Grants and cooperative agreements; availability, etc.: occurring disorders and their dependent children,
[Federal Register: June 7, 1999 (Volume 64, Number 108)]
[Notices]
[Page 30350-30352]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr07jn99-94]
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
Center for Mental Health Services; Center for Substance Abuse Treatment; Fiscal Year 1999 Funding Opportunity
AGENCIES: Department of Health and Human Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Center for Mental Health Services (CMHS), Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (CSAT).
ACTION: Notice of Availability of Funds for Cooperative Agreements for CMHS/CSAT Collaborative Program on Homeless Families: Women with Psychiatric, Substance Use, or Co-occurring Disorders and Their Dependent Children.
SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) Center for Mental Health Services (CMHS) and Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (CSAT), announce the availability of FY 1999 funds for cooperative agreements for the following activity. This activity is discussed in more detail under section 4 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. Note: SAMHSA also published notices of available funding opportunities for FY 1999 in previous issues of the Federal Register.
Estimated Activity
Application Estimated funds available number of Project period deadline
awards
Homeless Families Program (Study 08/11/99$3.8 Million..............
16 Up to 2 yrs. Sites). Homeless Families Program
08/11/99$1 Million................
1 Up to 5 yrs. (Coordinating Center).
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 Pub. L. 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 4).
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 4 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 4).
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 4).
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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
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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 consumers to effectively use that knowledge in everyday practice.
SAMHSA's FY 1999 Knowledge Development and Application (KD&A) agenda is the outcome of a process whereby providers, services researchers, consumers, National Advisory Council members and other interested persons participated in special meetings or responded to calls for suggestions and reactions. From this input, each SAMHSA Center developed a ``menu'' of suggested topics. The topics were discussed jointly and an agency agenda of critical topics was agreed to. The selection of topics depended heavily on policy importance and on the existence of adequate research and practitioner experience on which to base studies. While SAMHSA's FY 1999 KD&A programs will sometimes involve the evaluation of some delivery of services, they are services studies and application activities, not merely evaluation, since they are aimed at answering policy-relevant questions and putting that knowledge to use.
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.
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Special Concerns
SAMHSA's legislatively-mandated services programs do provide funds for mental health and/or substance abuse treatment and prevention services. However, SAMHSA's KD&A activities do not provide funds for mental health and/or substance abuse treatment and prevention services except sometimes for costs required by the particular activity's study design. Applicants are required to propose true knowledge application or knowledge development and application projects. Applications seeking funding for services projects under a KD&A activity will be considered nonresponsive.
Applications that are incomplete or nonresponsive to the GFA will be returned to the applicant without further consideration.
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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 4 will be reviewed for technical merit in accordance with established PHS/SAMHSA peer review procedures.
3.1 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.
3.2 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 may include:
‹bullet› Availability of funds.
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Special FY 1999 SAMHSA Activity
4.1. Cooperative Agreements for CMHS/CSAT Collaborative Program on Homeless Families: Women with Psychiatric, Substance Use, or Co- Occurring Disorders and Their Dependent Children (Short Title: Homeless Families Program, GFA No. SM 99-011)
‹bullet› Application Deadline: August 11, 1999.
‹bullet› Purpose: The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration's (SAMHSA) Center for Mental Health Services (CMHS) and Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (CSAT) announce the availability of cooperative agreements for projects that will document time-limited, multi-faceted intervention models (where the intensive intervention is generally provided within a 9-month period) targeted to homeless mothers with psychiatric, substance use, or co-occurring disorders who are caring for their dependent children. This program is designed to document and evaluate interventions that will result in movement out of homelessness, stability in housing placement, family preservation or reunification, decreased alcohol and drug use, and improvement in mental health and social functioning.
The Homeless Families Program will be divided into two phases:
‹bullet› Phase 1 (2 years): program documentation, individual- and cross-site evaluation design, and OMB clearance.
‹bullet› Phase 2 (3 years): individual and cross-site evaluations.
This Guidance for Applicants (GFA) solicits applications for two types of cooperative agreements: Project (study site) Grants and a Coordinating Center.
‹bullet› Priorities: None.
‹bullet› Eligible Applicants:
Study Sites. Applications may be submitted by public organizations, such as units of State, county or local government, and by private non- profit and for-profit organizations, such as community-based organizations, universities, colleges, hospitals, and family and/or consumer operated organizations.
In order to assure the evaluation of a stable and ongoing intervention, documentation must be included in the application that the applicant has provided homeless family services, targeted to women with psychiatric and/or substance use disorders who are caring for their children, for a minimum of 2 years prior to the date of application.
Eligibility to apply for Phase 2 awards will be limited to Phase 1 grantees. Eligibility is limited to assure selection of the most promising homelessness families interventions and continuation of established collaborations between the Centers and projects. Continuation of the grants from Phase 1 to Phase 2 will be competitive, and not all Phase 1 grantees will necessarily move to Phase 2.
Coordinating Center. Applications may be submitted by organizations such as units of State or local governments and by domestic private non-profit and for-profit organizations such as
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community-based organizations, universities, colleges, and hospitals.
‹bullet› Grants/Amounts:
Study Sites. It is estimated that approximately $3.8 million will be available to support approximately 16 awards under this GFA in FY 1999. The average award is expected to range from $200,000 to $250,00 in total costs (direct+indirect). Actual funding levels will depend upon the availability of appropriated funds.
Coordinating Center. It is estimated that approximately $1 million will be available to support one award under this GFA in FY 1999. Actual funding level will depend upon the scope of application and the availability of appropriated funds.
‹bullet› Period of Support:
Study Site: Support for Phase 1 should be requested for a period of up to 2 years. Annual awards will be made subject to continued availability of funds and progress achieved.
Coordinating Center: Support should be requested for a period of up to 5 years. Annual awards will be made subject to continued availability of funds and progress achieved.
‹bullet› Catalog of Domestic Federal Assistance: 93.230
‹bullet› For Programmatic or Technical Assistance (Not for application kits), contact:
Lawrence D. Rickards, Ph.D. or Frances Randolph, Dr.P.H., Homeless Programs Branch, Center for Mental Health Services, SAMHSA, 5600 Fishers Lane, Room 11C-05, Rockville, MD 20857, (301) 443-3706. Cheryl Gallagher, M.A. or Tom Edwards, Organization of Services Branch, Center for Substance Abuse Treatment, SAMHSA, Rockwall II, 7th Floor, 5600 Fishers Lane, Rockville, MD 20857, (301) 443-6534.
‹bullet› For Grants Management Assistance, contact: Stephen J. Hudak, Grants Management Specialist, Division of Grants Management, OPS, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, 5600 Fishers Lane, Room 15C-05, Rockville, Maryland 20857, (301) 443-4456.
‹bullet› For Application Kits, contact: Homeless Programs Branch, Center for Mental Health Services, 5600 Fishers Lane, Room 11C-05, Rockville, MD 20857, (301) 443-3706.
All the required components of the application kit, including the PHS 5161-1 and the Standard Form 424, are also available for electronic downloading through the ``Funding Opportunities'' option on SAMHSA's World Wide Web Home Page at ‹http://www.samhsa.gov›.
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Public Health System Reporting Requirements
This program is not subject to the Public Health System Reporting Requirements.
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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.
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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: May 31, 1999. Richard Kopanda, Executive Officer, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.
[FR Doc. 99-14228Filed6-4-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4162-20-P
