PKG00264366-instructions.pdf

Administration for Community Living

Administration on Aging

2021 Empowering Communities to Address Behavioral Health and Chronic Pain through Chronic Disease Self-Management Education Programs

HHS-2021-ACL-AOA-CSSG-0018

02/02/2021

Table of Contents Executive Summary

Additional Overview Content/Executive Summary

I. Funding Opportunity Description

II. Award Information

III. Eligibility Information

1. Eligible Applicants

2. Cost Sharing or Matching

3. Responsiveness and Screening Criteria

IV. Application and Submission Information

1. Address to Request Application Package

2. Content and Form of Application Submission

Letter of Intent

Project Narrative

Project Relevance and Current Need

Outcomes and Evaluation

Sustainability

Organizational Capacity

Budget Narrative/Justification

3. Submission Dates and Times

4. Intergovernmental Review

5. Funding Restrictions

6. Other Submission Requirements

V. Application Review Information

1. Criteria

2. Review and Selection Process

3. Anticipated Announcement Award Date

VI. Award Administration Information

1. Award Notices

2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements

3. Reporting

4. FFATA and FSRS Reporting

VII. Agency Contacts

VIII. Other Information

The Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (P.L. 104-13)

Appendix

Instructions for Completing Required Forms

Budget Narrative/Justification- Sample Format

Instructions for Completing the Project Summary/ Abstract

ACL Center:

Administration on Aging Funding Opportunity Title:

2021 Empowering Communities to Address Behavioral Health and Chronic Pain through Chronic Disease Self-Management Education Programs Funding Opportunity Number:

HHS-2021-ACL-AOA-CSSG-0018

Primary CFDA Number:

93.734 Due Date for Letter of Intent:

12/18/2020 Due Date for Applications:

02/02/2021 Date for Informational Conference Call:

12/15/2020 Applications that fail to meet the application due date will not be reviewed and will receive no further consideration. You are strongly encouraged to submit your application a minimum of 3-5 days prior to the application closing date. Do not wait until the last day in the event you encounter technical difficulties, either on your end or, with https://www.grants.gov. Grants.gov can take up to 48 hours to notify you of a successful submission.

Executive Summary Additional Overview Content/Executive Summary Through this funding opportunity, the Administration on Aging (AoA), part of the Administration for Community Living (ACL), plans to award approximately eight cooperative agreements to domestic public or private non-profit entities. This funding opportunity is designed to address behavioral health and/or chronic pain among older adults and adults with disabilities through the implementation of appropriate evidence-based self-management education and self-management support programs.

Applicants may request a total budget from $200,000 to a maximum of $300,000 for the three-year project period. All awards are subject to the availability of federal funds.

The awards will be made in the form of cooperative agreements because AoA will be substantially involved. These cooperative agreements have an anticipated start date of May 1, 2021.

https://www.grants.gov/

An informational conference call will be held on December 15, 2020 at 1:00 PM EST.

The dial-in information is below:

Toll Free Number: 888-947-8932 Passcode: 7495880

A recording will be available approximately one hour after the call concludes at the following number:

Toll Free Playback Number: 800-568-5006

I. Funding Opportunity Description Background

Behavioral health is the promotion of mental health and well-being, the treatment of mental and substance use disorders, and the support of those who experience and/or are in recovery from these conditions. Anyone, regardless of age or ability, can experience a behavioral health condition, such as depression, substance misuse, or suicidal thoughts. Behavioral health problems are not a normal part of aging or of living with a disability, but older people and people with disabilities are less likely to receive mental health treatment. [1] Recent reports (August 2020) show dramatic increases in the number of U.S. adults struggling with mental health and/or substance abuse issues, along with increased numbers of adults seriously considering suicide. [2]

Chronic conditions, including depression, are prevalent among older adults. Approximately 80% of older adults have at least one chronic condition, and 50% have two or more. Specific to behavioral health, depression is more common in people who have co-occurring illnesses or who have limited function. [3] Data from the National Chronic Disease Self-Management Education Database show that approximately 21% of program participants indicate a diagnosis of anxiety and/or depression. [4] Evidence-based programs such as Healthy IDEAS and PEARLS (see Appendix C for more information) are designed to combat depression experienced by older adults. To learn more, visit https://acl.gov/programs/health-wellness/behavioral-health .

