Cooperative Agreements to Support State-Based Safe Motherhood and Infant Health Initiative Programs
MCHEP: To work with official public health agencies of States and localities to develop a multidisciplinary team of individuals dedicated to building the recipient's analytic capacity to use epidemiologic and surveillance data to address the health problems that affect its women, infants, and children.
Prevention research activities related to women's health related to pregnancy, in vitro fertilization, violence around pregnancy, pre-term delivery, and other reproductive health complications.
Examples of Funded Projects
MCHEP provides epidemiologic and surveillance technical assistance to participating States.
Many States participating in PRAMS have developed and implemented an ongoing population-based surveillance of State residents who have recently delivered a live-born infant.
Questionnaires have been developed to collect information from new mothers on selected experiences occurring before, during, and after their pregnancies.
Using birth certificates, a sample of mothers is selected monthly and they are mailed a self-administered questionnaire.
Non-responders are contacted by telephone.
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
PRAMS data collection is on-going in 37 States, New York City and South Dakota Yankton Sioux Tribe. Data from PRAMS are used by states to identify service gaps which are addressed through a variety of programs, many funded by the Maternal and Child Health Block Grant.
Uses and Use Restrictions
PRAMS: Cooperative Agreement funds may be used to develop a surveillance system that will identify behavioral risk factors during pregnancy and early infancy, and will identify problems in health care delivery.
Funds may be used to support the following activities: (1) Obtaining a commitment of participation from the Maternal and Child Health, Vital Statistics, and Data Processing units; (2) assuring that the State PRAMS program will have access to needed vital records information; (3) forming a Steering Committee to promote user involvement; (4) developing a surveillance protocol; (5) preparing a questionnaire, including State-specific questions; (6) obtaining Institutional Review Board review and approval; (7) implementing surveillance operations, such as sampling, data collection, data management, database development, and data analysis; and (8) planning for data dissemination and use.
MCHEP: Cooperative agreement funds may be used by grantees to build their analytic capacity to use epidemiologic and surveillance data to address health problems affecting women, infants and children.
Grantees in States, D.C., cities, and U. S. territories will develop a multidisciplinary team to identify populations at increased risk of infant mortality and to help direct programs to reduce this risk.
Funds may be used to: (1) Establish a risk-oriented approach to the reduction of infant mortality; (2) substantially build State and local surveillance and epidemiologic capabilities; (3) enhance capacity in States to use surveillance and epidemiologic findings in program and policy development, implementation, and evaluation; (4) disseminate such analytic capabilities to other States by providing information, direct technical assistance, and a pool of knowledgeable and experienced individuals for collaboration; (5) coordinate State programs in database development and intervention research; and (6)develop stronger interactive partnerships among State, territorial, and Federal.
To carry out other types of surveillance, prevention research, and demonstrations projects as authorized under the Safe Motherhood authorization.
Eligibility Requirements
Applicant Eligibility
PRAMS and MCHEP: Eligible Category A, maintenance of existing PRAMS surveillance system: eligible applicants are the official State public health agencies designated as vital statistics registration areas in the United States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and for PRAMS are the jurisdictions that received direct funding from CDC for PRAMS activities.
Also eligible is the public health agency of the City of New York, the only city public health agency designated as a Category A applicant.
For PRAMS and MCHEP: Category B, eligible applicants are the official State and territorial public health agencies designated as registration areas for vital statistics, American Samoa, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, the Republic of Palau, and Federally-recognized Indian tribal governments.
Prevention research eligibility includes public and private not-for-profit agencies including universities.
Beneficiary Eligibility
Official State and Territorial public health agencies. City of New York public health agency and District of Columbia. Applications may be submitted by public and private nonprofit and for-profit organizations and by governments and their agencies; that is, universities, colleges, research institutions, hospitals, other public and private nonprofit and for-profit organizations, State and local governments or their bona fide agents, including the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, American Samoa, Guam, the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and the Republic of Palau, federally recognized Indian tribal governments, Indian tribes, or Indian tribal organizations, and small, minority, women-owned businesses.
