Healthy Start Initiative
Published on AidPage by
IDILOGIC on Jun 24, 2005
Purpose of this program:
To eliminate disparities in perinatal and women's health by enhancing a community's service system and infrastructure, and a State's infrastructure, directing resources and interventions to improve access to, utilization, and full participation of comprehensive perinatal and women's health services for high-risk women and infants.
Possible uses and use restrictions...
Every Healthy Start project implements community-driven approaches to address infant mortality rates by reducing behavioral and medical risk factors and promotes healthy outcomes for young women and their families. Beginning with prenatal care and continuing through the infant's second year of life, each community awarded funds assures the availability of a core set of services and activities for the perinatal population in their project area. These services include case management, home visiting and links to health care and other needed services for mothers and their infants; direct outreach and peer mentoring by trained community members; screening and referral for perinatal/postpartum depression; and strong coordination with and access to substance abuse, domestic violence, mental health, early intervention, parenting and other critical services for high-risk women and families. In addition, each Healthy Start project is required to have a community-based consortium of individuals and organizations and includes women and families served by the project, to collaborate with State Title V (MCH) Agency, and a local health system action plan to improve the quality, cultural competence, access to services or addresses other problems in the local system of care. Funds may not be used to supplant currently funded activities/services.
Who is eligible to apply...
Urban and rural communities with significant disparities in perinatal health, and the States with need to build their infrastructure/capacity to address and support those communities trying to achieve the goals of the Healthy Start program. Eligible applicants are any public or private entity, including an Indian Tribe or tribal organization (as those terms are defined at 25 U.S.C. 450b). Community-based organizations, including faith-based organizations are eligible to apply.
Credentials/Documentation
The basis for determining the allowance and allocability of costs charged to Public Health Service (PHS) grants is set forth in DHHS Regulations 45 CFR Part 74, Subpart Q, and 45 CFR Part 92, Subpart C. The cost principles prescribed for recipients are in: OMB Circular No. A-87 for State and local governments, OMB Circular No. A-21 for institutions of higher education, 45 CFR Part 74, Appendix E for hospitals, OMB Circular No. 122 for nonprofit organizations, and 48 CFR Subpart 31.2 for-profit (commercial) organizations. Proof of nonprofit status is required.
Note:This is a brief description of the credentials or documentation required prior to, or along with, an application for assistance.
About this section:
This section indicates who can apply to the Federal government for assistance and the criteria the potential applicant must satisfy.
For example, individuals may be eligible for research grants, and the criteria to be satisfied may be that they have a professional or scientific degree,
3 years of research experience, and be a citizen of the United States. Universities, medical schools, hospitals, or State and local governments may also be eligible.
Where State governments are eligible, the type of State agency will be indicated (State welfare agency or State agency on aging) and the criteria that they
must satisfy.
Certain federal programs (e.g., the Pell Grant program which provides grants to students) involve intermediate levels of application processing, i.e., applications
are transmitted through colleges or universities that are neither the direct applicant nor the ultimate beneficiary. For these programs,
the criteria that the intermediaries must satisfy are also indicated, along with intermediaries who are not eligible.
How to apply...
Application Procedure:
See specific program grant guidance.
Note: Each program will indicate whether applications are to be submitted to the Federal headquarters, regional or local office, or to a State or local government office.
Award Procedure:
See specific program grant guidance.
Note: Grant payments may be made by a letter of credit, advance by Treasury check, or reimbursement by Treasury check.
Awards may be made by the headquarters office directly to the applicant, an agency field office, a regional office,
or by an authorized county office. The assistance may pass through the initial applicant for further distribution by
intermediate level applicants to groups or individuals in the private sector.
Deadlines and process...
Deadlines
See specific program grant guidance.
Note:
When available, this section indicates the deadlines for applications to the funding agency which will
be stated in terms of the date(s) or between what dates the application should be received.
When not available, applicants should contact the funding agency for deadline information.
Range of Approval/Disapproval Time
Final decisions are made approximately 120 days after receipt of applications.
Preapplication Coordination
This program is subject to the provisions of E.O. 12372, "Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs." An applicant should consult the office or official designated as the single point of contact in the 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. Informal inquiries regarding the program and indication of intent to submit an application may be addressed to the Central Office.
Note:
This section indicates whether any prior coordination or approval is required with governmental or nongovernmental units
prior to the submission of a formal application to the federal funding agency.
Appeals
None.
Note:
In some cases, there are no provisions for appeal. Where applicable, this section discusses appeal procedures or allowable rework time for resubmission
of applications to be processed by the funding agency. Appeal procedures vary with individual programs and are either listed in this section or
applicants are referred to appeal procedures documented in the relevant Code of Federal Regulations (CFR).
Renewals
None.
Note:
In some instances, renewal procedures may be the same as for the application procedure, e.g., for projects of a non-continuing nature renewals will be treated as new, competing applications; for projects of an ongoing nature, renewals may be given annually.
Who can benefit...
Service area residents, particularly women and infants in areas with significant perinatal health disparities.
Beneficiaries
About this section:
This section lists the ultimate beneficiaries of a program, the criteria they must satisfy and who specifically is not eligible. The applicant and beneficiary will generally be the same for programs that provide assistance directly from a Federal agency. However, financial assistance that passes through State or local governments will have different applicants and beneficiaries since the assistance is transmitted to private sector beneficiaries who are not obligated to request or apply for the assistance.
What types of assistance...
Project Grants
The funding, for fixed or known periods, of specific projects. Project grants can include fellowships, scholarships, research grants, training grants, traineeships, experimental and demonstration grants, evaluation grants, planning grants, technical assistance grants, survey grants, and construction grants.
How much financial aid...