Additionally, chronic pain is a considerable health challenge facing older adults. Chronic pain is persistent discomfort that lasts for at least three months; it can be caused by a variety of factors, including chronic conditions. In the United States, older and middle-aged adults account for about 80% of those who experience chronic pain. [5] Common chronic conditions that may cause pain include arthritis, diabetes, and cancer, in addition to neuropathic conditions, surgeries, or injuries. Both the Chronic Pain Self-Management Program and evidence-based physical activity programs can be important tools for pain management (see Appendix C for more information). To view an issue brief on implementing evidence-based programs to address chronic pain, visit https://www.ncoa.org/resources/issue-brief-implementing-evidence-based-programs-address-chronic-pain/.

Evidence-based chronic disease self-management education (CDSME) programs can help mitigate chronic disease burden by empowering participants to better manage their conditions.

The acronym, CDSME, is being used in this announcement as an umbrella term for community-based education programs specifically designed to enhance patient self- management of chronic conditions (including behavioral health concerns and chronic pain). These programs focus on https://acl.gov/programs/health-wellness/behavioral-health https://www.ncoa.org/resources/issue-brief-implementing-evidence-based-programs-address-chronic-pain/ https://www.ncoa.org/resources/issue-brief-implementing-evidence-based-programs-address-chronic-pain/ building multiple health behaviors and generalizable skills such as goal setting, decision making, problem solving, and self-monitoring, and are proven to maintain or improve health outcomes of older adults with chronic conditions. [6] Similarly, a self-management support program is a community-based, behavioral change intervention that is proven to increase one or more skills or behaviors relevant to chronic disease self-management such as physical activity or medication management.

AoA has supported CDSME and other evidence-based health promotion programs for many years through grants, as well as collaborations on various federal initiatives. For example, Prevention and Public Health Fund initiatives in 2020 supported 11 CDSME grantees.

Additionally, Older Americans Act Title III-D funding supports a broader portfolio of evidence-based disease prevention and health promotion activities. For more information about ACL’s CDSME Program, including grantee profiles, please visit: https://www.acl.gov/programs/health-wellness/chronic-disease-self-management-education-programs.

Purpose This funding opportunity is designed for applicants to propose how they will develop capacity for, deliver, and sustain evidence-based self-management education and support programs that address behavioral health and/or chronic pain among older adults and adults with disabilities.

Goal 1: Through robust partnerships, develop a strategy for addressing behavioral health and/or chronic pain among older adults and adults with disabilities living in your community.

Goal 2: Significantly increase the number of older adults and adults with disabilities who participate in evidence-based self-management education and/or self-management support programs to empower them to better manage these chronic condition(s), while concurrently pursuing the sustainability of these programs beyond the end of the grant period.

Please refer to Appendix A (Glossary of Terms) for definitions of CDSME and self-management support programs. Applicants for this funding opportunity must propose to deliver one or more CDSME and/or self-management support programs. The program(s) proposed must be on the list of pre-approved interventions found in Appendices B and C of this funding announcement.

All applicants must propose to implement at least one program that can be delivered in a remote format, i.e., by video conference, phone, mailed toolkit + phone, or some other format that does not have an in-person component. The National Council on Aging (NCOA) maintains a website that tracks remote program guidance by program (https://www.ncoa.org/news/ncoa-news/center-for-healthy-aging-news/track-health-promotion-program-guidance-during-covid-19/). However, all applicants should contact the program administrator(s) for any program(s) they are interested in delivering remotely to confirm that: 1) the programs are allowed for remote delivery; and 2) that training is readily available for applicants who need it. Note that the NCOA website includes programs on the pre-approved list in Appendix B and C, as well as other programs not on the list. For this funding opportunity, applicants may ONLY propose https://www.acl.gov/programs/health-wellness/chronic-disease-self-management-education-programs https://www.acl.gov/programs/health-wellness/chronic-disease-self-management-education-programs https://www.ncoa.org/news/ncoa-news/center-for-healthy-aging-news/track-health-promotion-program-guidance-during-covid-19/ https://www.ncoa.org/news/ncoa-news/center-for-healthy-aging-news/track-health-promotion-program-guidance-during-covid-19/ programs on the pre-approved lists in Appendix B and C.

All applicants who do not have adequate existing capacity for any in-person and/or remote program(s) they are proposing must include a letter from the program administrator indicating that they will be able to get training in the program no later than three months after the start date of the grant (if selected for funding).

References [1] “Behavioral Health.” Administration for Community Living, July 2019, https://acl.gov/programs/health-wellness/behavioral-health.

