Foa_Content_of_HHS-2023-ACF-ACYF-SR-0035.pdf

Administration for Children and Families

Administration on Children, Youth, and Families-Family and Youth Services Bureau

Sexual Risk Avoidance Education Program

HHS-2023-ACF-ACYF-SR-0035

Application Due Date: 07/18/2023

Table of Contents Executive Summary

I. Program Description

II. Federal Award Information

III. Eligibility Information

III.1. Eligible Applicants

III.2. Cost Sharing or Matching

III.3. Other

IV. Application and Submission Information

IV.1. Address to Request Application Package

IV.2. Content and Form of Application Submission

Required Forms, Assurances, and Certifications

The Project Description

The Project Budget and Budget Justification

Application Submission Options

IV.3. Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) and System for Award Management (SAM)

IV.4. Submission Dates and Times

Explanation of Due Dates

Acknowledgement of Received Application

IV.5. Intergovernmental Review

IV.6. Funding Restrictions

IV.7. Other Submission Requirements

V. Application Review Information

V.1. Criteria

V.2. Review and Selection Process

V.3. Anticipated Announcement and Federal Award Dates

VI. Federal Award Administration Information

VI.1. Federal Award Notices

VI.2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements

VI.3. Reporting

VII. HHS Award Agency Contact(s)

VIII. Other Information

Reference Websites

Application Checklist

Funding Opportunity Title:

Sexual Risk Avoidance Education Program Announcement Type:

Initial Funding Opportunity Number:

HHS-2023-ACF-ACYF-SR-0035

Primary CFDA Number:

93.060 Due Date for Applications:

07/18/2023 Executive Summary

Notice:

Applicants are strongly encouraged to read the entire notice of funding opportunity (NOFO) carefully and observe the application formatting requirements listed in Section IV.2. Content and Form of Application Submission. For more information on applying for grants, please visit "How to Apply for a Grant" on the ACF Grants & Funding Page at https://www.acf.hhs.gov/grants/how-apply-grant.

The Administration for Children and Families (ACF), Administration on Children, Youth and Families' (ACYF), Family and Youth Services Bureau (FYSB) announces the availability of funds under the Sexual Risk Avoidance Education (SRAE) Program. The purpose of the SRAE Program is to fund projects to exclusively implement education in sexual risk avoidance education, defined by statute as voluntarily refraining from non-marital sexual activity. The services are targeted to participants who reside in underrepresented or underserved communities with high rates of teen births and/or are at greatest risk of contracting sexually transmitted infections (STIs).

Successful applicants are expected to submit program plans that agree to use medically accurate information referenced to peer-reviewed publications by educational, scientific, governmental, or health organizations; implement sexual risk avoidance curricula and/or strategies with an evidence-based approach integrating research findings with practical implementation that aligns with the needs and desired outcomes for the intended audience; and per the law, teach the benefits associated with self-regulation, goal setting, healthy decision-making, success sequencing for poverty prevention, focus on the future, healthy relationships, resisting sexual coercion, dating violence, and other youth risk behaviors, such as underage drinking or illicit drug use.

The award process for the FY 2023 SRAE Program allows three 12-month budget periods over a 36-month project period and is subject to the availability of funds.

I. Program Description https://www.acf.hhs.gov/grants/how-apply-grant

Statutory Authority The Sexual Risk Avoidance Education (SRAE) Program is funded generally under the authority of Section 510 of the Social Security Act, 42 U.S.C. § 710, and specifically by the appropriation for General Departmental Management for the Office of the Secretary under Division H, Title II of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023 (Public Law. 117-328).

Description

BACKGROUND

The SRAE Program was first funded in FY 2016 and supports the implementation of prevention education aimed to teach youth to avoid non-marital sexual activity, self- regulation, goal setting, healthy decision-making, success sequencing for poverty prevention, a focus on the future, and the prevention of youth risk behaviors such as drug and alcohol usage. Programs are required to implement an evidence-based approach integrating research findings with practical implementation that aligns with the needs and desired outcomes for the intended audience.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) data collected in 2019, the proportion of high school students who have had sexual intercourse significantly decreased over the past 10 years for all youth. There were also decreased reports among ninth and tenth grade students, non-Hispanic Black students in all grades, and Hispanic students in ninth, tenth, and eleventh grades [1]. In 2020, the birth rate for youth ages 15-19 reached a low of 15.4 births per 1,000 women, which decreased 8 percent from 2019 [2]. Additionally, the birth rate for teenagers declined for both younger (aged 15–17) and older (aged 18–19) teenagers 6.3 and 28.9 births per 1,000 women respectively [2]. The birth rate for African American, Hispanic/Latino, and American Indian/Alaska Native youth was 24.4, 23.5, and 25.7 births per 1,000 women (aged 15-19), respectively, and socioeconomically disadvantaged youth of any race or ethnicity experienced the highest rates of teen pregnancy and childbirth. These rates are almost two times the 10.4 rate for White teens [3]. Although there has been a significant decline in the teen birth rate for all groups, disparities still exist.

