1515 Presentations about building inclusive communi ties for children and youth with special health care needs

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

[34 Pa.B. 4523]

   The Bureau of Family Health (Bureau) is accepting mini-grant applications to promote the building of inclusive communities. Mini-grants are available to support innovative, interactive educational events (that is, presentations, conference sessions, skits, trainings, forums, work shops, and the like) that will enhance community resources to promote inclusion of children and youth with special health care needs into everyday activities. For purposes of this funding opportunity, ''children and youth 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 degree to which communities are healthy can be partly gauged by the degree to which children and youth with special health care needs are provided supports to contribute and be a part of the community. Children and youth with special health care needs are often segregated and not offered full access to community, recreational, spiritual, social and educational life. The Building Inclusive Communities mini-grant program attempts to address this issue by providing financial support for innovative educational initiatives designed to expand the knowledge and awareness of communities in this Commonwealth as it relates to the needs of this population. The ultimate goal of the program is to build social capital and, consequently, allow for the full integration of this Commonwealth's children and youth with special health care needs into all aspects of community life. The mini-grants provide funding for events occurring prior to June 30, 2005.

   Target audiences may include:

*  Day care centers and child care providers	*  Policy makers
*  Educational providers	*  Medical/dental providers
*  Community planners	*  Youth groups
*  Community groups/civic clubs	*  Places of worship/congregations
*  Employers/businesses	*  Entertainment/recreation/play potential
*  Professional associations/organizations	*  Families/relatives of children with special health care needs
*  Voting/polling providers	*  Travel/tourism providers
*  Park/forest/campground staff	*  Bankers/lenders
*  Retailers	*  Minority groups

   Eligible applicants are public and private organizations, foundations or community-based agencies in this Commonwealth as recognized by Federal Tax ID number. For-profit entities may not apply. Individuals in informal groups without Federal Tax ID numbers are encouraged to partner with a sponsor organization who may apply on behalf of the group. Conference facilities must meet current Americans With Disabilities Act requirements.

   To apply for funding, a completed application must be received by the Department of Health (Department) no fewer than 45 days prior to the date of the proposed educational event. Applications will be accepted until May 15, 2005. Applications may be mailed or faxed.

   Funding decisions are contingent upon the availability of 2004/05 fiscal year funds and Department approval. Completed applications will be scored by a proposal review panel against a common set of criteria in the order that they are received. Applications achieving a minimum score of 7.5 on a 10 point rating scale will be awarded as funds remain available. Applicants will be notified of approval/disapproval in writing within 30 days of receipt of a completed application. Applicants not selected for funding will be notified and may revise their applications once to conform to the guidelines for reconsideration. It is anticipated that 17 awards of $3,000 or less will be made. This is a reimbursement program. Grantees must spend their own funds first and then be reimbursed by the Department.

   Applicants may apply for funding to cover multiple presentations. However, the maximum cumulative award to any one applicant (as identified by Federal Tax ID number) is $3,000 per fiscal year or for any one event when combined with any funding awards received through the Bureau's Barrier Elimination Project or the Pennsylvania Breastfeeding Awareness and Support Program for the same fiscal year. Department funds should be used as payer of last resort. Grant funds may not be used to supplant existing funds. Applicants requesting partial funding of an event must provide assurances that the balance of funds have been secured. Expenses eligible for reimbursement under this mini-grant include:

   1.  Speaker fees/honoraria.

   2.  Speaker travel costs to and from event (that is, airfare, train, automobile mileage, tolls, parking, and the like).

   3.  Speaker's lodging and subsistence.

   4.  Handout/resource material development/duplication.

   5.  Event promotion/media.

   6.  Audio-visual equipment rental/supplies.

   7.  Room rental costs.

   8.  Training supplies.

   Application materials can be downloaded from the Department website: www.health.state.pa.us (Search: Inclusive Communities). Persons may also request application materials or additional information related to this initiative by contacting Candace Johndrow, Bureau of Family Health, [phone].

   Persons with a disability who require an alternative format of this notice (for example, large print, audio tape or Braille) should contact Candace Johndrow, [phone], V/TT [phone] or the Pennsylvania AT&T Relay Services at [phone] (TT) for speech and/or hearing impaired persons.

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

[Pa.B. Doc. No. 04-1515. Filed for public inspection August 13, 2004, 9:00 a.m.]