs That Build the Capacity of State and Local 
Health and Education Agencies To Reduce the Burden of Asthma Among 
Youth; Notice of Availability of Funds

A. Purpose

    The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announces the 
availability of fiscal year (FY) 2001 funds for a cooperative agreement 
program for National Programs That Build the Capacity of State and 
Local Health and Education Agencies to Reduce the Burden of Asthma 
Among Youth. This program addresses the ``Healthy People 2010'' focus 
areas of Educational and Community-Based Programs, and Respiratory 
Diseases 24.1 to 24.8. Background information can be found in Appendix 
I.
    The purpose of this announcement is to develop a national program 
that builds the capacity of state and local health and education 
agencies to reduce the burden of asthma and other important health 
problems among youth.

B. Eligible Applicants

    Assistance will be provided to national organizations that are 
private health, education, or social service agencies (professional or 
voluntary); qualify as a non-profit 501(c)(3) entity; have the capacity 
to assist their local affiliates; and have affiliate offices or local/
state/or regional membership constituencies in a minimum of 10 states 
and territories. Affiliate offices and local/state/or regional 
membership constituencies may not apply in lieu of, or on behalf of, 
their parent national office because organizations must have the 
capacity to influence the professional actions of their constituencies 
at the national level.
    National organizations that are funded currently by CDC/Division of 
Adolescent and School Health (DASH) under program announcements 98005, 
97065, 99023, 99072, 00026, 00079, 00081, 00109, 00618, 00719, are not 
eligible for this program announcement. A listing of these 
organizations is provided in Appendix II.

    Note: Title 2 of the United States Code, Chapter 26, Section 
1611 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

    Approximately $1,000,000 is available in FY 2001 to fund 
approximately four awards. It is expected that the average award will 
be $250,000, ranging from $200,000 to $275,000. It is expected that the 
awards will begin on or about August 1, 2001, and will be for a 12-
month budget period within a project period of up to five years. 
Funding estimates may change.
    Priority will be given to organizations whose direct constituents 
are school nurses, health care providers, school administrators, asthma 
and respiratory health groups and parent groups, and have the capacity 
to collaborate with state and local education and health agencies.
    Continuation awards within an approved project period will be made 
on the basis of satisfactory progress as evidenced by required reports 
and the availability of funds.

D. Program Requirements

    In conducting activities to achieve the purpose of this program, 
the recipient will 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. Collaborate with constituents; state and local education, 
health, and social service agencies; non-governmental partners; and 
federal government agencies to develop a national strategy to create 
school and community-based asthma education and management programs 
with the goal of reducing morbidity, mortality and school absenteeism 
associated with asthma and other important health problems of youth.
    b. Establish specific, measurable, and realistic goals and 
objectives that reduce morbidity, mortality and school absenteeism 
associated with asthma.
    c. Establish an operational plan that includes local education and 
health agencies collaborating with federal and state education and 
health agencies, and others engaged in school and community-based 
asthma education and management activities, in using existing or 
developing target-audience and discipline-specific training materials 
needed to effectively build the capacity of school personnel to 
implement a model coordinated school health program that addresses 
asthma education and management.
    d. Build the capacity of constituents to better promote student, 
parent and

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school staff concerning asthma education and management. Implement a 
model coordinated school health program addressing asthma education and 
management.
    e. Develop or use existing discipline-specific training materials 
for constituents to accompany a model coordinated school health program 
addressing asthma education and management.
    f. Evaluate the effectiveness of the program in achieving goals and 
objectives at the school and/or district level.
    g. Disseminate and share programmatic information, projected-
related news with state and local education agencies, state and local 
health agencies, national organizations, and others through mechanisms 
such as the Internet, newsletters, clearinghouses, the mail and at 
workshops and conferences.
    h. Help schools, or other agencies that serve young people, conduct 
coordinated programs that prevent behaviors that place elementary 
through secondary school-aged young people at risk for morbidity and 
mortality from asthma.
    i. Collaborate with other national organizations to establish and 
maintain initiatives to prevent behavior that place elementary through 
secondary school-aged young people at risk for morbidity and mortality 
from asthma.
    j. Educate managers, leaders, teachers, school nurses, decision 
makers, parents, families, media, businesses, and others who are 
members of national organizations and/or communities to act 
individually and collectively to support locally determined programs to 
reduce morbidity, mortality and school absenteeism related to asthma 
and teach asthma management.
    k. Build the capacity of schools, community agencies and parents to 
establish and/or maintain programs that teach asthma management and 
reduce morbidity, mortality and school absenteeism related to asthma.
    l. Provide technical assistance and training to professionals and 
parents to use proven, effective strategies and programs to prevent 
behaviors that place elementary through secondary school-aged young 
people at risk for morbidity, mortality and absenteeism related to 
asthma and to educate students who are not diagnosed with asthma.
    m. Participate in national conferences through presentations and 
workshops to promote model coordinated school health programs 
addressing asthma education and management.
    n. Participate in meetings with national, state, and local health 
and education agencies and other appropriate agencies to address issues 
and program activities related to improving coordinated school health 
programs; and strengthen the capacity of youth-serving agencies to 
teach asthma management and reduce the burden of asthma through 
coordinated school health programs.

