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| 93.251 UNIVERSAL NEWBORN HEARING SCREENING |
| FEDERAL AGENCY |
| HEALTH RESOURCES AND SERVICES ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES |
| AUTHORIZATION |
| Section 399M of the Public Health Service Act. |
| OBJECTIVES |
| This program supports state programs for reducing the loss to follow-up of infants who have not passed a physiologic newborn hearing screening examination prior to discharge from the newborn nursery. Although more than 95% of newborns are screened for hearing loss in the first few days of life, nationally about 20-40% of infants for whom further assessment is indicated do not return for follow-up. This funding opportunity is to initiate new activities to significantly reduce this loss to follow-up. Support is also provided to one national technical resource center. |
| TYPES OF ASSISTANCE |
| Project Grants. |
| USES AND USE RESTRICTIONS |
| This program supports state programs for reducing the loss to follow-up of infants who have not passed a physiologic newborn hearing screening examination prior to discharge from the newborn nursery. Although more than 95% of newborns are screened for hearing loss in the first few days of life, nationally about 20-40% of infants for whom further assessment is indicated do not return for follow-up. This funding opportunity is to initiate new activities to significantly reduce this loss to follow-up. Applicants should have a relationship with both the Title V programs and the Early Intervention programs. |
| Applicant Eligibility |
| Grants to States and one grant to an organization that will provide technical assistance to the States. |
| Beneficiary Eligibility |
| State organizations will benefit. |
| Credentials/Documentation |
| Applicants should review the individual HRSA Guidance documents issued under this CFDA program for any required proof or certifications which must be submitted prior to or simultaneous with submission of an application package. |
| Preapplication Coordination |
| This program is eligible for coverage under E.O. 12372, ¿Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs.¿ An applicant should consult the office of the 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 Procedure |
| Grant applications and required forms for this program can be obtained from Grants.gov. Please visit the Grants.gov Web site at www.grants.gov to both find and apply for all Federal grant opportunities. All qualified applications will be forwarded to an objective review committee which will make funding recommendations to the Associate Administrator for the Bureau of Maternal and Child Health. The Associate Administrator has the authority to make final selections for awards. |
| Award Procedure |
| Applications are reviewed by a committee of experts that are generally nongovernmental. Applications are reviewed based on merit and are ranked according to a point score. Final decisions are made by the Associate Administrator, Maternal and Child Health Bureau. |
| Deadlines |
| www.hrsa.gov. |
| Range of Approval/Disapproval Time |
| Final decisions are made 2 to 3 months after receipt of applications. |
| Appeals |
| Not applicable. |
| Renewals |
| Project periods for are for 3-5 years. The submission of a progress report and budgetary information will be requested for each continuation year. |
| Formula and Matching Requirements |
| None. |
| Length and Time Phasing of Assistance |
| Awards are made annually, in accordance with the project period method of awarding grants. Payments are made through a Letter-of-Credit or Cash Demand System. |
| Reports |
| Annual program reports, financial status reports, program service reports, and special reports must be submitted as required. |
| 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. |
| Records |
| All records must be maintained until expiration of 3 years from the date of submission of the final expenditure report. If questions remain following the 3-uear period, such as those raised as a result of an audit or an on-going enforcement action, recipients must retain records until the matter is completely resolved. |
| Account Identification |
| 75-0350-0-1-550. |
| Obligations |
| (Grants) FY 07 est 8,453,000; FY 08 est $8,472,682; and FY 09 $0. |
| Range and Average of Financial Assistance |
| $99,404 to $900,000; $156,544. |
| PROGRAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS |
| Fifty-four State projects and one national technical assistance project were awarded in fiscal year 2007. In 2007, 93% of infants born in the U. S. were screened for hearing loss prior to hospital discharge. While timely follow-up has improved slightly, obstacles remain. It is anticipated that 49 State projects and the technical assistance project will be funded in fiscal year 2008, and two new State/territory awards are expected. The technical resource cooperative agreement also receives support. |
| REGULATIONS, GUIDELINES, AND LITERATURE |
| This program is subject to the provisions of 45 CFR Part 92 for State, local and tribal governments and 45 CFR Part 74 for institutions of higher education, hospitals, other nonprofit organizations and commercial organizations, as applicable. |
| Regional or Local Office |
| Irene Forsman, Integrated Services Branch, Division of Services for Children with Special Health Needs, Maternal and Child Health Bureau, Health Resources and Services Administration, Department of Health and Human Services, Room 18A-18, 5600 Fishers Lane, Rockville, MD 20857. Telephone: (301) 443-9023. |
| Headquarters Office |
| Grants Management Office: Rick Goodman, Director, Division of Grants Management Operations, Health Resources and Services Administration, Department of Health and Human Services, 5600 Fishers Lane, Room 11A-16. Health Services Branch: 301-443-2385; Research and Training Branch; Telephone: (301) 443-3099; Government and Special Focus Branch; Telephone: (301) 443-3288. |
| Web Site Address |
| www.hrsa.gov |
| RELATED PROGRAMS |
| None. |
| EXAMPLES OF FUNDED PROJECTS |
| Funds have been awarded to State health agencies for implementation of universal statewide newborn hearing screening prior to hospital discharge with linkages to a medical home, audiologic diagnosis by 3 months of age, enrollment in a program of early intervention services and linked to family support by 6 months of age for infants identified with hearing loss. |
| CRITERIA FOR SELECTING PROPOSALS |
| The objective review of all applications includes thorough and consistent examinations of each submission by persons knowledgeable in the field for that support is requested and has no direct relationship with the organization or individual submitting the application and do not have personal or invested interest in the award of a grant to that organization or individual. Peer review is a system that uses reviewers that are the professional equals of the principal investigator or program director and will be responsible for directing or conducting the proposed project. That is a form of objective review. Reviewers may be Federal or nonfederal. Final review criteria are included in the application kit. |
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General Services Administration Office of Chief Acquisition Officer Regulatory and Federal Assistance Division (VIR) |
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