[2] Czeisler MÉ , Lane RI, Petrosky E, et al. Mental Health, Substance Use, and Suicidal Ideation During the COVID-19 Pandemic — United States, June 24–30, 2020. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2020;69:1049–1057. DOI:

http://dx.doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.mm6932a1external icon.

[3] “Depression Is Not a Normal Part of Growing Older” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Division of Population Health, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Jan. 2017, www.cdc.gov/aging/mentalhealth/depression.htm.

[4] “National Chronic Disease Self-Management Education Resource Center: Program Highlights and Charts.” National Council on Aging, Jan. 2019, www.ncoa.org/resources/national-chronic-disease-self-management-education-resource-center-program-highlights-and-charts/.

[5] “Issue Brief: Implementing Evidence-Based Programs to Address Chronic Pain.” National Council on Aging, 2018, www.ncoa.org/resources/issue-brief-implementing-evidence-based-programs-address-chronic-pain/.

[6] Brady, Teresa. “Strategies to Support Self-Management in Osteoarthritis.” AJN, American Journal of Nursing, vol. 112, no. 3, 2012, pp. 54–60., doi:10.1097/01.naj.0000412653.56291.ab.

Statutory Authority The statutory authority for grants under this Funding Opportunity Announcement is contained in the Continuing Appropriations Act, 2020, Pub.L.116-59; Older Americans Act; and the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, 42 U.S.C. § 300u-11 (Prevention and Public Health Fund).

II. Award Information Funding Instrument Type:

CA (Cooperative Agreement) Estimated Total Funding:

$ 2,000,000 Expected Number of Awards:

Award Ceiling:

$ 300,000 Per Project Period

Award Floor:

$ 200,000 Per Project Period http://www.ncoa.org/resources/issue-brief-implementing-evidence-based-programs-address-chronic-pain/ http://www.ncoa.org/resources/issue-brief-implementing-evidence-based-programs-address-chronic-pain/

Length of Project Period:

Other Additional Information on Project Periods and Explanation of 'Other' 36 month project and budget period (fully funded)

Current or previous ACL Chronic Disease Self-Management Education (CDSME) grantees are not excluded from this funding opportunity, but must provide a strong rationale for the need for additional funding. This must include significant enhancement of the network developed with prior funding, not be a continuation of current efforts/activities supported by previously awarded ACL CDSME grants (particularly because sustainability without additional federal funding has been a goal of all previous ACL CDSME funding opportunities). Applicants must propose an innovative approach that addresses the goals of this funding opportunity that features new partnerships and/or programs. Repeat awardees will be expected to meet the discrete reach (participant/completer) and sustainability goals that they included in each of their proposals.

Cooperative Agreement Terms

This is a new Cooperative Agreement with the following terms. As provided by the terms of the Federal Grant and Cooperative Agreement Act of 1977 (P.L. 95-224), this Cooperative Agreement provides for the substantial involvement and collaboration of AoA in activities that the recipient organization will carry out in accordance with the provisions of the approved grant award.

The grantee agrees to execute the responsibilities outlined below:

1. Fulfill all of the requirements of the grant initiative as outlined in this program announcement, as well as carry out project activities as reviewed, approved, and awarded.

2. Reach 25% of your target completers (for CDSME programs) and participants (for self-management support programs) by the end of Year 1, 50% by the end of Year 2, and 100% by the end of Year 3.

3. Commit to sending two project staff to a yearly CDSME-relevant professional development conference mutually agreed upon with the AoA project officer as an appropriate grantee activity. Attendance is expected annually for the duration of your grant activities (including any no-cost extension period, if applicable). Although it remains yet to be seen if future conferences will be in-person or video conference (not requiring travel), all applicants must include funds in your budgets for each budget year for two people to attend a conference in the Washington, D.C. area. Awardees will be able to apply any unused travel funds to other grant activities.

4. Meet all training, licensing, fees, or other requirements associated with the selected CDSME/self-management support program(s) to ensure compliance with all the requirements stipulated by the authorizing entity.

5. Communicate with the AoA project officer monthly, or at such other times as are agreed upon, to improve the effectiveness of the activities carried out under this Agreement.

6. Collect required program data for all program participants by way of ACL’s specific data collection forms (see Appendix D). Within 30 days of participants’ completion of the program, grantees are responsible for compiling and reporting the data to the CDSME

National Database. Data include de-identified participant demographic and health status information, attendance information, and workshop type and location. Grantees should plan to train workshop leaders on data collection practices and use of these forms.