Range and Average of Financial Assistance
$150,000 to $2,300,000; $779,000.
Note:
This section lists the representative range (smallest to largest) of the amount of financial assistance available. These figures are based upon funds awarded in the past fiscal year and the current fiscal year to date. Also indicated is an approximate average amount of awards which were made in the past and current fiscal years.
Obligations
(Grants) FY 03 $92,923,463; FY 04 est $93,361,000 and FY 05 est 92,361,000.
Note:
The dollar amounts listed in this section represent obligations for the past fiscal year (PY), estimates for the current fiscal year (CY), and estimates for the budget fiscal year (BY) as reported by the Federal agencies. Obligations for non-financial assistance programs indicate the administrative expenses involved in the operation of a program.
Account Identification
75-0350-0-1-550.
Note:
Note: This 11-digit budget account identification code represents the account which funds a particular program.
This code should be consistent with the code given for the program area as specified in Appendix III of the Budget of the United States Government.
Examples of funded projects...
From pregnancy either to the next pregnancy or 2 years post delivery for the mother and infant, every Healthy Start project assures the availability of a core set of services and system building activities to the perinatal population in the project are, including a consortium, case management, outreach, health education, screening and referral for depression, collaboration with Title V, a local health system action plan, and plans for sustainability.
About this section
This section indicates the different types of projects which have been funded in the past. Only projects funded under Project Grants or Direct Payments for Specified Use should be listed here. The examples give potential applicants an idea of the types of projects that may be accepted for funding. The agency should list at least five examples of the most recently funded projects.
Program accomplishments...
In fiscal year 2003, 121 projects were awarded to new and existing projects. It is estimated that 115 projects will be awarded for fiscal year 2004 and fiscal year 2005.
Criteria for selecting proposals...
See specific program grant guidance.
Assistance considerations...
Length and Time Phasing of Assistance
Project periods vary dependent on specific grant announcement with awards made on an annual basis for up to 5 years dependent on satisfactory progress and subject to the availability of funds.
Formula and Matching Requirements
This program has no statutory formula or matching requirements.
Note:
A formula may be based on population, per capita income, and other statistical factors. Applicants are informed whether there are any matching requirements to be met when participating in the cost of a project. In general, the matching share represents that portion of the project costs not borne by the Federal government. Attachment F of OMB Circular No. A-102 (Office of Management and Budget) sets forth the criteria and procedures for the evaluation of matching share requirements which may be cash or in-kind contributions made by State and local governments or other agencies, institutions, private organizations, or individuals to satisfy matching requirements of Federal grants or loans.
Cash contributions represent the grantees' cash outlay, including the outlay of money contributed to the grantee by other public agencies, institutions, private organizations, or individuals. When authorized by Federal regulation, Federal funds received from other grants may be considered as the grantees' cash contribution.
In-kind contributions represent the value of noncash contributions provided by the grantee, other public agencies and institutions, private organizations or individuals. In-kind contributions may consist of charges for real property and equipment, and value of goods and services directly benefiting and specifically identifiable to the grant program. When authorized by Federal legislation, property purchased with Federal funds may be considered as grantees' in-kind contribution.
Maintenance of effort (MOE) is a requirement contained in certain legislation, regulations, or administrative policies stating that a grantee must maintain a specified level of financial effort in a specific area in order to receive Federal grant funds, and that the Federal grant funds may be used only to supplement, not supplant, the level of grantee funds.
Post assistance requirements...
Reports
Grantees are required to submit progress reports on an annual basis. Financial status reports are required no later than 90 days after the end of each budget period. Final financial status and progress reports are due 90 days after the end of a project period.
Note:
This section indicates whether program reports, expenditure reports, cash reports or performance monitoring are required by the Federal funding agency, and specifies at what time intervals (monthly, annually, etc.) this must be accomplished.
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.
Note:
This section discusses audits required by the Federal agency.
The procedures and requirements for State and local governments and nonprofit entities are set forth in OMB Circular No. A-133.
These requirements pertain to awards made within the respective State's fiscal year - not the Federal fiscal year,
as some State and local governments may use the calendar year or other variation of time span designated as the fiscal year period,
rather than that commonly known as the Federal fiscal year (from October 1st through September 30th).
Records
DHHS and the Comptroller General of the United States or any of their authorized representatives, shall have the right of access to any books, documents, papers or other records of a grantee, sub-grantee, contractor or subcontractor, which are pertinent to the DHHS grant, in order to make audits, examinations excerpts and transcripts. In accordance with 45 CFR, Part 74, Subpart D, and 45 CFR Part 92, Subpart C, grantees are required to maintain grant accounting records 3 years after the end of a budget period. If any litigation, claim, negotiation, audit or other action involving the record has been started before the expiration of the 3-year period, the records shall be retained until completion of the action and resolution of all issues which arise from it, or until the end of the regular 3-year period, whichever is later.
Note:
This section indicates the record retention requirements and the type of records the Federal agency may require.
Not included are the normally imposed requirements of the General Accounting Office.
For programs falling under the purview of OMB Circular No. A-102, record retention is set forth in Attachment C.
For other programs, record retention is governed by the funding agency's requirements.
Regulations...
Authorization
Public Health Service Act, Title III, Part D, Section 330H; 42 U.S.C. 254c-8.
Note:
This section lists the legal authority upon which a program is based (acts, amendments to acts, Public Law numbers, titles, sections, Statute Codes, citations to the U.S. Code, Executive Orders, Presidential Reorganization Plans, and Memoranda from an agency head).
Regulations, Guidelines, And Literature
Pertinent information may be obtained by contacting the Central Office. PHS Grants Policy Statement, DHHS Publication No. (OASH) 94-50,000. (Rev.) April 1, 1994.