FY 19 OMH OWH YES FOA CLEARED OGM OGC.OMH FINAL revised 04302019.docx

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

AGENCY: Office of the Secretary, Office of Minority Health

FUNDING OPPORTUNITY TITLE:

Youth Engagement in Sports: Collaboration to Improve Adolescent Physical Activity and Nutrition (YES Initiative) ACTION: Notice

ANNOUNCEMENT TYPE: COMPETITIVE GRANT

FUNDING OPPORTUNITY NUMBER: MP-CPI-001

CFDA NUMBER: 93.137 and 93.088 CFDA PROGRAM: Community Programs to Improve Minority Health and Advancing System Improvements for Key Issues in Women’s Health

DATES:

Technical Assistance: Technical assistance will be provided via email (Tishy.Hall@hhs.gov) starting April 1, 2019. Please be sure to review the entire announcement promptly so you can have any questions answered well in advance of the application due date. We also recommend you subscribe to this announcement in Grants.gov so you receive any amendments, question and answer documents, or other updates.

A technical assistance webinar for potential applicants will be held on April 24, 2019 at 2:00pm to 3:30p.m. E.T. Please check the Office of Minority Health website, (www.minorityhealth.hhs.gov), for more detailed information. We recommend you review the entire announcement promptly so you can have any questions answered well in advance of the application due date. We also recommend you subscribe to this announcement in Grants.gov so you receive any amendments, question and answer documents, or other updates.

Applications: Your application is due, May 31, 2019 by 6 p.m. Eastern Time. To receive consideration, you must submit your application electronically via Grants.gov no later than this due date and time. If you do not submit your application by the specified deadline, we will return it to you unread. You must submit electronically via Grants.gov unless you obtain a written exemption from this requirement 2 business days in advance of the deadline from the Director, HHS/Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health (OASH) Office of Grants Management (OGM). To obtain an exemption, you must request one via email from the HHS/OASH OGM, and provide details as to why you are technologically unable to submit electronically through Grants.gov. Your request should be submitted at least 4 business days prior to the application deadline to ensure your request can be considered prior to 2 business days in advance of the deadline. If you request an exemption, include the following in your e-mail request: the HHS/OASH announcement number; your organization's DUNS number; your organization’s name, address and telephone number; the name and telephone number of your Authorizing Official; the Grants.gov Tracking Number (for example, GRANT####) assigned to your submission; and a copy of the "Rejected with Errors" notification from Grants.gov. Send the request with supporting documentation to ogm.oash@hhs.gov. Note: failure to have an active System for Account Management (SAM) registration prior to the application due date will not be grounds for receiving an exemption to the electronic submission requirement. Failure to follow Grants.gov instructions to ensure software compatibility will not be grounds for receiving an exemption to the electronic submission requirement.

The HHS/OASH OGM will only accept applications via alternate methods (hardcopy paper via U.S. mail or other provider or PDF via email) from applicants obtaining prior written approval. If you receive an exemption, you must still submit your application by the deadline. Only applications submitted through the Grants.gov portal or alternate format (hardcopy paper via U.S. mail or other service or PDF via email) with an approved written exemption will be accepted. See Section D.7 (“Other Submission Requirements”) for information on application submission mechanisms.

Executive Order 12372 comment due date: The State Single Point of Contact (SPOC) has 60 days from the application due date to submit any comments. For more information on the SPOC see section D.4 Intergovernmental Review.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: The HHS Office of Minority Health (OMH) and the Office on Women’s Health announce the availability of funds for Fiscal Year (FY) 2019 grant awards for the Youth Engagement in Sports: Collaboration to Improve Adolescent Physical Activity and Nutrition (YES Initiative) under the authority of 42 U.S.C. §§ 300 u-6, 237(a) and 300u-2(a), and in support of Executive Order 13824 which intends to increase youth participation in sports and reduce barriers to play. The YES Initiative aligns with HHS Strategic Goal 2: Protect the Health of Americans Where They Live, Learn, Work, and Play.

