[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 131 (Tuesday, July 9, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 45517-45520]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-17113]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

[Program Announcement 02124]


Collaborative Efforts to Prevent Child Sexual Abuse; Notice of 
Availability of Funds

A. Purpose

    The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announces the 
availability of fiscal year (FY) 2002 funds for a cooperative agreement 
program for the project, ``Collaborative Efforts to Prevent Child 
Sexual Abuse (CSA)''. This program addresses the ``Healthy People 
2010'' focus area of Injury and Violence Prevention.

Background

    Approximately one million children in the United States annually 
are identified by child protective services as victims of maltreatment. 
Additionally, in 1999, over 88,000 substantiated or indicated cases of 
child sexual abuse were identified by the Administration on Children, 
Youth and Families. Child sexual abuse is associated with negative 
outcomes both in childhood (e.g., anxiety, depression, self-harming 
behavior, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), verbal and physical 
aggression, poor academic achievement, and low self-esteem) as well as 
in adulthood (e.g., anxiety, depression, self-harming behavior, 
substance abuse, PTSD, and high risk sexual behavior).
    The goal of preventing child maltreatment requires a comprehensive 
approach that focuses on all forms of maltreatment including child 
sexual abuse. Whereas programs to prevent child physical abuse, 
emotional abuse, and neglect have focused their efforts on preventing 
perpetration, nearly all child sexual abuse prevention programs have 
focused on preventing victimization by teaching children personal 
safety skills. Some have argued that these children-focused programs 
are predicated on the belief that children can prevent their own sexual 
abuse. No matter what the basis, the victimization prevention programs 
are deeply entrenched (i.e. many schools, churches, and social 
organizations that deal with young children have them) and 
perpetration/offender based prevention programs are practically 
nonexistent.
    A more comprehensive approach to the issue of child sexual abuse is 
the introduction of more perpetration/offender based prevention 
programs to complement the victimization prevention programs already in 
place. This announcement intends to support projects that utilize 
already existing infrastructures in order to broaden the prevention 
efforts. In every state, there are existing organizations whose mission 
is the prevention of child maltreatment or the prevention of sexual 
violence among adult women. In addition, there are organizations in the 
country that focus on the prevention of child sexual abuse 
perpetration. In the proposed project, the expertise of these agencies 
will be brought to bear on the issue of moving the field toward 
preventing perpetration.
    The purpose of this program is to create statewide prevention 
collaboratives to promote the development and implementation of child 
sexual abuse prevention programs that focus on adult or community 
responsibility and response in the prevention of perpetration, rather 
than focusing solely on the prevention of victimization.
    For the purposes of this announcement, a ``prevention 
collaborative'' includes efforts that are broadly defined and involves 
a partnership that combines the expertise of child abuse prevention, 
sexual abuse prevention and public health agencies/

[[Page 45518]]

organizations. In addition, the definition of child sexual abuse used 
for this project comes from the American Professional Society on the 
Abuse of Children (APSAC) Handbook on Child Maltreatment (2nd edition, 
2002). The definition is as follows, ``Child Sexual abuse involves any 
sexual activity with a child where consent is not or cannot be given. 
This includes sexual contact that is accomplished by force or threat of 
force, regardless of the age of the participants, and all sexual 
contact between an adult and a child, regardless of whether there is 
deception or the child understands the sexual nature of the activity. 
Sexual contact between an older and a younger child also can be abusive 
if there is a significant disparity in age, development, or size, 
rendering the younger child incapable of giving informed consent. The 
sexually abusive acts may include sexual penetration, sexual touching, 
or non-contact sexual acts such as exposure or voyeurism.''
    Measurable outcomes of the program will be in alignment with the 
following performance goal for the National Center for Injury 
Prevention and Control (NCIPC): Reduce the Risk of Child Maltreatment.

