FY 2011 Grant Request for Applications (RFA)

Grants to Expand Care Coordination through the Use of Health Information Technology in Targeted Areas of Need (Short Title: TCE-Health IT)



Posted 6/8/11 - The receipt date for this RFA has been extended to June 16, 2011
Posted 6/1/11 - Amendment to RFA

Initial Announcement

Request for Applications (RFA) No. TI-11-002
Posting on Grants.gov: May 2, 2011
Original Receipt date: June 13, 2011
Modified Receipt date: June 16, 2011
Amendment added: June 1, 2011
Announcement Type: Initial

Catalogue of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) No.: 93.243

Key Dates

Application Deadline Applications are due by June 13, 2011
Intergovernmental Review (E.O. 12372) Applicants must comply with E.O. 12372 if their State(s) participates.  Review process recommendations from the State Single Point of Contact (SPOC) are due no later than 60 days after application deadline.
Public Health System Impact Statement(PHSIS) / Single State Agency Coordination Applicants must send the PHSIS to appropriate State and local health agencies by application deadline. Comments from Single State Agency are due no later than 60 days after application deadline.

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Center for Substance Abuse Treatment is accepting applications for fiscal year (FY) 2011 Grants to Expand Care Coordination through the Use of Health Information Technology in Targeted Areas of Need.  The purpose of this program is to leverage technology to enhance and/or expand the capacity of substance abuse treatment providers to serve persons in treatment who have been underserved because of lack of access to treatment in their immediate community due to transportation concerns, an inadequate number of substance abuse treatment providers in their community, and/or financial constraints. The use of Health Information Technology (HIT), including web-based services, smart phones, and behavioral health electronic applications (e-apps), will expand and/or enhance the ability of providers to effectively communicate with persons in treatment and to track and manage their health to ensure treatment and services are available where and when needed.  Grantees will use technology that will support recovery and resiliency efforts and promote wellness.

Both the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) and the Affordable Care Act (ACA) are driving health systems toward the use of information technology for service delivery, quality improvement, cost containment, and increased patient involvement in their health care.  The functionality of interoperable Electronic Health Record (EHR) systems, used with tools such as web-based services, messaging systems, smart phones, and e-apps, can connect providers with persons in treatment and link them to services and treatment that are not available through “brick-and-mortar” facilities.  Working with their clinicians, and with e-therapy tools, persons in treatment will become active partners in enhancing the effectiveness of their care.  By using technology tools that have been adapted or designed to support substance abuse treatment, persons in treatment will have more frequent contact with providers.  These technological tools will also complement existing or new EHR systems to create patient-centered treatment that also allows the provider to better monitor client progress and adjust treatment strategies as necessary to result in better health for persons in treatment and more efficient and effective use of resources. Consumer HIT applications also can be important in emergency situations to provide critical health information to medical staff.  Grant funds must be used to expand and/or enhance existing systems or for the use of adjunct technologies such as consumer-oriented, wireless technology; personal health record systems; or electronic systems that support communication between provider and persons in treatment.

These grants support SAMHSA’s Strategic Initiative #6: Health Information Technology by increasing the ability of substance abuse providers to enhance and/or expand their capacity to use health information technology to serve persons in treatment who are traditionally underserved.  Specifically, these grants support Goal 6.2 by providing incentives for the adoption and use of EHR’s and HIT.

TCE-Health IT is one of SAMHSA’s services grant programs.  SAMHSA’s services grants are designed to address gaps in substance abuse prevention and treatment service and/or to increase the ability of States, units of local government, American Indian/Alaska Native Tribes and tribal organizations, and community- and faith-based organizations to help specific populations or geographic areas and with serious, emerging substance abuse problems, including co-occurring substance abuse and mental illness and persons with co-morbid substance abuse and chronic health conditions. SAMHSA intends that its services grants result in the delivery of services as soon as possible after award.  Service delivery should begin by the 4th month of the project at the latest.  

SAMHSA strongly encourages all grantees to provide a smoke-free workplace and to promote abstinence from all tobacco products (except in regard to accepted tribal traditions and practices).

TCE- Health IT grants are authorized under Section 509 of the Public Health Service Act, as amended.  This announcement addresses Healthy People 2020 Substance Abuse Topic Area HP 2020-SA.

Eligibility

Eligible applicants are domestic public and private nonprofit entities.  For example:

  • State and local governments
  • Federally recognized American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) Tribes and tribal organizations
  • Urban Indian organizations
  • Public or private universities and colleges
  • Community- and faith-based organizations

Tribal organization means the recognized body of any AI/AN Tribe; any legally established organization of American Indians/Alaska Natives which is controlled, sanctioned, or chartered by such governing body or which is democratically elected by the adult members of the Indian community to be served by such organization and which includes the maximum participation of American Indians/Alaska Natives in all phases of its activities.  Consortia of Tribes or tribal organizations are eligible to apply, but each participating entity must indicate its approval.  \

The statutory authority for this program prohibits grants to for-profit agencies.

Award Information

Funding Mechanism: Grants
Anticipated Total Available Funding: $5.6 Million
Anticipated Number of Awards: Up to 20
Anticipated Award Amount: Up to $280,000 per year
Length of Project Period: Up to 3 years

Proposed budgets cannot exceed $280,000 in total costs (direct and indirect) in any year of the proposed project.  Annual continuation awards will depend on the availability of funds, grantee progress in meeting project goals and objectives, timely submission of required data and reports, and compliance with all terms and conditions of award.

Funding estimates for this program are based on an annualized Continuing Resolution (CR) for FY 2011 and subject to finalizing the FY 2011 operating plan.  Applicants should be aware that SAMHSA cannot guarantee that sufficient funds will be available to fully fund this program.

Contact Information

For questions about program issues contact:

Wilson Washington
Center for Substance Abuse Treatment, Division of State and Community Assistance
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
1 Choke Cherry Road
Room 5-1060
Rockville, Maryland 20857
(240- 276-2973
wilson.washington@samhsa.hhs.gov

For questions on grants management and budget issues contact:

Love Foster-Horton
Office of Financial Resources, Division of Grants Management
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
1 Choke Cherry Road
Room 7-1095
Rockville, Maryland 20857
(240) 276-1653
love.foster-horton@samhsa.hhs.gov

Documents Needed to Complete a Grant Application

1. REQUEST FOR APPLICATIONS (RFA)

YOU MUST RESPOND TO THE REQUIREMENTS IN THE RFA IN PREPARING YOUR APPLICATION.

2. GRANT Application Package

YOU MUST USE THE FORMS IN THE APPLICATION PACKAGE TO COMPLETE YOUR APPLICATION.

Additional Materials

For further information on the forms and the application process, see Useful Information for Applicants

Additional materials available on this website include:

Last updated: 05/2/2011