7. Participate in any national evaluations of the program(s) they have proposed for remote delivery.

8. Comply with all other reporting requirements, as outlined in Section VI of this Funding Opportunity and the Notice of Award.

9. Include the following disclaimer on all products produced using this grant funding:

This project was supported in part by grant number 90XX#### from the Administration for Community Living, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Washington, D.C. 20201.

Grantees undertaking projects with government sponsorship are encouraged to express freely their findings and conclusions. Points of view or opinions do not, therefore, necessarily represent official ACL policy.

The AoA project officer agrees to execute the responsibilities outlined below:

1. Perform the day-to-day Federal responsibilities of managing a cooperative agreement and work with the grantee to ensure that the minimum requirements for the grant are met.

2. Work cooperatively with the grantee to clarify the programmatic and budgetary issues to be addressed by the grantee project, and, as necessary, negotiate with grantee to achieve a mutually agreed upon solution to any needs identified by the grantee or AoA.

3. Assist the grantee project leadership in understanding the strategic goals and objectives, policy perspectives, and priorities of AoA, ACL, and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; and about other federally-sponsored projects and activities relevant to activities funded under this announcement.

4. Provide technical advice to the grantee on the provision of technical support and associated tasks related to the fulfillment of the goals and objectives of this grant.

5. Attend and participate in major project events, as appropriate.

6. Communicate with the grantee project director monthly, or at such other times as are agreed upon, to improve the effectiveness of the activities carried out under this Agreement.

Once a cooperative agreement is in place, requests to modify or amend it or the work plan may be made by ACL or the awardee at any time as long as it stays within the original confines of the proposed project description. Major changes may affect the integrity of the competitive review process. Modifications and/or amendments of the Cooperative Agreement or work plan shall be effective upon the execution of an award notice. Unless ACL is authorized under the Terms and Conditions of award, 45 CFR Part 75, or other applicable regulation or statute to make unilateral amendments. When an award is issued the cooperative agreement terms and conditions from the program announcement are incorporated by reference.

III. Eligibility Information

1. Eligible Applicants Domestic public or private non-profit entities including state and local governments, Indian tribal governments and organizations (American Indian/Alaskan Native/Native American), faith-based organizations, community-based organizations, hospitals, and institutions of higher education.

2. Cost Sharing or Matching Cost Sharing / Matching Requirement:

No For awards that require matching or cost sharing by statute, recipients will be held accountable for projected commitments of non-federal resources (at or above the statutory requirement) in their application budgets and budget justifications by budget period, or by project period for fully funded awards. The applicant will be held accountable for all proposed non-federal resources as shown in the Notice of Award (NOA). A recipient's failure to provide the statutorily required matching or cost sharing amount (and any voluntary committed amount in excess) 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, recipients are not expected to provide cost sharing or matching. However, recipients are allowed to voluntarily propose a commitment of non-federal resources. If an applicant decides to voluntarily contribute non-federal resources towards project costs and the costs are accepted by ACL, the non-federal resources will be included in the approved project budget. The applicant will be held accountable for all proposed non-federal resources as shown in the Notice of Award (NOA). A recipient's failure to meet the voluntary amount of non-federal resources that was accepted by ACL as part of the approved project costs and that was identified in the approved 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.

3. Responsiveness and Screening Criteria Application Responsiveness Criteria N/A

Application Screening Criteria All applications will be screened to assure a level playing field for all applicants. Applications that fail to meet the three screening criteria described below will not be reviewed and will receive no further consideration.

In order for an application to be reviewed, it must meet the following screening requirements:

1. Applications must be submitted electronically via https://www.grants.gov by 11:59 p.m., Eastern Time, by the due date listed in section IV.3 Submission Dates and Times.

2. The Project Narrative section of the Application must be double-spaced, on 8.5” x 11” plain white paper with 1” margins on both sides, and a standard font size of no less than 11 point, preferably Times New Roman or Arial.

3. The Project Narrative must not exceed 20 pages. Project Narratives that exceed 20 pages will have the additional pages removed and only the first 20 pages of the Project Narrative will be provided to the merit reviewers for funding consideration. NOTE: The Project Work Plan, Letters of Commitment, and Vitae of Key Project Personnel are not counted as part of the Project Narrative for purposes of the 20-page limit.

Unsuccessful submissions will require authenticated verification from https://www.grants.gov indicating system problems existed at the time of your submission.

http://www.grants.gov/

For example, you will be required to provide an https://www.grants.gov submission error notification and/or tracking number in order to substantiate missing the application deadline.