2. CDC Activities

    a. Assist with planning and conducting national strategies designed 
to teach asthma management and reduce morbidity and mortality 
associated with asthma through coordinated school health programs.
    b. Provide programmatic consultation and guidance related to 
program planning, implementation, and evaluation; assessment of program 
objectives; and dissemination of successful strategies, experiences, 
and evaluation reports.
    c. Assist in planning meetings of national, state, and local 
education and health agencies and other appropriate agencies to address 
issues and program activities related to improving coordinated school 
health programs; and strengthen the capacity of youth-serving agencies 
to teach asthma management and reduce morbidity and mortality 
associated with asthma through coordinated school health programs 
addressing asthma education and management.
    d. Assist in the evaluation of program activities in achieving 
goals and objectives at the school and/or district level.

E. Application Content

    Use the information in the Purpose, 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 the criteria as you construct your 
program plan. The narrative should be no more than 20 double-spaced 
pages, printed on one side, with one-inch margins, and unreduced font.

1. Background (No More Than 4 Pages)

    a. Describe your organization's current structure (mission, goals, 
and membership or affiliates and their geographical representation). 
Describe how that structure can support school-based asthma education 
and management programs that are part of a coordinated school health 
program, including the potential role of your organization's primary 
constituency in a school asthma education and management initiative. 
Identify current gaps in the existing structure and implementation of 
school-based asthma education and management programs and discuss how 
your constituency can enhance the state and local education agencies 
ability to deliver an optimal asthma education and management program.
    b. Describe your organization's constituency experience in 
assisting state and local education and health departments to develop 
an education and management strategy for asthma and other important 
health problems of youth. Priority will be given to organizations whose 
constituencies have a direct impact on asthma education and management 
programs including school nurses, health care providers, school 
administrators, asthma and respiratory health groups and parents.
    c. Describe your organization's experience in developing and 
implementing policy related to asthma education and management in 
schools. Discuss potential limitations to existing policies and 
describe, if any, the need for new policies that address asthma 
education and management.
    d. Describe your organization's experience in developing and 
implementing model policy, curricula, training programs, surveillance 
activities, and evaluation protocols. Describe your organization's 
experience providing technical assistance and training.

2. Operational Plan (No More Than 8 Pages)

    a. Provide long-term (5-year) goals and short-term (1-year) 
objectives for the proposed project that build the capacity of 
coordinated school health programs to address asthma education and 
management at the local level. The objectives must be specific, time-
phased, measurable, and realistic. The proposed objectives should 
compliment ongoing activities related to the ``Healthy People 2010'' 
focus area(s) of Educational and Community-Based Programs and 
Respiratory Diseases 24.1 to 24.8.
    b. Submit a plan that proposes first year activities to build the 
capacity of your organization and others to support and/or implement a 
model asthma education and management program designed to teach asthma 
management and reduce morbidity, mortality and school absenteeism 
associated with asthma through coordinated school health programs. 
Include a time-line for the completion of each component or major 
activity that describes who will

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do what by when. Examples of acceptable activities can include, but are 
not limited to the Recipient Activities described in Section 1.

3. Administration and Management (No More Than 2 Pages)

    a. Describe how the proposed professional staff will contribute to 
the overall school asthma education and management program and show on 
an organizational chart how the current or proposed placement of each 
staff will assure program implementation.
    b. Demonstrate that existing or proposed professional staff have or 
will have the necessary background and qualifications for the proposed 
responsibilities and include a curriculum vitae for each proposed 
staff.
    c. In an appendix to the application, provide an organizational 
chart that identifies lines of communication, accountability, 
reporting, authority, and describes management and control systems 
within your organization.