B. Eligible Applicants

    Assistance will be provided only to:
    (1) The health departments of States or their bona fide agents, 
including the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, 
the Virgin Islands, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, 
American Samoa, Guam, the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic 
of the Marshall Islands, the Republic of Palau, and federally 
recognized Indian tribal governments; or
    (2) An agency or organization with state-wide reach and expertise 
in the primary and/or secondary prevention of child maltreatment or 
sexual assault prevention. These agencies/organizations could be 
governmental or non-governmental.
    Only one application per state will be funded. State-level agencies 
and organizations are encouraged to collaborate in the submission of a 
single state application.

    Note: Title 2 of the United States Code section 1611 states that 
an organization described in section 501(c)(4) of the Internal 
Revenue Code that engages in lobbying activities is not eligible to 
receive Federal funds constituting an award, grant or loan.

C. Availability of Funds

    Approximately $400,000 is available in FY 2002 to fund 
approximately 2 awards. It is expected that the average award will be 
$200,000, ranging from $150,000 to $250,000. It is expected that the 
awards will begin on or about September 30, 2002 and will be made for a 
12-month budget period within a project period of up to 3 years. 
Funding estimates may change.
    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.

Funding Preferences

    Preference will be given to applications that demonstrate that this 
project will be a collaborative effort involving state level entities 
(e.g., state public health agencies, other state governmental agencies, 
state level not-for-profit organizations) with expertise in child 
maltreatment prevention, sexual violence prevention and public health 
approaches to prevention.

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. Develop and conduct a baseline statewide inventory of child 
sexual abuse prevention programs including information on number of 
programs, intended audience, content, and resources devoted to 
programs.
    b. Identify stakeholders, programs and institutions that should be 
involved in promoting programs that support adult or community 
responsibility and response to prevent perpetration.
    c. Identify a perpetrator/offender-focused prevention program to be 
piloted in each state.
    d. Implement and evaluate the chosen program in as many settings as 
possible.
    e. Complete a follow-up statewide inventory of child sexual abuse 
programs.
    f. Collaborate with other cooperative agreement recipients, CDC, 
and a CDC-selected evaluation contractor in the development of core 
components for the statewide inventory, perpetrator-focused prevention 
programs, and cross-site evaluation.
    g. Attend and participate in technical assistance and planning 
meetings coordinated by the CDC for all cooperative agreement 
recipients (two staff members; two meetings per year in Atlanta; two 
days per meeting).
    h. Submit required reports on time.

2. CDC Activities

    a. Provide technical assistance and consultation, if requested, on 
all aspects of recipient activities, including:
    (1) Development of the baseline statewide inventory of child sexual 
abuse prevention programs.
    (2) Perpetrator-focused prevention
    (3) Cross-site evaluation
    b. Facilitate the cross-site evaluation in collaboration with 
cooperative agreement recipients.
    c. Facilitate the technical assistance and planning meetings (two 
meetings per year in Atlanta, two days per meeting).
    d. Review evaluation information for presentation and publication.

E. Content

    The program announcement title and number must appear in the 
application. 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 proposal narrative should be no more than 15 pages, double-
spaced, printed on one side, with one-inch margins and unreduced font.
    The narrative should consist of at minimum:
    1. Applicant Organization History, Description and Capacity
    2. Applicant's Plan for Implementing this Cooperative Agreement
    3. Applicant's Management and Staffing
    4. Collaboration
    5. Measures of Effectiveness
    6.Budget

F. Submission and Deadline

    Submit the original and two copies of PHS 5161-1 (OMB Number 0920-
0428). Forms are available in the application kit and at the following 
Internet address: http://www.cdc.gov/od/pgo/forminfo.htm
    Application forms must be submitted in the following order:
Cover Letter
Table of Contents
Application
Budget Information Form
Budget Justification
Checklist
Assurances
Certifications
Disclosure Form
HIV Assurance Form (if applicable)
Human Subjects Certification Form
Indirect Costs Rate agreement (if applicable)
Narrative


[[Page 45519]]


