31012 Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 94 / Monday, May 15, 2000 / Notices

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND

HUMAN SERVICES

Health Resources and Services

Administration

Notice of a Cooperative Agreement

With the National Association of

County and City Health Officials

In anticipation of Fiscal Year (FY)

2001 funding, the Health Resources and

Services Administration (HRSA)

announces its intention to award a

cooperative agreement with the National

Association of County and City Health

Officials (NACCHO) to increase access

and eliminate disparities in health care

for the underserved/uninsured by

strengthening the local public health

systems and supporting programs that

assist local communities.

The purpose of this project is to: (1)

Address the health care needs of the

underserved and vulnerable

populations, the needs of health care

providers who serve vulnerable

populations, and related public health

issues; and (2) assist NACCHO in

developing and convening national and

regional policy forums and provide

educational and resource materials

emanating from these forums for county

and city policymakers on the above

areas.

There is no other ongoing group that

can convene the high-ranking decisionmakers representing county and city

health officials’ interests around an

issue of importance to HRSA. This

group will facilitate communication on

current and emerging strategies

addressing common priorities, and will

enable HRSA to better leverage limited

resources by improving planning and

program design to complement other

public and private sector initiatives

serving the needs of the same

populations.

Authorizing Legislation

This program is authorized under

section 301 of the Public Health Service

Act [42 U.S.C. 241], as amended.

Eligible Applicants

Assistance will be provided only to

the National Association of County and

City Health Officials (NACCHO). No

other applications are solicited.

The NACCHO is the only nonprofit

membership organization serving all of

the nearly 3,000 local health

departments nationwide—in cities,

counties, townships, and districts.

Availability of Funds

Approximately $100,000 is available

in FY 2001 to fund this award. It is

expected the award will begin on or

after October 1, 2000, and will be for a

12-month budget period with a project

period of 5 years. Funding estimates

may vary and are subject to 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.

Program Requirements

This project will provide an Agencylevel cooperative agreement with

NACCHO to address cross-cutting

publicly-funded public health program

integration and health care access issues

identified by county and city public

health officials. Through this project,

NACCHO will provide assistance to

HRSA and HRSA grantees, such as

states and local governments, health

centers, Maternal and Child Health

programs, and rural health offices, to

evaluate the effectiveness of their

programs and initiatives to address the

needs of the underserved and targeted

populations. It will include activities

that are mutually agreed to by HRSA

and NACCHO, including addressing

HRSA priority issues.

Specifically, HRSA’s role in the

cooperative agreement will include

participating in the planning of the

forums conducted during the period of

the cooperative agreement, including

developing the agendas and identifying

participants who should be invited to

address issues of importance from the

Federal perspective at these forums,

providing consultation and technical

assistance in planning, operating, and

evaluating program activities,

facilitating collaboration with NACCHO

staff and other county and city health

agencies to reach the target population,

facilitating efforts in the provision of

technical assistance and training to

specified individuals and organizations,

and maintaining an ongoing dialogue

with the applicant concerning program

plans, policies, and other issues which

may have major implications for any

activities undertaken by the applicant

under the cooperative agreement.

The recipient shall be responsible for

carrying out activities to support the

following:

(1) Developing, printing, and

distributing articles, reports, or other

documents relating to health care

access, unmet population needs,

provider capacity, the uses of existing

data systems within counties and cities

to address health care needs of the

population, and the complexity of

private sector initiatives for use by

county and city health officials.

(2) Convening regional or national

meetings of county and city health

officials and others, as appropriate, for

discussion of public and private sector

strategies and best practices in HRSA

priority issues to include appropriate

topics and audiences to exchange

information. Some of these priority

issues include: (a) Infrastructure

building; (b) capacity to assure

provision of essential public health

services; (c) providing an opportunity

for HRSA stakeholders to comment on

HRSA’s performance; (d) building upon

integrated public health infrastructures

which use data to address public health

issues of the counties and cities; (e)

improving the health status of

vulnerable populations; (f) assisting in

the development of work force

information systems; and (g) advising on

the development of a Legislative

Handbook on Public Health (review,

solicit input from NACCHO members,

summarize comments, and work closely

with National Conference for State

Legislatures’ staff as the Handbook is

drafted).

(3) Participating in HRSA-sponsored

meetings and events, as appropriate.

(4) Coordinating activities with

county and city health department

contacts, including public health

experts, to ensure that NACCHO

members are aware of public health

programs and activities in their local

area.

Where To Obtain Additional

Information

Diane Rodill, Ph.D., Project Officer,

Center for Public Health Practice,

Health Resources and Services

Administration (HRSA), 5600 Fishers

Lane, Room14–15 Parklawn Building,

Rockville, MD 20857, Telephone:

(301) 443–4034, E-mail:

drodill@hrsa.gov

Dated: May 9, 2000.

Claude Earl Fox,

Administrator.

[FR Doc. 00–12059 Filed 5–12–00; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4160–15–P

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[NM–910–00–1020–PB]

New Mexico Resource Advisory

Council Meeting

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management,

Interior.

ACTION: Notice of council meeting.

SUMMARY: In accordance with the

Federal Land Policy and Management

Act and the Federal Advisory