[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 126 (Friday, June 30, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 37590-37591]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 06-5928]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration


Notice Regarding Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services 
Administration's National Registry of Evidence-Based Programs and 
Practices (NREPP): Priorities for NREPP Reviews

    Summary: The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services 
Administration (SAMHSA) is committed to preventing the onset and 
reducing the progression of mental illness, substance abuse, and 
substance-related problems among all individuals, including youth. As 
part of this effort, SAMHSA has expanded and refined the agency's 
National Registry of Evidence-based Programs and Practices (NREPP). Two 
previous notices announcing these changes have been published in the 
Federal Register (70 FR 165, Aug. 26, 2005, 50381-50390; 71 FR 49, Mar. 
14, 2006, 13133-13155).
    This notice explains how SAMHSA and its three Centers will 
prioritize interventions submitted for NREPP reviews during Fiscal Year 
2007 and provides guidance on the submission process. This information 
can be helpful to individuals and organizations seeking to have an 
intervention reviewed and listed on the new NREPP Web site.
    For Further Information Contact: Kevin D. Hennessy, Ph.D., Science 
to Service Coordinator/SAMHSA, 1 Choke Cherry Road, Room 8-1017, 
Rockville, MD 20857, (240) 276-2234.

    Dated: June 26, 2006.
Eric B. Broderick,
Acting Deputy Administrator, SAMHSA, Assistant Surgeon General.

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration's National 
Registry of Evidence-Based Programs and Practices (NREPP): Priorities 
for NREPP Reviews

Background

    The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration's 
(SAMHSA) National Registry of Evidence-Based Programs and Practices 
(NREPP) is a voluntary rating and classification system designed to 
provide the public with reliable information on the scientific basis 
and practicality of interventions that prevent and/or treat mental and 
substance use disorders. Descriptive information and quantitative 
ratings are provided across several key areas for all interventions 
reviewed by NREPP. This information will be available to the public 
through a new NREPP Web site (http://www.nrepp.samhsa.gov) scheduled 
for launch by the end of 2006.
    Public input from a range of stakeholders has improved NREPP's 
accessibility and usefulness as a ``decision support tool'' to help 
States, Territories, community-based organizations, and other 
interested stakeholders identify interventions that may meet their 
needs. NREPP will provide useful information--including ratings on the 
strength of evidence and readiness for dissemination--to assist 
individuals and organizations in identifying interventions that may 
address their particular needs and match their specific capacities and 
resources.
    Each of SAMHSA's Centers--the Center for Substance Abuse 
Prevention, the Center for Substance Abuse Treatment, and the Center 
for Mental Health Services--will establish annual review priorities 
regarding the types of interventions to be included in NREPP. In 
general, these priorities will represent the interests and needs of 
relevant stakeholders and reflect SAMHSA's matrix and grant priorities.
    This notice describes the Centers' priorities for Fiscal Year 2007 
and provides guidance to individuals and organizations who may be 
considering submitting an intervention for NREPP review.

SAMHSA's NREPP Priorities

    SAMHSA is prioritizing for NREPP review interventions that prevent 
and/or treat mental and/or substance use disorders. For NREPP purposes, 
SAMHSA defines interventions as programs, practices, and/or 
environmental strategies designed to change behavioral outcomes among a 
definable population or within a definable geographic area.
    The agency anticipates that it will take a minimum of 3 to 5 years 
to expand NREPP to include a broader array of interventions to prevent 
and/or treat mental and/or substance use disorders.
    SAMHSA encourages submissions of culturally appropriate 
interventions targeting specific populations.
Minimum Review Requirements
    In order to facilitate the submission of interventions likely to 
receive strong reviews within NREPP, all potential submissions should 
provide documentation that they meet the following three minimum 
requirements:
    1. The intervention demonstrates one or more positive changes 
(outcomes) in mental health and/or substance use behavior among 
individuals, communities, or populations;
    2. Intervention results have been published in a peer-reviewed 
publication or documented in a comprehensive evaluation report; and
    3. Documentation (e.g., manuals, process guides, tools, training 
materials) of the intervention and its proper implementation is 
available to the public to facilitate dissemination.
    Submitted interventions that do not meet all three of these minimum 
requirements will not be considered for potential NREPP review.
Priority Review Points
    Submitted interventions meeting the three minimum requirements will 
be prioritized through a system of awarded points. Interventions will 
receive one priority point, and thus higher priority for potential 
NREPP review, if they have been evaluated using a quasi-experimental or 
experimental study design. Such studies may include a pre/post design 
with comparison or control group, or longitudinal/time series design 
with a minimum of three data points, one of which must be a baseline 
assessment.
    One priority point may also be obtained if the primary outcome(s) 
of the submitted intervention is in one or more of the following areas, 
categorized by the Center funding the review:
Center for Substance Abuse Prevention (CSAP)
    CSAP Priority Areas focus on comprehensive community strategies, 
actions and interventions that:

[[Page 37591]]

     Prevent and/or reduce substance abuse and its related 
problems--e.g., underage drinking, inhalent abuse, cannabis use and 
abuse, drug-related suicide, alcohol and drug abuse among young adults, 
misuse of alcohol and prescription drugs among the elderly, and HIV/
substance abuse problems.
     Change policies and practices at the community level to 
reduce risk factors and/or increase protective factors across multiple 
domains--e.g., workplace, schools, and neighborhoods.
     Address emerging substance abuse problems--e.g., 
methamphetamine, over-the-counter drugs, fentanyl and other synthetic 
drugs.
Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (CSAT)
    CSAT Priority Areas focus on interventions to treat adolescents and 
adults with alcohol and/or drug disorders that are delivered as part of 
one or more of the following types of services:
     Screening, brief intervention, and referral.
     Outreach and engagement.
     Treatment and rehabilitation.
     Recovery support.
     Continuing care, self-care, and/or aftercare.
Center for Mental Health Services (CMHS)
    CMHS Priority Areas focus on interventions to:
     Foster consumer- and family-provided mental health 
services.
     Divert adults with serious mental illness and/or children 
and adolescents with serious emotional disturbances from criminal and 
juvenile justice systems.
     Develop alternatives to the use of seclusion and restraint 
for adults with serious mental illness and/or children and adolescents 
with serious emotional disturbances.
     Prevent suicide in specific age groups (i.e., adolescents, 
young adults, elders).
Exclusions From NREPP
    The following types of interventions should not be submitted to 
NREPP:
    1. Stand-alone pharmacologic treatments--The evidence base for 
pharmacologic treatments is reviewed and approved through the U.S. Food 
and Drug Administration (FDA). NREPP reviews will be limited to on-
label use of FDA-approved pharmacotherapy interventions that are 
combined with one or more psycho-social treatments.
    2. Stand-alone smoking cessation--Smoking cessation interventions 
are appropriate for NREPP review only when they are conducted as part 
of a program for treatment of alcohol or other drugs of abuse.

Availability of NREPP Review Funds

    It is essential that all individuals and oganizations submitting an 
intervention for potential NREPP review fully understand that reviews 
are contingent upon both the number of submissions received and the 
availability of NREPP contract resources. SAMHSA cannot guarantee the 
review of any specific submission.

Submission Guidance

    SAMHSA has established an initial 4-month period for receipt of 
NREPP submissions that will begin October 1, 2006, and end February 1, 
2007. Interventions submitted after February 1, 2007, will not be 
considered for NREPP review.
    Any individuals or organizations whose submitted interventions are 
not selected for NREPP review may need to resubmit their materials 
should they wish to be considered for potential NREPP review during a 
subsequent fiscal year.
    In the event that the total number of submitted interventions in 
one or more areas (e.g., mental health treatment) is unlikely to 
exhaust the annual NREPP contract review funds in that area, it is 
possible that SAMHSA would establish a second submission period in that 
area(s). If so, SAMHSA would publish information about this second 
submision period in a subsequent Federal Register notice.
Ordering and Priority of Submissions for Review
    All submitted interventions meeting the three minimum requirements 
noted above will be considered for potential NREPP review.
    Submitted interventions obtaining two priority points will be 
considered for potential NREPP review before those submitted 
interventions obtaining one priority point, and submitted interventions 
obtaining one priority point will be considered for potential NREPP 
review before those submitted interventions obtaining zero priority 
points. The number of interventions actually reviewed will depend upon 
available contract resources.
    After ordering submitted interventions based on priority points 
obtained, consideration for potential NREPP review will be based on the 
order in which submitted interventions are received by the NREPP 
contractor (MANILA Consulting Group) during the 4-month submission 
period. For example, among substance abuse prevention interventions, 
all submissions with two priority points will be considered higher in 
the queue than submissions with one priority point, but among those 
with two priority points, an intervention received by MANILA Consulting 
Group on November 15, 2006, will be higher in the queue for potential 
NREPP review than an intervention received on January 15, 2007.
Contact Regarding Submissions
    Individuals and/or organizations interested in submitting an 
intervention for NREPP review should contact the NREPP contractor, 
MANILA Consulting Group, to express this interest. Staff from MANILA 
will then provide further guidance and details about the submission 
process as appropriate. Electronic correspondence (e-mail) is preferred 
and can be sent to [email protected]. Interested parties can 
also contact MANILA by phone at (571) 633-9797.

[FR Doc. 06-5928 Filed 6-29-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4160-01-M