4. Collaboration (No More Than 2 Pages)

    a. Describe the organization's current collaboration with local and 
state health and education departments. Describe your organization's 
collaboration with other federal agencies, national non-profit 
organizations, foundations, community-based groups, and others who have 
an interest in or whose mission includes asthma education or management 
programs, whether their efforts are school-based or not. Discuss how 
your collaborative relationship can strengthen this project. Indicate 
who you propose to collaborate with to implement the proposed 
Operational Plan. Include letters of participation and support 
documenting these anticipated collaborations. In particular, describe 
how the proposed activities compliment or build on existing asthma 
education or management programs.
    b. Describe collaborative activities or anticipated relationships 
with other national organizations who support school-based health 
education programs including those related to asthma education and 
management. Include letters of participation and support documenting 
these anticipated collaborations. In particular, describe how your 
organization can compliment the activities of existing national 
organizations and how their expertise can support this proposed 
project.

5. Evaluation Plan (No More Than 2 Pages)

    Describe plans to evaluate progress in meeting objectives and 
conducting activities during the budget period. Specify what questions 
will be asked, what data will be obtained and present a plan that 
includes how the data will be obtained, from whom, how it will be 
analyzed and disseminated, and used to improve the program. Indicate in 
the plan who will do what and by when.

6. Budget and Justification (No More Than 2 Pages)

    Provide a detailed budget and line-item justification for all 
operating expenses that are consistent with proposed objectives and 
planned activities. The budget should include funds for travel to two 
CDC meetings during the budget year.

F. Submission and Deadline

    Submit the original and two copies of PHS 5161-1 (OMB Number 0937-
0189) on or before June 15, 2001, to the Grants Management Specialist 
identified in the ``Where to Obtain Additional Information'' section of 
this announcement. Forms are available in the kit and at the following 
Internet address: http://forms.psc.gov/
    Deadline: Applications will be considered as meeting the deadline 
if they are either:
    1. Received on or before the deadline date; or
    2. Sent on or before the deadline date and received in time for 
submission to the independent review group. (Applicants must request a 
legibly dated U.S. Postal Service postmark or obtain a legibly dated 
receipt from a commercial carrier or U.S. Postal Service. Private 
metered postmarks are not acceptable as proof of timely mailing).
    Late Applications: Applications which do not meet the criteria in 
1. or 2. above will be returned to the applicant.

G. Evaluation Criteria

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

1. Background and Need (25 Points)

    a. The extent to which the applicant describes the current 
organizational structure, the capacity of the organization to support 
school-based asthma education and management programs, and identifies 
current gaps in the existing structure of state and local education 
agencies that decreases the ability of the nation's schools to deliver 
an optimal asthma education and management program. (10 points)
    b. The extent to which the applicant discusses barriers that 
contribute to the morbidity and mortality associated with asthma and 
the prevention of asthma symptoms, describes experience in assisting 
state and local education agencies and health departments current 
school asthma education and management programs, and describes 
experience assisting state and local agencies use of existing 
protocols, training, and educational materials. Priority will be given 
to organizations whose direct constituents are school nurses, health 
care providers, school administrators, asthma and respiratory health 
groups and parent groups. (5 points)
    c. The extent to which the applicant describes experience in 
developing policy and programs related to asthma education and 
management, discusses gaps in existing policy and programs at the state 
and/or local level and discusses a proposal for new policy and 
programs. (5 points)
    d. The extent to which the applicant describes experience in using 
existing or developing, and implementing model policy, curricula, and 
training programs, and describes the organization's experience 
providing technical assistance and training. (5 points)

2. Operational Plan (30 Points)

    a. The extent to which the applicant provides long-term (5-year) 
goals and short-term (1-year) objectives for the proposed project that 
build the capacity of coordinated school health programs to address 
asthma education and management at the local level. The objectives must 
be specific, time-phased, measurable, and realistic. The proposed 
objectives should compliment ongoing activities related to the 
``Healthy People 2010'' focus area(s) of Educational and Community-
Based Programs and Respiratory Diseases 24.1 to 24.8. (15 Points)
    b. The extent to which the applicant submits a plan that builds the 
capacity of its constituents and others to assist state and local 
education agencies in establishing a model school asthma education and 
management program designed to teach asthma management and reduce 
morbidity, mortality and school absenteeism related to asthma through 
coordinated school health programs and includes a time-line for the 
completion of each component or major activity that describes who will 
do what by when. The extent to which the proposed activities are 
comparable to the identified Recipient Activities described in Section 
D Program Requirements. (15 points)

[[Page 27517]]

