Preventive Health and Health Services Block Grant
The Department of Health and Human Services is the Federal government's principal agency for protecting the health of all Americans and providing essential human services, especially to those who are least able to help themselves.
Program Accomplishments
In Indiana, PHHSBG funds were used to support the School Physical Activity and Nutrition Survey to obtain baseline data on nutrition and physical activity habits of children. In Illinois, PHHSBG funds are supporting a new program called HI TRACK to screen all newborns for congenital hearing loss before they leave the hospital. In Kansas, the Center for Health and Wellness in northeast Wichita used PHHSBG funds to provide 9,649 blood pressure checks and referred 1,328 people for follow-up. In New York, PHHSBG funds support the Childhood Lead Poisoning Program, which found 2,568 children to have elevated blood lead levels. In Iowa, PHHSBG funds helped develop Lighten Up Iowa to encourage people to adopt better nutrition and physical activity habits. In Texas, PHHSBG funds were used to establish a Hearne Community Garden in Robertson County to increase awareness of the importance of eating fruits and vegetables. In Wisconsin, PHHSBG funds are helping rural health departments develop multicounty environmental coalitions to eliminate food and water contamination, radon, asbestos, and other human health hazards. In Nebraska, only 22 (24%) of the 93 counties have a local health department. PHHSBG funds were used to develop a strategic plan to increase awareness of the benefits of a strong public health system. As a result, the state legislature allocated funding to establish district health departments to provide services to the 71 counties that did not have a health department. In Ohio, PHHSBG funds launched 21 cardiovascular health projects to increase the number of heart-healthy communities in areas of Ohio at high risk for heart disease. In California, PHHSBG funds helped to create The California Asthma Among School-Aged Children Project. In Florida, the PHHSBG funds the Pasco Community Intervention Program, which provides health screenings to migrant farm workers of Mexican descent and promotes physical activity through programs such as Folklorico, an intergenerational dance program. In Minnesota, PHHSBG funds were used to develop teaching modules called the Core Essentials of Public Health: Applications for Public Health Nursing. CDC and PHHS Block Grantees worked cooperatively to develop the Grant Application and Reporting System (GARS). GARS is a dynamic accountability tool that formats basic PHHSBG information to identify the role that block grant dollars play in addressing health problems at state and local levels. GARS helps grantees establish health priorities and tie essential program activities to PHHSBG dollars that are spent on public health programs. The GARS applications and reports are submitted electronically to CDC via E-mail or a direct Internet connection.
Uses and Use Restrictions
Except as described below, Block Grant funds may be used for preventive health service programs for: (A) Activities to achieve improvements in the health status of populations through achievement of the year 2000/2010 health objectives for the nation; (B) preventive health service programs for the control of rodents and for community and school-based fluoridation programs; (C) feasibility studies and planning for emergency medical services systems and the establishment, expansion, and improvement of such systems; Funds may not be used to operate emergency medical services systems or to purchase more than 50 percent of the cost of communications equipment for such systems.(D) providing services to victims of sex offenses and prevention of sex offenses; (E) the establishment, operation, and coordination of effective and cost-efficient systems to reduce the prevalence of asthma and asthma related illnesses, especially among children; (F) related planning, administration, and educational activities; and (G) monitoring and evaluation activities related to (A) through (F).
Eligibility Requirements
Applicant Eligibility
Only State and U.S.
Pacific Territorial governments, the District of Columbia, the Kickapoo Tribe of Kansas and the Sante Sioux Tribe of Nebraska are eligible for Preventive Health and Health Services Block Grants.
Beneficiary Eligibility
The general public will benefit from the objectives of this program with special attention to disparately affected populations.
Credentials/Documentation
Applications shall contain certification by the CEO of the State that the State has complied with provisions of and will meet the requirements of PHS Act, Title XIX, Section 1905, and Title XVII, Chapter 2 of the Omnibus Reconciliation Act of 1981. This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-87.
Aplication and Award Process
Preapplication Coordination
None.
This program is excluded from coverage under E.O.
12372.
Application Procedures
Each State shall submit an application to the funding agency. Specific format is required, and forms are provided.
Award Procedures
Applications are reviewed for completeness and for compliance with legislative requirements. Award is made to the applicant by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Deadlines
Applications will be accepted beginning on October 1 of the eligible fiscal year.
Authorization
Public Health Service Act, as amended; Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1981, Title XIX, Section 1905, Public Law 97-35, as amended; Preventive Health Amendments of 1984, Public Law 98-555; Health Omnibus Programs Extension Act of 1988, Public Law 100-607; Preventive Health Amendments of 1992, Public Law 102-531.
Range of Approval/Disapproval Time
About 3 weeks.
Appeals
Not applicable.
Renewals
Not applicable.
Assistance Considerations
Formula and Matching Requirements
For the basic block grant, an allocation percentage is determined for each State based on the amounts of fiscal year 1981 funds provided to the State for certain categorical health grants that were combined to comprise the Preventive Health and Health Services block grant to the total amount of fiscal year 1981 funds appropriated for these grant programs. For the services to rape victims and the Rape Prevention portion of the block grant, at least $7,000,000 is allocated to States based on the percentage of each State's population to the national population. States may set aside no more than 10 percent of block grant funds for administrative costs. HHS can reserve a portion of a State's allotment for certain qualifying Indian tribes or tribal organizations, in proportion to a State's allotment distributed to such tribes in fiscal year 1981.
Length and Time Phasing of Assistance
Each allotment is available for obligations over a 24-month period; payments are made through the Electronic Transfer System.
Post Assistance Requirements
Reports
Each State shall prepare and submit by February 1 of the following fiscal year (120 days beyond the funded fiscal year) to the Secretary annual reports on its activities to secure a record of the purposes for which funds were spent, and the progress made toward achieving the purposes for which funds were provided.
Audits
In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-133 (Revised, June 27, 2003), "Audits of States, Local Governments, and Nonprofit Organizations," nonfederal entities that expend financial assistance of $500,000 or more in Federal awards will have a single or a program-specific audit conducted for that year. Nonfederal entities that expend less than $500,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in Circular No. A-133.
Records
Each State must maintain records which are consistent with their State laws and requirements.
Financial Information
Account Identification
75-0943-0-1-551.
Obigations
(Grants) FY 07 $93,327,380 (FA: $92,897,391; DA: $429,989); FY 08 $91,651,300; and FY 09 est not available.
Range and Average of Financial Assistance
$20,685 to $6,847,385; $1,529,957. (Note: A formula based on fiscal year 1981 allocations to States is used for the annual basic grant allocation.)
Regulations, Guidelines, and Literature
45 Code of Federal Regulations, Part 96 (Published in the Federal Register on July 6, 1982 and revised in the Federal Register, October 13, 1987).
Information Contacts
Regional or Local Office
None.
Headquarters Office
Program Contact: Ms. Audrey Williams, Project Officer, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (K30), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Department of Health and Human Services, 4770 Buford Highway, NE Atlanta, GA 30341-3724. Telephone: (770) 488-5941. Grants Management Contact: Veronica Davis, Grants Management Specialist, Procurement and Grants Office, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2920 Brandywine Road, Room 3719, Atlanta, GA 30341. Telephone: (770) 488-2743.
Criteria for Selecting Proposals
Compliance with requirements of application procedure.
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