[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 76 (Friday, April 19, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 19440-19442]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-9618]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Health Resources and Services Administration


Maternal and Child Health Federal Set-Aside Program; Special 
Projects of Regional and National Significance; Integrated 
Comprehensive Women's Health Services in State MCH Programs Grant 
Program

AGENCY: Health Resources and Services Administration, HHS.

ACTION: Notice of availability of funds.

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SUMMARY: The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) 
announces that approximately $600,000 in fiscal year (FY) 2002 funds is 
available to fund up to 6 grants to establish a locus of responsibility 
for women's health in State MCH Programs. The purpose of this grant 
program (CFDA Number 93.110AK) is to improve the coordination of 
women's health services at the State level through the development of 
linkages and partnerships among community-based organizations, academic 
institutions, federal, state, and local agencies. Infrastructure 
development is essential to overcome fragmentation in the delivery of 
health care services to women, to ensure that they have access to 
comprehensive, coordinated care that includes, in addition to 
reproductive health services, preventive services, education and 
counseling, referrals, and follow up. Eligibility is open to any public 
or private entity, including an Indian tribe or tribal organization (as 
defined at 25 U.S.C. 450b). Awards will be made under the program 
authority of section 501(a)(2) of the Social Security Act, the Maternal 
and Child Health (MCH) Federal Set-Aside Program (42 USC 701(a)(2)). 
Funds for these awards were appropriated under Public Law 107-116. 
Projects will be approved for a three-year period, with awards 
averaging about $100,000 for the first year. Funding after the initial 
year is contingent upon the availability of funds.

DATES: Applicants are expected to notify MCHB's Division of Perinatal 
Systems and Women's Health of their intent to apply by May 10, 2002. 
The deadline for receipt of applications is June 17, 2002. Applications 
will be considered ``on time'' if they are complete and either received 
on or before the deadline date or postmarked on or before the deadline 
date. The projected award date is September 1, 2002.

ADDRESSES: To receive a complete application kit, applicants may 
telephone the HRSA Grants 
Application Center at 1-877-477-2123 (1-877-HRSA-123) beginning April 
26, 2002, or register on-line at: http://www.hrsa.gov/, or by accessing 
http://www.hrsa.gov/_order3.htm directly. This program uses the 
standard form PHS 5161-1 (rev. 7/00) for applications (approved under 
OMB No. 0920-0428). Applicants must use the appropriate Catalog for 
Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) number when requesting application 
materials. The CFDA is a Government-wide compendium of enumerated 
Federal programs, projects, services, and activities that provide 
assistance. The

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CFDA Number for the Integrated Comprehensive Women's Health Services in 
State MCH Programs Grant Program is 93.110AK. All applications should 
be mailed or delivered to: Grants Management Officer (MCHB), HRSA 
Grants Application Center, 901 Russell Avenue, Suite 450, Gaithersburg, 
Maryland, 20879, telephone: 1-877-HRSA-123 (1-877-477-2123), e-mail: 
[email protected].
    This application guidance and the required forms for the Integrated 
Comprehensive Women's Health Services in State MCH Programs Grant 
Program may be downloaded in either WordPerfect 6.1 or Adobe Acrobat 
format (.pdf) from the MCHB home page at http://www.mchb.hrsa.gov/. 
Please contact Joni Johns at 301-443-2088 or [email protected] if you 
need technical assistance in accessing the MCHB home page via the 
Internet.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lisa R. King, M.A., 301-443-9739, e-
mail: [email protected], (for questions specific to project activities of 
the program, program objectives, or the Letter of Intent described 
above); and Curtis Colston, 301-443-3438, e-mail: [email protected], 
(for grants policy, budgetary, and business questions).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION

Integrated Comprehensive Women's Health Services in State MCH 
Programs--Background and Objectives

    Women's care is fragmented in its delivery, particularly with 
regard to the separation of reproductive and non-reproductive services. 
Women may have access to reproductive health care but not to 
comprehensive, coordinated care that includes preventive services, 
education and counseling, appropriate referrals and follow-up.
    Fragmentation and lack of access to comprehensive, coordinated care 
is an even greater problem for minority and underserved women, many of 
whom do not have health insurance. In fact, women without health 
insurance are less likely to receive preventive care services than 
insured women. Yet, these women suffer disproportionately from 
disparities in health status, and have the greatest need for such 
services.
    Adopting a broader approach to primary care for women could also be 
an efficient means of improving both women's health status and birth 
outcomes. Research suggests that infant and child health and 
development are strongly affected by women's preconceptional health 
status and health behaviors, and by women's general physical and 
psychological well-being in the immediate postpartum period and beyond. 
This broader approach to women's health also offers the potential to 
expand knowledge and practice in many areas of health promotion and 
disease prevention for women, children, and families.
    Many women's health experts have long advocated an expanded concept 
of women's health beyond reproductive health issues. Under the expanded 
definition being proposed, women's health would include both 
preservation of wellness and prevention of illness. This broader 
women's health framework (1) includes the screening, diagnosis and 
management of conditions that affect women exclusively, 
disproportionately, or manifest themselves differently in women, such 
as breast and cervical cancer; (2) addresses risky behaviors and 
environments that threaten the well-being of women such as injury and 
violence, and alcohol or substance abuse; and (3) addresses factors 
that affect women during their reproductive years and beyond.
    State Title V programs are among the logical partners to improve 
systems of care for women. In many States, Title V programs have 
already begun to provide a variety of services for women beyond 
pregnancy-related care, including family planning services, 
preconception care, breast and cervical cancer screening, screening and 
treatment of sexually transmitted diseases and smoking cessation 
programs, but more needs to be done. Lifestyle programs such as 
nutrition, exercise, substance abuse prevention, domestic violence 
programs, and screening and treatment of depression are included in 
some Title V programs, but are not as well developed. Other areas in 
need of development include rape prevention/crisis services, developing 
a women's health agenda, women's preventive health services, and 
domestic violence. Encouragingly, Title V programs have begun to 
demonstrate recognition of the gaps in services and are already seeking 
ways to expand the service mix and provide continuity of care for 
women.
    Infrastructure development is essential to the creation of a health 
care system that has the capacity to provide more comprehensive, 
gender-specific and culturally-competent health care for women, taking 
into account their different languages, cultures, and the complex and 
interrelated medical and psychosocial issues that affect them. 
Development of effective linkages should result in reduced 
fragmentation, enhanced coordination and cooperation across women's 
health programs, ensure access, and provide support for infrastructure 
development in State MCH programs.

