Funding Opportunities-Lifespan Respite Care

Each year, Congress appropriates funds for use by AoA and the other Federal Agencies in carrying out their mission. AoA provides grant funding to States and territories, recognized Native American Tribes and Hawaiian Americans, as well as nonprofit organizations, including faith-based and academic institutions. Individuals are not eligible to apply for AoA funding.

For those new to the AoA grants management environment, the Overview section below provides a brief profile of the types of grant instruments we use to fund our programs, the procedures applicants must follow in applying for these grants and the reporting which is required of recipients.

• Overview

2011
Title	FY 2011 Lifespan Respite Care Program
Agency/Center:	Administration on Aging (AoA)
Announcement Type:	Initial
Funding Opportunity Number:	HHS-2011-AoA-LR-1103
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number:	93.072
Key Dates:	The deadline date for submission of applications is 11:59 p.m., Eastern Time, on May 20, 2011.
Downloads: Program Announcement and Grant Application Instructions (PDF) (DOC)

Funding Opportunities

NIH Research Opportunity: Economics of Retirement

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HHS
Department of Health and Human Services
National Institutes of Health
Economics of Retirement (R01)
Grant
http://www07.grants.gov/search/search.do?&mode=VIEW&oppId=77793



HHS
Department of Health and Human Services
National Institutes of Health
Economics of Retirement (R03)
Grant
http://www07.grants.gov/search/search.do?&mode=VIEW&oppId=77794



HHS
Department of Health and Human Services
National Institutes of Health
Economics of Retirement (R21)
Grant
http://www07.grants.gov/search/search.do?&mode=VIEW&oppId=77813

Medicaid Prevention Grants

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The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) is pleased to announce the invitation to States to apply for participation in the Medicaid Incentives for Prevention of Chronic Diseases Program authorized by section 4108 of the Affordable Care Act.  This nationwide program will test and evaluate the effectiveness of a program to provide financial and non-financial incentives to Medicaid beneficiaries of all ages who participate in prevention programs to address at least one of the following prevention goals: tobacco cessation, controlling or reducing weight, lowering cholesterol, lowering blood pressure, and avoiding the onset of diabetes or improving the management of the condition; and demonstrating changes in health risk and outcomes, including the adoption of healthy behaviors.

This new funding opportunity does not require States to match the incentive payment with State funds.  Beneficiary incentives available through section 4108 may be used by States to complement other chronic condition health initiatives, such as the currently available Health Home Medicaid State plan option provided by section 2703 of the Affordable Care Act.  Approved administrative and program expenditures for successful applicants will be reimbursed through grant funds from the $100 million dollars appropriated under section 4108 of the Affordable Care Act for this program and evaluation.  The Office of the Governor or the State Medicaid Agency may apply for funding under this grant opportunity, however CMS will accept only one application per State and encourages State offices and agencies to work collaboratively to develop one application packet.

All applications must be submitted electronically through http://www.grants.gov

The solicitation and further application requirements may be obtained at http://www.cms.gov/MIPCD/
 
An applicant’s teleconference is scheduled for March 8, 2011 from 2:30 to 4:30 PM eastern time and may be accessed by calling the operated assisted toll-free dial-in number: (800)837-1935, and the Conference ID is: 2314.

The closing date for this Funding Opportunity Announcement is May 2, 2011.   

CALL FOR PROPOSALS: Improving Lives of Vulnerable Americans Through Social Security

With support from the Ford Foundation, the National Academy of Social Insurance (NASI) is awarding funds to projects designed to educate Americans most reliant on Social Security about its role in their economic security. The purpose of the project is to support constituency building, education outside of the beltway, and the development of user-friendly, research-based information on the adequacy of Social Security benefits and how these could be strengthened for vulnerable groups, including communities of color, women, people with disabilities, low-wage workers and children. In light of rising out-of-pocket medical costs, declining asset values and job losses, it is more important than ever that groups most reliant on Social Security have their voices heard in policy debates about its future.

NASI anticipates approving several project applications up to a maximum of $100,000. Targeted projects of smaller amounts (e.g., $20,000 to $35,000) are encouraged and will be given special consideration. The application deadline is February 15, 2011. Interested organizations are encouraged to send a notice of intent to apply by January 15, 2011, to Elizabeth Lamme (elamme@nasi.org).

Organizations that were funded by NASI for projects starting in October 2010 may not receive over $100,000 total, including this new grant and the October 2010 grant. Funding for projects that started prior to October 2010 will not count toward the $100,000 limit.