The latest CDC data indicate that young people ages 15 to 24 account for half of new sexually transmitted infections (STIs)/sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) reported annually [4].

Adolescents who are at greatest risk of STIs and unintended pregnancies are a complex and dynamic group. Thus, a targeted and holistic approach is essential to preventing non-marital sexual activity and other risky behaviors.

SRAE PROGRAM OVERVIEW

SRAE Goal and Objectives

The goal of the SRAE program is to fund programs that implement education that teaches youth self-regulation, goal setting, healthy decision-making, healthy relationships, a focus on the future, and the prevention and avoidance of sexual activity and other risky behaviors. The objectives of the SRAE program are to:

1. Implement curricula that includes medically accurate information referenced in peer-reviewed publications by educational, scientific, governmental, or health organizations.

2. Select sexual risk avoidance curricula and/or strategies with an evidence-based approach to integrate research findings with practical implementation that align with the needs and desired outcomes of the targeted audience of youth.

3. Teach risk avoidance skills through methods that do not normalize teen sexual activity by applying strategies that are culturally appropriate, recognizing the experiences of youth from diverse communities, backgrounds, and experiences.

4. Target services to youth ages 10 to 19.

SRAE Program Requirements

SRAE projects must address the following requirements:

1. Goals and Logic Model

2. Evidence-Based Strategies

3. Medically Accurate and Age Appropriate

4. Elements of Equity

5. Target Population

6. Positive Youth Development Approach

7. Referrals to Healthcare and Other Community Services

8. Performance Measurement

9. Local evaluation (optional)

10. National Evaluation

11. Sustainability Plan

Goals and Logic Model(s)

Applicants will be required to submit the goal(s) and a logic model for the proposed programs.

Logic models demonstrate how the process (specified inputs, activities, and outputs) will lead to the desired outcomes and the achievement of the goal(s). Where possible, applicants should specify short-term (short-range/ intermediary) and long-term (durable/ persisting) goals and provide the following:

Up to six outcomes that clearly state expected results or benefits of the intervention proposed and link with the goal(s).

A logic model demonstrating how proposed inputs and activities will lead to outputs and outcomes and the achievement of the goal(s).

Proposed outcomes that are specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, and time-framed (S-M-A- R-T).

Evidence-Based Strategies

SRAE programs must exclusively implement education in sexual risk avoidance, defined by statute as voluntarily refraining from non-marital sexual activity (42 U.S.C. § 710(b)(1), and are not required to choose from a prescribed list, as there is no mandated list of curricula required by FYSB for SRAE. SRAE recipients should make this clear to all subrecipient(s) or potential subrecipient(s). All curricula used by recipients, as well as their subrecipient(s), must be compliant with the SRAE statute which requires implementation of projects with an evidence-based approach to educate youth on how to avoid risks that could lead to non-marital sexual activity.

To ensure effective programming, the SRAE Program, at a minimum, must implement evidence-based programs that comply with the following requirements:

Provide data that demonstrate how the selected curriculum and overall proposal systematically applies key program elements that have been found to be effective in positive youth behavior change which leads to preventing and reducing teen pregnancies, sexually transmitted infections, and sexual activity.

Teach the benefits associated with self-regulation, success sequencing for poverty prevention, healthy relationships, goal setting, resisting sexual coercion, dating violence, and other youth risk behaviors, such as underage drinking or illicit drug use, without normalizing teen sexual activity, as required by the legislation.

Provide formal training for facilitators/educators in the program model, elements of the program models, and youth risk and protective factors. This training must be delivered by professionals who can provide follow-up technical assistance to facilitators. Formal training for facilitators/educators on diversity, equity and inclusion is also required.

Select curricula that has been identified in social science and educational research as having program elements that are key in attaining positive behavior change. Many of these elements have been identified in research summary documents such as the CDC Health Education Curriculum Assessment Tool:

https://www.cdc.gov/healthyyouth/hecat/index.htm.

This tool provides critical elements to assist in successfully implementing programs to positively change youth behavior. For more information on programs found to be effective at preventing and reducing teen pregnancies, sexually transmitted infections, and sexual activity, go to: https://tppevidencereview.youth.gov/ReviewProtocol.aspx.

There may be other tools and resources available to assess and select curricula.

Make education in sexual risk avoidance be the exclusive purpose of the grant.

Programs must provide data that demonstrate the selected program model or elements of effective programs' core components are effective in youth behavior change. Programs must ensure the elements selected meet the SRAE requirements. These added elements must improve the likelihood that interventions will fit their target populations and have positive impacts on the targeted behaviors. If implementing effective program elements, the discussion must include how the selected curriculum incorporates these elements.