OMH and OWH jointly announce the YES Initiative in collaboration with the Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (ODPHP) and in consultation with the Office of Adolescent Health (OAH) and the Office of the President’s Council on Sports, Fitness and Nutrition (OPCSFN), which are all located in HHS/OASH. The YES Initiative intends to identify characteristics of effective collaborations that improve physical activity and nutrition via increased sports participation. The target population is racial/ethnic minority and/or socio-economically disadvantaged male and female 6th, 7th and/or 8th graders, particularly those who reside in communities where no or few youth sports programs exist. Each applicant under the YES Initiative must serve as the lead agency for a collaborative partnership. Other partners can include but are not limited to: institutions of higher education, local school districts, community and faith-based groups, sports/recreation organizations, public health entities, and community health centers. YES Initiative projects will develop and implement sports fitness programs based on successful evidenced-based strategies of youth engagement. Projects are expected to serve and retain no fewer than 130 youth in 6th, 7th and 8th grade youth each year, and must maintain a comparison group equivalent to the intervention group and are encouraged to maximize the number of youth served. Youth recruited, served, and retained over of the course of the intervention should be those who do not meet current physical activity guidelines for children and youth at baseline.[footnoteRef:2] We expect YES Initiative projects to develop and evaluate project goals and objectives, employing standardized process and outcomes measures at baseline, during the intervention and post-intervention. YES Initiative programs must use an experimental design to evaluate the impact of the program on primary outcomes. OMH and OWH expect the YES Initiative to result in the following primary outcomes for racial/ethnic minority and socio-economically disadvantaged youth: (1) increased participation in physical activity for youth who do not meet current physical activity guidelines at baseline; (2) improved physical literacy; and (3) increased consumption of dark green, orange, and red vegetables and whole fresh fruit and decreased consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages. In addition, OMH and OWH expect the YES Initiative to result in the development of action plans for ensuring the sustainability of highly successful collaboration strategies. OMH or OWH will fund YES Initiative awards annually for a project period up to 2 years. A limited competition among YES recipients making satisfactory progress will be considered for a third year of funding to implement their sustainability plan. We will not fund construction of facilities under these awards. We may allow minor alteration or renovation with justification. [2: https://health.gov/paguidelines/second-edition/]

OMH and OWH awards for the YES Initiative is grounded in research reporting that for many youth, especially those from minority populations, participation in team sports has declined.[footnoteRef:3],[footnoteRef:4] In 2011, youth participation in individual sports and team sports were at 53.2% and 41.5% respectively. In 2016, those numbers were down to 49.8% and 36.9% respectively.[footnoteRef:5] The decline in youth participation in sports is amplified by disparities relative to access, especially for youth in socio-economically disadvantaged areas and girls. For example: [3: Edwards MB, Kanters MA, Bocarro JN. Policy Changes to Implement Intramural Sports in North Carolina Middle Schools: Simulated Effects on Sports Participation Rates and Physical Activity Intensity, 2008–2009. Preventing Chronic Disease 2014;11:130195. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5888/pcd11.130195] [4: Johnston LD, Delva J, O’Malley PM. Sports participation and physical education in American Secondary schools: current levels and racial/ethnic and socioeconomic disparities. American Journal of Preventive Medicine 22007;33(4 Supplement):S195-208] [5: Heather Erwin, Timothy A. Brusseau, Russell Carson, Samuel Hodge & Minsoo Kang (2018): SHAPE America’s 50 Million StrongTM: Critical Research Questions Related to Youth Physical Activity, Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport, DOI: 10.1080/02701367.2018.1490607

· 75% of children from households at 400% of the federal poverty threshold participated in a sports team or lesson after school or on weekends, compared to only 42% of children from households < 100 of the percent poverty threshold.

· Only 55% of females participated in a sports team or lesson compared to 62% of their male counterparts.

Researchers have called for programmatic and policy changes to increase participation in sports thereby promoting physical activity,[footnoteRef:6] including reaching the recommended levels of physical activity as suggested in the Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans.[footnoteRef:7] Sports and physical activity also can help youth improve physical health (e.g., cardiorespiratory fitness, build strong bones and muscles, control weight, and reduce the risk of developing chronic health conditions), behavioral health (e.g., reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression)[footnoteRef:8],[footnoteRef:9] and social health (e.g., formation of positive relationships and the acquisition of social interaction and teamwork skills, as well as enhanced confidence, character, pro-social values, and positive affect).[footnoteRef:10] [6: Edwards MB, Kanters MA, Bocarro JN. Policy Changes to Implement Intramural Sports in North Carolina Middle Schools: Simulated Effects on Sports Participation Rates and Physical Activity Intensity, 2008–2009. Preventing Chronic Disease 2014;11:130195. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5888/pcd11.130195] [7: health.gov/paguidelines ] [8: Atkin AJ, Gorely T, Biddle SJ, Cavill N, Foster C. Interventions to promote physical activity in young people conducted in the hours immediately after school: a systematic review. International Journal of Behavioral Medicine 2011; 18(3): 176-187.] [9: Edwards MB, Kanters MA, Bocarro JN. Policy Changes to Implement Intramural Sports in North Carolina Middle Schools: Simulated Effects on Sports Participation Rates and Physical Activity Intensity, 2008–2009. Preventing Chronic Disease 2014;11:130195. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5888/pcd11.130195] [10: Tortelero SR, Wendell CT, Murray NG. Physical activity, physical fitness and social, psychological and emotional health. In: Armstrong N, Van-Mechelen W, editors. Paediatric exercise science and medicine. Oxford: Oxford University Press; 2000. p.273-295]

HHS/OASH encourages applicants to review all program requirements, eligibility information, application format and submission information, evaluation criteria, and other information in this funding announcement to ensure that its application complies with all requirements and instructions.

A. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION:

The YES Initiative seeks to support projects that address the HHS priority to expand youth participation in sports and encourage regular physical activity, especially for youth populations with lower rates of sports participation and communities with limited access to athletic facilities or recreational areas. YES Initiative applicants should address unhealthy physical activity and nutrition behaviors in racial/ethnic minority and socio-economically disadvantaged youth, including specifically girls, and provide opportunities to learn skills and gain experiences that contribute to more positive lifestyles and enhance their capacity to make healthier life choices. The YES Initiative intends to identify effective collaborations and/or existing community organizational partnerships that aim to improve physical activity and nutrition by increasing sports participation of racial/ethnic minority and/or socio-economically disadvantaged youth, including specifically girls. YES Initiative projects will develop and implement sports fitness programs based on successful evidenced based practices for youth engagement, using experimental design, and result in the identification of model sustainable strategies that increase participation in range of physical activities that support a healthy lifestyle and improve the overall health among youth who, at baseline, do not meet current physical activity guidelines. YES applicants must propose to implement programs that will serve no fewer than a 130 males and/or females in 6th, 7th and/or 8th grades each year.

Proposals must describe, using geographic indicators and data from representative probability-based samples surveys or other representative population data, the demographic characteristics of the populations to be served by the project, including race/ethnicity, gender, socio-economic status and geographic location.

Each applicant under the YES Initiative must serve as the lead agency for the project, responsible for its implementation and management; and serve as the fiscal agent for the federal grant if awarded. The applicant organization must represent a collaborative partnership. Applicants for funding will be expected to meet each of the following expectations.

Programmatic

· Implement sports programming that provides youth with an opportunity to sample different types of sports activities.

· Implement sports programming that allows for youth of all ability levels to equally participate and does not require “try-outs” or performance based exclusion of participants.

· Implement nutrition programming that facilitates healthy eating habits.

· Schedule regular programming that allows for youth to complete at least 60 minutes per day of moderate to vigorous intensity physical activity during programming.

· Offer practice/play experiences that are designed to match the age, ability, development needs, and fitness level of the participating youth.

· Administer baseline and periodic assessments of youth participation in sports programming, amount of physical activity, and consumption of dark green, orange, and red vegetables, whole fresh fruit and sugar-sweetened beverages.

· Evaluate the impact of the intervention using experimental design.

Personnel/Safety

· Require the development of a policy to ensure that all personnel interacting with youth are screened in advance of any interactions with youth participants.

· Require all coaches to complete training aligned with SHAPE America’s National Standards for Sport Coaching[footnoteRef:11] or required training designated by registered leagues such as the Amateur Athletic Union, the United States Olympic Committee and its governing bodies of sport, etc. (Note: Any training that is in progress must be completed within the first year of funding in order to secure funding for second year). [11: https://www.shapeamerica.org/standards/coaching/]

· Require all coaches to complete the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s HEADS UP to Youth Sports concussion training course[footnoteRef:12] or comparable training as designated by leagues. [12: https://www.cdc.gov/headsup/youthsports/coach.html]

· Obtain all required protective gear and appropriate equipment for safe sporting activity prior to activating the program.

· Require the development of a policy that ensures all program personnel comply with state statutes of mandatory reporting of suspected child maltreatment to an appropriate agency, such as child protective services, a law enforcement agency, or a state’s toll-free child abuse reporting hotline.

· Ensure that all youth participants are healthy enough to play (i.e., sports physicals.).

Expanding Access

· Create avenues for access for youth that typically would encounter barriers to play (e.g., racial/ethnic minority and/or socio-economically disadvantaged youth, particularly those who reside in rural communities where no or few youth sports programs exist).

· Implement sports programming designed to reduce disparities in participation levels within geographic regions/communities (e.g., significantly increase participation rates/reduce disparities in participation rates among youth from socio-economically disadvantaged areas residing in areas defined by zip code or Census tract that have substantially lower levels of sports participation).

· Reduce or remove barriers (e.g., financial (pay for play, equipment purchase) and transportation) that would prevent youth from socio-economically disadvantaged communities from play.

· Develop a regular and reoccurring program that retains youth participants for a minimum of 6 months.