Successful projects will translate existing knowledge about Social Security, including the relevant research and analyses of the National Academy of Social Insurance, into messages that empower constituencies most reliant on Social Security. They will also develop innovative outreach strategies to more effectively communicate such messages, and/or build practical knowledge about how Social Security could better meet constituency needs. Finally, they will include a credible strategy to encourage and support constituencies in making their voices heard in the public debate on Social Security. Successful projects will commit to producing at least one educational deliverable (e.g., pamphlet, YouTube video, PowerPoint presentation) to be made publicly available for educational purposes. Preference will be given to applications involving organizations with a grass-roots base in vulnerable communities. Proposals involving collaboration among outreach and research organizations are welcome. Applications from large, well-established national organizations will be considered, although substantial cash participation by the organization will be expected. The initiative will seek to fund a balanced mix of projects, which (across all projects) focus on a range of activities, strategies and target constituencies.

Project funds may not be used in any way that violates tax exempt status under section 501(c)3 of the Internal Revenue Code. Moreover, funds cannot be used for political campaign activities or to lobby policymakers about specific legislation that may be or has been introduced. It is permissible to educate policymakers and the media about the need for policies to address a particular issue, such as improvements in Social Security. Organizations may conduct educational meetings, prepare and distribute educational materials, or otherwise consider public policy issues in an educational manner.
Full Grant Announcement

New Affordable Care Act Grants to Help Put Patients in Control of their Healthcare

Image via WikipediaThe U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) today announced new Consumer Assistance Grants program awards of nearly $30 million to help states and territories put patients in charge of their health care. These grants will support states' efforts to establish or strengthen consumer assistance programs that provide direct services to consumers with questions or concerns regarding their health insurance.
"The Affordable Care Act's Patient's Bill of Rights gives people important benefits and ends the worst insurance company abuses," said Secretary Kathleen Sebelius. "These grants will help ensure consumers' rights are protected, and they are another way the new law is putting patients, not insurance companies, in charge of their health care."

These new grants will allow states, who are in some cases partnering with local non-profits, to help strengthen and enhance ongoing efforts in the states and local communities to protect consumers from some of the worst insurance industry practices. Altogether, 35 states, four territories and the District of Columbia applied for and will receive grant awards.

The grants will build on other programs and initiatives recently announced by HHS to help consumers make decisions about their care, including www.HealthCare.gov, where consumers already can find health insurance options customized to their needs and location as well as other information about their benefits and rights under the Affordable Care Act. State consumer assistance programs also will help consumers act on their new right to appeal if their insurance plan denies them coverage. Specifically, these grants will:

* Help consumers enroll in health coverage;
* Help consumers file complaints and appeals against health plans;
* Educate consumers about their rights and empower them to take action; and
* Track consumer complaints to help identify problems and strengthen enforcement.

A fact sheet and summary of how each state or territory will use the new resources can be found at http://www.healthcare.gov/news/factsheets/cap_grants.html 

Consumer Assistance Grants have the potential to benefit millions of Americans. These grants will fund programs that will support consumers both now as we transition to a more competitive, patient-centered health insurance marketplace in 2014 and once that new marketplace is established.

eNews from AoA - October 2010

Table of Contents
Top Story

October Is Domestic Violence Awareness Month

 AoA News

Population Data on Older Hispanic Adults Featured in AoA’s October Widget

Other HHS News

CMS Awards Grants to Six States to Combat Abuse and Neglect in Long Term Care Facilities

Information on Peripheral Arterial Disease Added to NIHSeniorHealth Website

HHS Announces the Launch of HealthCare.gov on Facebook

HHS Releases $101 Million in Emergency Funding to States for Energy Assistance

Nationwide System to Assist Doctors and Hospitals in Switching to Electronic Health Records Is Completed

HHS Awards $68 million in Grants to Support Community Living for Seniors and Individuals with Disabilities

Federal Funding Opportunities

Rural Health Network Development Grant Program

Second Opportunity for National Background Check Program Funding

More News

NCOA to Fund Benefits Enrollment Centers

October Is Crime Prevention Month: Learn About Go Direct

October 16 Is World Food Day

USDA Awards Grants to Expand Nutrition Aid for Low-Income Seniors

UN Report on “Current Status of the Social Situation, Wellbeing, Participation in
Development and Rights of Older Persons Worldwide”

Additional National Observances in October
Submit a Story! 
Conferences
Full Newsletter

HHS Announces Availability of Health Center New Access Point Grants

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U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announced today the availability of up to $250 million in grants for New Access Points for the delivery of primary health care services for underserved and vulnerable populations under the Health Center Program.  The funds, made available by the Affordable Care Act, will be awarded by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA).

 

A new access point is a new full-time service delivery site that provides comprehensive primary and preventive health care services.  New access points improve the health status and decrease health disparities of the medically underserved populations to be served. 

