940 Availability of Title V funds through mini-grants to support presentations about building inclusive communities for individuals with special health care needs

Availability of Title V Funds through Mini-Grants to Support Presentations about Building Inclusive Communities for Individuals with Special Health Care Needs

[33 Pa.B. 2438]

   The Bureau of Family Health is accepting mini-grant applications relating to building inclusive communities. Mini-grants are available to support an educational event (for example, presentation, conference session and training) that will enhance community resources to promote inclusion of children with special health care needs into every day activities. For purposes of this funding opportunity, ''children with special health care needs'' are defined as those birth to 21 years of age who have a chronic physical, developmental, behavioral or emotional condition requiring services of a type or amount beyond that required by children generally.

   The mini-grants provide funding for events occurring before June 30, 2004. Applicants may apply for funding to cover multiple presentations, not to exceed $3,000 cumulatively per year. Eligible expenses include speaker fees/honoraria, speaker travel costs to and from event (for example, airfare, train, automobile mileage, tolls and parking), speaker's lodging and subsistence and other related costs as justified. Handout/resource material development/duplication, event promotion, audio-visual equipment rental/supplies and reasonable room rental costs are also eligible for reimbursement.

   Department of Health (Department) approval will be based upon the applicant's ability to promote community inclusiveness as rated by an independent review panel. Incomplete applications will not be reviewed.

   Targeted audiences are those not aware of inclusion-related issues, such as day care centers and child care providers, medical/dental providers, educational providers, youth groups, community planners, places of worship/congregations, community groups/civic clubs, entertainment/recreation/play providers, potential employers/businesses and families and relatives of children with special health care needs.

   Examples of appropriate presentations previously funded have included:

   *  Sensitivity workshop on blind/deaf travelers for employees of a large airport.

   *  Seizure recognition and first aid training for day/child care providers.

   *  Advocacy workshop on epilepsy, employment and discrimination for teens with epilepsy and prospective employers.

   *  Conference workshop on removing architectural, communication and attitudinal barriers among religious communities so that all may worship inclusively.

   *  Training for teachers on creating inclusive learning environments.

   *  Classroom instruction on acceptance of students with special needs for high school teens.

   *  Presentation on transition to adulthood issues for children/youth with special needs and their families.

   *  Workshop on sexuality and victimization issues of the disabled for parents and professionals.

   To request application materials or for additional information related to this initiative, contact Candace Johndrow, Media and Outreach Public Health Program Administrator, Division of Community Systems Development and Outreach, Bureau of Family Health, P. O. Box 90, Health and Welfare Building, 7th Floor East, Harrisburg, PA 17108, [phone], fax [phone], [e-mail] or for speech and/or hearing impaired persons, V/TT [phone] or the Pennsylvania AT&T Relay Service at [phone]. Persons with a disability who require an application in alternative formats should contact Candace Johndrow. Application materials are also available on the Department's website: www.health.state.pa.us.

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

[Pa.B. Doc. No. 03-940. Filed for public inspection May 16, 2003, 9:00 a.m.]