3. Administration and Management (15 Points)

    a. The extent to which the applicant provides job descriptions for 
existing and proposed professional positions and describes how the 
proposed professional staff will contribute to the overall school 
asthma education and management program and shows on an organizational 
chart how the current or proposed placement of each staff will assure 
program implementation. (5 points)
    b. The extent to which the applicant demonstrates that existing or 
proposed staff have or will have the necessary background and 
qualifications for the proposed responsibilities and includes a 
curriculum vitae of each staff. (5 points)
    c. The extent to which the applicant provides an organizational 
chart that identifies lines of communication, accountability, 
reporting, authority, and describes management and control systems 
within the organization and discusses how the proposed placement of the 
project in the organization will increase its likelihood of success. (5 
points)

4. Collaboration (20 Points)

    a. The extent to which the applicant describes current 
collaboration with state and/or local health and education departments, 
the organization's collaboration with other federal agencies, national 
non-profit organizations, foundations, community-based groups, and 
others who have an interest in or whose mission includes asthma 
education or management programs, and discusses how the current 
collaborative relationships can compliment the proposed project. The 
extent to which the applicant indicates proposed collaborative 
relationships that will support the proposed operational plan and 
includes letters of participation and support documenting these 
anticipated collaborations especially with proposed activities. (15 
points)
    b. The extent to which the applicant describes collaborative 
activities or anticipated relationships with other national 
organizations who support school-based health education programs 
including asthma education and management, and provides letters of 
participation and support documenting these anticipated collaborations. 
The extent to which the applicant describes how the organization can 
compliment the activities of existing organizations and how their 
expertise can support this proposed project. (5 points)

5. Evaluation Plan (10 Points)

    The extent to which the applicant describes their plan to evaluate 
progress in meeting objectives and conducting activities during the 
budget period including their ability to describe: (1) what data will 
be obtained; (2) how the data will be obtained; (3) from whom the data 
will be obtained; (4) what analysis will be conducted; (5) how 
evaluation information will be disseminated; (6) how the evaluation 
data will be used to improve the program; and (7) who will implement 
the evaluation plan and by when.

6. Budget and Justification (Not Scored)

    The extent to which the budget is reasonable and consistent with 
the purposes and activities of the program.

Other Requirements

Technical Reporting Requirements
    Provide CDC with the original plus two copies of:
    1. Annual progress reports.
    2. Financial status report, no more than 90 days after the end of 
the budget period.
    3. Final financial report and performance report, no more than 90 
days after the end of the project period.
    Send all reports to the Grants Management Specialist identified in 
the ``Where to Obtain Additional Information'' section of this 
announcement.
    The following additional requirements are applicable to this 
program. For a complete description of each, see Attachment I of the 
application kit.

AR-7--Executive Order 12372 Review
AR-8--Public Health System Reporting Requirement
AR-9--Paperwork Reduction Act Requirements
AR-10--Smoke-Free Workplace Requirements
AR-11--Healthy People 2010
AR-12--Lobbying Restrictions
AR-14--Accounting System Requirements
AR-15--Proof of Non-Profit Status

I. Authority and Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number

    This program is authorized under sections 301(a), 311(b) and (c), 
and 317 (k)(2) [42 U.S.C. 241(a), 243(b) and (c), and 247b(K)(2)] of 
the Public Health Service Act, as amended. The Catalog of Federal 
Domestic Assistance number is 93.938.

J. Where To Obtain Additional Information

    This and other CDC announcements can be found on the CDC home page 
Internet address--http://www.cdc.gov Click on ``Funding'' then ``Grants 
and Cooperative Agreements.''
    If you have questions after reviewing the contents of all 
documents, business management technical assistance may be obtained 
from: Cynthia Collins, Grants Management Specialist, Grants Management 
Branch, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Program 
Announcement 01122, 2920 Brandywine Rd, Room 3000, M/S E18, Atlanta, 
Georgia 30341-4146,Telephone number: (770) 488-2757, E-mail: 
[email protected]
    For program technical assistance, contact: Mary Vernon-Smiley, 
Chief, Special Populations Program Section, Program Development and 
Services Branch, Division of Adolescent and School Health, National 
Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Centers for 
Disease Control and Prevention, 4770 Buford Highway, NE M/S K31, 
Atlanta, GA 30341, Telephone number: (770) 488-6199, E-Mail: 
[email protected]

    Dated: May 11, 2001.
John L. Williams,
Director, Procurement and Grants Office, Centers for Disease Control 
and Prevention (CDC).
[FR Doc. 01-12424 Filed 5-16-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4163-18-P