IV. Application and Submission Information

1. Address to Request Application Package Application materials can be obtained from https://www.grants.gov or https://www.acl.gov/grants/applying-grants.

Please note, ACL requires applications for all announcements to be submitted electronically through http://www.grants.gov in Workspace. Grants.gov Workspace is the standard way for organizations and individuals to apply for federal grants in Grants.gov. An overview and training on Grants.gov Workspace can be found here at:

https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/workspace-overview.html

The Grants.gov registration process can take several days. If your organization is not currently registered, please begin this process immediately. For assistance with https://www.grants.gov, please contact them at support@grants.gov or 800-518-4726 between 7:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m.

Eastern Time.

At the https://www.grants.gov website, you will find information about submitting an application electronically through the site, including the hours of operation. ACL strongly recommends that you do not wait until the application due date to begin the application process because of the time involved to complete the registration process.

All applicants must have a DUNS number (https://fedgov.dnb.com/webform/) and be registered with the System for Award Management (SAM, www.sam.gov) and maintain an active SAM registration until the application process is complete, and should a grant be made, throughout the life of the award. Effective June 11, 2018, when registering or renewing your registration, you must submit a notarized letter appointing the authorized Entity Administrator. Please be sure to read the FAQs located at www.sam.gov to learn more. Applicants should allot sufficient time prior to the application deadline to finalize a new, or renew an existing registration. This action should allow you time to resolve any issues that may arise. Failure to comply with these requirements may result in your inability to submit your application or receive an award. Maintain documentation (with dates) of your efforts to register or renew at least two weeks before the deadline. See the SAM Quick Guide for Grantees at:

https://www.sam.gov/SAM/pages/public/help/samQUserGuides.jsf.

Note: Once your SAM registration is active, allow 24 to 48 hours for the information to be available in Grants.gov before you can submit an application through Grants.gov. This action should allow you time to resolve any issues that may arise. Failure to comply with these requirements may result in your inability to submit your application or receive an award.

Note: Failure to submit the correct EIN Suffix can lead to delays in identifying your organization and access to funding in the Payment Management System.

Effective October 1, 2010, HHS requires all entities that plan to apply for and ultimately receive federal grant funds from any HHS Operating/Staff Division http://www.grants.gov/ https://www.grants.gov/ https://www.acl.gov/grants/applying-grants http://www.grants.gov/ https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/applicants/workspace-overview.html https://www.grants.gov/ mailto:support@grants.gov https://www.grants.gov/ https://fedgov.dnb.com/webform/ http://www.sam.gov/ https://www.sam.gov/SAM/pages/public/help/samQUserGuides.jsf

(OPDIV/STAFFDIV) or receive subawards directly from the recipients of those grant funds to:

1. Register in SAM prior to submitting an application or plan;

2. Maintain an active SAM registration with current information at all times during which it has an active award or an application or plan under consideration by an OPDIV; and

3. Provide its DUNS number in each application or plan to submit to the OPDIV.

Additionally, all first-tier subaward recipients must have a DUNS number at the time the subaward is made.

Since October 1, 2003, The Office of Management and Budget has required applicants to provide a Dun and Bradstreet (D&B) Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number when applying for federal grants or cooperative agreements. It is entered on the SF-424. It is a unique, nine-digit identification number, which provides unique identifiers of single business entities. The DUNS number is free and easy to obtain.

Organizations can receive a DUNS number at no cost by calling the dedicated toll-free DUNS Number request line at 866-705-5711.

You must submit all documents electronically, including all information included on the SF424 and all necessary assurances and certifications. In accordance with the Federal Government’s efforts to reduce reporting burden for recipients of federal financial assistance, the general certification and representation requirements contained in the Standard Form 424B (SF-424B) – Assurances – Non-Construction Programs, and the Standard Form 424D (SF-424D) – Assurances – Construction Programs, have been standardized federal-wide.

Effective January 1, 2020, the updated common certification and representation requirements will be stored and maintained within SAM. Organizations or individuals applying for federal financial assistance as of January 1, 2020, must validate the federally required common certifications and representations annually through SAM located at SAM.gov.

After you electronically submit your application, you will receive an automatic acknowledgement from https://www.grants.gov that containshttps://www.grants.gov tracking number. The Administration for Community Living will retrieve your application form fromhttps://www.grants.gov.