 

“These funds reflect the Administration’s steadfast commitment to improving and expanding access to vital primary health care services,” said Secretary Sebelius. “From our cities to our smallest towns, each health center has an important role to play, ensuring access to services in its community. Together they have a critical impact on the health care status of those most in need across the nation.”

 

“New access points will address the unique and significant barriers that stand in the way of affordable and accessible primary health care services.” said HRSA Administrator Mary Wakefield, Ph.D. R.N. “Competitive applications will demonstrate a high level of need in the community, present a sound proposal to meet this need, and show that the organization is ready to quickly put their proposal to work.”

Organizations eligible to compete include public or nonprofit private entities, including tribal, faith-based and community-based organizations who meet health center funding requirements.  Current HRSA grantees may apply, as well as organizations applying for the first time.

 

For more information about National Community Health Center Week, visit http://www.hhs.gov/news/press/2010pres/chc.html, or visit www.grants.gov to find out how to apply. 

Grants.gov - Housing Counseling Services

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The synopsis for this grant opportunity is detailed below, following this paragraph. This synopsis contains all of the updates to this document that have been posted as of 07/26/2010 . If updates have been made to the opportunity synopsis, update information is provided below the synopsis.
If you would like to receive notifications of changes to the grant opportunity click send me change notification emails . The only thing you need to provide for this service is your email address. No other information is requested.

Any inconsistency between the original printed document and the disk or electronic document shall be resolved by giving precedence to the printed document.

Description of Modification

Document Type:	Modification to Previous Grants Notice
Funding Opportunity Number:	FR-5415-N-02
Opportunity Category:	Discretionary
Posted Date:	Jul 26, 2010
Creation Date:	Jul 26, 2010
Original Closing Date for Applications:	Aug 27, 2010
Current Closing Date for Applications:	Aug 27, 2010
Archive Date:	Aug 28, 2010
Funding Instrument Type:	Grant
Category of Funding Activity:	Housing
Category Explanation:
Expected Number of Awards:
Estimated Total Program Funding:	$79,000,000
Award Ceiling:	$0
Award Floor:	$0
CFDA Number(s):	14.169 -- Housing Counseling Assistance Program
Cost Sharing or Matching Requirement:	No

Eligible Applicants

Others (see text field entitled "Additional Information on Eligibility" for clarification)

Additional Information on Eligibility:

Eligible applicants include: HUD-approved Local Housing Counseling Agencies (LHCAs); HUD-approved national and regional intermediaries (Intermediaries); State Housing Finance Agencies (SHFAs); and HUD-approved Multi-State Organizations (MSOs).

Agency Name

Department of Housing and Urban Development

Description

This program supports the delivery of a wide variety of housing counseling services to homebuyers, homeowners, low- to moderate-income renters, and the homeless. The primary objectives of the program are to improve financial literacy, expand homeownership opportunities, improve access to affordable housing and preserve homeownership. Counselors provide guidance and advice to help families and individuals improve their housing conditions and meet the responsibilities of tenancy and homeownership. Counselors also help borrowers avoid inflated appraisals, unreasonably high interest rates, unaffordable repayment terms, and other conditions that can result in a loss of equity, increased debt, default, and eventually foreclosure. Additionally, counselors may provide counseling services to homeowners to prevent or resolve mortgage delinquency, default, and foreclosure, with the primary objective to preserve homeownership. Counselors provide guidance and advice to help families and individuals meet the responsibilities of homeownership and modify or refinance their loans to avoid unreasonably high interest rates, unaffordable repayment terms, and other conditions that can result in a loss of equity, increased debt, default, and eventually foreclosure. Applicants funded through this program may also provide Reverse Mortgage Counseling to elderly homeowners who seek to convert equity in their homes into income that can be used to pay for home improvements, medical costs, living expenses, or other expenses.

Link to Full Announcement

Grants.gov/APPLY

If you have difficulty accessing the full announcement electronically, please contact:

PHL HOC Brenda Bellisario 215.861.7268
ATL HOC Carolyn Hogans 678.732.2129
DEN HOC Vic Karels 303.675.1640
STA ANA HOC Rhonda Rivera 714.796.1200x3210
HHQ Intermediaries Terri Gilyard-Ames 202.402.3025 See NOFA

Grants.gov - Find Grant Opportunities - Opportunity Synopsis

Money Follows the Person Community Services and Long Term Supports

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The MFP Rebalancing Demonstration Program was authorized by Congress in section 6071 of the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 (DRA) and was designed to provide assistance to States to balance their long-term care systems and help Medicaid enrollees transition from institutions to the community. The MFP Demonstration Program reflects a growing consensus that long-term supports must be transformed from being institutionally-based and provider-driven to "person-centered" consumer directed and community-based.