Sustainability

· Create a sustainability plan that provides a concrete set of action steps necessary for maintaining elements of collaboration that contributed to successful outcomes: (a) increase participation in physical activity among youth currently not meeting physical activity guidelines; (b) increase physical literacy; and (c) increase consumption of dark green, orange, and red vegetables and whole fresh fruits and reduce consumption of sugar-sweetened drinks.

Additional preference will be given to projects which will serve communities: (1) with significant disparities in levels of physical activity that indicates a higher prevalence of sedentary behavior (i.e., 45% or more youth report playing video or computer games or using a computer 3 or more hours per day or 33% or more youth report watching television 3 or more hours per day) among youth as measured by Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System (YRBSS)[footnoteRef:13] or data from other probability-based representative sample surveys; (2) low adherence (i.e., 30% or less for youth grades 6-8th) meeting the recommended levels of physical activity as outlined in the Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans[footnoteRef:14] as measured by YRBSS or data from other probability-based representative sample surveys; and (3) located in designated Opportunity Zones.[footnoteRef:15] An Opportunity Zone is an economically-distressed community where new investments, under certain conditions, may be eligible for preferential tax treatment. Localities qualify as Opportunity Zones if they have been nominated for that designation by the state and that nomination has been certified by the Secretary of the U.S. Treasury via his delegation authority to the Internal Revenue Service. [13: https://www.cdc.gov/healthyyouth/data/yrbs/index.htm ] [14: https://health.gov/paguidelines ] [15: https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/opportunity-zones-frequently-asked-questions

AUTHORITY: 42 U.S.C. §§ 300 u-6, (Public Health Service (PHS) Act section 1707); 237(a) (PHS Act section 229); and 300u-2(a) (PHS Act section 1703).

B. FEDERAL AWARD INFORMATION

OMH and OWH intend to make funds available for competing grants for the YES Initiative. We will fund awards in annual increments (budget periods) for a project period up to 2 years, although we may approve shorter project periods. We may conduct a limited competition among successful applicants for a third year of funding to implement sustainability plans. Budget periods may also vary from the estimate indicated below due to timing of award issuance or other administrative factors. Funding for all approved budget periods beyond the first is generally level with the initial award amount and is contingent upon the availability of funds, satisfactory progress of the project, adequate stewardship of Federal funds, and the best interests of the Government.

Award Information Estimated Federal Funds Available: OMH- up to $2,500,000; OWH-up to $2,000,000 Anticipated Number of Awards: OMH- 6 to 8; OWH- 5 to 6 Award Ceiling (Federal Funds including indirect costs): $400,000 per budget period Award Floor (Federal Funds including indirect costs): $325,000 per budget period Anticipated Start Date: 07/01/2019 Estimated Period of Performance: Up to 2 years. We may hold a limited competition among successful applicants a third year of funding.

Anticipated Initial Budget Period Length: 12 months Type of Award: Grant Type of Application Accepted: Electronic via Grants.gov ONLY unless an exemption is granted

C. ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION

1. Eligible Applicants. Public and nonprofit private entities and indigenous human resource providers in communities of color are eligible to apply. Examples of eligible entities include:

· State governments

· County governments

· Special district governments

· 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)

· Nonprofits with 501 (c)(3) IRS status (other than institution of higher education)

· Nonprofits without 501(c)(3) IRS status (other than institution of higher education)

· Private nonprofit institutions of higher education

2. Cost Sharing or Matching: You are not required to provide cost sharing or matching in your proposed budget.

3. Other Eligibility Information Application Responsiveness Criteria We will review your application to determine whether it meets the following responsiveness criteria. If your application does not meet the responsiveness criteria, we will disqualify it from the competition; we will not review it beyond the initial screening.

· The application addresses the intent to increase sports participation rates among minority and socio-economically disadvantaged male and female youth in 6th, 7th and 8th grades, particularly girls. The approach must be built on successful evidenced based interventions of youth engagement.

· The application must include a confidentiality plan for participants that covers the entire two year project period. The plan must include the signature of all partners and be signed by an authorized representative of each project partner. Signatures may be provided by facsimile transmission or other electronic means, and the confidentiality plan may be executed in any number of counterparts, all of which together shall constitute one signed confidentiality plan.

