[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 183 (Wednesday, September 22, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Page 56773]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-21222]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Health Resources and Services Administration

[CFDA 93.926]


Maternal and Child Health Federal Set-Aside Program; Healthy 
Start Initiative, Closing the Health Gap Initiative on Infant 
Mortality: African American-Focused Risk Reduction

AGENCY: Health Resources and Services Administration, HHS.

ACTION: Notice of grant award.

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SUMMARY: The Maternal and Child Health Bureau (MCHB), Health Resources 
and Services Administration (HRSA), awarded four cooperative agreements 
of $562,500 each, (for a total of $2.25 million) in fiscal year (FY) 
2004, to four States: Illinois, Michigan, Mississippi, and South 
Carolina. The grants support the creation of evidence-based 
interventions and strategies to lower infant mortality among African 
Americans. The award was made from funds appropriated under Public Law 
108-199 (Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2004). As part of HHS's 
overall appropriation, monies have been designated to support the 
Closing the Health Gap on Infant Mortality Initiative, under HRSA 
Guidance HRSA-04-097. The African American Initiative, to reduce low 
birthweight and SDS, was developed jointly by HRSA and the Acting 
Assistant Secretary for Health to address health disparities in States 
experiencing the highest mortality rates for African Americans.
    Limited Competition Justification: The HRSA is providing Federal 
funds to lower infant mortality among African Americans in these four 
States based on their high rates of African American infant mortality; 
significant number of births to African Americans; their rank among the 
top States for highest percentage of African American births that are 
low birth weight (LBW); and their disproportionately high percentage of 
Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) deaths among African Americans.
    The funds are awarded to these four States so that they may work 
within a community that is committed to bring evidence-based practices 
to bear on the problem of high African American infant mortality rates 
caused by preterm birth (PTB), LBW, and SIDS. The cooperative 
agreements support strategies in each State that are culturally 
competent, represent a partnership between the State Title V agency and 
the local community; build on existing HHS or other funded programs; 
and employ one or more science-based approaches to African American 
infant mortality risk reduction. These agreements will also support the 
projects' evaluation of their progress according to specific goals and 
objectives.
    Other Award Information: The Catalog of Federal Domestic assistance 
number is 93.926; HRSA Activity Code U-19.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Maribeth Badura, M.S.N., R.N., 
Division of Perinatal Systems and Women's Health, Maternal and Child 
Health Bureau, HRSA, 5600 Fishers Lane, Room 10-C-16, Rockville, MD 
20857, (301) 443-0543.

    Dated: September 15, 2004.
Elizabeth M. Duke,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 04-21222 Filed 9-21-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4165-15-P