SRAE projects must demonstrate how their proposed programs meet the requirements to either be evidence-based or incorporate elements of effective programs by including:

1. References to a journal article or study where the core components of the program were shown to be effective (e.g., significant effects on outcomes of interests); or https://www.cdc.gov/healthyyouth/hecat/index.htm.

https://tppevidencereview.youth.gov/ReviewProtocol.aspx

2. Provide data that demonstrate how the selected overall program systematically applies core curriculum components that have been found to be effective in preventing non-marital sexual activity and other risky behaviors.

Programs may select a curriculum that fits the needs of the youth served, provided it adheres to these requirements:

1. Curricula, interventions, and activities that exclusively implement education in sexual risk avoidance, defined in statute as voluntarily refraining from non-marital sexual activity, and address the trauma needs of vulnerable youth.

2. Curriculum is medically accurate, age-appropriate with regard to the developmental stage of the intended audience, culturally appropriate, and linguistically appropriate.

3. Curricula addresses healthy relationships, life skills, and decision-making with a positive youth development approach.

Medically Accurate and Culturally and Age-Appropriate

SRAE programs must provide information that is medically accurate, which means referenced in peer-reviewed publications by educational, scientific, governmental, or health organizations.

Education must be culturally appropriate, recognizing the experiences of youth from diverse communities and backgrounds, and based on adolescent learning and developmental theories for the age group receiving the education.

Program materials, such as texts, supplements, workbooks, videos, flyers, handouts, posters, and flash cards should be reviewed in comparison to current medical statements of fact in accordance with the most up to date, scientifically supported information.

Applicants must provide plans to use culturally sensitive interventions that incorporate the norms, beliefs and values of the target population into the intervention. The proposed project should demonstrate cultural competence in providing socially, linguistically, and culturally appropriate interventions with the target population. Youth participation in the SRAE programs must be voluntary.

SRAE programs must provide age-appropriate information and activities. The topics, messages, and teaching methods implemented by the project must be consistent with the developmental and social maturity of the program participants and emphasize preventing and reducing teen pregnancies, sexually transmitted infections, and sexual activity.

SRAE programs shall ensure that: (A) any information provided on contraception is medically accurate and complete and ensures that students understand that contraception offers physical risk reduction, but not risk elimination; and (B) the education does not include demonstrations, simulations, or distribution of contraceptive devices.

Elements of Equity

In accordance with CDC data, a disproportionate number of Hispanic, non-Hispanic black teens, and American Indian/Alaska Native teens have significantly higher than the national average of teen birth rates. Additionally, certain geographic areas of the U.S. experience disparities in teen births, such as rural and Southern states and counties. To address these disparities, SRAE recipients must specifically target these populations.

To advance the President’s Executive Order on Advancing Racial Equity and Supporting Underserved Communities Through the Federal Government (EO #13985), applicants must describe how they will reach underrepresented and underserved populations. FYSB’s Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention Program will ensure programs address potential inequities and barriers to participation by assessing performance measures survey data on program participants' demographics such as race, gender, sexual identity, and ethnicity to ensure representation of underrepresented and underserved populations. The applicant must describe how they will infuse lived experience of the targeted service community in the implementation of the GD-SRAE program. The applicant must describe how they will recruit and retain historically underrepresented and underserved populations within the targeted community. The applicant must describe how they will coordinate, communicate, and engage with community-based organizations whose mission is to reach underrepresented and underserved populations. Lastly, applicants must describe staff development and training opportunities to increase knowledge of gender, race, and equity.

Target Populations to be Served

SRAE Programs must provide services to youth populations, described as one or more individuals who have attained age 10 but not age 20. SRAE Programs may target services to vulnerable youth populations to include, but not limited to, the following: youth living in under-resourced regions and areas with high rates of teen births and STIs; culturally underrepresented youth populations, especially Hispanic, African American, or Native American teenagers; youth in or aging out of foster care or adjudication systems; youth who are victims of trafficking; youth who have runaway or left home due to family conflict or other crisis; youth experiencing homelessness; youth who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning, intersex, asexual, and/or two spirit (LGBTQIA2S+), and other vulnerable or underserved youth populations.

Positive Youth Development (PYD) Approach

SRAE projects must include Positive Youth Development (PYD) as part of any risk avoidance strategies to help participants build healthy life skills and protective factors that mitigate the impact of past and future negative factors, empower participants to make healthy decisions, provide tools and resources to prevent pregnancy and STIs, and prevent youth engagement in other unhealthy risk behaviors. PYD also means promoting increased youth leadership capacity through intentional projects and activities designed to enhance this skill set. These activities often include engaging young people in program planning, implementation, and quality improvement discussions. PYD could include elevating youth voices through youth advisory boards and feedback from youth with lived experience. The program approach must also include service linkages to local community partners that support the safety and well-being of the target population. For more information on PYD, please see: https://www.acf.hhs.gov/fysb/positive-youth-development

Referrals to Healthcare and Other Community Services

SRAE Programs must provide referrals for necessary services, as needs are identified, but must https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/presidential-actions/2021/01/20/executive-order-advancing-racial-equity-and-support-for-underserved-communities-through-the-federal-government/ https://www.acf.hhs.gov/fysb/positive-youth-development https://www.acf.hhs.gov/fysb/positive-youth-development not pay for the services with ACF/FYSB grant funding. As appropriate, programs should provide referrals to providers of healthcare (e.g., substance abuse, tobacco cessation, family planning, mental health and intimate partner violence), local public health, and social service agencies.