Application Disqualification Criteria If you successfully submit an application, we will screen it to ensure it meets the below requirements. If we determine your application fails to meet the criteria described below we will disqualify it, that is, we will not review it and will give it no further consideration.

a) You must submit your application electronically via www.grants.gov (unless an exemption was granted 2 business days prior to the deadline) by the date and time indicated in the DATES section of this announcement.

b) If you successfully submit multiple applications from the same organization for the same project, we will only review the last application received by the deadline.

c) HHS/OASH/OGM deems your application eligible according to section C.1 Eligible Applicants.

d) You must complete the required forms in the application package: SF-424, SF-424A, SF-424B, SF-LLL, and Project Abstract Summary.

e) Your Project Narrative section of the application must be double-spaced, on the equivalent of 8 ½ ” x 11” inch page size, with 1” margins on all sides (top, bottom, left and right) and font size not less than 12 points.

f) Your Project Narrative must not exceed 50 pages. NOTE: The following items do not count toward the Project Narrative page limit: all required forms, including SF-424, SF-424A, SF-424B, SF-LLL, Project Abstract Summary, and Budget Narrative (including budget tables).

g) Your total application, including the Project Narrative plus Appendices, must not exceed 75 pages. NOTE: items listed in “d” immediately above do not count toward total page limit.

h) Your Federal funds request including indirect costs must not exceed the maximum indicated in Award Ceiling.

i) Your Federal funds request including indirect costs must not be below the minimum indicated in Award Floor.

j) Your application must meet the Application Responsiveness Criteria outlined above.

D. APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INFORMATION

1. Address to Request Application Package

You may obtain an application package electronically by accessing Grants.gov at http://www.grants.gov/. You can find it by searching on the CFDA number shown on page 1 of this funding opportunity announcement. If you have problems accessing the application or difficulty downloading, contact:

Office of Grants Management Phone: 240-453-8822 Email: ogm.oash@hhs.gov

2. Content and Form of Application Submission

i. Application Format Your application must be prepared using the forms and information provided in the online application package.

The Project Narrative, and total application including appendices, must adhere to the page limit indicated in Application Disqualification Criteria listed in Section C. The page limit does not include the Budget Narrative (including budget tables), required forms, assurances, and certifications as described in the Application Disqualification Criteria. Please do not number pages or include a table of contents. Our grants management system will generate page numbers once your application is complete. If your application exceeds the specified page limits for the Project Narrative or Project Narrative plus Appendices when printed on 8.5” X 11” paper by HHS/OASH/OGM, we will not review it. We recommend you print out your application before submitting electronically to ensure that it is within the page limits and is easy to read.

You must double-space the Project Narrative pages.

You should use an easily readable typeface, such as Times New Roman or Arial. You must use 12-point font. You may single-space tables or use alternate fonts but you must ensure the tables are easy to read.

Appendices Format Your Appendices should include any specific documents outlined in Section D.2.iii., under the heading “Appendices” in the Application Content section of this funding opportunity announcement. Your documents should be easy to read. You should use the same formatting specified for the Project Narrative. However, documents such as résumés/CVs, organizational charts, tables, or Memorandum of Agreements (MOA) may use formatting common to those documents, but the pages must be easy to read. All of your appendices must be uploaded as a single, consolidated file in the Attachments section of your Grants.gov application.

Project Abstract Summary Format You must complete the Project Abstract Summary form provided in the application package. The abstract will be used to provide reviewers with an overview of the application and will form the basis for the application summary in grants management and program summary documents. If your project is funded, HHS may publish information from your form; therefore, do not include sensitive or proprietary information.

Budget Narrative Format The Budget Narrative should use the formatting required of the Project Narrative for the explanatory text. Budget tables may be single-spaced but should be laid out in an easily-readable format and within the printable margins of the page.

ii. Application Content Successful applications will contain the following information:

Project Narrative Content The Project Narrative is the most important part of the application, since it will be used as the primary basis to determine whether your project meets the minimum requirements for an award under this announcement. The Project Narrative should provide a clear and concise description of your project. HHS/OASH recommends that your project narrative include the following components:

Project Narrative Organizational Capability Goals and Objectives Outcomes Program Plan (Proposed Intervention) Project Management Evaluation Plan Dissemination Plan Budget Narrative Program Expectations Projects supported through YES Initiative should:

· Describe clear outcomes that will be used to develop other national efforts to increase healthy behaviors among children and youth, address unhealthy behaviors, eliminate health disparities by empowering racial/ethnic minorities and socio-economically disadvantaged youth to make better and informed decisions.

· Provide a clear description of the target population that must include racial/ethnic minority and/or socio-economically disadvantaged youth in the 6th, 7th and/or 8th grades.

· If building on current practices, describe with the use of narrative and a logic model of any existing or currently implemented programs and the associated outcomes achieved. The theoretical basis of the model/program should be specified.

· Describe the new strategy or modification to the existing or current programs that are expected to significantly increase or improve outcomes among the target population compared with usual practice/existing programs. The theoretical basis of new strategy/modification to the model/program should be specified.

· Describe the characteristics or nature of the partnership and the processes through which the collaborative partnership will facilitate recruitment of racial/ethnic minority and/or socio-economically disadvantaged youth who are not meeting physical activity guidelines at baseline. Applicants should specify the unique contributions of each proposed partner and how the inclusion of each partner will contribute to improved outcomes over current practice.

