FY 2012 Grant Request for Applications (RFA)

Cooperative Agreements for Linking Actions for Unmet Needs in Children's Health (Short Title: Project LAUNCH)

INITIAL ANNOUNCEMENT

Want to learn more before you apply? View information about a Pre-Application Webinar at:

Request for Applications (RFA) No.: SM-12-009
Posting on Grants.gov: May 17, 2012
Original Receipt date: July 3, 2012

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

Key Dates

Application Deadline Applications are due by July 3, 2012
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 Mental Health Services is accepting applications for fiscal year (FY) 2012 for Cooperative Agreements for Linking Actions for Unmet Needs in Children’s Health (Project LAUNCH). The purpose of Project LAUNCH is to promote the wellness of young children from birth to 8 years by addressing the physical, social, emotional, cognitive and behavioral aspects of their development. The goal of Project LAUNCH is to create a shared vision for the wellness of young children that drives the development of Federal, State, Territorial, Tribal and locally-based networks for the coordination of key child-serving systems and the integration of behavioral and physical health services. The expected result is for children to be thriving in safe, supportive environments and entering school ready to learn and able to succeed.

Project LAUNCH is grounded in the public health approach, working towards coordinated programs that take a comprehensive view of health, addressing the physical, emotional, social, cognitive and behavioral aspects of well-being. The public health approach addresses the health needs of the population rather than only addressing the health problems of individuals. Project LAUNCH seeks to improve outcomes at the individual and community levels by addressing risk factors that can lead to negative outcomes. Project LAUNCH simultaneously promotes protective factors that support resilience and healthy development which can protect individuals from later social, emotional, cognitive, physical and behavioral problems; including early substance and alcohol use. A major objective of this grant program is to strengthen and enhance the partnership between health and mental health at the federal, State/Territorial/Tribal, and local levels. Project LAUNCH seeks to address health disparities among racial and ethnic minorities through this program by encouraging the implemention of strategies to decrease the differences in access, service use, and outcomes among the racial and ethnic minority young children and families served.

SAMHSA has demonstrated that behavioral health is essential to health, prevention works, treatment is effective, and people recover from mental and substance use disorders. SAMHSA has identified eight Strategic Initiatives to focus the Agency’s work on people and emerging opportunities. More information is available at the SAMHSA website: www.samhsa.gov/About/strategy.aspx. Project LAUNCH is part of the Prevention of Substance Abuse and Mental Illness strategic initiative, which aims to support communities where individuals, families, schools, faith-based organizations, and workplaces take action to promote emotional health and reduce the likelihood of mental illness, substance abuse including tobacco, and suicide. This Initiative will include a focus on the Nation’s high-risk youth, youth in Tribal communities, and military families.

Project LAUNCH cooperative agreements are authorized under Section 520A of the Public Health Service Act, as amended. This announcement addresses Healthy People 2020 Mental Health and Mental Disorders Topic Area HP 2020-MHMD.

States, Territories, and Tribes will select a local pilot community within the larger jurisdiction to be a partner in Project LAUNCH. States, Territories, and Tribes will bring together child-serving organizations to develop policies, financial mechanisms and other reforms to improve the integration and efficiency of the child-serving system.

Eligibility

Eligibility for this program is limited to State and Territorial governments (Title V or Mental Health Agency), federally-recognized Tribes and tribal organizations since they have the capacity to bring together child-serving organizations to develop policies, financial mechanisms and other reforms to improve the integration and efficiency of local child-serving systems.

The cross-site evaluation of the 2008 and 2009 cohorts suggests that providing grants to the State/Territorial level enables positive policy and infrastructure improvements that would not occur if the cooperative agreements are provided directly to localities. This analysis also suggests that these cohorts have implemented successful place-based projects, alleviating concerns that providing grants to the State level could negatively impact the implementation of local projects. Tribal applicants should choose the appropriate agency to administer this program, providing justification based on the ability of that agency to coordinate between services systems.

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 federally-recognized Tribes or tribal organizations are eligible to apply, but each participating entity must indicate its approval. Consortia of Tribes are expected to identify a lead applicant.

In an effort to increase the number of federally-recognized Tribes receiving grant funds for this program, five points will be assigned to federally-recognized Tribal applicants, see Evaluation Review Information – Section F. Please see Appendix M of this RFA for additional Tribal guidance.

Award Information

Funding Mechanism: Cooperative Agreement
Anticipated Total Available Funding: $9,157,747
Anticipated Number of Awards: 11
Anticipated Award Amount: Up to $850,000 per year
Length of Project Period: Up to 5 years

Proposed budgets cannot exceed $850,000 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.

These awards will be made as cooperative agreements

Contact Information

For questions about program issues contact:

Jennifer A. Oppenheim, PsyD
Public Health Advisor
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
1 Choke Cherry Road, Room 6-1132, Rockville, MD 20857
Ph: 240-276-1862
LAUNCH.rfa@SAMHSA.hhs.gov

For questions on grants management and budget issues contact:

Gwendolyn Simpson
Office of Financial Resources, Division of Grants Management
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
1 Choke Cherry Road
Room 7-1085
Rockville, Maryland 20857
(240) 276-1408
gwendolyn.simpson@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: 05/21/2012