Credentials/Documentation
Applicants should document the need for assistance, state the objectives of the project, outline the method of operation, describe evaluation procedures, and provide a budget with justification for funds requested. Costs will be determined in accordance with the OMB Circular No. A-87 for State and local governments.
Aplication and Award Process
Preapplication Coordination
Preapplication coordination is not required.
These programs are eligible for coverage under E.O.
12372, "Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs." An applicant should consult the office or official designated as the single point of contact in his or her 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.
Application Procedures
Information on the submission of applications may be obtained from the Grants Management Officer, Grants Management Branch, Procurement and Grants Office, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2920 Brandywine Road, Room 3000, Atlanta, GA 30341. This program is subject to the provisions of 45 CFR 92. The standard application forms, as furnished by CDC and required by 45 CFR 92 for State and local governments, must be used for this program.
Award Procedures
After review and approval, a notice of award is prepared and processed, along with appropriate notification to the public.
Deadlines
Contact Headquarters Office listed below for application deadlines. Grants Management Officer, Ms. Nealean Austin, Procurement and Grants Office, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2920 Brandywine Road, Room 3000, Atlanta, GA 30341. Telephone: (770) 488-2754.
Authorization
Public Health Service Act, as amended, Section 301(a) and Section 317K, 42 U.S.C. 241(a); 42 U.S.C. 247b-12.
Range of Approval/Disapproval Time
From three to four months.
Appeals
Not applicable.
Renewals
Information on renewals may be obtained from the Grants Management Officer, Procurement and Grants Office, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2920 Brandywine Road, Room 3000, Atlanta, GA 30341. This program is subject to the provisions of 45 CFR 92. The standard application forms, as furnished by CDC and required by 45 CFR 92 for State and local governments, must be used for this program.
Assistance Considerations
Formula and Matching Requirements
Not applicable.
Length and Time Phasing of Assistance
Project Period: up to five years. Budget Period: All programs: For 12 months. Assistance is awarded through the SMARTLINK II System.
Post Assistance Requirements
Reports
Progress reports are required annually.
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. 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 the cooperative agreements program shall be retained for a minimum of three years, or until completion and resolution of any audit in process or pending resolution. In all cases, records must be retained in accordance with PHS Grants Policy Statement requirements.
Financial Information
Account Identification
75-0943-0-1-550.
Obigations
(Cooperative Agreements) PRAMS: FY 07 $5,021,324; FY 08 est $5,200,000; and FY 09 est $5,200,000.
Range and Average of Financial Assistance
PRAMS: $100,000 to $150,000; $125,000.
Regulations, Guidelines, and Literature
PHS Grants Policy Statement, DHHS Publication No. (OASH) 94-50,000, (Rev.) April 1, 1994, applies to cooperative agreements.
Information Contacts
Regional or Local Office
None.
Headquarters Office
Contact: Director, Division of Reproductive Health, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Public Health Service, Department of Health and Human Services; 770 488 5200. Grants Management Contact: Mr. William Ryan, Grants Management Officer, Procurement and Grants Office, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2920 Brandywine Road, Room 3000, Atlanta, GA 30341. Telephone: (770) 488-2717.
Criteria for Selecting Proposals
All programs: (1) The extent to which the application describes and presents appropriate data indicating an understanding of the problem, the program for which assistance is requested, and the purpose of the cooperative agreement; (2) the degree to which the workplan addresses the stated needs, is likely to achieve the purposes of the cooperative agreement, and describes the specific roles and responsibilities of participating personnel; (3) the degree to which the application provides a complete and achievable timetable of appropriate events; (4) the adequacy of the plan to monitor progress toward the stated objectives; (5) the extent to which the budget is reasonable, consistent with the problems identified and the scope of the program proposed to address these problems, and the intended use of cooperative agreement funds, and clearly reflects the applicant's intent to commit nonfederal resources to support the operational costs of these programs. PRAMS only: The degree to which the application describes the process for registering births in the State.
Social Entrepreneurship
Spotlight
The Social Innovators of 2014
For 2014, the Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship has recognized 37 individuals for their outstanding work in the field of social enterprise.
