62318 Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 225 / Friday, November 21, 1997 / Notices

scheduled for the meeting; or you may

contact the Board’s Web site at http://

www.bog.frb.fed.us for an electronic

announcement that not only lists

applications, but also indicates

procedural and other information about

the meeting.

Dated: November 19, 1997.

Jennifer J. Johnson,

Deputy Secretary of the Board.

[FR Doc. 97–30769 Filed 11–19–97; 10:57

am]

BILLING CODE 6210–01–P

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND

HUMAN SERVICES

Office of the Secretary

Office of Minority Health; Availability of

Funds for Grants for the Minority

Community Health Coalition

Demonstration Program

AGENCY: Office of the Secretary, Office

of Minority Health.

ACTION: Notice of availability of funds

and request for applications for the

Minority Community Health Coalition

Demonstration Grant Program.

Authority

This program is authorized under

section 1707(d)(1) of the Public Health

Service Act, as amended by Public Law

101–527, the Disadvantaged Minority

Improvement Act of 1990.

Purpose

The purpose of this Fiscal Year 1998

Minority Community Health Coalition

Demonstration Program is to issue

grants to improve the health status of

targeted minority populations through

health promotion and disease risk

reduction intervention programs. This

program is intended to demonstrate the

effectiveness of community-based

coalitions in:

(1) Developing, implementing and

conducting demonstration projects

which coordinate integrated

community-based screening and

outreach services, and include linkages

for access and treatment to minorities in

high-risk, low-income communities; and

(2) Addressing sociocultural and

linguistic barriers to health care.

The Public Health Service (PHS) is

committed to achieving the health

promotion and disease prevention

objectives of Healthy People 2000, a

PHS-led national activity to reduce

morbidity and mortality and to improve

the quality of life. Potential applicants

may obtain a copy of the Healthy People

2000 (Full Report: Stock No. 017–001–

00474–0) or Healthy People 2000

Midcourse Review and 1995 Revisions

(Stock No. 017–001–00526–6) through

the Superintendent of Documents,

Government Printing Office,

Washington, D.C. 20402–9325 or

telephone (202) 783–8238.

Background

This program is based on the

hypothesis that the community coalition

approach to health promotion and risk

reduction can be effective in reaching

minority target populations—especially

those most at risk or hard to reach.

Among the merits of using coalitions is

the higher likelihood that: (1) the

intervention will be culturally sensitive,

credible and more acceptable to the

target population; (2) the project will

address the health problem(s) within the

context of related socio-economic

issues; and (3) the effort will contribute

to overall community empowerment by

strengthening indigenous leadership

and organizations. The OMH is

continuing, through this announcement,

to promote the utilization of community

coalitions to develop and implement

health promotion/disease risk reduction

programs.

In FY 1998 the Minority Community

Health Coalition Demonstration

Program continues to focus on health

problem areas identified in the 1995

OMH Report to Congress. These health

areas are commonly referred to as the

‘‘7+4’’ health issue areas: (1) cancer; (2)

cardiovascular disease and stroke; (3)

chemical dependency; (4) diabetes; (5)

homicide, suicide and unintentional

injuries; (6) infant mortality; and (7)

HIV/AIDS; plus, access to health care;

health professions personnel

development; improved data collection

and analysis; and cultural competency.

Flexibility for communities to define

their own health problem priorities (e.g.,

asthma, sexually transmitted diseases

[STDs], tuberculosis, female genital

mutilation, immunization and tobacco

use) is also encouraged.

Eligible Applicants

Public and private, nonprofit minority

community-based organizations which

represent an established community

coalition of at least three discrete

organizations. (See Definitions of

Minority Community-Based

Organizations and Community Coalition

found in this announcement.) The

minority community-based organization

will: serve as the lead agency for the

grant; be responsible for management of

the project; and serve as the fiscal agent

for the Federal grant awarded. The

coalition must include a health care

facility such as a community health

center, migrant health center, health

department or medical center to provide

follow-up treatment services. The

coalition membership must be

documented as specified under the

project requirements described in this

announcement.