· Describe recruitment and participation strategies designed to result in achieving the intended recruitment goals within three months of program launch and retention of no fewer than 130 youth throughout planned intervention period over the YES Initiative period of performance. Based on knowledge and experience in working with youth populations, applicants should consider and describe plans for recruiting more individuals to participate assuming program attrition is likely. Applicants should clearly state expectations for retention from enrollment to completion of program.

· Describe the experimental research design (e.g., cross-over, repeated measures, parallel) that will be used to test the proposed intervention against a comparison group, and how baseline equivalence will be determined. The sample size for the intervention group should be no less than 130 youth.

· Describe the plan to publish a manuscript to report the results of the intervention that increases participation and health impact of the tested sports fitness program.

· Develop and submit an action plan for disseminating a successful model that significantly increases participation in sports fitness programs.

Project Narrative (Problem Statement): Identify and define the problem and contributing factors that will be addressed by the proposed project and activities. Describe and document (with data from representative probability-based sample surveys) the significance or prevalence of the problem or issues affecting the minority and socio-economically disadvantaged group(s). Describe the youth targeted by the project (e.g., socioeconomic and/or environmentally disadvantaged, race/ethnicity, age, gender, educational level/income) including geographic area(s) targeted. Describe the high prevalence of sedentary behavior among youth as measured by YRBSS or data from other representative probability-based sample surveys (i.e., 45% or more youth report playing video or computer games or using a computer 3 or more hours per day or 33% or more youth report watching television 3 or more hours per day); low adherence (i.e., 30% or less) to meeting the recommended levels of physical activity as outlined in the Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans[footnoteRef:16] among youth as measured by YRBSS or data from other representative probability-based sample surveys; and communities located in designated Opportunity Zones.[footnoteRef:17] [16: https://health.gov/paguidelines ] [17: https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/opportunity-zones-frequently-asked-questions

Organizational Capability: Your application should include an organizational capability statement. You should describe your organization’s capability to successfully implement the proposed project. The organizational capability statement should describe how the applicant agency (or the particular division of a larger agency which will have responsibility for this project) is organized, the nature and scope of its work, and the capabilities it possesses. This description should cover capabilities of the applicant agency not included in the program narrative, such as any current or previous relevant experience and/or the record of the project team in preparing cogent and useful reports, publications, and other products. You should document significant experience working with youth in the area of sports and fitness, specifically implementing sports programs.

You should describe partner agencies including the relationship/responsibilities as it relates to the project and the current organization. You should provide all contractual information and/or supportive staff/organization(s) that will have a secondary role(s) in implementing the project and achieving project goals.

Goals and Objectives: You should provide overall project goals, annual short-term and long-term objectives. Specify the magnitude of impact on YES Initiative program outcomes and performance measure objectives for the proposed activities. Tie outcomes/impacts and measures to long-term goals and objectives. All objectives should be related to the YES Initiative and stated in SMART (specific, measurable, accurate, realistic and timely) terms. SMART objectives should include baseline data and quantifiable timeframes for achievement. Objectives must focus on overall goals of the project rather than project activities. Goals must be ambitious and achievable in the project's timeframe/project period.

Outcomes: A "measurable outcome" is an observable end-result that describes how a particular intervention benefits program participants. It demonstrates the "impact" of the intervention. You should clearly state the expected outcome(s) that will result from your project for: a) participation in sports programming (e.g., increase participation in sports programming among girls grades 6-8th from 25% of participants to 40% of participants (post--intervention)), b) number of days per week youth met daily physical activity requirement (e.g. the number of days youth engaged in moderate or vigorous activity per week for youth in the intervention group will be 15% greater than the mean number of days per week minutes of moderate or vigorous activity per week for youth in the comparison group; at the end of the intervention, the proportion of youth in the intervention group meeting the Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans standard for children and youth will be 20% greater than proportion of youth in the comparison group); c) physical literacy (e.g., increase mean score on the physical literacy scale by 25% over baseline); d) consumption of whole fresh fruits (e.g., increase consumption of whole fresh fruits from 15% of youth reporting 7-day consumption to 35% reporting 7-day consumption); e) consumption of dark green, orange, and red vegetables (e.g., increase consumption of dark green, orange, and red vegetables from 10% of youth reporting 7-day consumption to 25% reporting 7-day consumption); f) consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages (e.g., decrease consumption of sugar sweetened beverages from 70% of youth reporting 7-day consumption to 45% reporting 7-day consumption). We will not fund any project that does not include measurable outcomes.

