The Linkage to Life Program: Rebuilding Broken Bridges for Minority Families Impacted by HIV/AIDS.
Fiscal Year 2009: None.
Fiscal Year 2010: This is a new program.
It is anticipated that funded projects will address the unmet needs of transitional racial and ethnic minority families at highest risk for HIV infection and/or living with HIV/AIDS and is expected to result in: increased access to a comprehensive continuum of HIV/AIDS treatment, primary healthcare, social, and supportive services; increased access to substance abuse and mental health treatment; increased access to HIV counseling, testing, and referral within transitional housing and substance abuse treatment programs; increased access to HIV counseling, testing, and referral for partners and dependent youth; improved adherence to a prescribed HIV treatment plan; improved health outcomes and survivability rates; decreased frequency of substance abuse relapses upon discharge from a treatment program; decreased recidivism rates at one year post-release from incarceration; increased leveraging and efficient use of resources and other assets through strategic partnerships; and increased capacity of communities to address social determinants of health and HIV risk.
Fiscal Year 2011: This is a new program.
It is anticipated that funded projects will address the unmet needs of transitional racial and ethnic minority families at highest risk for HIV infection and/or living with HIV/AIDS and is expected to result in: increased access to a comprehensive continuum of HIV/AIDS treatment, primary healthcare, social, and supportive services; increased access to substance abuse and mental health treatment; increased access to HIV counseling, testing, and referral within transitional housing and substance abuse treatment programs; increased access to HIV counseling, testing, and referral for partners and dependent youth; improved adherence to a prescribed HIV treatment plan; improved health outcomes and survivability rates; decreased frequency of substance abuse relapses upon discharge from a treatment program; decreased recidivism rates at one year post-release from incarceration; increased leveraging and efficient use of resources and other assets through strategic partnerships; and increased capacity of communities to address social determinants of health and HIV risk.
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.
Headquarters Office: Office of Minority Health, Office of Public Health and Science, Office of the Secretary, Tower Building, Suite 600, 1101 Wootton Parkway, Rockville, Maryland 20852.
Telephone: (240) 453-2882.
Program Contact: Ms. Sonsiere Cobb-Souza, Acting Director, Division of Program Operations, Office of Minority Health, Office of Public Health and Science, Office of the Secretary, Tower Building, Suite 600, 1101 Wootton Parkway, Rockville, Maryland 20852.
Telephone: (240) 453-8444.
Grants Management Contact: Office of Grants Management, Office of Public Health and Science, Office of the Secretary, Tower Building, Suite 550, 1101 Wootton Parkway, Rockville, Maryland 20852.
Telephone: (240) 453-8822.
Program Accomplishments
Fiscal Year 2009: None. Fiscal Year 2010: This is a new program. It is anticipated that up to 6 awards will be supported in fiscal year 2010. Fiscal Year 2011: No Current Data Available
Uses and Use Restrictions
Funds are to be used to support projects or activities consistent with the mission of the Office of Minority Health of the U. S. Public Health Service, and that facilitate improvement in the HIV/AIDS health outcomes among high-risk minority populations in transition from domestic violence, incarceration, and substance abuse treatment.
Funds are not to be used for the provision of health care treatment, for construction, or to supplant ongoing project activities.
Eligibility Requirements
Applicant Eligibility
Applicant Eligibility: To qualify for funding, an applicant must: be a private non-profit community-based, minority serving organization with 5 years of experience providing comprehensive HIV/AIDS services to high-risk minority populations.
Additionally, applicants must document experience in extensive case management, and coordination of healthcare, social, or supportive services for minority populations (adults and youth) in transition from substance abuse treatment, domestic violence, and/or incarceration; and represent a family-centered integrated health and social services network that includes a variety of local healthcare, social and support service organizations, community-based organizations, and other applicable stakeholders to address gaps in services for high-risk minority populations in transition.
At a minimum the HSSR Network must include four geographically proximal partners that includes: the applicant organization; a SAMHSA funded community-based substance abuse treatment, behavioral treatment, or recovery support program; a community-based clinical organization funded by HRSA to provide comprehensive HIV/AIDS treatment, service coordination, and case management; and a local social/support service organization (social and/or support services may include job placement, alternative education programs for youth, eligibility assistance for health coverage, transitional housing, food, transportation, etc.).
Beneficiary Eligibility
The L2L Program places primary focus on high-risk minority populations in transition from domestic violence, incarceration, and substance abuse treatment; particularly families with dependent youth.
Credentials/Documentation
No Credentials or documentation are required. This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-87.
Aplication and Award Process
Preapplication Coordination
Application kits for the L2L Program may be obtained by accessing Grants.gov at http://www.grants.gov or the GrantSolutions system at http://www.grantsolutions.gov.
To obtain a hard copy of the application kit for this grant program, contact OPHS Office of Grants Management, 1101 Wootton Parkway, Suite 550, Rockville, MD 20852; or by phone at 240-453-8822.
A signed original and two copies of the application are to be sent to the Office of Grants Management, Office of Public Health and Science (OPHS), Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) c/o Grant Application Center, 1515 Wilson Blvd., Suite 100, Arlington, VA 22209, no later than 5:00 p.m.
Eastern Time on the due date.
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.
Applications may only be submitted electronically via the electronic submission mechanisms specified in the program announcement.