Programs are encouraged to develop partnerships to help facilitate these referrals and must document such referrals. When feasible, programs should track the initiation of service delivery.

SRAE programs may only provide education to youth on the requirements provided in this funding opportunity announcement and the statute. (For more information, see Section IV.6, Funding Restrictions.)

Performance Measurement

All recipients and subrecipient(s), including their implementation sites, will be required to collect and report information on program implementation and program outcomes through a common set of performance measures. This requirement applies to any community partners who agree to host a site or recruit program participants (e.g., school districts, non-profits). The purpose of the performance measures is to monitor and provide feedback about whether recipients are implementing SRAE programs as intended and to demonstrate progress towards expected objectives. Performance measures can also create a foundation for program improvement efforts, through federal, recipients, and program providers’ examination of these data. SRAE performance measures provide information based upon the three categories of data collection listed below while rigorous evaluations assess program effectiveness and impact.

SRAE performance measures will be distributed to recipients and subrecipients, who will be required to collect and report on these measures approximately twice a year. ACF/FYSB has defined measures at the recipients, provider, and program levels. For some performance measures, recipients must provide data about activities they undertake directly at the recipients level. For other measures, data are based on information about each separate provider that serves youth directly (i.e., provider level) or each program model that a provider is implementing (i.e., program level). A program model is defined as the core curriculum plus other lessons or activities that may be integrated with the core curriculum to meet the SRAE requirements. In addition, data are also collected from the youth themselves through participant entry and exit surveys.

Ultimately, recipients are responsible for submitting performance measures from the recipient, provider, and program levels to ACF/FYSB.

The following are the three categories of SRAE performance measures for data collection and submission:

1. Structure, cost, and support for program implementation;

2. Attendance, reach, and dosage; and

3. Participants’ entry and exit surveys (which capture characteristics, behaviors, program experiences, and perceptions of effects.

Applicants applying for funds must indicate their agreement to collect the SRAE performance measures and submit the data to ACF/FYSB. Recipients will be expected to check local and state laws, policies, and procedures to ensure the collection of performance measures data are feasible and obtain any necessary permissions (e.g., formal agreements with partners, Institutional Review Board (IRB) approval, copies of school district approvals) to collect these data.

Recipients are responsible for ensuring all subrecipients and implementation sites collect and submit the SRAE performance measures. FYSB will provide training on how to conduct performance measures data collection and reporting. Recipients may develop additional indicators of program performance, as needed, including adding items to the participant entry or exit surveys. Feedback from youth participants on their satisfaction with the services can be included as additional indicators beyond the Office of Management and Budget (OMB)-approved measures for participant entry and exit surveys.

However, all FYSB OMB-approved items must be administered first, in the order presented in the approved survey, before any additional items are added. Any additional survey items should be added at the end of the OMB-approved survey and should not be submitted to ACF/FYSB.

For more information about the SRAE performance measures, including definitions, survey instruments, and data collection tools, please see www.sraepas.com.

NOTE: Consistent with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995, (44 U.S.C. §§ 3501-3521), under this NOFO, ACF will not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to, a collection of information covered by such Act, unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number. ACF has obtained OMB approval (OMB Control Number 0970-0536; Expiration Date December 31, 2023) under PRA to request and collect performance measures.

Local Evaluation

ACF/FYSB is interested in supporting high-quality, well-designed local evaluations that advance the larger field of sexual risk avoidance education and provide learning opportunities for SRAE programs. ACF/FYSB will work in collaboration with the prime recipient to disseminate information about the evaluation findings. SRAE evaluations conducted or supported should be as follows:

Rigorous;

Evidence-based; and Designed and conducted by independent evaluators who have experience in conducting research or evaluation studies.

Three types of methodologies are permitted for local evaluations:

Impact evaluations: efficacy/effectiveness studies that have a control/comparison group that either receives no services or distinct services from the intervention group and, preferably, measure behavioral outcomes beyond the period directly following the end of programming, when feasible;

Comprehensive needs assessments: scientific/systematic investigations which identify the needs of the population served, determine root causes of the needs, identify current barriers to addressing them, and prioritize approaches for meeting those needs in the future; and

Descriptive studies: studies that both document and link both program implementation (i.e., activities/components/content/delivery) and participant outcomes. Descriptive evaluations are those that generate knowledge or understanding about SRAE programs http://www.sraepas.com/ and the populations served.