Baseline and outcome measures for the YES Initiative should occur: (1) for a two-week period prior to program intervention (baseline);(2) at three months after the start of the intervention ; and (3) at six months after the start of the intervention and every six months thereafter.

In addition to outcome measures, to assess project process recipients will also be required to use standardized measures to document program performance Recipients will be expected to collect data to monitor ongoing implementation, and to use the data to make continuous quality improvements to the project to ensure that high-quality programming and high-levels of participant engagement are maintained. Recipients must collect all performance and outcome measures and report to OMH on a semi-annual basis (pending OMB approval). Final performance and outcome measures will be provided to recipients during the first six months of funding and may include measures on reach, dosage, implementation quality, sustainability, partnerships, trainings, outcomes and dissemination. Recipients will document and report the following dosage components: implementation dosage or the activities necessary for the intervention to be carried out with fidelity; and intervention dosage or the amount of an intervention that is provided to the target population in order to change their behavior. Recipients should review relevant state laws, organizational policies, and other administrative procedures of their sites or partner organizations to ensure the feasibility of data collection. Recipients should obtain any necessary permissions to collect required data.

YES Initiative measures include the following:

· Measures of program implementation such as number of youth served, number of sessions attended by youth, number of children who exited or dropped out the program.

· A measure of participation rates in sports programming among the target youth and comparison group;

· A measure of physical literacy among participating children and youth that includes running, locomotion, object control (upper and lower body) and balance stability. OMH recommends Physical Literacy Assessment for Youth Basic Form[footnoteRef:18]; [18: https://www.shapeamerica.org/uploads/pdfs/PhysicalLiteracy_AspenInstitute-FINAL.pdf]

· A measure of daily moderate or vigorous physical activity for youth participants: (1) for a two-week period at baseline; (2) at three months after the start of the intervention; and (3) at six months after the start of the intervention and every six months thereafter.

· A measure the proportion of youth who meet the level of physical activity as recommended by the Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans: (1) for a two-week period at baseline; (2) at three months after the start of the intervention; and (3) at six months after the start of the intervention and every six months thereafter.

Measures of consumption of dark green, orange, and red vegetables and whole fresh fruits and reduce consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages: (1) for a two-week period at baseline; (2) at three months after the start of the intervention; and (3) at six months after the start of the intervention and every six months thereafter. Applicants must specify the magnitude of change that is expected as a result of the intervention.

Program Plan: Proposals should describe specify strategies and practices to be used in proposed project activities in relation to the problem and factor(s) to be addressed. Applicants should clearly describe how the project will be carried out and the role(s) of collaborating organizations or subcontractors. Each specific strategy, practice or intervention planned must be clearly linked in an effort to achieve each objective. For each, describe how, when, where, by whom, and for whom it will be conducted. Describe the unique role and responsibilities of each partner in the collaborative partnership. YES Initiative grant projects should strive to demonstrate the effectiveness of collaborations that include institutions of higher education, community recreation groups, sports organizations, public health entities, local schools, community-based organizations and parents, to increase opportunities for sports participation among minority and disadvantaged youth; particularly those who reside in socio-economically disadvantaged areas or rural communities.

Special Populations Served and Organizations. You should describe how you plan to involve community-based organizations in a meaningful way in the planning and implementation of the proposed project. You should also describe how your proposed intervention will serve socio-economically disadvantaged populations, including limited-English speaking populations. Additionally, this section should outline who you consider vested stakeholders in the project, how they were/will be identified, and how they will be meaningfully incorporated into the project.

Cohort: Each project must demonstrate a cohort(s) of no fewer than 130 youth in 6th, 7th and 8th grade youth complete the intervention each year, and must maintain a comparison group equivalent to the intervention group. Applicants must describe the cohort(s) and the geographic area to be served, and must specify an approach to longitudinal tracking and retention. A power analysis should determine the group size needed in the last year of the intervention to detect significant differences in key outcome variables (e.g., increased physical activity, physical literacy, meeting physical activity guidelines, increased consumption of dark green, orange, and red vegetables and whole fresh fruits, reduced consumption of sugar-sweetened drinks) between the intervention group and the comparison group, at alpha= .05 level, 80% power, given the expected effect sizes. Please note that the group size needed to detect significant differences in outcomes between the intervention and comparison groups may exceed the required minimum number of 130 program participants in the intervention group depending on the effect size specified by the applicant. Applicants are encouraged to serve more rather than fewer youth, and to account for expected attrition in their applications.

