Community-Based Asthma Intervention Demonstration Programs

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

[Announcement 568]

Community-Based Asthma Intervention Demonstration Programs

Introduction

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announces the

availability of fiscal year (FY) 1995 funds for cooperative agreements

for the development, implementation, and evaluation of community-based

asthma intervention demonstration programs.

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 improve the quality of life. This announcement is related to the

priority area of Environmental Health. (For ordering a copy of

``Healthy People 2000,'' see the section ``Where to Obtain Additional

Information.'')

Authority

This cooperative agreement is authorized under the Public Health

Service Act, section 301 (42 U.S.C. 241).

Smoke-Free Workplace

PHS strongly encourages all grant recipients to provide a smoke-

free workplace and to promote the nonuse of all tobacco products, and

Public Law 103-227, the Pro-Children Act of 1994, prohibits smoking in

certain facilities that receive Federal funds in which education,

library, day care, health care, and early childhood development

services are provided to children.

Eligible Applicants

Eligible applicants are the official public health agencies of

States or their bona fide agents or instrumentalities. This includes

the District of Columbia, American Samoa, the Commonwealth of Puerto

Rico, the Virgin Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, Guam, the

Northern Mariana Islands, the Republic of Palau, and federally

recognized Indian tribal governments.

Only one application from an official agency (State or local) may

enter the review process and be considered for award under this

program. Eligible applicants may enter into contracts and consortia

agreements and understandings as necessary to meet the requirements of

the program and strengthen the overall application. The intent to use

the above mechanisms must be stated in the application and the nature

and scope of work of these mechanisms requires the approval of CDC.

Availability of Funds

Approximately $200,000 will be available in FY 1995 to fund two

awards. It is expected that the average award will be $100,000. It is

expected that the awards will begin on or about September 30, 1995, and

will be made for a 12-month budget period within a project period of up

to 2 years.

Continuation awards within the project period will be made on the

basis of satisfactory progress and the availability of funds.

Purpose

The purpose of this project is to develop and test cost-effective,

community-based asthma interventions which address one or more of the

environmental risk factors among poor children. The specific objectives

are:

A. Develop a community-based intervention program which is

demonstrated to be cost-effective, can be sustained over time, and can

serve as a model for other communities;

B. Evaluate the effectiveness of interventions which are targeted

at specific risk factors;

C. Establish a network of public and private organizations and

individuals within the community who share a common goal of preventing

morbidity due to asthma among poor and other high-risk children to work

on improved public education about asthma and its prevention and;

D. Improve the understanding concerning the prevalence of specific

environmental risk factors among poor and other high-risk children with

asthma.

Program Requirements

In conducting activities to achieve the purpose of this program,

the recipient will be responsible for the activities under A.

(Recipient Activities), and CDC will be responsible for the activities

under B. (CDC Activities).

A. Recipient Activities:

1. Establish a mechanism for the surveillance of urgent care visits

for asthma among a target population;

2. Develop a network of community organizations and individuals who

share an interest in the health of poor children for the purpose of

enhanced coordination of efforts aimed at patient and public education

about asthma;

3. Measure the prevalence of one or more environmental risk factors

within a target population and;

4. Develop, pilot test, and evaluate a community-based asthma

intervention program focused primarily on one environmental risk

factor.

B. CDC Activities:

1. Sponsor a planning workshop for all recipients and selected

outside experts;

2. Collaborate with the recipient in all stages of the project,

including the design of the protocol and data collection instruments,

data analysis, interpretation of results, and preparation of written

reports;

3. Provide on-site programmatic technical assistance in planning,

implementing, and evaluating ongoing and innovative program activities;

4. Participate in improving program performance through

consultation based on information and activities of other projects and;

5. Coordinate the activities of all recipients and facilitate the

exchange of information and experiences among recipients.

Evaluation Criteria

Applications will be reviewed and evaluated according to the

following criteria:

1. Understanding the Problem (10 points)

Evidence of the applicant's understanding of the problem and the

purpose of the cooperative agreement.

2. Measurable Objectives (25 points)

The consistency of the measurable objectives with the stated

purpose of the cooperative agreement and the ability to meet the

objectives and timetable within the specified period.

3. Proposed Plan (25 points)

The adequacy of the applicant's plan to carry out the activities

proposed. Of particular interest is the potential long-term

sustainability of the intervention and the involvement of community

organizations. [[Page 27732]]

4. Management and Staffing Plan (25 points)

The extent to which the proposal has described (a) the

qualifications and commitment of the applicant, (b) detailed

allocations of time and effort of staff devoted to the project, (c)

information on how the applicant will implement and administer the

project and (d) the qualifications of the key project staff.

5. Proposed Evaluation Plan (15 points)

The adequacy of the applicant's plan to monitor progress toward

meeting the objectives of the project.

6. Budget (not scored)

The extent to which the budget is reasonable, adequately justified,

and consistent with the intended use of the cooperative agreement

funds.