Congress initially authorized up to $1.75 billion in Federal funds through fiscal year (FY) 2011 to:

1) Increase the use of HCBS and reduce the use of institutionally-based services;

2) Eliminate barriers and mechanisms in State law, State Medicaid plans, or State budgets that prevent or restrict the flexible use of Medicaid funds to enable Medicaid-eligible individuals to receive long-term care in the settings of their choice;

3) Strengthen the ability of Medicaid programs to assure continued provision of HCBS to those individuals who choose to transition from institutions; and,

4) Ensure that procedures are in place to provide quality assurance and continuous quality improvement of HCBS.

Currently, twenty-nine States and the District of Columbia have implemented MFP Demonstration Programs. After a pre-implementation period, States began actively transitioning individuals into community settings in the spring of 2008. Since the beginning of calendar year 2009, the number of participants transitioning has increased as solutions to barriers were identified and significant technical assistance is continuing to be provided to help States meet transition benchmarks they set. As of December 2009, almost 6,000 individuals have returned to the community as a result of these demonstrations.

On March 30, 2010, President Obama signed into law the Affordability Care Act (ACA). The ACA provisions reflect a long-awaited commitment to independence, choice, and dignity for countless Americans who want to live and receive long-term care services in their own homes and communities. It gives States many of the tools they need to help "rebalance" their LTC systems. Section 2403 of the ACA provides an opportunity for those States that are presently participating in the program to continue building and strengthening their MFP Demonstration Programs and for additional States to participate. The law amends section 6071 of the DRA to make the following changes:

Extends the MFP Demonstration Program through September 30, 2016, and appropriates an additional $450 million for each FY 2012-2016, totaling an additional $2.25 billion. Any remaining MFP appropriation at the end of each FY carries over to subsequent FYs and is available to make grant awards to current and new grantees until FY 2016. Grant awards shall be made available to the State for the FY in which the award was received and for additional FYs. As such, any unused portion of a State grant award made in 2016 would be available to the State until 2020.

Under the Affordable Care Act, individuals that reside in an institution for more than 90 consecutive days are now eligible to participate in the demonstration. However, one exception applies in the expanded definition of eligibility: days that an individual was residing in the institution for the sole purpose of receiving short-term rehabilitation services that are reimbursed under Medicare are excluded and will not be counted toward the 90-day required period.

An Applicant Teleconference will be held Wednesday, August 11, 2010, 2: 00-4:00 PM EST to answer any questions about the Solicitation. The participant call in number is 800-603-1774 and conference code ID is 88811531. CMS will also conduct a series of technical assistance (TA) teleconferences which will be held throughout the fall of 2010 to assist applicants to meet the requirements for each section of the Operational Protocol. The schedule and call in information for the TA teleconferences will be provided on this web page as they become available.

Please see the complete "Initial Announcement Invitation to Apply for FY2011 Money Follows the Person Rebalancing Grant Demonstration" under Downloads below. When available, a MFP Questions and Answers (Q &A) document will be provided. The Q&A document provides key information about the MFP program and application submission requirements by topic area in a Q&A format.
CMS is offering a series of ongoing reports completed as part of the MFP National evaluation. The first four reports provide baseline information prior to, and during the first 2 years of the MFP program (see under Downloads below). Additional MFP Evaluation Reports will be provided as they become available.

For Technical Assistance (TA) with the HUD NOFA categories I and II vouchers, please see "Related Links Outside CMS" below.

Downloads

FY2011 Money Follows the Person Solicitation [PDF, 689KB] MFP Reports From the Field Number 1 [PDF, 640KB] MFP Reports from the Field Number 2 [PDF, 511 KB] MFP Reports From the Field Number 3 [PDF, 513 KB] MFP Reports From the Field Number 4 [PDF. 362]

Legal Service Corporation Improvements Needed

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The Legal Services Corporation (LSC) was created as a private, nonprofit corporation to support legal assistance for low-income individuals on civil legal matters, primarily through federal grants and is primarily funded through federal appropriations. Effective internal controls over grant awards and oversight of grantees’ performance are critical to LSC’s mission. GAO and the LSC Inspector General have previously reported weaknesses and made recommendations. GAO’s objectives for this report were to determine the extent to which LSC (1) implemented key internal controls in awarding and overseeing grantees, (2) measured its performance, (3) evaluated staffing needs, and (4) adhered to its budget execution processes.

GAO analyzed key records and prior recommendations as well as interviewed LSC officials regarding LSC’s internal control and performance frameworks, staffing, and contract processes.

