To
improve and expand the capacity for linguistic and cultural competence
of health care professionals and paraprofessionals working with
Limited-English-Proficient (LEP) minority communities and improve
the accessibility and utilization of health care services among
the LEP minority populations.
TYPES
OF ASSISTANCE:
Project Grants. Place Cursor Here for Definition
USES
AND USE RESTRICTIONS:
Funds are to be used to
support projects that provide bilingual/bicultural assistance in
the delivery of health services for minority populations. Funds
are not to be used for the provision of health care services, construction,
augmentation of ongoing Office of Minority Health (OMH)-supported
demonstrations, or supplantation of on-going project activities.
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:
Applicant Eligibility:
Public and private nonprofit minority community-based organizations
or health care facilities serving a targeted LEP minority community
may apply.
Beneficiary Eligibility:
Members of the minority groups whose native language is other
than English: American Indians or Alaska Natives, Asians, Blacks
or African Americans, Hispanics or Latinos, Native Hawaiians or
other Pacific Islanders, or a subgroup of any of these groups.
Credentials/Documentation:
Proof of nonprofit status is required as part of the application
submission.
Pre-application
Coordination: This program does not require
preapplication coordination. This program is eligible for coverage
under E.O. 12372, "Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs."
An applicant should consult the office of official designated as
the single point of contact in the State for more information on
the process the State requires to be filed with applying for assistance,
if the State has selected the program for review. This program is
also covered by the Public Health System reporting requirements.
Application Procedure:
Requests for the standard PHS application form (SF PHS 1561-1,
Revised July 2000) and instructions for submission should be directed
to Ms. Karen Campbell, Grants Management Officer, Office of Minority
Health, Office of Public Health and Science, Office of the Secretary,
Rockwall II Building, 5515 Security Lane, Suite 1000, Rockville,
Maryland 20852. Telephone: (301) 594-0758. A signed original and
two copies of the application are to be sent to the above address.
Applications are screened upon receipt for completeness, responsiveness
and conformance to the program announcement. Those applications
judged to be unacceptable based on this initial screening will
be returned.
Award Procedure:
Accepted applications will be reviewed by a review panel that
will make recommendations on the technical merit based on the
published criteria. After considering the recommendations of the
panel, the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Minority Health, will
make a final decision on funding projects and a notice of grant
award will be issued.
Deadlines:
Contact Headquarters Office listed below for application deadlines.
Range of Approval/Disapproval
Time: From 90 to 120 days.
Appeals:
None.
Renewals:
None.
ASSISTANCE CONSIDERATIONS:
Formula and Matching
Requirements: This program has no statutory
formula or matching requirements.
Length and Time Phasing
of Assistance: Grant projects can have a 3-year
project period, with 12-month budget periods. Following the initial
budget period, continued funding is subject to the availability
of funds and satisfactory program performance. Payments will be
made either on a monthly cash basis or under a letter of credit.
Necessary instructions regarding procedures will be provided at
the time the Notice of Grant Award is issued.
POST ASSISTANCE REQUIREMENTS:
Reports:
Progress reports are required for each budget period, and a final
performance report is due 90 days following the end of the project
period. Financial status reports are due at the end of each budget
period, and a final status report is due 90 days following the end
of the project period.
Audits:
In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-133 (Revised,
June 24, 1997), "Audits of States, Local Governments, and Non-Profit
Organizations," nonfederal entities that expend financial assistance
of $300,000 or more in Federal awards will have a single or a
program-specific audit conducted for that year. Nonfederal entities
that expend less than $300,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt
from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted
in Circular No. A-133. In addition, grants and cooperative agreements
are subject to inspection and audits by DHHS and other Federal
government officials.
Records:
Financial records, supporting documents, statistical records,
and all other records pertinent to a grant shall be retained for
a minimum of 3 years, or longer pending completion and resolution
of any audit findings.
FINANCIAL INFORMATION:
Account Identification:
75-0120-0-1-551.
Obligations:
(Grants) FY 01 $2,846,615; FY 02 est $2,896,615; and FY 03 est
$2,825,233.
Range
and Average of Financial Assistance:
$80,000 to $150,000; Average: $142,331.
In fiscal year 2001, 11
continuation awards and 9 new awards were made. It is estimated
that 20 continuation awards will be made in fiscal year 2002. In
fiscal year FY 03 it is estimated that 9 continuation awards and
10 new awards will be made.
REGULATIONS, GUIDELINES, AND
LITERATURE:
45 CFR 74 and 92. Specific
program requirements are contained in the Federal Register Notice,
the application instructions, and the PHS Grants Policy Statement.
INFORMATION CONTACTS:
Regional or Local
Office: Not applicable.
Headquarters Office:
Program Contact: Ms. Cynthia H. Amis, Director, Division of Program
Operations, Office of Minority Health, Office of Public Health
and Science, Office of the Secretary, Rockwall II Building, 5515
Security Lane, Suite 1000, Rockville Maryland 20852. Telephone:
(301) 594-0769. Grants Management Contact: Ms. Karen Campbell,
Grants Management Officer, Office of Minority Health, Office of
Public Health and Science, Office of the Secretary, Rockwall II,
5515 Security Lane, Suite 1000, Rockville, MD 20852. Telephone:
(301) 594-0758.
Web Site Address: http://www.omhrc.gov
EXAMPLES OF FUNDED PROJECTS:
1) Reducing linguistic
and cultural barriers which exist between Hispanic patients and
health care providers through language and cultural training sessions;
2) developing and implementing a case management and education program
that targets specific groups of limited-English-speaking Asians
and Pacific Islanders; 3) assessing the health status of Chinese,
Vietnamese, Cambodian, and Laotian seniors; providing lectures on
Asian health care needs and specific health resources, and providing
bilingual and bicultural translators and interpreters; and increasing
knowledge and awareness about managed care and its implications.
CRITERIA FOR SELECTING PROPOSALS:
Complete review criteria
are published in the Federal Register Notice or can be obtained
from the Program contact. Listed below are some criteria used to
review applications: 1) consistency of project's goals and objectives
with the Office of Minority Health's mission; 2) coherence and feasibility
of methodology and activities selected to address the problem as
evidence in the proposed implementation plan; 3) strength of proposed
grant organization's management capability; 4) adequacy of qualifications,
experience and cultural competence of proposed personnel; and 5)
strength of analysis of potential impact or innovation the project
proposes to generate.