National organizations are not eligible

to apply, however, local affiliates of

such organizations which meet the

definition of minority community-based

organization are eligible. Currently

funded OMH Bilingual/Bicultural

Service Demonstration Program

(Managed Care) grantees are not eligible

to apply. Organizations are not eligible

to receive funding from more than one

OMH grant program.

Deadline

To receive consideration, grant

applications must be received by the

Office of Minority Health (OMH) Grants

Management Office by January 20, 1998.

Applications will be considered as

meeting the deadline if they are: (1)

received on or before the deadline date,

or (2) postmarked on or before the

deadline date and received in time for

orderly processing. A legibly dated

receipt from a commercial carrier or

U.S. Postal Service will be accepted in

lieu of a postmark. Private metered

postmarks will not be accepted as proof

of timely mailing. Applications

submitted by facsimile transmission

(FAX) or any other electronic format

will not be accepted. Applications

which do not meet the deadline will be

considered late and will be returned to

the applicant unread.

Addresses/Contacts

Applications must be prepared using

Form PHS 5161–1 (Revised July 1992

and approved by OMB under control

Number 0937–0189). Application kits

and technical assistance on budget and

business aspects of the application may

be obtained from Ms. Carolyn A.

Williams, Grants Management Officer,

Division of Management Operations,

Office of Minority Health, Rockwall II

Building, Suite 1000, 5515 Security

Lane, Rockville, MD 20852, telephone

(301) 594–0758. Completed applications

are to be submitted to the same address.

Questions regarding programmatic

information and/or requests for

technical assistance in the preparation

of grant applications should be directed

to Ms. Cynthia H. Amis, Director,

Division of Program Operations, Office

of Minority Health, Rockwall II

Building, Suite 1000, 5515 Security

Lane, Rockville, MD 20852, telephone

(301) 594–0769.

Technical assistance is also available

through the OMH Regional Minority

Health Consultants (RMHCs). A listing
Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 225 / Friday, November 21, 1997 / Notices 62319

of the RMHCs and how they may be

contacted will be provided in the grant

application kit. Additionally, applicants

can contact the OMH Resource Center

(OMH–RC) at 1–800–444–6472 for

health information.

Availiability of Funds

Approximately $2.5 million is

expected to be available for award in FY

1998. It is projected that awards of up

to $150,000 total costs (direct and

indirect) for a 12 month period will be

made to approximately 16 to 18

competing applicants. Of the total

amount obligated, at least $750,000 will

be awarded to projects that include HIV/

AIDS as one of the targeted health

problem areas.

Period of Support

The start date for the Minority

Community Health Coalition

Demonstration Program grants is July 1,

1998. Support may be requested for a

total project period not to exceed 3

years. Noncompeting continuation

awards of up to $150,000 will be made

subject to satisfactory performance and

availability of funds.

Project Requirements

Each applicant to this demonstration

grant program must:

(1) Address at least one, but no more

than three (3) health problem areas

which significantly impact the local

targeted community. At least one must

be from Part A (‘‘7+4’’) of the definition

of health problem area found in this

announcement.

(2) Have an established coalition

capable of ensuring that the target

population is provided with a

continuum of appropriate health care

services and support. The coalition

must have the capacity to plan and

coordinate services which reduce

existing sociocultural and/or linguistic

barriers to health care and carry out

screening, outreach and enabling

services to ensure that clients follow up

with treatment and treatment referrals.

(3) Detail/specify the roles and

resources that each coalition member

will bring to the project, and state the

duration and terms of the agreement, as

confirmed by a signed agreement

between the applicant organization and

each coalition member. The document

must be signed by individuals with the

authority to represent the organization

(e.g., president, chief executive officer,

executive director).

Use of Grant Funds

Budgets of up to $150,000 total cost

(direct and indirect) per year may be

requested to cover costs of: personnel,

consultants, supplies (including

screening and outreach supplies),

equipment, and grant related travel.

Funds may not be used for medical

treatment, construction, building

alterations, or renovations. All budget

requests must be fully justified in terms

of the proposed goals and objectives and

include a computational explanation of

how costs were determined.

Criteria for Evaluating Applications

Review of Application

Applications will be screened upon

receipt. Those that are judged to be

incomplete, nonresponsive to the

announcement or nonconforming will

be returned without comment. Each

organization may submit no more than

one proposal under this announcement.

