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FUNDING ANNOUNCEMENT

Office of the Secretary, Office of Public Health and Science, Office of Minority Health, HHS

Office of Minority Health American Indian/Alaska Native Health Disparities Program
APPLICATION DEADLINE: August 6, 2007

The Office of Minority Health (OMH) announces the availability of FY 2007 funding for the Office of Minority Health American Indian/Alaska Native Health Disparities Program ("AI/AN Health Disparities Program").

The purpose of the AI/AN Health Disparities Program is to improve the effectiveness of efforts to eliminate health disparities for American Indian and Alaska Native communities through increased access and utilization of data and data-related activities. The AI/AN Health Disparities Program is intended to strengthen the capacity of Tribal Epidemiology Centers (TECs) to collect and manage date more effectively and to better understand and develop the links among public health problems and behavior, socioeconomic conditions, and geography.

The AI/AN Health Disparities Program is designed to address barriers to healthcare as well as concerns raised by Tribal Leaders regarding the lack of American Indian and Alaska Native healthcare professionals, paraprofessionals, and researchers.

In FY 2007, the AI/AN Health Disparities Program will support projects that enhance the TECs’ capacity to carry out disease surveillance, including the interpretation and dissemination of surveillance data; address vital statistics needs; conduct epidemiologic analysis; investigate disease outbreaks; develop disease control and preventions strategies and programs; and/or coordinate with other health agencies in the region. In addition to building their data capacity, TECs may form collaborative partnerships and alliances to improve access to quality health and human services, and/or design programs to increase the number of American Indians and Alaska Natives serving as health professionals, para-professionals, and researchers.

It is intended that the AI/AN Health Disparities Program will result in:

• Enhanced data collections/utilization to identify highest priority health status objectives and services needed to achieve such objectives; and
• Development of alliances and partnerships that improve coordination/alignment of health and human services; and/or
• Provision of technical training in public health practices and prevention oriented research to create public health career pathways for tribal members.

Applicants must implement activities designed to enhance effective data collection and management methods to create better understanding and development of the links among public health problems, behavior, socioeconomic conditions, and geography. Applicants must also propose to conduct activities related to at least one of the following:

• Establishment of partnerships and development of systems to improve coordination and continuity of access to quality health and human services; or
• Development of methods to establish career pathways for AI/AN health care professionals, paraprofessionals, and researchers.

The outcomes of these projects will be used to develop other national efforts to address health disparities among racial and ethnic minority populations.

AWARD INFORMATION

Estimated Funds Available for Competition: $1,000,000 in FY 2007
Anticipated Number of Awards: 4
Range of Awards: $175,000 to $250,000 per year
Anticipated Start Date: September 1, 2007
Period of Performance: 5 Years (September 1, 2007 to August 31, 2012)
Budget Period Length: 12 months
Type of Award: Grant
Type of Application Accepted: New

Application Deadline: August 6, 2007

Information on eligible applicants, project requirements, health areas to be addressed and other important topics are outlined in the Federal Register notice.

• Federal Register Notice [PDF ]

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APPLICATION KIT

Application kits may be obtained electronically by accessing Grants.gov at http://www.grants.gov or GrantSolutions at http://www.GrantSolutions.gov.

To obtain a hard copy of the application kit for this program or for further information, please contact WilDon Solutions, Office of Grants Management Operations Center, 1515 Wilson Blvd., Third Floor Suite 310, Arlington, VA 22109 at 1 (888) 203-6161. Applicants may also fax a written request to WilDon Solutions at (703) 351-1138 or e-mail the request to OPHSgrantinfo@teamwildon.com.

IMPORTANT CONTACTS

For questions related to the AI/AN Health Disparities Grant Program or assistance in preparing a grant proposal, contact Ms. Sonsiere Cobb-Souza, Director, Division of Program Operations, Office of Minority Health, Tower Building, Suite 600, 1101 Wootton Parkway, Rockville, MD 20852. Ms. Cobb-Souza can be reached by telephone at (240) 453-8444; or by e-mail at sonsiere.cobb-souza@hhs.gov.

For additional technical assistance, contact the OMH Regional Minority Health Consultant for your region, which is listed in your grant application kit.

For health information, call the OMH Resource Center (OMHRC) at 1 (800) 444-6472.