[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 78 (Monday, April 24, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 24805-24806]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-08546]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Administration for Community Living


Intent To Award a Single-Source Supplement To Provide the 
National Aging Network With Timely, Relevant, High-Quality 
Opportunities To Further Enhance Knowledge, Awareness and Models 
Related to Falls Prevention

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Administration for Community Living (ACL) announces the 
intent to award a single-source supplement to the current cooperative 
agreement held by the National Council on Aging (NCOA) for the National 
Falls Prevention Resource Center. The purpose of this program is to 
advance the development and expansion of technical assistance, 
education, and resources to increase public awareness about the risk of 
falls and how to prevent them; increase the number of older adults and 
adults with disabilities who participate in evidence-based community 
falls prevention programs; and support the integration and 
sustainability of evidence-based falls prevention programs within 
community integrated health networks.

[[Page 24806]]


FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information or comments 
regarding this program supplement, contact Donna Bethge, U.S. 
Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Community 
Living, Administration on Aging, Office of Nutrition and Health 
Promotion Programs, 202-795-7659, [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The purpose of this supplement is to:
     support the development of a survey of key stakeholders to 
determine falls prevention gaps, opportunities, and priorities in the 
aging network and expand the Falls Summit to capture strategies and 
action steps to address those gaps with nationally recognized experts 
in falls prevention, organizations from the health, nutrition, and 
aging sectors, select federal and state agencies, professional 
associations, corporations, and foundations that have an interest in 
healthy aging;
     expand upon the reach of the Falls Prevention Awareness 
Week to incorporate additional messaging regarding healthy aging, 
independence and quality of life that can be realized by moving from 
falls prevention awareness to action. This will include crafting new 
messages that will be disseminated to a broader audience to better 
resonate with older adults and their caregivers;
     provide further development of leaders in the falls 
prevention network through a fellowship program to focus on systems 
change to reduce falls, falls risk factors, and fall related injuries 
to ultimately improve the lives of older adults and save health care 
dollars; and
     cultivate and leverage partnerships with traditional and 
new partners, such as emergency medical services, paramedicine, 
transportation, housing, nutrition, and primary care providers to 
develop clinical and community collaborative best-practice frameworks 
and models designed to address multiple risk factors in innovative and 
scalable ways that would include a strong focus on increasing 
participation in evidence-based falls prevention programs and embedding 
those programs into the aging network in order to support healthy and 
active opportunities for older adults. This supplement would provide 
the resources necessary to pilot test these frameworks and models in 
communities.
    The administrative supplement for FY 2023 will be in the amount of 
$2,000,000, bringing the total award for FY 2023 to $3,000,000.
    The additional funding will not be used to begin new projects, but 
it will be used to enhance existing efforts. The grantee will continue 
to provide appropriate, quality falls prevention resources, increase 
public awareness about falls prevention and the risk of falls, support 
the implementation of evidence-based falls prevention programs, and 
seek new opportunities to embed falls prevention evidence-based 
programs in the community.
    Program Name: National Falls Prevention Resource Center.
    Recipient: National Council on Aging (NCOA).
    Period of Performance: The supplement award will be issued for the 
third year of a five-year project period of August 1, 2021, to July 31, 
2026.
    Total Award Amount: $3,000,000 in FY 2023.
    Award Type: Cooperative Agreement Supplement.
    Statutory Authority: The Older Americans Act, Title IV; and the 
Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, 42 U.S.C. 300u-11 
(Prevention and Public Health Fund).

Basis for Award

    National Council on Aging (NCOA) is currently funded to carry out 
the objectives of this project through its current cooperative 
agreement entitled, National Falls Prevention Resource Center for the 
period of August 1, 2021, through July 31, 2026. Since the project's 
implementation, the grantee has made satisfactory progress toward its 
approved work plan. The supplement will enable the grantee to carry 
their work even further, enhancing the support they provide to the 
Aging Network Falls Prevention Providers. The additional funding will 
not be used to begin new projects or activities, but rather to enhance 
efforts.
    NCOA is uniquely positioned to complete the work called for under 
this project. They have an already established infrastructure and are a 
known and trusted organization in the Aging Network. Prior to this 
current award, NCOA competed and was twice awarded the National Falls 
Prevention Resource Center for the past 7 years. They have an 
established presence within the Aging Network. They have a 
comprehensive, interactive web-based repository (https://ncoa.org/professionals/health/center-for-healthy-aging/national-falls-prevention-resource-center) with tools and resources, including--best 
practices tip sheets, program and fidelity guidance, Falls Prevention 
Awareness Week toolkit, educational webinars, Grand Rounds recordings, 
articles covering topics from program implementation through 
sustainability, resource hubs, policy and practice models, the Falls 
Free Checkup online screening tool and they maintain the national falls 
prevention database. Under this current award period, they are 
providing technical assistance and educational opportunities for the 
Aging Network's Falls Prevention efforts, including workgroups, 
webinars, and live trainings. They collaborate nationally with state 
falls prevention collaboratives and host the annual Age + Action 
Conference, a grantee gathering to explore solutions to ensure 
equitable aging for all, connecting with colleagues, sharing innovative 
ideas, and discussing policy solutions that can be achieved together on 
behalf of older adults. They have reached thousands of providers using 
their comprehensive database of SUAs, AAAs, and other Falls Prevention 
Program stakeholders. In addition, they have developed partnerships 
with organizations, universities, and other entities to provide 
technical assistance, education, and support for the Aging Network.
    Establishing an entirely new grant project at this time would be 
potentially disruptive to the current work already well under way. More 
importantly, it could cause confusion among the Aging Network Falls 
Prevention Program Providers and stakeholders, which could have a 
negative effect on training, implementation, and support opportunities. 
If this supplement were not provided, the project would be unable to 
address the significant unmet needs of the Aging Network Falls 
Prevention Program.

    Dated: April 18, 2023.
Alison Barkoff,
Acting Administrator and Assistant Secretary for Aging.
[FR Doc. 2023-08546 Filed 4-21-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4154-01-P