If an organization submits more than

one proposal, all will be deemed

ineligible and returned without

comment. Accepted applications will be

reviewed for technical merit in

accordance with PHS policies.

Applications will be evaluated by an

Objective Review Panel chosen for their

expertise in minority health, experience

relevant to this program, and their

understanding and knowledge of the

health problems and risk factors

confronting racial and ethnic minorities

in the United States.

Applications are advised to pay close

attention to the specific program

guidelines and general instructions

provided in the application kit.

Application Review Criteria

The technical review of applications

will consider the following generic

factors, which are listed in descending

order of priority.

Factor 1: Methodology (35%)

Appropriateness of proposed

approach and specific activities for each

objective. Logic and sequencing of the

planned approaches in relation to the

objectives and program evaluation.

Extent to which the applicant

demonstrates access to the target

population. Soundness of the

established linkages.

Factor 2: Evaluation (20%)

Thoroughness, feasibility and

appropriateness of the evaluation

design, and data collection and analysis

procedures. Potential for replication of

the project for similar target populations

and communities.

Factor 3: Background (15%)

Adequacy of demonstrated knowledge

of the problem at the local level;

demonstrated need within the proposed

community and target population;

demonstrated support and established

linkages in order to conduct proposed

model; and extent and documented

outcome of past efforts/activities with

the target population.

Factor 4: Goals and Objectives (15%)

Merit of the objectives, their relevance

to the program purpose and stated

problem, and their attainability in the

stated time frames.

Factor 5: Management Plan (15%)

Applicant organization’s capability to

manage and evaluate the project as

determined by: the qualifications of

proposed staff or requirements for ‘‘to be

hired’’ staff; proposed staff level of

effort; management experience of the

lead agency; and experience of each

coalition member as it relates to its

defined roles and the project.

Award Criteria

Funding decisions will be determined

by the Deputy Assistant Secretary for

Minority Health, Office of Minority

Health and will take under

consideration: recommendations/ratings

of the review panels; geographic and

racial/ethnic distribution; and health

problem areas having the greatest

impact on minority populations.

Consideration will also be given to

projects proposed to be implemented in

Empowerment Zones and Enterprise

Communities.

Definitions

For purposes of this grant

announcement, the following

definitions are provided:

Community-Based Organization—

Public and private, non-profit

organizations which are representative

of communities or significant segments

of communities, and which address

health and human services.

Community Coalition—At least three

(3) discrete organizations and

institutions in a community which on

specific community concerns,

resolution of those concerns through a

formalized relationship documented by

written memoranda of understanding/

agreement signed by individuals with

the authority to represent the

organizations (e.g., president, chief

executive officer, executive director).

Cultural Competency—A set of

interpersonal skills that allow

individuals to increase their

understanding and appreciation of

cultural differences and similarities

within, among and between groups.

This requires a willingness and ability

to draw on community-based values,

traditions and customs, and to work

with knowledgeable persons of and
62320 Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 225 / Friday, November 21, 1997 / Notices

from the community in developing

focused interventions, communications

and other supports. (Orlandi, Mario A.,

1992)

Health Care Facility—A public

nonprofit facility that has an established

record for providing comprehensive

health care services to a targeted, racial/

ethnic minority community. Facilities

providing only screening and referral

activities are not included in this

definition. A health care facility may be

a hospital, outpatient medical facility,

community health center, migrant

health center, or a mental health center.

Health Problem Area—(a) One of the

‘‘7 + 4’’ health areas: cancer,

cardiovascular disease and stroke;

chemical dependency; diabetes;

homicide, suicide and unintentional

injuries; infant mortality; HIV/AIDS;

access to health care; health

professional personnel development;

improved data collection and analysis;

and cultural competency; or (b) a

disease or health condition which has a

demonstrated impact on morbidity rates

among the minority population, for

example, asthma, sexually transmitted

diseases (STDs), tuberculosis, female

genital mutilation, immunization and

tobacco use.

Intervention—A combination of

clinical preventive services (e.g., blood

pressure screening), information

dissemination, environmental

modifications, educational activities,

and coordinated networking activities

among health and human service related

programs (e.g., referral for child care

services, job placement, literacy

programs) designed to alter or modify a

condition or outcome, or to change

behavior to reduce the likelihood of a

preventable health problem occurring or

progressing further.