Well-conducted evaluations require time for planning, implementation, analysis, reporting, and dissemination activities. Applicants are advised to develop evaluation timelines that are sufficient for conducting impact studies, comprehensive needs assessments, or descriptive studies that document and link program implementation and participant outcomes. FYSB also recommends applicants review the current SRAE evaluation resources to inform the evaluation plan, including the research questions and evaluation design. These resources can be found at https://sraene.com/resources

Local evaluations must be designed and conducted by independent researchers, called “local evaluators,” who have experience in conducting evaluations of youth-focused programs in the community. The expertise of the evaluator should match the type of methodology for the proposed local evaluation. Examples of independent evaluators may be universities, research organizations, evaluation consultants, or other institutions with experience in conducting high-quality evaluations of community programs.

Recipients’ local evaluation plans included in their applications must include:

Research questions; and Research design, including:

o an appropriate design (i.e., recipients that propose to conduct descriptive evaluations must use data and analysis to describe and explain the importance/implications of the program’s processes and/or population served);

o a plan for recruiting participants;

o planned sample size, including the size of each condition in the case of impact evaluations, as well as the timing of sample enrollment (i.e., when sample enrollment will begin and end, and the monthly and annual sample enrollment targets);

o proposed measures, including any measures in addition to the OMB-approved performance measures);

o data collection methods, including any plans for tracking participants over time, as relevant;

o data analysis plan; and o detailed timeline for conducting the local evaluation

If multiple waves of data collection will be conducted, the timeline must include those waves.

ACF/FYSB will provide technical assistance and/or training to prime recipients conducting local evaluations and their local evaluators, on evaluation planning, implementation, analysis, reporting, and dissemination, to maximize learning from these projects. As part of the technical assistance, prime recipients may also be asked to complete standardized forms and templates to describe their evaluation plans and submit evaluation updates. These forms and templates are subject to OMB approval under the PRA. ACF/FYSB will obtain OMB approval prior to requiring prime recipients to complete the forms and/or templates. Prior to the initiation of local evaluation activities, prime recipients will be required to work with ACF/FYSB to refine, improve, and make necessary changes to the evaluation https://sraene.com/resources design/methods, develop or select assessments and data collection instruments, and pilot and pre-pretest methods and instruments (if possible). ACF/FYSB approval will be required prior to the initiation of a proposed evaluation plan. A federal contractor may review the evaluation plan and funding for each of the evaluation activities and recommend an adjustment to the plan and proposed level of funding.

Upon completion of local evaluations, prime recipients may be asked to submit a final report to ACF/FYSB. The final report template is subject to OMB approval under the PRA, which ACF/FYSB will obtain prior to use. Although ACF/FYSB will provide technical support to prime recipients that propose local evaluations, the prime recipients will ultimately have oversight of the entity that conducts the evaluation and the subrecipient(s) they select to participate in the evaluation and what data will be collected.

Prime recipient funding levels will not be adjusted if a local evaluation is not proposed.

Applicants should carefully assess whether they have the capacity and sufficient funding allocated to conduct a local evaluation within the project period. Applicants must indicate whether they are proposing a local evaluation or not. Applicants must also describe either their lack of experience conducting and/or participating in rigorous evaluations or provide a detailed description of their evaluation experience, including having conducted and/or participated in evaluations, the type of evaluation, the sample sizes, the target populations, and the primary research questions.

SRAE programs that choose to conduct a local evaluation are required to set aside a maximum of 20 percent of their annual funding for evaluation activities.

National Evaluation

ACF/FYSB will conduct a national, descriptive study, which includes FYSB projects, e.g., state-led programs or subrecipient programs funded under this NOFO. All applicants must indicate their agreement to participate in the national evaluation.

ACF/FYSB may invite a subset of projects, e.g., state-led programs or subrecipient programs funded under this NOFO to participate in a rigorous, federal evaluation. Federal evaluations are subject to the PRA, and ACF/FYSB will receive all approvals prior to launching any evaluations.

Sustainability Plan

Applicants must propose a plan for the project sustainability after the period of federal funding ends. The plan should address key elements of their grant project, e.g., strategies or services and interventions, which have been effective in improving practices and outcomes. The plan must include ongoing activities to involve a subset of youth participants, family members, and community leaders to provide feedback on how to improve the program.

SRAE POST AWARD REQUIREMENTS

The acceptance of federal funds under this NOFO will signify agreement by the recipient that it must comply with the following requirements:

Have the program fully functioning within 90 days following the Notice of Award for the grant. Recipients must provide services for a minimum of 33 months of the 36-month project period (e.g., 3-month start-up period).

