[Federal Register: September 27, 2002 (Volume 67, Number 188)]
[Notices]               
[Page 61107-61108]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr27se02-104]                         

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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

[Program Announcement 02228]

 
Men Involved in STD Training Empowerment Research Study 
(MISTERS): A Community-Based STD/HIV Intervention for Men Newly 
Released From Jail; Notice of Award of Funds

A. Purpose

    The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announces the 
award of fiscal year (FY) 2002 funds for a grant program, ``MISTERS, 
Men Involved in STD Training Empowerment Research Study'' to be 
performed by STAND, Inc. Persons entering correctional facilities have 
been shown to have a high prevalence of Sexually Transmitted Diseases 
(STDs). This is of profound public health importance in the United 
States. Approximately 5% of the population can be expected to serve a 
sentence in federal or state prison. Many crimes are in some way 
associated with drug use, which is, in turn, associated with high-risk 
sexual behavior. Correctional facilities are not consistent in the use 
of STD screening among inmates, often relying on inmate self-reporting 
of symptoms. Even in cases where arrestees are routinely screened, they 
are often released within 48 hours, too soon for screening results to 
be available. Since there is a proven association between drug use and 
high risk sexual behaviors, and a strong likelihood that detainees will 
be released either without being screened for STDS or too soon for the 
screening results to be available, there is a significant public health 
need for post-release services that include a STD prevention 
intervention that includes early STD screening, treatment and risk-
reducing behaviors. The MISTERS project will test the feasibility of 
such an intervention using a community-based organization, STAND, Inc. 
STAND is already working with men who have histories of substance use 
and incarceration.

B. Eligible Applicant

    Assistance is provided only to STAND, Inc. STAND's application 
contained an important and unique scientific proposal that was not 
submitted in response to any existing program announcement, but does 
fall under the broad embrace of the Government's public health 
initiative Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Prevention. The CDC 
Division of Sexually Transmitted Disease Prevention (DSTD) performed a 
thorough review of STAND's proposal and determined that it would 
significantly advance the state of medical knowledge and provide a 
unique contribution to the understanding of the effectiveness of post-
incarceration behavioral intervention in the reduction of high-risk 
sexual behavior.

C. Funds

    Approximately $500,000 is being awarded in FY 2002. The award will 
begin on or about September 30, 2002, and will be made for a 12-month 
budget period within a project period of one year.

D. Where To Obtain Additional Information

    For business management technical assistance, contact: William J. 
Ryan, Jr., CPCM, Grants Management Officer, Procurement and Grants 
Office, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2920 Brandywine 
Road, Room 3000, Atlanta, GA 30341-4146. Telephone number: 770-488-
2717. E-mail address: wfr4@cdc.gov.
    For program technical assistance, contact: Samantha Williams, 
Ph.D., Division of STD Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and 
Prevention, NCHSTP/DSTD, 10 Corporate Square Blvd, Atlanta, GA 30329. 
Telephone number 404-639-8620. E-mail address SWilliams@cdc.gov.


[[Page 61108]]


    Dated: September 20, 2002.
Sandra R. Manning,
CGFM, Director, Procurement and Grants Office, Centers for Disease 
Control and Prevention.
[FR Doc. 02-24575 Filed 9-26-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4163-18-P