Community Support Program: Mental Health Systems Improvement Demonstration Grants for Consumer and Family Networks

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration

RIN 0905-ZA32

Community Support Program: Mental Health Systems Improvement

Demonstration Grants for Consumer and Family Networks

AGENCY: Center for Mental Health Services, Substance Abuse and Mental

Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), HHS.

ACTION: Notice of availability of funds and request for applications.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Center for Mental Health Services (CMHS) announces the

availability of demonstration grants to State mental health authorities

to foster the development of consumer and family networks. The purpose

is to enhance the involvement of consumers and family members in the

policies, programs, and quality assurance activities related to State

mental health plans and the mental health components of health care

reform. These grants are offered through the Community Support Program

(CSP) Section, Adult Serious Mental Illness Branch, Division of

Demonstration Programs, CMHS.

This notice consists of three parts:

Part I covers information on the legislative authority and the

applicable regulations and policies related to the Community Support

Program: Mental Health Systems Improvement Demonstration Grants for

Consumer and Family Networks.

Part II describes the programmatic goals and project requirements

and activities and discusses eligibility, availability of funds, period

of support and the receipt date for applications.

Part III describes special requirements of the program, the

application process, the review and award criteria and lists contacts

for additional information.

Part I--Legislative Authority and Other Applicable Regulations and

Policies

--Grants awarded under this RFA are authorized under section 520A of

the Public Health Service Act [42 U.S.C. 290bb-32].

--Federal regulations at Title 45 CFR parts 74 and 92, generic

requirements concerning the administration of grants, are applicable to

these awards.

--Grants must be administered in accordance with the PHS Grants Policy

Statement (Rev. April 1, 1994).

--The Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) number for this

program is 93.125.

--Interim and final progress reports and financial status reports will

be required and specified to awardees in accordance with PHS Grants

Policy requirements.

--The Public Health Service (PHS) is committed to achieving the health

promotion and disease prevention objectives of Healthy People

2000,1 a PHS-led national activity for setting priority areas.

This RFA, Mental Health Systems Improvement Demonstration Grants for

Consumer and Family Networks, is related to priority 6, Mental Health

Disorders. Specific subsections include: 6.4, ``to reduce the

prevalence of mental disorders among adults living in the community to

less than 10.7 percent;'' 6.6, ``to increase to at least 30 percent the

proportion of people aged 18 and older with severe, persistent mental

disorders who use community support programs;'' and 6.7, ``to increase

to at least 45 percent the proportion of people with major depressive

disorders who obtain treatment.''

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

\1\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, D.C. 20402-9325 (Telephone:

202-783-3238).

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Part II--Programmatic Goals and Project Requirements and Activities,

Eligibility and Application Receipt Date

Program Goals: The goals for this round of CSP demonstration grants

are to implement and evaluate strategies to:

--Empower consumer and family networks and strengthen their ability to

participate in State and local mental health service planning and

health care reform policy activities related to improving community-

based services for the target population; and

--Foster the financial self-sufficiency of consumer and family

organizations (transition from Federal CSP grant funding to other

public and private resources) over the term of the Federal grant.

The goals of this program address the HHS Secretary's themes of:

fostering independence through empowering of the people served;

preventing future problems; and improving services to customers through

modern management approaches.

Target Population: The target population for CSP grants includes

individuals 18 years and older with severe mental illnesses (including,

but not limited to, schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorders, mood

disorders, and severe personality disorders) that substantially

interfere with their ability to carry out such primary aspects of daily

living as self-care, household management, interpersonal relationships,

and work or school.

Project Requirements

--States applying must actively involve representatives from the major

State consumer and family organizations concerned with system reform in

conceptualizing the approach, developing the application, and

implementing the project.

--The project must specify project goals and clear, measurable

objectives that relate to the two program goals of this RFA.

--It is expected that States will propose activities to support both

consumer and family networking efforts. A State proposing to use grant

funds to support activities for only families or only consumers must

submit adequate justification for the proposal.

--States applying must include an evaluation plan for monitoring

project progress, refining strategies, and measuring attainment of

project objectives.

Project Activities: Proposed project activities to be implemented

and evaluated must relate directly to the goals of this RFA. Suggested

activities include, but are not limited to: (1) Supporting consumer and

family networks; (2) providing training and educational opportunities

for consumers and family members; (3) reaching out to members of

racial/ethnic minority population groups to increase their

participation; (4) using computer technology to build networks and link

consumer and family member participants; (5) arranging for needed

supports such as travel to key meetings; and (6) implementing

procedures and policies to assure input from consumers and families

into planning activities.

Eligibility Requirements: CMHS is limiting potential applicants for

projects under this announcement to State mental health authorities.