Have facilitators/educators formally trained in the program model or elements of the program model by professionals who can provide follow-up technical assistance to facilitators.

Provide diversity, equity, and inclusion trainings for facilitators /educators. Send at least two key staff persons to the 3-day Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention (APP) Program Annual Grantee Conference to be tentatively held in the Washington, DC area in 2024 or through a virtual platform.

Have a minimum of two staff persons attend at least one of two topical training sessions offered each year of the 3-year project period in areas such as Washington, DC; Portland, Oregon; and Boston, Massachusetts or through a virtual platform.

Collect and report on all OMB-approved federal SRAE performance measures (prime recipient, partners, and sub-recipients).

Participate in a new recipient orientation webinar. The webinar is expected to be held shortly after the official award date.

For prime-recipients conducting local evaluations, participate in training and technical assistance provided by the government and follow related guidance provided by

ACF/FYSB.

For more information on application components specific to this NOFO, please reference Section IV.2 The Project Description.

GLOSSARY OF TERMS

The terms “sexual risk avoidance,” “age-appropriate,” “rigorous,” and “youth” are defined according to the SRAE authorizing statute at 42 U.S.C. 710(e). All other terms are defined by applicable research for the purposes of this NOFO.

Activities – All the actions needed to prepare for and carry out the program. This includes program and financial management, intervention activities, training activities, and staff debriefings.

Adaptation – The modification of an evidence-based intervention that has been developed for a single, demographic, ethnic, linguistic, and/or cultural group for use with other groups.

Age-appropriate – Suitable (in terms of topics, messages, and teaching methods) to the developmental and social maturity of the particular age or age group of children or adolescents, based on developing cognitive, emotional, and behavioral capacity typical for the age or age group.

Continuous Quality Improvement – A continuous and ongoing effort to achieve measurable improvements in the efficiency, effectiveness, performance, accountability, outcomes, and other indicators of quality in services or processes.

Core Components – Program characteristics that must be kept intact when an intervention is being replicated or adapted for it to produce program outcomes similar to those demonstrated in the original evaluation research that provided evidence for effectiveness.

Dating Violence – The type of intimate partner violence that occurs between two young people who are, or who were once in an intimate relationship.

Effectiveness – The impact of a program under conditions that are likely to occur in a real world implementation.

Equity - the consistent and systematic fair, just, and impartial treatment of all individuals, including individuals who belong to underserved communities that have been denied such treatment, such as Black, Latino, and Indigenous and Native American persons, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, and other persons of color; members of religious minorities;

LGBTQIA2S+ persons; persons with disabilities; persons who live in rural areas; and persons otherwise adversely affected by persistent poverty or inequality.

Evidence-Based – Interventions, strategies, approaches, and/or program models that have been evaluated using rigorous evaluation design such as randomized controlled or high-quality quasi-experimental trials and that have demonstrated positive impacts for youth, families, and communities.

Fidelity – The degree to which an intervention is delivered as designed. Faithfulness with which a curriculum or program is implemented; that is, how well the program is implemented without compromising the core content that is essential for the program effectiveness.

Goal Setting – The process of deciding what to accomplish and devising a plan to achieve the desired result(s).

Healthy Relationships – Peer, romantic, marriage, family, and other interactions that are based on trust, honesty, and respect, and allow adolescents to feel supported, connected, and independent. In healthy relationships, key elements are communication, appropriate boundaries, empathy, effective conflict resolution, and resistance of peer pressure.

Implementation – The process of introducing and using interventions in real-world service settings, including how interventions or programs are adapted, sustained, and taken to scale.

Key Program Elements – Information and concepts central to implementation of the sexual risk avoidance education program.

Medically Accurate - Medical information must be verified or supported by the weight of research. The research must be conducted in compliance with accepted scientific methods and published in peer-reviewed journals where applicable, or comprise information that leading professional organizations and agencies with relevant expertise in the field recognize as accurate, objective, and complete.

Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) – A written statement from a stakeholder organization or individual describing a commitment, including possibly a financial role, in supporting the implementation of a program.

Normalizing Teen Sexual Activity – Creating the impression that teen sexual activity outside of marriage is appropriate and/or healthy behavior.

Organizational Capacity – The resources (e.g., staff, skills, facilities, finances, technology, partnerships capabilities, and other resources) an organization has to implement a program.

Outcomes – The intended effects of the implemented program or program elements such as increase in knowledge, development of skills, and behavior changes.

Objectives – The specific and measurable actions that support the expected result of the program.

Performance Measures – Indicators that are designed for the ongoing monitoring and reporting of program accomplishments, particularly progress toward pre-established goals.

Rigorous – With respect to research or evaluation, using established scientific methods for measuring the impact of an intervention or program model in changing behavior (specifically sexual activity or other sexual risk behaviors), or reducing pregnancy among youth; or other evidence-based methodologies established by the Secretary.

