To
eliminate disparities in perinatal and women's health by enhancing
a community's service system and infrastructure, and a State's infrastructure,
directing resources and interventions to improve access to, utilization,
and full participation of comprehensive perinatal and women's health
services for high-risk women and infants.
TYPES
OF ASSISTANCE:
Project Grants. Place Cursor Here for Definition
USES
AND USE RESTRICTIONS:
Every
Healthy Start project implements community-driven approaches to
address infant mortality rates by reducing behavioral and medical
risk factors and promotes healthy outcomes for young women and their
families. Beginning with prenatal care and continuing through the
infant's second year of life, each community awarded funds assures
the availability of a core set of services and activities for the
perinatal population in their project area. These services include
case management, home visiting and links to health care and other
needed services for mothers and their infants; direct outreach and
peer mentoring by trained community members; screening and referral
for perinatal/postpartum depression; and strong coordination with
and access to substance abuse, domestic violence, mental health,
early intervention, parenting and other critical services for high-risk
women and families. In addition, each Healthy Start project is required
to have a community-based consortium of individuals and organizations
and includes women and families served by the project, to collaborate
with State Title V (MCH) Agency, and a local health system action
plan to improve the quality, cultural competence, access to services
or addresses other problems in the local system of care. Funds may
not be used to supplant currently funded activities/services.
ELIGIBILITY
REQUIREMENTS:
Applicant
Eligibility: Urban and rural communities with
significant disparities in perinatal health, and the States with
need to build their infrastructure/capacity to address and support
those communities trying to achieve the goals of the Healthy Start
program. Eligible applicants are any public or private entity, including
an Indian Tribe or tribal organization (as those terms are defined
at 25 U.S.C. 450b). Community-based organizations, including faith-based
organizations are eligible to apply.
Beneficiary
Eligibility: Service area residents, particularly
women and infants in areas with significant perinatal health disparities.
Credentials/Documentation:
The basis for determining the allowance and allocability of costs
charged to Public Health Service (PHS) grants is set forth in
DHHS Regulations 45 CFR Part 74, Subpart Q, and 45 CFR Part 92,
Subpart C. The cost principles prescribed for recipients are in:
OMB Circular No. A-87 for State and local governments, OMB Circular
No. A-21 for institutions of higher education, 45 CFR Part 74,
Appendix E for hospitals, OMB Circular No. 122 for nonprofit organizations,
and 48 CFR Subpart 31.2 for-profit (commercial) organizations.
Proof of nonprofit status is required.
Pre-application
Coordination: This program is subject to the
provisions of E.O. 12372, "Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs."
An applicant should consult the office or official designated as
the single point of contact in the State for more information on
the process the State requires to be followed in applying for assistance,
if the State has selected the program for review. Informal inquiries
regarding the program and indication of intent to submit an application
may be addressed to the Central Office.
Application
Procedure: See specific program grant guidance.
Award
Procedure: See specific program grant guidance.
Deadlines:
See specific program grant guidance.
Range
of Approval/Disapproval Time: Final decisions
are made approximately 120 days after receipt of applications.
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: Project periods
vary dependent on specific grant announcement with awards made
on an annual basis for up to 5 years dependent on satisfactory
progress and subject to the availability of funds.
POST
ASSISTANCE REQUIREMENTS:
Reports:
Grantees are required to submit progress reports on an annual basis.
Financial status reports are required no later than 90 days after
the end of each budget period. Final financial status and progress
reports are due 90 days after the end of a project period.
Audits:
In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-133 (Revised,
June 24, 1997), "Audits of States, Local Governments, and Nonprofit
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:
DHHS and the Comptroller General of the United States or any of
their authorized representatives, shall have the right of access
to any books, documents, papers or other records of a grantee,
sub-grantee, contractor or subcontractor, which are pertinent
to the DHHS grant, in order to make audits, examinations excerpts
and transcripts. In accordance with 45 CFR, Part 74, Subpart D,
and 45 CFR Part 92, Subpart C, grantees are required to maintain
grant accounting records 3 years after the end of a budget period.
If any litigation, claim, negotiation, audit or other action involving
the record has been started before the expiration of the 3-year
period, the records shall be retained until completion of the
action and resolution of all issues which arise from it, or until
the end of the regular 3-year period, whichever is later.
FINANCIAL
INFORMATION:
Account
Identification: 75-0350-0-1-550.
Obligations:
(Grants) FY 01 $82,575,343; FY 02 est $91,625,000; and FY 03 est
$91,625,000.
Range
and Average of Financial Assistance:
From $150,000 to $2,300,000. Average: $779,000.
In fiscal year 2001, 106 projects were awarded to new and existing
projects. It is estimated that between 115 and 125 projects will
be awarded for fiscal year 2002 and fiscal year 2003.
REGULATIONS,
GUIDELINES, AND LITERATURE:
Pertinent information may be obtained by contacting the Central
Office. PHS Grants Policy Statement, DHHS Publication No. (OASH)
94-50,000. (Rev.) April 1, 1994.
INFORMATION
CONTACTS:
Regional
or Local Office: Consult the appropriate DHHS
Regional Office. (See Appendix IV of the Catalog for a listing of
the Regional Offices.)
Headquarters
Office: Central Office Contacts: Program Office:
Director, Division of Perinatal Systems and Women's Health, Maternal
and Child Health Bureau, Health Resources and Services Administration,
Public Health Service, Room 11A-05, Parklawn Building, 5600 Fishers
Lane, Rockville, MD 20857. Telephone: (301) 443-0543. Grants Management
Contact: Grants Management Branch, Maternal and Child Health Bureau,
Health Resources and Services Administration, Public Health Service,
Room 18-12, Parklawn Building, 5600 Fishers Lane, Rockville, MD
20857. Telephone: (301) 443-1440. Use the same numbers for FTS.
Web
Site Address: http://www.mchb.hrsa.gov
EXAMPLES
OF FUNDED PROJECTS:
From pregnancy either to the next pregnancy or 2 years post delivery
for the mother and infant, every Healthy Start project assures the
availability of a core set of services and system building activities
to the perinatal population in the project are, including a consortium,
case management, outreach, health education, screening and referral
for depression, collaboration with Title V, a local health system
action plan, and plans for sustainability.
