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1991.05.24 :  Grants -- Minority Male

Contact:  Blake Crawford (301) 443-9870
May 24, 1991

        HHS Secretary Louis W. Sullivan, M.D., today announced
the award of $3 million in grants to help 14 communities in 13
states demonstrate improved outreach and coordinated services for
minority male populations at high risk of multiple health and
social service problems.  
        "These communities are acting to show that help and
support are available in a time of crisis for minority children,
teen-agers and adolescents," Secretary Sullivan said.  "They
intend to address the complex set of issues that leave too many
minority youth vulnerable to problems like violence, alcohol and
drug use, sexually transmitted diseases, homelessness, teen-age
parenthood, failure to finish school or unemployment.
        "Several of these projects will involve young men in
providing community service, not just as recipients of services. 
Others will help with jobs and education.  Many will involve
successful minority men as counselors, mentors and role models to
youth.  They not only will teach the skills adolescents and young
men need to make their way in the world, but the pride, self-
respect and values they need to succeed as parents, workers and
citizens." 
        The three-year grants will support coalitions of
community organizations in providing services to black, Hispanic,
American Indian, Alaska Native, Asian and Pacific Islander males
identified by their communities as at high risk of health and
social problems.  
        "The needs of minority males are very diverse," said HHS
Assistant Secretary for Health James O. Mason, M.D., Dr.P.H., who
heads the Public Health Service.  "These projects are reaching
out to juvenile offenders, runaways and homeless youth, teen-age
fathers, migrant farmworkers, children living in public housing,
high school dropouts and other minority youth at risk of health,
social and legal problems." 
        "These coalition grants are intended to demonstrate how
communities can work together," said William Robinson, M.D.,
deputy assistant secretary for minority health.  "The coalitions
we are funding involve not only health agencies, but minority
community organizations, churches, public schools, businesses,
police departments, youth service agencies, colleges, Indian
tribal organizations, and many other public and private
partners."
        Today's awards are the second set of grants made as part
of Secretary Sullivan's Minority Male Initiative.  A total of
$2.4 million was awarded in September 1990 to 83 organizations to
support local conferences and bring together coalitions that
could address health and social issues affecting minority males. 
        The grant program is a jointly funded effort of HHS'
Administration on Children and Families, Health Care Financing
Administration, Public Health Service and Social Security
Administration.  It is administered by the Public Health
Service's Office of Minority Health.
        The grants announced today provide first-year funding for
the three-year projects.  Grants were awarded to:  

o    Navajo Nation, Window Rock, Ariz., $232,171;
o    Fresno County (Calif.) Economic Opportunities Commission,
     $250,000;
o    Contra Costa County Health Services Department, Pleasant
     Hill, Calif., $249,975;
o    Hall Neighborhood House, Inc., Bridgeport, Conn., $248,750;
o    Wholistic Stress Control Institute, Inc., Atlanta, Ga.,
     $187,500;
o    La Nueva Vida, Inc., Santa Fe, N.M., $249,510;
o    Westside Health Services, Inc., Rochester, N.Y., $250,000;
o    Teen Father Program, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio, $247,500;
o    Catholic Community Services, Portland, Ore., $163,423;
o    Benedict College, Columbia, S.C., $250,000;
o    Meharry Medical College, School of Dentistry, Nashville,
     Tenn., $182,988;
o    Dallas (Texas) Urban League, Inc., $247,436;
o    Medina Children's Service, Seattle, Wash., $166,903; and
o    Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Chippewas, Bayfield, Wis.,
     $48,934.  

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