Any applications submitted via any other means of electronic communication, including facsimile or electronic mail, will not be accepted.
While applications are accepted in hard copy, the use of the electronic application submission capabilities provided by the Grants.gov Web Site Portal is encouraged.
Information about these systems is available on the Grants.gov Web Site (http://www.grants.gov), or may be requested from the OPHS Office of Grants Management at (240) 453-8822.
Environmental impact information is not required for this program.
This program is excluded from coverage under E.O.
12372.
Application Procedures
OMB Circular No. A-102 applies to this program. OMB Circular No. A-110 applies to this program. Application kits for the L2L Program may be obtained by accessing Grants.gov at http://www.grants.gov or the GrantSolutions system at http://www.grantsolutions.gov. To obtain a hard copy of the application kit for this grant program, contact OPHS Office of Grants Management, 1101 Wootton Parkway, Suite 550, Rockville, MD 20852; or by phone at 240-453-8822. A signed original and two copies of the application are to be sent to the Office of Grants Management, Office of Public Health and Science (OPHS), Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) c/o Grant Application Center, 1515 Wilson Blvd., Suite 100, Arlington, VA 22209, no later than 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on the due date. 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. Applications may only be submitted electronically via the electronic submission mechanisms specified in the program announcement. Any applications submitted via any other means of electronic communication, including facsimile or electronic mail, will not be accepted. While applications are accepted in hard copy, the use of the electronic application submission capabilities provided by the Grants.gov Web Site Portal is encouraged. Information about these systems is available on the Grants.gov Web Site (http://www.grants.gov), or may be requested from the OPHS Office of Grants Management at (240) 453-8822.
Award Procedures
All applications and proposals are read by a panel of independent experts who make recommendations for action to the Office of Minority Health. After considering the recommendation of this panel, the Director of the Office of Minority Health makes the final decision on the funding of applications. All applicants are notified in writing of actions taken on their applications. A Notice of Grant Award is issued for those applications that are approved and funded.
Deadlines
Jul 02, 2010 to Aug 02, 2010 To be considered for review, applications must be submitted by the established due date. Applications not meeting the deadline will be considered late and will be returned to the applicant unread.
Authorization
Public Health Service Act, as amended, Title XVII, Section 1707 (e)(1), 42 U.S.C. 300u et seq., Title 17, Section 1707, 42 U.S.C 300u et seq.
Range of Approval/Disapproval Time
From 60 to 90 days.
Appeals
Not Applicable.
Renewals
Approximately 90 to 120 days from the application deadline date.
Assistance Considerations
Formula and Matching Requirements
This program has no statutory formula.
This program has no matching requirements.
MOE requirements are not applicable to this program.
Length and Time Phasing of Assistance
Length and Time Phasing of Assistance: Grants can have a project period not to exceed 4 years, 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 request basis or under a letter of credit. Necessary instructions regarding payment procedure will be provided at the time the Notice of Grant Award is issued. Method of awarding/releasing assistance: quarterly.
Post Assistance Requirements
Reports
Progress reports are required for semi-annually, a final performance report is due 90 days following the end of the project period.
Cash reports are required for each cash withdrawal or transfer.
Progress reports are required for each budget period,.
Financial Status Reports are due at the end of each budget period, and a final Financial Status Report report is due 90 days following the end of the project period.
Grantees are required to use the PDS evaluation system.
in addition to the required semi-annual progress reports, a final performance 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 27, 2003), "Audits of States, Local Governments, and Non-Profit 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. For State and local governments, audits are to be carried out in accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-133 or Federal laws and regulations of the programs in which they participate.
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.
Obigations
(Cooperative Agreements (Discretionary Grants)) FY 09 $0; FY 10 est $2,840,000; FY 11 est $2,840,000
Range and Average of Financial Assistance
$400,000 to $475,000.
Regulations, Guidelines, and Literature
45 CFR 74 and 92. Specific program requirements are contained in the Federal Register Notice, the application instructions, and the HHS Grants Policy Statement.
Information Contacts
Regional or Local Office
See Regional Agency Offices. Headquarters Office: Office of Minority Health, Office of Public Health and Science, Office of the Secretary, Tower Building, Suite 600, 1101 Wootton Parkway, Rockville, Maryland 20852. Telephone: (240) 453-2882.
Program Contact: Ms. Sonsiere Cobb-Souza, Acting Director, Division of Program Operations, Office of Minority Health, Office of Public Health and Science, Office of the Secretary, Tower Building, Suite 600, 1101 Wootton Parkway, Rockville, Maryland 20852. Telephone: (240) 453-8444.
Grants Management Contact: Office of Grants Management, Office of Public Health and Science, Office of the Secretary, Tower Building, Suite 550, 1101 Wootton Parkway, Rockville, Maryland 20852. Telephone: (240) 453-8822.
Headquarters Office
Eric C. West, Tower Building Suite 550, 1101 Wootton Parkway, Rockville, Maryland 20852 Email: eric.west@hhs.gov Phone: (240) 453-8822.
Criteria for Selecting Proposals
Complete review criteria are published in the Program Announcement or can be obtained from the Program contact. Listed below are some criteria used to review applications: 1) consistency of project s objectives relevant to the Program purpose and the federal 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 and experience of proposed personnel; and 5) strength of analysis of potential impact or innovation the project proposes to generate.
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