    The application must be received by 5 p.m Eastern Time August 19, 
2002. Submit the application to: Technical Information Management--
PA02124, Procurement and Grants Office, Centers for Disease Control and 
Prevention 2920 Brandywine Rd, Room 3000, Atlanta, GA 30341-4146.
    Deadline: Applications shall be considered as meeting the deadline 
if they are received before 5 p.m. Eastern Time on the deadline date. 
Applicants sending applications by the United States Postal Service or 
commercial delivery services must ensure that the carrier will be able 
to guarantee delivery of the application by the closing date and time. 
If an application is received after closing due to (1) carrier error, 
when the carrier accepted the package with a guarantee for delivery by 
the closing date and time, or (2) significant weather delays or natural 
disasters, CDC will upon receipt of proper documentation, consider the 
application as having been received by the deadline.
    Applications which do not meet the above criteria will not be 
eligible for competition. Applicants will be notified of their failure 
to meet the submission requirements.

G. Evaluation Criteria

    Applicants are required to provide measures of effectiveness that 
will demonstrate the accomplishment of the various identified 
objectives of the cooperative agreement. Measures of Effectiveness must 
relate to the performance goal stated in section ``A. Purpose'' of this 
announcement. Measures must be objective and quantitative and must 
measure the intended outcome. These Measures of Effectiveness shall be 
submitted with the application and shall be an element of evaluation.
    Each application will be evaluated individually against the 
following criteria by an independent review group appointed by CDC:

1. Measures of Effectiveness (not rated)

    The extent to which the applicant has provided measures of 
effectiveness.

2. Applicant Organization History, Description and Capacity (20 points)

    The extent to which the applicant has documented:
    a. Their history as well as their current ability to provide a 
leadership function in statewide efforts to prevent child abuse, sexual 
violence, or public health prevention.
    b. Their history and capacity in providing leadership and guidance 
to local level efforts, including a clear description of their linkages 
with and role in support for local level efforts.
    c. Their history and a description of their capacity to provide 
leadership in involving other agencies with statewide reach to carry 
out the objectives of this project.
    d. Their organizational capacity to realize the objectives of the 
cooperative agreement.

3. Applicant's Plan for Implementing this Cooperative Agreement (35 
points)

    The extent to which the applicants work plan and timetable 
includes:
    a. The identification of state level agencies/institutions/
organizations to be named as members of the prevention collaborative, 
including a description of the areas of expertise covered by each; the 
specific roles and responsibilities of each in implementing this 
cooperative agreement; methods for making decisions; etc.
    b. Memorandum of agreement and understanding or letters of support 
from these organizations as an appendix, and the extent to which these 
letters indicate that the applicant and the other collaborating 
organizations have established a ``working partnership'' which 
specifies the active roles each will have in the project.
    c. Plans for baseline and follow-up statewide inventories of child 
sexual abuse prevention programs.
    d. A description of the process used (or to be used) in identifying 
a perpetrator/offender-focused CSA prevention project for 
implementation (i.e., what evidence will be used to make this 
decision).
    e. Plans to implement the pilot prevention program in as many 
settings as possible throughout the state, including a description of 
pilot site selection criteria.
    f. Plans to evaluate the pilot prevention program including 
measures of effectiveness that will demonstrate the accomplishment of 
the identified objectives of the cooperative agreement. Measures should 
be objective/quantifiable and measure the intended outcome.
    g. Plans to train and support staff regarding the responsibilities 
of this cooperative agreement, and the availability of staff and 
facilities to carry out this cooperative agreement.

4. Applicant's Management and Staffing (20 points)

    The extent to which the applicant has included:
    a. Their management operation, structure and/or organization. An 
organizational chart of the applicant's organization should be included 
as an Appendix. Additionally, the applicant should include within their 
management plan the specific role and mechanisms to be established to 
ensure effective coordination, communication and shared decision making 
among the involved agencies/organizations.
    b. A staffing plan for the project, noting existing staff as well 
as additional staffing needs. The responsibilities of individual staff 
members including the level of effort and allocation of time for each 
project activity by staff position should be included. The specific 
staff positions within the other involved state level agencies, both 
in-kind and funded, should be described.
    c. Resumes and/or position descriptions (i.e. for and in-kind and 
proposed positions to be funded under this cooperative agreement) 
should be included as an appendix. This should include the use of 
consultants, as appropriate, from the identified perpetrator focused 
program.
    d. A continuation plan in the event that key staff leave the 
project, how new staff will be smoothly integrated into the project, 
and assurances that resources will be available when needed for this 
project
    e. Previous experience of project staff to submit required reports 
on time