What GAO Recommends

GAO makes recommendations to LSC management to improve internal controls over grant awards and oversight including such key areas as
(1) documenting specific controls over the grant application review, evaluation, and approval processes,
(2) implementing a tracking system for LSC’s recommendations, and
(3) establishing comprehensive performance measures linked to responsible offices. LSC agreed with GAO’s recommendations.
Read/Download Full Report

AoA Awards $1.6 million to help Older Americans Understand and Exercise their Pension Rights

HHS Assistant Secretary for Aging Kathy Greenlee has announced more than $1.6 million in grants to help older Americans understand and exercise their pension rights.

Awards of $200,000 each have been made to six regional pension counseling projects, covering 27 states, with proposed expansion to include two more states (Indiana and New Mexico) over the three-year grant period. In addition, a National Pension Assistance Resource Center (Resource Center) which will provide critical training and technical support to the projects, as well as to state and area agencies on aging, Aging and Disability Resource Centers, and legal services providers, has been awarded $421,253.

“We know that many seniors across the country are concerned about their pensions and their retirement savings,” said Assistant Secretary Greenlee. “These pension counseling projects will increase the number of older Americans educated about pension and other retirement benefits, with particular emphasis upon underserved and hard-to-reach seniors, including those with limited English proficiency. By promoting the financial security of older persons, we empower them to make better choices in planning for their future needs including long term care.”
 
Services provided by the Administration on Aging’s (AoA) pension counseling projects include direct legal assistance to individuals pursing pension claims; locating pension plans that have been lost as a result of mergers, acquisitions, and terminations; answering questions about complex provisions of pension plans; and making targeted referrals to other professionals for assistance. The Resource Center will assist individuals living in areas not currently served by an AoA pension counseling project by expanding and maintaining a nationwide dataset of pension information and assistance resources, as well as a web-based pension assistance and referral system. 




The AoA first funded pension counseling and information projects in 1993 and the projects became a permanent program under the Older Americans Act in 2000. Since their establishment, the projects have directly served more than 35,000 individuals, resulting in nearly $100 million in retirement benefits recovered for individual claimants.


The following organizations have been awarded pension counseling grants:

Organization	Project Title	States Served
Elder Law of Michigan, Inc.	Mid-America Pension Rights Project	Michigan , Ohio , Pennsylvania , Kentucky , Tennessee (with expansion into Indiana)
Legal Services of Northern California	Western States Pension Assistance Project	California, Nevada, Arizona, Hawaii
Metropolitan Area Agency on Aging, Inc. (MN)	Upper Midwest Pension Rights Project	Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, North Dakota, South Dakota
South Brooklyn Legal Services (NY)	Mid-Atlantic Pension Counseling Project	New York, New Jersey
Texas Legal Services Center, Inc.	South Central Pension Rights Project	Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana, Missouri, Oklahoma (with expansion into New Mexico)
University of Massachusetts Boston	New England Pension Assistance Project	Connecticut , Massachusetts , Maine , New Hampshire , Rhode Island , Vermont
Pension Rights Center (DC)	National Pension Assistance Resource Center	Nationwide

More information about AoA services and programs may be found at www.aoa.gov.

Press Release

States Awarded $700,000 for Enhanced Access to Legal Services for Older Americans

HHS Assistant Secretary for Aging Kathy Greenlee has announced the award of $700,000 to seven states to help at-risk older Americans have better access legal services.

Awards of $100,000 each were made to legal service provider organizations in Alaska, Delaware, Georgia, Massachusetts, Texas, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia. These grants will bring aging and legal service delivery systems together to improve efforts to protect the independence, health, and financial security of older adults. Many older individuals are facing critical threats to their independence, including the loss of their homes through foreclosure, the destruction of nest eggs through consumer scams, the risk of elder abuse, the challenges in accessing important public benefits, as well as the prevalence of health care fraud and financial exploitation.

“We know there are older adults who need legal assistance from time to time. This can be overwhelming as well as costly especially on a fixed income,” said Assistant Secretary Greenlee. “As a former elder law attorney, I know first hand that these programs help at-risk older adults and their caregivers avoid and address legal situations that may threaten their independence and quality of life.”

The grantees will work to develop statewide legal service delivery systems that coordinate efforts of senior legal help-lines, pro-bono attorneys, law school clinics, self-help sites, and Older Americans Act-funded legal services providers to ensure maximum impact from limited resources. The target populations are underserved seniors, with particular emphasis upon low-income, minority, rural, homebound, Native American, and limited-English speaking older individuals.