Multiple organizations are generally involved in implementing these

initiatives; thus, centralized State assistance is needed to assure

appropriate staff and organizations will be involved and that

sufficient resources will be allocated to the project. The State mental

health authorities are uniquely qualified to undertake this

coordination function, since they work directly with the major consumer

and family groups and oversee a wide range of mental health service

providers.

Because it is anticipated that the activities supported through

these grants will continue beyond the life of the Federal grant

support, it is probable that the main source of continuation funding

will come from State mental health authorities. Previous program

experience has shown that when States are involved in implementing and

monitoring the projects, they are more likely to provide continuation

funding when the Federal funding period ends.

Because of funding limitations, it has been the policy of CSP to

support only one CSP State Mental Health Systems Improvement

Demonstration Grant in each State or territory for each round of multi-

year grants. Therefore, only States and territories that do not have a

current, active CSP Mental Health Systems Improvement grant, or those

that have an active CSP grant with a project period that ends on or

before August 31, 1994, excluding no-cost extensions, are eligible to

apply for these grants. Each State and territory may submit only one

application.

Availability of Funds: An amount of $3 million will be available

for approximately 20 awards under this RFA in FY 1994. Actual funding

levels will depend upon appropriated funds. Pending availability of

funds and program priorities, CMHS anticipates providing States with

CSP Mental Health Systems Improvement Demonstration Grants ending in

1995 the opportunity to apply for grants for consumer and family

networks in 1995 under a similar RFA.

Because it is expected that projects will work towards attaining

self-sufficiency during the term of the project, this program will

offer declining support. Applicants may request budgets of

approximately $150,000 for the first year of the project. Federal

support for the projects will decrease over the remaining project

period as follows: the budget request for the second year should be no

more than 75 percent of the first year's budget; the budget request for

the third year of the project should be no more than 50 percent of the

first year's budget; the budget request for the fourth and final year

of the project should be no more than 25 percent of the first's year's

budget.

Period of Support: Support may be requested for a period of up to

four (4) years. Annual awards will be made subject to continued

availability of funds and evidence of progress achieved.

Application Receipt and Review Schedule: The schedule for receipt

and review of applications under this announcement is:

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Receipt date IRG review Council review Start date

------------------------------------------------------------------------

June 10, 1994.... July 1994........ September 1994.. September 1994.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Consequences of Late Submission: Applications received after the

above receipt date will not be accepted and will be returned to the

applicant without review. The DRG system requires that applications

must be received by the published application receipt date. However, an

application received after the deadline may be acceptable if it carries

a legible proof-of-mailing date assigned by the carrier and the proof-

of-mailing date is not later than one week prior to the deadline date.

Private metered postmarks are not acceptable as proof of timely

mailing. If the receipt date falls on a weekend, it will be extended to

the following Monday; if the date falls on a national holiday, it will

be extended to the following work day.

Part III--Special Requirements, Review/Award Criteria and Contacts for

Additional Information

Coordination with Other Federal/Non-Federal Programs: Applicants

seeking support under this announcement are encouraged to coordinate

with other programs. Program coordination and integration help to

better serve the multiple needs of the client population, to maximize

the impact of available resources, and to eliminate duplication of

services. Applicants should identify the coordinating organizations by

name and address and describe the process to be used for coordinating

efforts. Letters of commitment specifying the kind and level of support

from organizations (both Federal and non-Federal) which have agreed to

work with the applicant should be appended to an application. A listing

of Federal programs with which applicants may find coordination

productive is included in the application kit.

Intergovernmental Review (E.O. 12372): Applications submitted in

response to this announcement are subject to the intergovernmental

review requirements of Executive Order 12372, as implemented through

HHS regulations at 45 CFR part 100. Executive Order 12372 sets up a

system for State and local government review of and comment on

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

instruction on the State applicable procedures. A current SPOC listing

is included in the application kit. The SPOC should send any State

process recommendations to the following address: Barbara J. Silver,

Ph.D., Acting Director, Office of Evaluation, Extramural Policy &

Review, Center for Mental Health Services, 5600 Fishers Lane, room 18C-

07, Rockville, Maryland 20857, ATTN: SPOC.

The due date for State process recommendations is no later than 60

days after the deadline date for the receipt of applications. The CMHS

does not guarantee to accommodate or explain SPOC comments that are

received after the 60-day cut-off.

Public Health System Reporting Requirements: This program is not

subject to the Public Health System Reporting Requirements.

Evaluation: The applicant must include in the application an

evaluation design to document the results of the project in terms of

achievement of the stated program goals (empowering and strengthening

consumer and family networks and fostering their financial self-

sufficiency) and specific objectives of the project. The evaluation

will be used for monitoring progress, refining strategies, and

measuring success. The evaluation will also be used to document the

experience of the project such that it will add to the understanding of

how to develop and expand consumer and family networks and involve them

in State and local mental health service planning and health care

reform activities.