7. Human Subjects (not scored)

The applicant must clearly state whether or not human subjects will

be used in research.

Executive Order 12372 Review

Applications are subject to Intergovernmental Review of Federal

Programs as governed by Executive Order (E.O.) 12372. E.O. 12372 sets

up a system for State and local government review of proposed Federal

assistance applications. Applicants (other than federally recognized

Indian tribal governments) should contact their State Single Point of

Contact (SPOC) 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. A

current list of SPOCs is included in the application kit. If SPOCs have

any State process recommendations on applications submitted to CDC,

they should send them to Henry S. Cassell, III, Grants Management

Officer, Grants Management Branch, Procurement and Grants Office,

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 255 East Paces Ferry

Road, NE., Room 300, Mailstop E13, Atlanta, Georgia 30305, no later

than 60 days after the application deadline. The Announcement Number

and Program Title should be referenced on the documents. The granting

agency does not guarantee to ``accommodate or explain'' for State

process recommendations it receives after that date.

Indian tribes are strongly encouraged to request tribal government

review of the proposed application. If tribal governments have any

tribal process recommendations on applications submitted to CDC, they

should send them to Henry S. Cassell, III, Grants Management Officer,

Grants Management Branch, Procurement and Grants Office, Centers for

Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 255 East Paces Ferry Road, NE.,

Room 300, Mailstop E13, Atlanta, Georgia 30305, no later than 60 days

after the application deadline. The Announcement Number and Program

Title should be referenced on the documents. The granting agency does

not guarantee to ``accommodate or explain'' for tribal process

recommendations it receives after that date.

Public Health System Reporting Requirements

This program is not subject to the Public Health System Reporting

Requirements.

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number

The Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number is 93.283.

Other Requirements

Paperwork Reduction Act

Projects that involve the collection of information from 10 or more

individuals and funded by cooperative agreement will be subject to

approval by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) under the

Paperwork Reduction Act.

Human Subjects

If the proposed project involves research on human subjects, the

applicant must comply with the Department of Health and Human Services

Regulations, 45 CFR Part 46, regarding the protection of human

subjects. Assurance must be provided to demonstrate that the project

will be subject to initial and continuing review by appropriate

institutional review committees. In addition to other applicable

committees, Indian Health Service (IHS) institutional review committees

also must review the project if any component of IHS will be involved

or will support the research. If any American Indian community is

involved, its tribal government must also approve that portion of the

project applicable to it. The applicant will be responsible for

providing assurance in accordance with the appropriate guidelines and

form provided in the application kit.

Application Submission and Deadline

The original and two copies of the application PHS Form 5161-1 (OMB

Number 0937-0189) must be submitted to Henry S. Cassell, III, Grants

Management Officer, Grants Management Branch, Procurement and Grants

Office, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 255 East

Paces Ferry Road, NE., Room 300, Mailstop E13, Atlanta, Georgia 30305,

on or before July 19, 1995.

1. Deadline: Applications shall be considered as meeting the

deadline if they are either:

a. Received on or before the deadline date; or

b. Sent on or before the deadline date and received in time for

submission to the objective review group. (Applicants must request a

legibly dated U.S. Postal Service postmark or obtain a legibly dated

receipt from a commercial carrier or the U.S. Postal Service. Private

metered postmarks shall not be acceptable as proof of timely mailing.)

2. Late Applications: Applications that do not meet the criteria in

1.a. or 1.b. above are considered late applications. Late applications

will not be considered in the current competition and will be returned

to the applicant.

Where To Obtain Additional Information

A complete program description, information on application

procedures, an application package, and business management technical

assistance may be obtained from Adrienne Brown, Grants Management

Specialist, Grants Management Branch, Procurement and Grants Office,

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 255 East Paces Ferry

Road, NE., Room 300, Mailstop E13, Atlanta, Georgia 30305, telephone

(404) 842-6634. Programmatic technical assistance may be obtained from

James Rifenburg, Air Pollution and Respiratory Health Branch, Division

of Environmental Hazards and Health Effects, National Center for

Environmental Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC),

Mailstop F39, 4770 Buford Highway, NE., Atlanta, Georgia 30341-3724,

telephone (404) 488-7320.

Please refer to Announcement 568 when requesting information or

submitting an application.

Potential applicants may obtain a copy of ``Healthy People 2000''

(Full Report, Stock No. 017-001-00474-0) or ``Healthy People 2000''

(Summary Report, Stock No. 017- 001-00473-1) referenced in the

``INTRODUCTION'' through the Superintendent of Documents, Government

Printing Office, Washington, DC 20402-9325, telephone (202) 512-1800.

[[Page 27733]] Dated: May 19, 1995.

Joseph R. Carter,

Acting Associate Director for Management, and Operations, Centers for

Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

[FR Doc. 95-12834 Filed 5-24-95; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4163-18-P