5. Collaboration (25 Points)

    The extent to which the applicant:
    a. Demonstrates an ability to identify and engage various 
stakeholders in past projects, and thus, its capacity to identify 
stakeholders that should be involved in promoting, implementing and 
evaluating programs that support adult or community responsibility and 
response to prevent CSA perpetration.
    b. A willingness to collaborate with other cooperative agreement 
recipients and CDC in the development of core components for the 
statewide inventory, perpetrator/offender-focused prevention programs, 
and cross-site evaluation.
    c. A willingness to attend and participate in technical assistance 
and planning meetings coordinated by the CDC for all cooperative 
agreement recipients (two staff members, two meetings per year in 
Atlanta, two days per meeting).

6. Proposed Budget Justification (Not Scored)

    The extent to which the applicant's budget includes funds to 
participate in the CDC required meetings (two staff members, two 
meetings per year in Atlanta, 2 days per meeting) and includes 
sufficient funding to support national consultants and program

[[Page 45520]]

materials directed at perpetrator based CSA prevention.
    The applicant should provide a detailed budget request and complete 
line-item justification of all proposed operating expenses consistent 
with the stated activities under this program announcement. Applicants 
should be precise about the purpose of each budget item and should 
itemize calculations wherever appropriate. The use of the sample budget 
included in the application kit is encouraged. These funds should not 
be used to supplant existing efforts.
    7. The extent to which the applicant adequately addresses the 
requirements of Title 45 CFR Part 46 for the protection of human 
subjects. (Not scored; however, an application can be disapproved if 
the research risks are sufficiently serious and protection against 
risks is so inadequate as to make the entire application unacceptable.)

H. Other Requirements

Technical Reporting Requirements

    Provide CDC with original plus two copies of the following:
    1. Annual progress reports will be submitted as part of the 
grantee's continuation application. The progress report will include a 
data requirement that demonstrates measures of effectiveness. Specific 
guidance will be provided for the content of the progress reports.
    2. Financial status report, no more than 90 days after the end of 
the budget period.
    3. Final financial and performance reports, 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-9  Paperwork Reduction Act Requirements
AR-10  Smoke-Free Workplace Requirements
AR-11  Healthy People 2010
AR-12  Lobbying Restrictions
AR-13  Prohibition on Use of CDC Funds for Certain Gun Control 
Activities

I. Authority and Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number

    This program is authorized under section 301,317,and 391-394 of the 
Public Health Service Act, [42 U.S.C. 241, 247b, and 280b-280b-3], as 
amended. The Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance number is 93.136.

J. Where to Obtain Additional Information

    This and other CDC announcements, the necessary applications, and 
associated forms can be found on the CDC home page Internet address--
http://www.cdc.gov Click on ``Funding'' then ``Grants and Cooperative 
Agreements.''
    For business management technical assistance, contact: James 
Masone, Grants Management Specialist, Procurement and Grants Office, 
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2920 Brandywine Road, Room 
3000, Atlanta, GA 30341-4146, Telephone number: (770) 488-2736, Email 
address: [email protected].
    For program technical assistance, contact: Janet Saul, PhD, 
National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, Centers for Disease 
Control and Prevention, 4770 Buford Hwy, NE, Mailstop K60, Atlanta, GA 
30341-1125, Telephone number: (770) 488-4733, Email address: 
[email protected].

    Dated: June 6, 2002.
Edward Schultz,
Acting Director, Procurement and Grants Office, Centers for Disease 
Control and Prevention.
[FR Doc. 02-17113 Filed 7-8-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4163-18-P