Applicants should describe how and why the proposed collaborative partnership should result in recruitment and retention of youth currently not meeting physical activity guidelines and achieve substantial impact on levels of physical activity, and consumption of dark green, orange, and red vegetables, whole fresh fruit, and sugar-sweetened beverages. It should provide a participant recruitment and retention plan that demonstrates an understanding of likely attrition rates, a risk mitigation plan for reducing attrition, and that final group size in the last year of the project is sufficiently large to detect significant differences in the key outcome variables. Because of the nature of cohorts (numbers of participants in cohorts may decline due to attrition), a larger number of youth should be selected when the grant program commences in order to maintain sufficient participants throughout the grant period and detect significant differences, if present, in key outcomes during the final year of the intervention.

Describe any products to be developed by the project.

Proposed Intervention. You should provide a clear and concise description of the intervention you are proposing to use to address the need identified in the program announcement and the problem described in the “Problem Statement” above. You should explain the rationale for using a particular intervention and to present a clear connection between identified system gaps and needs and your proposed activities. Your proposal should detail the nature of the activities to be undertaken, how they address system gaps and identified issues, and how they will assist in achieving the overall project goals and objectives. You should clarify why these specific activities were selected (i.e., the approach has been successful in other settings, the research suggests, etc.). Also identify any major barriers you anticipate encountering and how your project will be able to overcome those barriers. At a minimum, each project must develop and test strategies to:

· Recruit and retain youth, especially those from the targeted communities, including specifically girls, who are not currently meeting physical activity guidelines to diversify participation in sports/fitness programs.

Conduct multi-sports/fitness programs that engage and expose the youth participant cohort to a variety of sports/fitness activities (i.e. sports sampling).

Applicants for funding will be expected to meet the following:

· Employ a positive youth development approach to maximize youth engagement,

· Offer group sports and recreational activities that promote positive self-images, self-accomplishment, and lifelong physical fitness as well as incorporate team building techniques and leadership skills.

· Support peer leadership skills training, focusing on resolving conflicts among friends and peers.

· Promote healthy eating habits through activities such as nutrition workshops, healthy cooking demonstrations, and food diaries.

· Implement family-centered strategies to support youth behaviors aimed at improving nutrition, physical activity and weight-related outcomes in youth currently not meeting physical activity guidelines.

· Collaborate and coordinate YES Initiative activities that establish close relationships with schools, if implementing in school settings.

Project Management: The applicant must provide a description of the proposed program staff, including job descriptions for key personnel, qualifications and responsibilities of each staff member and percentage of time each will commit to the project. The roles and responsibilities should be clearly delineated for project staff and subrecipients and how they will contribute to achieving the project’s objectives and outcomes. Applicants should specify who would have day-to-day responsibility for key tasks such as: leadership of project; monitoring the project’s on-going progress; preparation of reports; and communications with other partners and OMH/OWH. You should describe the approach in detail that will be used to monitor and track progress on the project’s tasks and objectives. The applicant should clearly identify the individual who will serve as the Principal Investigator/Project Director and that individual’s qualifications. OMH/OWH expects that, throughout the award period, the Principal Investigator/Project Director will have involvement in, and have substantial knowledge about all aspects of the project.

The applicant must identify and describe partner organizations and the rationale for including each of them in the project and how the partner organizations will interface with the applicant organization. The roles of collaborative partner organizations including staff reporting channels and any proposed consultants should be clearly described. The process that will be employed to ensure that all mentors and coaches working with participating youth have appropriate qualifications and certifications for their positions should be included.

Evaluation Plan: The evaluation plan must fully and clearly articulate the proposed experimental design that will evaluate the impact of the intervention on program outcomes. Additional measures of program implementation, process or outcome measures not specified in this FOA and deemed relevant by applicants to assessing successful implementation of the program should be described with respect to the logic model, showing the importance of those measures to assessing program implementation and/or impact. Copies of additional process and outcome instruments should be included in the appendix of the application. The applicant is expected to ensure that the evaluation plan is implemented at the beginning of the project in order to capture and document actions contributing to relevant project impact and outcomes. The extent to which appropriate resources are proposed to be devoted to evaluation, including whether the applicant proposes to allocate at least 10% of the total award to evaluation or provide in-kind services equivalent to that amount to evaluation.

Baseline and outcome measures for the YES Initiative are required to occur: (1) for a two-week period prior to program intervention (baseline) and (2) at three months after the start of the intervention; and (3) at six months after the start of the intervention and every six months thereafter. The evaluation plan should briefly describe the work plan that will be implemented to capture process and output data deemed necessary by the applicant to assess program implementation and the following YES Initiative measures:

· A measure of participation rates in sports programming among the target youth and comparison group;

· A measure of physical literacy among participating children and youth that includes running, locomotion, object control (upper and lower body) and balance stability. OMH recommends Physical Literacy Assessment for Youth Basic Form[footnoteRef:19]; [19: ]

· A measure of…