Grants and cooperative agreements; availability, etc.: Child mental health initiative,

[Federal Register: January 22, 1999 (Volume 64, Number 14)]

[Notices]

[Page 3533-3535]

From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

[DOCID:fr22ja99-93]

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration

Fiscal Year (FY) 1999 Funding Opportunities

AGENCY: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, HHS.

ACTION: Notice of funding availability.

SUMMARY: The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) Center for Mental Health Services (CMHS), announces the availability of FY 1999 funds for grants for the following activity. This activity is discussed in more detail under Section 3 of this notice. This notice is not a complete description of the activity; potential applicants must obtain a copy of the Guidance for Applicants (GFA) before preparing an application.

Estimated Activity

Application Estimated funds

number of

Project period deadline

available

awards

Child Mental Health Initiative....

4/21/99$20-25 Million.......

20-25 Up to 5 yrs.

Note: SAMHSA will publish additional notices of available funding opportunities for FY 1999 in subsequent issues of the Federal Register.

The actual amount available for awards and their allocation may vary, depending on unanticipated program requirements and the number and quality of applications received. FY 1999 funds for the activity discussed in this announcement were appropriated by the Congress under Public Law No. 105-277. SAMHSA's policies and procedures for peer review and Advisory Council review of grant and cooperative agreement applications were published in the Federal Register (Vol. 58, No. 126) on July 2, 1993.

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 for setting priority areas. The SAMHSA Centers' substance abuse and mental health services activities address issues related to Healthy People 2000 objectives of Mental Health and Mental Disorders; Alcohol and Other Drugs; Clinical Preventive Services; HIV Infection; and Surveillance and Data Systems. Potential applicants may obtain a copy of Healthy People 2000 (Full Report: Stock No. 017-001-00474-0) or Summary Report: Stock No. 017- 001-00473-1) through the Superintendent of Documents, Government Printing Office, Washington, DC 20402-9325 (Telephone: 202-512-1800).

General Instructions: Applicants must use application form PHS 5161-1 (Rev. 5/96; OMB No. 0937-0189). The application kit contains the GFA (complete programmatic guidance and instructions for preparing and submitting applications), the PHS 5161-1 which includes Standard Form 424 (Face Page), and other documentation and forms. Application kits may be obtained from the organization specified for the activity covered by this notice (see Section 3).

When requesting an application kit, the applicant must specify the particular activity for which detailed information is desired. This is to ensure receipt of all necessary forms and information, including any specific program review and award criteria.

The PHS 5161-1 application form and the full text of the activity (i.e., the GFA) described in Section 3 are available electronically via SAMHSA's World Wide Web Home Page (address: http://www.samhsa.gov).

Application Submission: Applications must be submitted to: SAMHSA Programs, Center for Scientific Review, National Institutes of Health, Suite 1040, 6701 Rockledge Drive MSC-7710, Bethesda, Maryland 20892- 7710.*

(* Applicants who wish to use express mail or courier service should change the zip code to 20817.)

Application Deadlines: The deadline for receipt of applications is listed in the table above.

Competing applications must be received by the indicated receipt date to be accepted for review. An application received after the deadline may only be accepted if it carries a legible proof-of-mailing date assigned by the carrier and that date is not later than one week prior to the deadline date. Private metered postmarks are not acceptable as proof of timely mailing.

Applications received after the deadline date and those sent to an address other than the address specified above will be returned to the applicant without review.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for activity-specific technical information should be directed to the program contact person identified for the activity covered by this notice (see Section 3).

Requests for information concerning business management issues should be directed to the grants management contact person identified for the activity covered by this notice (see Section 3).

Table of Contents

1. Program Background and Objectives 2. Criteria for Review and Funding

   2.1 General Review Criteria

   2.2 Funding Criteria for Scored Applications 3. Special FY 1999 Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Activities

   3.1 Grants

   3.1.1. Comprehensive Community Mental Health Services for Children and Their Families 4. Public Health System Reporting Requirements 5. PHS Non-use of Tobacco Policy Statement 6. Executive Order 12372

1. Program Background and Objectives

   SAMHSA's mission within the Nation's health system is to improve the quality and availability of prevention, early intervention, treatment, and rehabilitation services for substance abuse and mental illnesses, including co-occurring disorders, in order to improve health and reduce illness, death, disability, and cost to society.