Self-Regulation – The act of managing thoughts and feelings to enable goal directed actions, including a variety of actions necessary for success in school, relationships, and the workplace.

Sexual Risk Avoidance – Voluntarily refraining from non-marital sexual activity.

Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) or Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs) – STIs/STDs are harmful diseases that are passed from one person to another through sexual contact. These include chlamydia, gonorrhea, genital herpes, human papillomavirus, syphilis, and human immunodeficiency virus. Many of these STIs/STDs do not show symptoms for a long time. Even without symptoms, they can still be harmful and passed on during sex. Avoiding sexual activity is the most reliable way to prevent and protect against STIs/STDs. See .

https://www.cdc.gov/std Success Sequencing for Poverty Prevention – The three steps that young adults should take to improve the likelihood of successful economic outcomes when reaching adulthood. The steps include, but are not limited to, graduating from high school, working a full time job, and waiting until marriage to have children.

Youth – One or more individuals who have attained age 10, but not age 20.

References

1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). 1991-2019 High School Youth Risk Behavior Survey Data. Available at http://yrbs-explorer.services.cdc.gov/. Accessed on December 14, 2022.

2. Osterman MJK, Hamilton BE, Martin JA, Driscoll AK, Valenzuela CP. Births: Final data for 2020. National Vital Statistics Reports; vol 70 no 17. Hyattsville, MD: National Center for Health Statistics. 2022. DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.15620/cdc:112078.

3. Osterman MJK, Hamilton BE, Martin JA, Driscoll AK, Valenzuela CP. Births: Final data for 2020. National Vital Statistics Reports; vol 70 no 17. Hyattsville, MD: National Center for Health Statistics. 2022. DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.15620/cdc:112078.

4. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report:

Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance, (2015) http://www.cdc.gov/HealthyYouth/sexualbehaviors/

Please note that providing a link to the non-federal resource in this NOFO does not constitute an endorsement by ACF or any of its employees of the sponsor of this source https://sraene.com/resources of the information or products presented on this site.

II. Federal Award Information

Funding Instrument Type:

G (Grant) Estimated Total Funding:

$20,000,000 Expected Number of Awards:

Award Ceiling:

https://www.cdc.gov/std http://yrbs-explorer.services.cdc.gov/ https://dx.doi.org/10.15620/cdc:112078 https://dx.doi.org/10.15620/cdc:112078 http://www.cdc.gov/HealthyYouth/sexualbehaviors/ https://sraene.com/resources

$450,000 Per Budget Period

Award Floor:

$300,000 Per Budget Period

Average Projected Award Amount:

$400,000 Per Budget Period

Anticipated Project Start Date:

09/30/2023 Length of Project Periods:

36-month project period with three 12-month budget periods

Additional Information on Project Periods and Explanation of 'Other' Additional Information on Awards:

Awards made under this funding opportunity are subject to the availability of federal funds.

Applications requesting an award amount that exceeds the Award Ceiling per budget period, or per project period, as stated in this section, will be disqualified from competitive review and funding under this funding opportunity. This disqualification applies only to the Award Ceiling listed for the first 12-month budget period for projects with multiple budget periods. If the project and budget period are the same, the disqualification applies to the Award Ceiling listed for the project period. Please see Section III.3. Other, Application Disqualification Factors.

Note: For those programs that require matching or cost sharing, recipients will be held accountable for projected commitments of non-federal resources in their application budgets and budget justifications by budget period or by project period for fully funded awards, even if the projected commitment exceeds the required amount of match or cost share. A recipient's failure to provide the required matching amount may result in the disallowance of federal funds.

For more information on these requirements, see Section III.2. Cost Sharing or Matching.

Awards are subject to the satisfactory progress by the prime recipient; a determination that continued funding would be in the best interest of the federal government; and the availability of federal funds. The Grants Project Team (Grant Management Specialist, Federal Project Officer, and Technical Assistance Provider) will use the recipient’s semi-annual performance progress and financial reports, site visits, audit reports, and other supporting documentation to determine, in accordance with the requirements in the NOFO and statute, if satisfactory progress is being made. FYSB will factor in the recipient’s ability to meet the due dates as identified in the NOFO. The Grants Project Team’s review of reports and other documentation will be used to assess progress in the following areas: 1) accomplishing the project goals, objectives, and activities; 2) completing proposed activities; and 3) documenting allowable expenses that support project goals, objectives, and the approved budget. Please refer to Section VI.3.

Reporting for more information on required reports.

III. Eligibility Information

III.1. Eligible Applicants

Applicants eligible for SRAE funding are as follows:

State, territorial, or county governments City or township governments Special district governments Independent, regional, and local school districts Public and state controlled institutions of higher education Native American tribal governments (federally recognized) Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities Native American tribal organizations (other than federally recognized tribal governments) Non-profits having 501(c)(3) status with the IRS other than institutions of higher education Non-profits without 501 (c)(3) status with the IRS other than institutions of higher education Private institutions of higher education For-profit organizations other than small businesses Small businesses

Applicants serving an emerging, unserved, or underserved population or remote geographic area are encouraged to apply for funding under this NOFO.

