[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 171 (Thursday, September 3, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 53312-53313]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-21885]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Health Resources and Services Administration


National Center for Family/Professional Partnerships Cooperative 
Agreement

AGENCY: Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), Department 
of Health and Human Services (HHS).

ACTION: Notice of Single-Case Deviation from Competition Requirement 
for Program Expansion for the National Center for Family/Professional 
Partnerships Cooperative Agreement at Family Voices, Grant Number 
U40MC00149.

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SUMMARY: HRSA announces its intent to award a program expansion 
supplement in the amount of $118,700 for the National Center for 
Family/Professional Partnerships (NCFPP) cooperative agreement. The 
purpose of the NCFPP cooperative agreement, as stated in the funding 
opportunity announcement, is to improve the health delivery system and 
quality of life for children (and youth) with special health care needs 
(CSHCN) and their families. Strategies may include: (1) Family-centered 
care, (2) cultural and linguistic competence, and (3) shared decision-
making for families of CSHCN at all levels of decision-making 
(individual, peer, community, etc.). Family/Professional Partnership 
program activities are primarily carried out through federal leadership 
strategies, the NCFPP cooperative agreement and state implementation 
grants in the form of Family-to-Family Health Information Centers. The 
purpose of this notice is to award supplemental funds to coordinate 
among leadership trainings for families partnering on state and 
national level system and service improvements by Family Voices, the 
cooperative agreement awardee who serves as the NCFPP, during the 
budget period of 6/1/2015- 5/31/2016.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Intended Recipient of the Award: Family Voices, Inc.
    Amount of the Non-Competitive Award: $118,700.
    Period of Supplemental Funding: 6/1/2015-5/31/2016.
    CFDA Number: 93.110.
    Authority: Social Security Act, Title V, Section 501(a)(1)(D), (42 
U.S.C. 701(a)(1)(D)).

Justification

    The Institute of Medicine Report Crossing the Quality Chasm: A New 
Health System for the 21st Century established shared decision-making 
and patient/family centered care as key elements of a quality health 
care system. National quality indicators of family/professional 
partnership, shared-decision-making, and patient/family-centered care 
show that children (and youth) with special health care needs (CSHCN) 
benefit from family/patient-centered care by improved transition from 
pediatric to adult health care systems, fewer unmet needs and fewer 
problems accessing needed referrals. Several MCHB programs rely on 
families as key partners in the improvement of overall systems and 
services, based on their personal experiences and their work with other 
families. There is a need for coordination among leadership trainings, 
including ongoing mentoring and technical assistance, for families 
partnering on state and national level system and service improvements. 
Meeting these needs would support a sustainable approach to leadership 
development that can be maintained by both individuals and 
organizations, linking together key MCHB investments by supporting 
State Title V agencies.
    The purpose of the NCFPP cooperative agreement, as stated in the 
funding opportunity announcement, is to improve the health delivery 
system and quality of life for CSHCN and their families. Strategies may 
include: (1) Family-centered care, (2) cultural and linguistic 
competence, and (3) shared decision-making for families of CSHCN at all 
levels of decision-making (individual, peer, community, etc.). Family/
Professional Partnership program activities are primarily carried out 
through federal leadership strategies, the NCFPP cooperative agreement 
and state implementation grants in the form of Family-to-Family Health 
Information Centers. In 2013, following objective review of its 
application, HRSA awarded Family Voices cooperative agreement funding 
for the NCFPP. If approved, this would be the first project expansion 
supplement for this project.
    For over two decades Family Voices has brought the voice of 
families of CSHCN to the healthcare arena and demonstrated the value of 
family perspectives in shaping healthcare systems and services to 
maximize outcomes for families and their children. Its infrastructure 
is based on a network of family-led organizations at the national, 
state, and local levels including the Family-to-Family Health 
Information Centers and Family Voices State Affiliate Organizations. It 
facilitates the work of a community of family leaders through peer 
mentoring, training, and technical assistance. It partners with key 
MCHB programs and stakeholders including State Title V agencies.
    Results were recently released from a survey of state Title V 
organizations' progress in engaging families and consumers. From this 
information, Family Voices recognized a need for ongoing development of 
a continually renewed pipeline of family leaders from diverse racial 
and cultural communities and from populations served across all MCHB 
programs. Thus, they submitted a proposal requesting to supplement the 
NCFPP cooperative agreement with activities to meet this need.
    The proposed project aligns with NCFPP's current project plan in 
its efforts to increase the capacity of families, Title V and other 
providers to strengthen the primary care workforce through family/
professional partnership learning opportunities (Goal 2). Family 
Voices, working with MCHB, would coordinate with other MCHB-funded 
initiatives to identify needs and develop a framework for an evidence-
based/informed family leadership training aimed at supporting family 
leaders

[[Page 53313]]

participating at state and national levels. To support this primary 
activity, it would also develop an inventory of current resources 
related to family leadership development, create a National Family and 
Youth Leadership Team, and provide technical support and assistance to 
family leaders to ensure they have the ongoing capacity to participate 
in community, state, and national systems change.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: LaQuanta Person Smalley, MPH, Division 
of Services for Children with Special Health Needs, Maternal and Child 
Health Bureau, Health Resources and Services Administration, 5600 
Fishers Lane, Room 13-103, Rockville, Maryland 20857; 
[email protected].

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                                                                                                     FY 2015
                                                                                    FY 2015         estimated
             Grantee/Organization name                  Grant No.       State      authorized      supplemental
                                                                                 funding level       funding
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Family Voices, Inc.................................            U40MC00149  NM         $475,000         $118,700
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    Dated: August 27, 2015.
James Macrae,
Acting Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2015-21885 Filed 9-2-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4165-15-P