Promoting Non-use of Tobacco: Studies have clearly established that

the use of tobacco products increases mortality and morbidity, not only

for the primary users of these products but for those in close

proximity to the user. Statistics published by the National Cancer

Institute indicate that cigarette smoking and chewing of tobacco are

responsible for as many as 1,500 deaths per day in the United States.

Recent studies conducted by the Environmental Protection Agency

indicate that prolonged exposure to second-hand smoke significantly

increases the probability of developing heart and lung disease.

Therefore, the Public Health Service (PHS) strongly encourages all

grant recipients to provide a smoke-free workplace and promote the non-

use of all tobacco products. This is consistent with the PHS mission to

protect and advance the physical and mental health of the American

people.

Application Procedures: All applicants must use application form

PHS 5161-1 (Rev. 7/92), which contains Standard Form 424 (face page).

The following information should be typed in Item 10 on the face page

of the application form: Consumer and Family Networks; No. SM 94-03.

Grant application kits (including form PHS 5161-1 with Standard Form

424, complete application procedures, and accompanying guidance

materials for the narrative approved under OMB No. 0937-0189) may be

obtained from: Ms. Carole Edison, Grants Management Officer, Center for

Mental Health Services, 5600 Fishers Lane, room 15-81, Rockville,

Maryland 20857, (301) 443-4456.

Applicants must submit: (1) An original copy signed by the

authorized official of the applicant organization, with the appropriate

appendices; and (2) two additional, legible copies of the application

and all appendices to the following address: Center for Mental Health

Services Programs, Division of Research Grants, NIH, Westwood Building,

room 240, 5333 Westbard Avenue, Bethesda, Maryland 20892*.

*If an overnight carrier or express mail is used, the Zip Code

is 20816.

Review Process: Applications submitted in response to this RFA will

be reviewed for technical merit in accordance with established PHS/

SAMHSA peer review procedures for grants.

Review Criteria: The points noted in the parentheses for each

criterion indicate the maximum number of points the reviewers may

assign to that criterion. These points will be used to calculate a raw

score for each application. The raw score will be converted to the

official priority score.

Technical Merit

1. Significance of the Project (30 points)

Potential significance of the proposed project.

Appropriateness of the proposed project to the goals of

the announcement.

Degree of consumer and family participation in project

development and proposed implementation.

2. Adequacy and Appropriateness of Project Plans (30 points)

Rationale provided to show that the proposed approach is

likely to work.

Adequacy and feasibility of the overall plan of action for

the entire project.

Comprehensiveness and feasibility of the first year

detailed project implementation plan.

Adequacy and appropriateness in terms of the proposed

staffing and resources.

Evidence of commitment of the State to provide ongoing

financial support for the project.

3. Adequacy and Appropriateness of Evaluation Plans (20 points)

Appropriateness of the proposed evaluation design,

including specification of goals and measurable objectives.

Adequacy of the proposed plan to implement the evaluation.

Degree of commitment of the State to assuring a quality

evaluation of the proposed project.

4. Appropriateness of Staffing, Project Organization, and Resources (20

points)

Qualifications and experience of the project director and

other key personnel.

Adequacy of available resources (e.g., facilities,

equipment).

Capability and experience of the applicant organization

with similar projects.

Adequacy of support for the project from other relevant

organizations.

Appropriateness of proposed budget for each of the

requested years. (The committee may recommend either increases or

decreases in the budget based on their review of the application or on

the adequacy of the budget justification.)

Award Decision Criteria: Applications recommended for approval by

the IRG and the appropriate advisory council will be considered for

funding on the basis of overall technical merit as determined through

the review process. Other award criteria will include:

--Availability of funds.

--Need for support.

--Rural distribution (15 percent of appropriated funds will be made

available to projects in rural areas).

--Geographical distribution throughout the United States.

Administrative Costs: Section 520A(d) of the Public Health Service

Act specifies that a grant may not be made unless the applicant agrees

that not more than 10 percent of the grant will be expended for

administrative expenses. This is separate from indirect costs and

generally includes expenses such as accounting and other grant

administration costs.

Contacts for Additional Information

Questions concerning program issues may be directed to: Ms. Peggy

Clark, Ms. Risa Fox, or Mr. Buddy Ruiz, Project Officers, or Ms.

Jacqueline Parrish, Acting CSP Section Chief: Community Support Program

Section, Division of Demonstration Programs, Center for Mental Health

Services, 5600 Fishers Lane, room 11C-22, Rockville, MD 20857, (301)

443-3653.

Questions regarding grants management issues may be directed to:

Ms. Carole Edison, Grants Management Officer, Center for Mental Health

Services, 5600 Fishers Lane, room 15-81, Rockville, Maryland 20857,

(301) 443-4456.

Dated: March 27, 1994.

Richard Kopanda,

Acting Executive Officer, SAMHSA.

[FR Doc. 94-7800 Filed 3-31-94; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4162-20-P