Through the “Model Approaches to Statewide Legal Assistance Systems” (Model Approaches) demonstration grants, the Administration on Aging (AoA) assists states in integrating help-lines and other low-cost legal assistance mechanisms as critical, permanent, and sustained components of comprehensive legal services delivery programs across the country. Upon completion of the three-year grant period, the Model Approaches projects will present cost-effective examples of well-integrated legal services delivery systems and strategies that increase overall service access for elders. It is anticipated that innovative service delivery models will emerge from these collaborative projects that can be replicated in other states that wish to target scarce resources and increase legal services to seniors in greatest social or economic need.

The Administration on Aging has now funded 31 Model Approaches projects to date. More information about AoA services and programs may be found at www.aoa.gov. For more information on AoA’s Legal Services programs, please visit:
http://www.aoa.gov/AoARoot/AoA_Programs/Elder_Rights/Legal/index.aspx

U.S. GAO - Nonprofit Sector: Treatment and Reimbursement of Indirect Costs Vary among Grants, and Depend Significantly on Federal, State, and Local Government Practices

GAO-10-477 May 18, 2010

Nonprofits are key partners in delivering federal services yet reportedly often struggle to cover their indirect costs (costs not readily identifiable with particular programs or projects). This raises concerns about fiscal strain on the sector. To provide information on nonprofits' indirect cost reimbursement, especially when funding flows through entities such as state and local governments, GAO was asked to review, for selected grants and nonprofits, (1) how indirect cost terminology and classification vary, (2) how indirect costs are reimbursed, and (3) if gaps occur between indirect costs incurred and reimbursed, steps taken to bridge gaps. GAO selected six Departments of Health and Human Services and Housing and Urban Development grants and 17 nonprofits in Louisiana, Maryland, and Wisconsin. GAO selected these agencies for their historical relationship with nonprofits. GAO reviewed policies and documents governing indirect costs and interviewed relevant officials. GAO also reviewed research on nonprofits' indirect costs.
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AoA is Accepting Applications to Create a National Aging Civic Engagement Technical Center

AoA is pleased to accept applications for a National Aging Civic Engagement Technical Center. The Funding Opportunity Number is: HHS-2010-AoA-CC-1024 Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance CFDA Number: 93.048.

The Program Announcement and Grant Application Instructions are available on http://www.grants.gov or http://www.aoa.gov/AoARoot/Grants/Funding/index.aspx.

The deadline date for submission of applications is 11:59 p.m., Eastern Time, on June 25, 2010.

HHS Awards ARRA Funds to Establish a Center of Excellence in Research on Disability Services, Care Coordination and Integration

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The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office on Disability today announced the award of over $6 million under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, to establish a Center of Excellence in Research on Disability Services, Care Coordination and Integration.

The contract has been awarded to Mathematica Policy Research, Inc for a two-year period and is aimed at building the infrastructure necessary to support and conduct research on the effectiveness and comparative effectiveness of systems of care for people with disabilities. "With the establishment of a Center of Excellence in Research on Disability Services, Care Coordination and Integration, we will make necessary data improvements to better understand health and support services for people with disabilities," said HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius. "The data collected will allow the Office on Disability and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to examine the effectiveness of different services and supports being provided, and in turn, improve care for people with disabilities."

The center will identify data sources, evaluate the usability of data, conduct research, and disseminate scientifically and clinically relevant information to help patients, providers, policy makers, consumers, caregivers, and family members make decisions on health care.

One of the key components of this effort is the collaboration with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services' Chronic Conditions Warehouse (CCW). "By linking existing Medicaid data sources and other datasets relevant to disability to the CCW, the Center will increase the analytic utility of CCW information for research on people with disabilities and/or chronic conditions," said Rosaly Correa-de-Araujo, M.D., M.Sc., Ph.D., Deputy Director of the Office on Disability and the technical and scientific lead of the initiative.

In addition, Medicaid data - state plan and waiver services supplied by specific states - will be assessed and used to identify and propose ways to achieve greater consistency on how services are used and defined. "This is a unique initiative that creates a broad array of future opportunities in comparative effectiveness research in the field of disability services, including those related to rehabilitation, behavioral and psychosocial interventions. We look forward to advancing science and enhancing services and supports that benefit people with disabilities," said Dr. Correa-de-Araujo.

