263 Oral health promotion program mini-grants; availability of Title V funds

Oral Health Promotion Program Mini-Grants; Availability of Title V Funds

[37 Pa.B. 855]
[Saturday, February 17, 2007]

   The Bureau of Family Health is accepting mini-grant applications of up to $3,000 to support initiatives that directly address the promotion of excellent oral health practices. Funds acquired through the Oral Health Promotion Program (Program) are to be used to provide dental varnish to improve the oral health of children and reduce tooth decay rates in young children across this Commonwealth.

Purpose

   The Program will provide financial support to local communities for efforts to decrease the incidence of tooth decay in children by providing access to the application of a dental varnish from 1 year of age and up. Communities are encouraged to focus efforts on high-risk and minority populations and use funding to eliminate health disparities among these groups. Examples of activities can include the application of dental varnish, community outreach, education for families and the public on proper oral health practices and training for professionals regarding dental varnish.

   Project funds must be used to reimburse purchases and activities occurring between July 1, 2006, and June 30, 2007. Copies of this application and its attachments are available on the Department of Health (Department) website at www.health.state.pa.us; search word: ''Bureau of Family Health Mini-grants.''

Requirements

   Eligible applicants include Pennsylvania public and private organizations, foundations or community-based agencies as recognized by Federal Tax ID number. Individuals may not apply. Informal groups without Federal Tax ID numbers are encouraged to partner with a sponsor organization who may apply on behalf of the group. For-profit organizations may apply. However, no applicant may take a profit from these funds and certain funding restrictions apply to for-profit entities (see Application Attachment B). Applicants may not have received any other Department mini-grant during the same State fiscal year.

   Applicants may include but are not limited to:

   *  Day care centers/child care providers

   *  Dental or Medical providers

   *  Educational providers

   *  Community groups/Civic clubs

   *  Minority groups

Application Deadlines

   It is anticipated that 14 awards of $3,000 or less will be made for this fiscal year period. To apply for funding, a complete application must be postmarked by or sent to the Department no later than 5 p.m. on March 26, 2007. Applications may be mailed or hand delivered. Applications may not be faxed. Late applications will not be accepted regardless of the reason.

Application Process

   Please complete ''2006-2007 APPLICATION,'' which is available on the Department's website at www.health. state.pa.us; search word: ''Bureau of Family Health Mini-grants,'' and attach a clear and concise narrative of no more than five typewritten pages that includes the following information, labeled by section: The organization's mission and primary activities;

   1.  A description of need for the proposed activity and target audience.

   2.  A plan that describes how oral health will be addressed, how the efforts will be measured and evaluated, and the degree to which efforts will be long-lasting and/or ongoing.

   3.  A description of how funds will be expended.

   An authorized official of the organization must sign and date the application. Submit an original and three complete copies of your application (including the narrative and any supporting attachments). Applications should be page-numbered and unbound. Incomplete applications will not be reviewed.

Award Determination

   All funding decisions are contingent upon the availability of allocated Maternal and Child Health Services Block Grant funds and Department. Applications are scored by a three-member review panel using a rating scale with the following preestablished criteria:

   1.  The degree of need for the proposed activity, as justified by the applicant.

   2.  The extent to which the activity can demonstrate a change in awareness and actions.

   3.  The likelihood that the proposed activity will be of ongoing, systemic benefit to the community.

Notification of Award

   All applicants will be notified of their award status within 6 weeks of the submission due date. This program reimburses applicants once after they have purchased the approved budget items.

Eligible Costs

   Applicants may apply for funding reimbursement of multiple purchases or activities. However, the maximum cumulative award to any one applicant (as identified by Federal Tax ID number) is $3,000 per fiscal year. In all cases, Department funds should be used as payer of last resort. Grant funds may not supplant existing funds. Grant funds may be used for reimbursement of one time purchases only. Grantee is the sole owner of the purchased property. The budget section of your application must include a budget narrative detailing by line item how project funds will be used and the degree to which competitive bids were secured for purchases. Price quotes, estimates, catalog samples, or any other proof of cost must be submitted for every purchase proposed.

   Expenses eligible for reimbursement under this project include but are not limited to:

   1.  Equipment: fluoride varnish, and the like.

   2.  Education: training materials, books, workbooks, brochures, posters; translation of educational materials into different languages and for different populations, and the like.

   3.  Technology: computer equipment/software, videos, tapes, cds, DVDs, and the like.

Ineligible Costs

   The following costs are not eligible for reimbursement under this program:

   1.  Administrative/Indirect costs (such as, costs not uniquely attributable in full to the programmatic activity).

   2.  New building construction or structural renovation of an existing space.

   3.  Capital expenses or equipment.

   4.  Staffing/personnel.

   By applying for mini-grant funding, applicants acknowledge and affirm that they will abide by the previously-mentioned spending limitations and the provisions of the Maternal and Child Health Services Block Grant legislation (Application Attachment B), for all money awarded under that application.

Mini-grant Evaluation Procedures

   All grantees will receive at least one onsite visit from a Department Maternal and Child Health (MCH) Consultant located within the applicant's health district. The results of the visit will be provided to the Oral Health Promotion Program Administrator in writing and used for project evaluative purposes. The Oral Health Promotion Program Administrator will facilitate initial contact between the grantee and MCH Consultant at the time project funds are awarded.

Summary Report and Invoice Procedures

   Approved applicants will be reimbursed with one check for all approved expenses. To receive reimbursement of approved expenses, awardees must submit the following documentation, found in Attachment A, to the Bureau within 30 days following completion of funded activity or no later than July 28, 2007:

   1.  A summary report of funded activities, including evaluation results.

   2.  A continuation plan for the program or activities.

   3.  An invoice with expense documentation supporting line item amounts.

   Applications should be submitted to Oral Health Promotion Program Administrator, Department of Health, Bureau of Family Health, Division of Child and Adult Health Services, Health and Welfare Building 7th Floor East Wing, 7th and Forster Streets, Harrisburg, PA 17120, [phone].

   Persons with a disability who require an alternative format of this Notice (for example, large print, audiotape, Braille) should contact Carolyn S. Cass at the Pennsylvania Department of Health, Division of Child and Adult Health Services at [phone] or for speech and/or hearing impaired persons, V/TT [phone] or the Pennsylvania AT&T Relay Services at [phone].

CALVIN B. JOHNSON, M. D., M.P.H.,   
Secretary

[Pa.B. Doc. No. 07-263. Filed for public inspection February 16, 2007, 9:00 a.m.]