   Reinventing government, with its emphases on redefining the role of Federal agencies and on improving customer service, has provided SAMHSA with a welcome opportunity to examine carefully its programs and activities. As a result of that process, SAMHSA moved assertively to create a renewed and strategic emphasis on using its resources to generate knowledge about ways to improve the prevention and treatment of substance abuse and mental illness and to work with State and local governments as well as providers, families, and

   [[Page 3534]]

   consumers to effectively use that knowledge in everyday practice.

   SAMHSA differs from other agencies in focusing on needed information at the services delivery level, and in its question-focus. Dissemination and application are integral, major features of the programs. SAMHSA believes that it is important to get the information into the hands of the public, providers, and systems administrators as effectively as possible. Technical assistance, training, preparation of special materials will be used, in addition to normal communications means.

   SAMHSA also continues to fund legislatively-mandated services programs for which funds are appropriated.

2. Criteria for Review and Funding

   Consistent with the statutory mandate for SAMHSA to support activities that will improve the provision of treatment, prevention and related services, including the development of national mental health and substance abuse goals and model programs, competing applications requesting funding under the specific project activity in Section 3 will be reviewed for technical merit in accordance with established PHS/SAMHSA peer review procedures.

   2.1 General Review Criteria

   As published in the Federal Register on July 2, 1993 (Vol. 58, No. 126), SAMHSA's ``Peer Review and Advisory Council Review of Grant and Cooperative Agreement Applications and Contract Proposals,'' peer review groups will take into account, among other factors as may be specified in the application guidance materials, the following general criteria:

   ‹bullet› Potential significance of the proposed project;

   ‹bullet› Appropriateness of the applicant's proposed objectives to the goals of the specific program;

   ‹bullet› Adequacy and appropriateness of the proposed approach and activities;

   ‹bullet› Adequacy of available resources, such as facilities and equipment;

   ‹bullet› Qualifications and experience of the applicant organization, the project director, and other key personnel; and

   ‹bullet› Reasonableness of the proposed budget.

   2.2 Funding Criteria for Scored Applications

   Applications will be considered for funding on the basis of their overall technical merit as determined through the peer review group and the appropriate National Advisory Council review process.

   Other funding criteria will include:

   ‹bullet› Availability of funds.

   Additional funding criteria specific to the programmatic activity may be included in the application guidance materials.

3. Special FY 1999 SAMHSA Activities

   3.1 Grants

   3.1.1. Comprehensive Community Mental Health Services for Children and Their Families (Child Mental Health Initiative)

   ‹bullet› Application Deadline: April 21, 1999

   ‹bullet› Purpose: Under Sec. 561(a) of the Public Health Service Act grants will be awarded to implement, in one or more communities, a broad array of community-based and family-focused services for children with serious emotional disturbance and their families, including individualized case planning and coordination, and to enable communities to integrate child-and family-serving agencies, including health, mental health, substance abuse treatment, child welfare, education, and juvenile justice into a local comprehensive system of care. The statute further requires that an evaluation of the system(s) of care implemented under the Program be conducted and that it include, among other things, longitudinal studies of the outcomes of services provided by such systems. (Sec. 565(c)(1) of the PHS Act).

   The primary goal of the program is to successfully implement systems of care at the grant sites. A second goal after implementing systems of care, is evaluation of the outcomes of services delivered under the system. This will be accomplished through a national multi- site evaluation conducted under a separate contract and grantees will be required to cooperate with the multi-site evaluation contractor. The final goal of the Program is to use the results of both the system development efforts of each service site and the results of the descriptive, process and outcome evaluation to shape future program direction with proven exemplary practices that work best for children and their families.