Applications from individuals (including sole proprietorships) and foreign entities are not eligible and will be disqualified from competitive review and funding under this funding opportunity. See Section III.3. Other, Application Disqualification Factors.

Faith-based and community organizations that meet the eligibility requirements are eligible to receive awards under this funding opportunity. Faith-based organizations may apply for this award on the same basis as any other organization, as set forth at and, subject to the protections and requirements of 45 CFR Part 87 and 42 U.S.C. 2000bb et seq., ACF will not, in the selection of recipients, discriminate against an organization on the basis of the organization's religious character, affiliation, or exercise.

Reference to Legal Status See Section IV.2. Legal Status of Applicant Entity for documentation required to support eligibility.

III.2. Cost Sharing or Matching

Cost Sharing / Matching Requirement:

No For all federal awards, any shared costs or matching funds and all contributions, including cash and third-party in-kind contributions, must be accepted as part of the recipient’s cost sharing or matching when such contributions meet all criteria listed in 45 CFR § 75.306.

For awards that require matching by statute, recipients will be held accountable for projected commitments of non-federal resources in their application budgets and budget justifications by budget period, or by project period for fully funded awards, even if the projected commitment exceeds the amount required by the statutory match. A recipient’s failure to provide the statutorily required matching amount may result in the disallowance of federal funds.

Recipients will be required to report these funds in the Federal Financial Reports.

For awards that do not require matching or cost sharing by statute, where “cost sharing” refers to any situation in which the recipient voluntarily shares in the costs of a project other than as statutorily required matching, recipients will be held accountable for projected commitments of non-federal resources in their application budgets and budget justifications by budget period, or by project period for fully funded awards. These include situations in which contributions are voluntarily proposed by a recipient or subrecipient and are accepted by ACF. Non-federal cost sharing will be included in the approved project budget so that the recipient will be held accountable for proposed non-federal cost sharing funds as shown in the Notice of Award (NoA). A recipient’s failure to provide voluntary cost sharing of non-federal resources that have been accepted by ACF as part of the approved project costs and that have been shown as part of the approved project budget in the NoA, may result in the disallowance of federal funds. Recipients will be required to report these funds in the Federal Financial Reports.

III.3. Other

Application Disqualification Factors Applications from individuals (including sole proprietorships) and foreign entities are not eligible and will be disqualified from competitive review and funding under this funding opportunity.

Award Ceiling Disqualification

Applications that request an award amount that exceeds the Award Ceiling per budget period or per project period ("per project period" refers only to fully funded awards), as stated in Section II. Federal Award Information, will be disqualified from competitive review and funding under this funding opportunity. This disqualification applies only to the Award Ceiling listed for the first 12-month budget period for projects with multiple budget periods. If the project and budget period are the same, the disqualification applies to the Award Ceiling listed for the project period.

Required Electronic Application Submission

ACF requires electronic submission of applications at Grants.gov. Paper applications received from applicants that have not been approved for an exemption from required electronic submission will be disqualified from competitive review and funding under this funding opportunity.

Applicants that do not have an internet connection or sufficient computing capacity to upload large documents to the internet may contact ACF for an exemption that will allow the applicant to submit applications in paper format. Information and the requirements for requesting an exemption from required electronic application submission are found in "ACF Policy for Requesting an Exemption from Electronic Application Submission."

Missing the Application Deadline (Late Applications)

The deadline for electronic application submission is 11:59 pm ET on the due date listed in the Overview and in Section IV.4. Submission Dates and Times. Electronic applications submitted to Grants.gov after 11:59 pm ET on the due date, as indicated by a dated and time-stamped email from Grants.gov, will be disqualified from competitive review and funding under this funding opportunity. That is, applications submitted to Grants.gov, on or after 12:00 am ET on the day after the due date will be disqualified from competitive review and funding under this funding opportunity.

Applications submitted to Grants.gov at any time during the open application period, and prior to the due date and time, which fail the Grants.gov validation check, will not be received at, or acknowledged by ACF.

Each time an application is submitted via Grants.gov, the submission will generate a new date and time-stamp email notification. Only those applications with on-time date and time stamps that result in a validated application, which is transmitted to ACF will be acknowledged.

The deadline for receipt of paper applications is 4:30 pm ET on the due date listed in the Overview and in Section IV.4. Submission Dates and Times. Paper applications received after 4:30 pm ET on the due date will be disqualified from competitive review and funding under this funding opportunity. Paper applications received from applicants that have not received approval of an exemption from required electronic submission will be disqualified from competitive review and funding under this funding opportunity.

Notification of Application Disqualification Applicants will be notified of…