Minority Community-Based

Organizations—Public and private

nonprofit community-based minority

organization or a local affiliate of a

national minority organization that has:

a governing board composed of 51

percent or more racial/ethnic minority

members, a significant number of

minorities in key program positions,

and an established record of service to

a racial/ethnic minority community.

Minority Populations—American

Indian or Alaska Native, Asian, Black or

African American, Hispanic or Latino,

and Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific

Islander. (OMB Statistical Policy

Directive No. 15)

Risk Factor—The environmental and

behavioral influences capable of causing

ill health with or without

predisposition.

Sociocultural Barriers—Policies,

practices, behaviors and beliefs that

create obstacles to health care access

and service delivery (e.g., immunization

requirements, cultural differences

between individuals and institutions,

cultural differences of beliefs about

health and illness, customs and

lifestyles, cultural differences in

languages or nonverbal communication

styles).

Reporting and Other Requirements

General Reporting Requirements

A successful applicant under this

notice will submit: (1) semi-annual

progress reports; (2) an annual Financial

Status Report; and (3) a final progress

report and Financial Status Report in

the format established by the Office of

Minority Health, in accordance with

provisions of the general regulations

which apply under CFR 74.50–74.52,

with the exception of State and local

governments to which 45 CFR Part 92,

Subpart C reporting requirements apply.

Provision of Smoke-Free Workplace and

Non-Use of Tobacco Products by

Recipients of PHS Grants

The Public Health Service strongly

encourages all grant recipients to

provide a smoke-free workplace and to

promote the non-use of all tobacco

products. In addition, Public Law 103–

227, the Pro-Children Act of 1994,

prohibits smoking in certain facilities

(or in some cases, any portion of a

facility) in which regular or routine

education, library, day care, health care

or early childhood development

services are provided to children.

Public Health System Reporting

Requirements

This program is subject to Public

Health Systems Reporting

Requirements. Under these

requirements, a community-based

nongovernmental applicant must

prepare and submit a Public Health

System Impact Statement (PHSIS). The

PHSIS is intended to provide

information to State and local health

officials to keep them apprised of

proposed health services grant

applications submitted by communitybased organizations within their

jurisdictions.

Community-based nongovernmental

applicants are required to submit, no

later than the Federal due date for

receipt of the application, the following

information to the head of the

appropriate State and local health

agencies in the area(s) to be impacted:

(a) a copy of the face page of the

application (SF 424), and (b) a summary

of the project (PHSIS), not to exceed one

page, which provides: (1) a description

of the population to be served, (2) a

summary of the services to be provided,

and (3) a description of the coordination

planned with the appropriate State or

local health agencies. Copies of the

letters forwarding the PHSIS to these

authorities must be contained in the

application materials submitted to the

Office of Minority Health.

State Reviews

This program is subject to the

requirements of Executive Order 12372

which allows States the option of setting

up a system for reviewing applications

from within their States for assistance

under certain Federal programs. The

application kit to be made available

under this notice will contain a listing

of States which have chosen to set up

a review system and will include a State

Single Point of Contact (SPOC) in the

State for review. Applicants (other than

federally recognized Indian tribes)

should contact their SPOCs as early as

possible to alert them to the prospective

applications and receive any necessary

instructions on the State process. For

proposed projects serving more than one

State, the applicant is advised to contact

the SPOC of each affected State. The

due date for State process

recommendations is 60 days after the

application deadline established by the

Office of Minority Health’s Grants

Management Officer. The Office of

Minority Health does not guarantee that

it will accommodate or explain its

responses to State process

recommendations received after that

date. (See ‘‘Intergovernmental Review of

Federal Programs’’ Executive Order

12372 and 45 CFR Part 100 for a

description of the review process and

requirements).

OMB Catalog of Federal Domestic

Assistance

The OMB Catalog of Federal Domestic

Assistance number for the Minority

Community Health Coalition

Demonstration Program is 93–137.

Clay E. Simpson, Jr.,

Deputy Assistant Secretary for Minority

Health.

[FR Doc. 97–30565 Filed 11–20–97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4160–17–M