   ‹bullet› Eligible Applicants: Eligibility is limited by statute to ``public entities.'' A public entity is defined for this purpose (in Section 561(a)(2) of the PHS Act) as any State, any political subdivision of a State, and Indian tribe or tribal organization (as defined in Section 4(b) and Section 4(c) of the Indian Self- Determination and Education Assistance Act). The applicant entity must be qualified to deliver services under the State Medicaid Plan and have an agreement to do so, either directly or through a service provider organization. In order for an entity to be eligible, a plan must be in place for the development of a system of care for community-based services for children with a serious emotional disturbance approved by the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services per Sec. 564(b) of the PHS Act. For the purposes of this program, an approved State Mental Health Plan for Children and Adolescents with Serious Emotional Disturbance, submitted under Public Law 102-321, will be accepted as such a plan. This does not apply to Indian tribe or tribal organization applicants.

   ‹bullet› Amount: Approximately $20-25 million will be available to support twenty (20) to twenty-five (25) awards under this GFA in FY 1999. Actual funding will depend upon the availability of funds at the time of award. These grants are for a period of 5 years; it is anticipated that an average of approximately $1 million will be available to each grantee in year one; $1.25 million in year two; $2 million in year three, $1.5 million in year four, and $1.5 million in five. An applicant must arrange and demonstrate the availability of matching non-Federal funds in statutorily mandated ratios. [NOTE: Applicants must see full GFA for the specific ratios].

   ‹bullet› Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number: 93.104.

   ‹bullet› Program Contact: For programmatic or technical assistance, contact: Gar De Carolis, Chief, Child, Adolescent, and Family Branch, Division of Knowledge Development and Systems Change, Center for Mental Health Services/SAMHSA, Room 18-49, Parklawn Building, 5600 Fishers Lane, Rockville, MD 20857, (301) 443-1333/FAX (301) 443-3693, Internet: gdecarol@samhsa.gov.

   For grants management issues, contact: Steve Hudak, Grants Management Officer, Office of Program Services/SAMHSA, Room 15C-05, Parklawn Building, 5600 Fishers Lane, Rockville, MD 20857, (301) 443- 4456/FAX (301) 594-2336, Internet: shudak@samhsa.go.

   ‹bullet› For application kits, contact: IQ Solutions, Inc., 11300 Rockville Pike Suite 801, Rockville, MD 20852 Voice: (301) 984-1471, FAX: (301) 984-1333, E-mail: PTaylor@IQSolutions.com.

   ‹bullet› CMHS intends to sponsor four technical assistance workshops for potential applicants. For more information, potential applicants may contact: Ken Currier, Director, Technical Assistance Operations, National

   [[Page 3535]]

   Resource Network for Child and Family Mental Health Services, Washington Business Group on Health, 777 North Capitol Street, N.E., Suite 800, Washington, D.C. 20002, (202) 408-9320/FAX (202) 408-9332, Internet: currier@wbgh.com.

4. Public Health System Reporting Requirements

   This program is not subject to the Public Health System Reporting Requirements.

5. PHS Non-use of Tobacco Policy Statement

   The PHS strongly encourages all grant and contract recipients to provide a smoke-free workplace and 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. This is consistent with the PHS mission to protect and advance the physical and mental health of the American people.

6. Executive Order 12372

   Applications submitted in response to the FY 1999 activity listed above are subject to the intergovernmental review requirements of Executive Order 12372, as implemented through DHHS regulations at 45 CFR Part 100. E.O. 12372 sets up a system for State and local government review of applications for Federal financial assistance. Applicants (other than Federally recognized Indian tribal governments) should contact the State's Single Point of Contact (SPOC) as early as possible to alert them to the prospective application(s) and to receive any necessary instructions on the State's review process. For proposed projects serving more than one State, the applicant is advised to contact the SPOC of each affected State. A current listing of SPOCs is included in the application guidance materials. The SPOC should send any State review process recommendations directly to: Office of Extramural Activities, Policy and Review, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Parklawn Building, Room 17-89, 5600 Fishers Lane, Rockville, Maryland 20857.

   The due date for State review process recommendations is no later than 60 days after the specified deadline date for the receipt of applications. SAMHSA does not guarantee to accommodate or explain SPOC comments that are received after the 60-day cut-off.

   Dated: January 14, 1999. Richard Kopanda, Executive Officer, SAMHSA.

   [FR Doc. 99-1506Filed1-21-99; 8:45 am]

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