Authorization

    Awards will be made under the program authority of section 
501(a)(2) of the Social Security Act, the Maternal and Child Health 
(MCH) Federal Set-Aside Program (42 U.S.C. 701(a)((2)).

Purpose

    The purpose of this program is to expand capacity in State MCH 
programs to improve women's health by establishing a locus of 
responsibility (or focal point) for the coordination of women's health 
through the development of linkages and partnership building with 
community-based organizations, academic institutions, federal, state, 
and local agencies. This focal point will also identify gaps and create 
an infrastructure for women's health services. Linkages will be created 
across programs, e.g., women's health, family planning, breast and 
cervical cancer, domestic violence/sexual assault, mental health, 
chronic disease, oral health, perinatal health, etc. Potential partners 
include organizations such as AMCHP, Association of Women's Health 
Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses (AWHONN), National Centers of Excellence 
in Women's Health, provider organizations (e.g., American College of 
Obstetricians and Gynecologists, American College of Nurse Midwives, 
Nurse Practitioners in Women's Health), private organizations, Federal 
agencies (e.g., HHS Office on Women's Health, Bureau of Primary Health 
Care's Office of Minority and Women's Health), state and local 
agencies, and other MCH provider organizations dedicated to promoting a 
women's health agenda and advancing the field of women's health through 
the delivery of coordinated services and systems, particularly in 
relation to health promotion/risk reduction behaviors.
    The resulting integrated and coordinated system of care will 
facilitate the provision of comprehensive and continuous health 
services to women, particularly those who have limited access to 
preventive health services. The intent is to improve the overall health 
of women, children and families.

Eligibility

    Any public or private entity, including an Indian tribe or tribal 
organization (as defined at 25 U.S.C. 450b) is eligible to apply. State 
and Territorial MCH Title V agencies, tribal health agencies or their 
designees are especially encouraged to apply. Under the President's 
initiative, faith-based

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organizations that are otherwise eligible and believe they can 
contribute to HRSA's program objectives are urged to consider this 
initiative. There will be only one funded application per State.

Funding Level/Project Period

    Approximately $600,000 is available to support the award of 6 
grants averaging approximately $100,000 each in FY 2002, with a project 
period of up to three years. Funding beyond FY 2002 is contingent upon 
satisfactory performance, the availability of funds, and program 
priorities. The initial budget period is expected to be 12 months, with 
subsequent budget periods being 12 months each.

Review Criteria

    In general, applications for this grant program will be reviewed on 
the basis of the extent to which they address the following criteria:
    (1) The extent to which the project will contribute to the 
advancement of maternal and child health and/or improvement of the 
health of children with special health care needs;
    (2) The extent to which the project is responsive to program 
objectives, requirements, priorities and/or review criteria for 
specific project categories, as published in program announcements or 
guidance materials;
    (3) Clarity and appropriateness of the budget and coordinated 
budget narrative;
    (4) The extent to which the project personnel are well qualified by 
training and/or experience for their roles in the project and the 
applicant organization has adequate facilities and personnel;
    (5) Clarity and strength of the letters of support or 
collaboration, particularly from the State Title V agency; and
    (6) The extent to which, insofar as practicable, the proposed 
activities, if well executed, are capable of attaining project 
objectives.
    The final review criteria used to review and rank applications for 
the Integrated Comprehensive Women's Health Services in State MCH 
Programs grant program are included in the application kit. Applicants 
should pay strict attention to addressing these criteria, as they are 
the basis upon which their applications will be judged.

Paperwork Reduction Act

    OMB approval for any data collection in connection with this 
cooperative agreement will be sought, as required under the Paperwork 
Reduction Act of 1995.

Public Health System Reporting Requirements

    This program is subject to the Public Health System Reporting 
Requirements (approved under OMB No. 0937-0195). Under these 
requirements, the community-based non-governmental applicant must 
prepare and submit a Public Health System Impact Statement (PHSIS). The 
PHSIS is intended to provide information to State and local health 
officials to keep them apprized of proposed health services grant 
applications submitted by community-based non-governmental 
organizations within their jurisdictions.
    Community-based non-governmental applicants are required to submit 
the following information to the head of the appropriate State and 
local health agencies in the area(s) to be impacted no later than the 
Federal application receipt due date:
    (a) A copy of the face page of the application (SF 424).
    (b) A summary of the project (PHSIS), not to exceed one page, which 
provides:
    (1) A description of the population to be served.
    (2) A summary of the services to be provided.
    (3) A description of the coordination planned with the appropriate 
State and local health agencies.

Executive Order 12372

    The MCH Federal Set-Aside program has been determined to be a 
program which is not subject to the provisions of Executive Order 12372 
concerning intergovernmental review of Federal programs.

    Dated: April 12, 2002.
Elizabeth M. Duke,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 02-9618 Filed 4-18-02; 8:45 am]
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