USDA Announces Grants to Expand Nutrition Help for Low-Income Seniors

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The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) will invest in pilot projects to increase access and participation in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly the Food Stamp Program, among low-income seniors. Award grants, totaling approximately $8 million, will allow State agencies to pursue innovative outreach and delivery pilot projects. Interested State agencies may obtain grant applications at http://www.grants.gov or http://www.fns.usda.gov/snap

USDA's Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) is encouraging State agencies to submit grant applications for programs designed to boost SNAP participation among Medicare's Extra Help population. Extra Help, also called Low Income Subsidy, is a program to help low-income individuals or couples with limited resources pay for their Medicare prescription drug plan costs. Under a new law, data from these applications is sent to State Medicaid agencies to enroll people in Medicare Savings Programs. FNS will provide funding to encourage the Extra Help population to participate in SNAP by using State Medicaid agency data from Medicare Savings Programs. FNS invites State agencies to submit applications that will implement outreach efforts, simplify eligibility, or standardize benefits for this population.

The deadline to submit grant proposal applications is June 30, 2010.

AoA Announces Availability of Approximately $2.25 Million for Lifespan Respite Care Programs

The U.S. Administration on Aging is announcing the availability of approximately $2.25 million for implementation of the requirements of the Lifespan Respite Care Act of 2006. These projects will enable states to establish, enhance or expand Lifespan Respite Care systems, including new and planned emergency respite services, training and recruitment of respite workers and volunteers and assist caregivers with gaining access to needed respite services.

Under the 2010 "Lifespan Respite Care Program" announcement, AoA will award approximately ten to fifteen grants to states with federal funding up to $200,000 each for three-year project periods. AoA will fund projects that propose to serve all eligible respite recipients, including family members, foster parents, or other adults providing unpaid care to adults needing care to meet basic daily needs or prevent injury and to children who require care beyond that required to meet their basic needs. Over the course of these projects, states will work to expand and enhance respite care services to family members; improve the statewide dissemination and coordination of respite care; and provide, supplement, or improve access and quality of respite care services to family caregivers, thereby reducing family caregiver strain.

This is a limited grant competition. Awards will only be made to eligible state agencies who: administer the states program under the Older Americans Act of 1965; or administer title XIX of the social Security Act; or are designated by the Governor of the state to administer the State’s programs under this title who are an aging and disability resource center working in collaboration with a state respite coalition or organization, AND who are not currently funded under the Lifespan Respite Care Program.

The closing date for applications for this announcement is Monday, June 7, 2010. The deadline for submission of a letter of intent to apply for funding is Friday, May 7, 2010. Letters should be submitted by facsimile or e-mail to Greg Link at greg.link@aoa.hhs.gov or (202) 357-3558 (Fax). To learn more about this opportunity, please visit http://www.aoa.gov/AoARoot/Grants/Funding/index.aspx.

Social Network Analysis and Health (R01)

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Executive Summary

* Purpose. This FOA encourages research that aims to accomplish one or more specific goals: (1) generate new theories that would enhance the capabilities and value of Social Network Analysis (SNA); (2) address fundamental questions about social interactions and processes in social networks; (3) address fundamental questions about social networks in relation to health and health-related behaviors; (4) develop innovative methodologies and technologies to facilitate, improve, and expand the capabilities of SNA.

* Mechanism of Support. This FOA will utilize the R01 grant mechanism and runs in parallel with a FOA of identical scientific scope, PAR-10-146, that encourages applications under the R21 grant mechanism.

* Funds Available and Anticipated Number of Awards. Because the nature and scope of the proposed research will vary from application to application, it is anticipated that the size and duration of each award will also vary. The total amount awarded and the number of awards will depend upon the mechanism numbers, quality, duration, and costs of the applications received.

* Budget and Project Period. The total project period for an application submitted in response to this funding opportunity may not exceed 5 years. Applicants for an R01 award are not limited in dollars but need to reflect the actual needs of the proposed project.

* Application Research Strategy Length. The R01 Research Strategy section may not exceed 12 pages, including tables, graphs, figures, diagrams, and charts. See Table of Page Limits.

* Eligible Institutions/Organizations. Institutions/organizations listed in Section III, 1.A. are eligible to apply.

* Eligible Project Directors/Principal Investigators (PDs/PIs). Individuals with the skills, knowledge, and resources necessary to carry out the proposed research are invited to work with their institution/organization to develop an application for support. Individuals from underrepresented racial and ethnic groups as well as individuals with disabilities are always encouraged to apply for NIH support.

* Number of PDs/PIs. More than one PD/PI (i.e., multiple PDs/PIs) may be designated on the application.

* Number of Applications. Applicants may submit more than one application, provided that each application is scientifically distinct.

* Resubmissions. Applicants may submit a resubmission application, but such application must include an Introduction addressing the previous peer review critique (Summary Statement). See new NIH policy on resubmission (amended) applications (NOT-OD-09-003, NOT-OD-09-016).

* Renewals. Applicants may submit a renewal application.

* Special Date(s). This FOA uses non-standard due dates. See Receipt, Review and Anticipated Start Dates

* Application Materials. See Section IV.1 for application materials.

* General Information. For general information on SF424 (R&R) Application and Electronic Submission, see these Web sites:
o SF424 (R&R) Application and Electronic Submission Information: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/funding/424/index.htm
o General information on Electronic Submission of Grant Applications: http://era.nih.gov/ElectronicReceipt/

* Hearing Impaired. Telecommunications for the hearing impaired are available at: TTY: (301) 451-5936

More Information

Alzheimer’s Disease Supportive Services Program (ADSSP) Projects Funding Availability

Assistant Secretary for Aging Kathy Greenlee has announced the availability of approximately $10 million for Alzheimer’s Disease Supportive Services Program (ADSSP) Projects. These projects will provide the opportunity for the Administration on Aging’s national network of community-based organizations and its partners to strengthen their approach in providing services and supports for individuals with Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Disorders (ADRD) and their family caregivers.

Funding is available through two Program Announcements: “Evidence-Based Programs to Better Serve People with Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Disorders” and “Innovation Programs to Better Serve People with Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Disorders.” Eligible applicants are all instrumentalities of state government, which includes – but are not limited to – State Agencies on Aging.

Informational teleconferences are scheduled for Wednesday, March 24, 2010 at 4:00 p.m. EST (Innovation Program) and Thursday, March 25, 2010 at 4:00 p.m. EST (Evidence-Based Program). For call-in information, please see the program announcements.

Applications for both announcements must be received no later than 11:59 p.m. ET. Monday, May 10, 2010. The deadline for submission of a letter of intent is Monday, April 5, 2010. The Program Announcements and Frequently Asked Questions may be viewed at: http://www.aoa.gov/AoARoot/Grants/Funding/index.aspx

Assistant Secretary for Aging Greenlee Announces Lifespan Respite Care Program Awards

Twelve grantees will develop and enhance coordinated, accessible, community-based respite care programs for caregivers across the lifespan.

Recognizing the daily sacrifices and challenges faced by family caregivers across the nation who work tirelessly to keep their loved ones at home, HHS Assistant Secretary for Aging Kathy Greenlee today announced 12 awards totaling nearly $2.3 million to implement the Lifespan Respite Care Program. Respite provides temporary relief for caregivers from the ongoing responsibility of caring for an individual of any age with special needs.

Awards of up to $200,000 each were made to the following: Alabama, Arizona, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Illinois, Nevada, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Texas. The announcement was made by Assistant Secretary Greenlee during the opening session of the 2009 National Respite Conference being held Sept. 24-25, 2009 in Burbank, Calif.

“Respite is a lynchpin of caregiver support and does much to strengthen the family system while protecting the health and well being of both caregiver and care recipient,” Assistant Secretary for Aging Kathy Greenlee said. “Respite is a key component of the long-term care system which relies heavily on the work and dedication of informal family caregivers.”

Funding was made possible through the enactment of the Lifespan Respite Care Act of 2006 which defines respite care as “planned or emergency care provided to a child or adult with a special need in order to provide temporary relief to the family caregiver of that child or adult.” The Lifespan Respite Care Program is intended to accomplish several objectives, including expanding and enhancing respite services in the states, improving coordination and dissemination of service delivery, improving access and filling gaps in service delivery, and improving overall quality of respite services currently available. Those funded to implement Lifespan Respite Care Programs will work to expand and enhance respite care services to family caregivers of children or adults of all ages with special needs, who might not otherwise have access to respite services.

Grantees will also be improving statewide dissemination and coordination of respite care and providing, supplementing, or improving access to and quality of respite care services. The ultimate goal of these activities is the reduction of family caregiver strain.

The following agencies were awarded the grants:

Alabama Department of Senior Services

Arizona Department of Economic Security, Aging and Adult Services

Connecticut Department of Social Services, Aging Services Division

District of Columbia Office on Aging

Illinois Department on Aging

Nevada Aging and Disability Services Division

New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services, Special Medical Services

North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Aging and Adult Services

Rhode Island Department of Elderly Affairs

South Carolina Lieutenant Governor’s Office on Aging

Tennessee Commission on Aging and Disability

Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services

Grantees will be supported in their efforts to develop, expand and enhance Lifespan Respite Programs with targeted technical assistance and support provided by the Family Caregiver Alliance (San Francisco) working in partnership with the ARCH National Respite Coalition (Annandale, Va.) who received funding under a separate program announcement to work on a range of activities to support caregiver program development, including Lifespan Respite Programs.

For more information about the Lifespan Respite Care Program, please contact Greg Link at Greg.Link@aoa.hhs.gov For more information about the U.S. Administration on Aging, please visit: www.aoa.gov