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Administration for Community Living

Shannon Skowronski Email: shannon.skowronski@acl.hhs.gov

2. Content and Form of Application Submission Letter of Intent Due Date for Letter Of Intent 12/18/2020

12/18/2020 https://www.grants.gov/ https://www.grants.gov/ mailto:shannon.skowronski@acl.hhs.gov

Applicants are requested, but not required, to submit a letter of intent to apply for this funding opportunity to assist ACL in planning for the application independent review process. The purpose of the letter of intent is to allow our staff to estimate the number of independent reviewers needed and to avoid potential conflicts of interest in the review. Letters of intent should be sent to:

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

Administration for Community Living

Shannon Skowronski

Administration on Aging

Email: shannon.skowronski@acl.hhs.gov

Project Narrative The Project Narrative must be double-spaced, on 8 ½” x 11” paper with 1” margins on both sides, and a standard font size of not less than 11, preferably Times New Roman or Arial. The entirety of the Project Narrative, including tables, graphics, and headings must be double-spaced, and of a standard font size of not less than 11. You can use smaller font sizes to fill in the Standard Forms and Sample Formats outside of the Project Narrative section, such as the Project Work Plan and Budget Narrative/Justification.

Twenty pages is the maximum length allowed. Project Narratives that exceed 20 pages will have the additional pages removed and only the first 20 pages of the Project Narrative will be provided to the merit reviewers for funding consideration. The Project Work Plan, Letters of Commitment, Vitae of Key Project Personnel, and Budget Narrative/Justification are not counted as part of the Project Narrative for purposes of the 20-page limit.

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 grants under the authorizing statutes. The Project Narrative should provide a clear and concise description of your project. ACL recommends that your project narrative include the following components:

1. Project Abstract

2. Project Relevance and Current Need

3. Approach

4. Outcomes and Evaluation

5. Sustainability

6. Organizational Capacity

To assist reviewers in scoring your application, we suggest that applicants organize their proposals using the headings above.

Project Abstract

This section should include a brief description of the proposed project, including goal(s), objectives, and outcomes.

In your abstract, clearly specify:

1. The proposed CDSME and/or self-management support program(s) you plan to implement/disseminate;

2. Your targeted impact area(s) (behavioral health and/or chronic pain);

3. Your key partners; and

4. Your projected number of program completers (CDSME programs) and/or participants

(self-management support programs) for your proposed program(s) (reference Appendix E).

Project Relevance and Current Need In this section:

Briefly describe and cite (using reliable data sources such as Census, Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, etc.) the impact of behavioral health conditions and/or chronic pain (as relevant to your proposed program[s]) in your state/region/tribe and how your proposed project will address this impact.

Describe the gap between the current availability of your proposed CDSME/self-management support program(s) and the ideal situation where the program(s) are readily available for appropriate individuals with behavioral health conditions and/or chronic pain. This should include a description of the current geographic/population reach of the proposed program(s) in your state/region/tribe and the extent to which a network exists for systematically delivering and sustaining the program(s).

Include a Project Map of your state/region/tribe that shows where your proposed program(s) is already being offered (if applicable) and which areas are being selected for this project. Provide data to support why you are targeting those areas (e.g., the number of older adults or adults with disabilities with behavioral health conditions and/or chronic pain, the lack of available programs, etc.). The map should be included as an appendix.

If you are a current or past ACL CDSME grantee, state how your proposed project significantly differs from your current or previously funded work. Briefly summarize your key outcomes from that project, including what your completer/participant targets were and if you met them, the extent to which you met other key project goals, and your rationale for requesting additional funding (i.e. not a continuation of current efforts, but rather an innovative approach that features new partnerships and/or programs targeting behavioral health and/or chronic pain among older adults and adults with disabilities).

Approach

Project Description This section should:

State the project’s goals and major objectives.

Identify the specific evidence-based CDSME and/or self-management support program(s) that you propose to implement and a rationale for selecting the program(s). These programs must be on the list of pre-approved interventions in Appendix B and/or Appendix C. Do not propose programs that are not included on these lists.

Propose at least one program from the pre-approved list that can be delivered in a remote format, i.e., by video conference, phone, mailed toolkit + phone, or some other format that does not have an in-person component. The National Council on Aging (NCOA) maintains a website that tracks remote program guidance by program (https://www.ncoa.org/news/ncoa-news/center-for-healthy-aging-news/track-health-promotion-program-guidance-during-covid-19/). All applicants should contact the program administrator(s) for any program(s) they are interested in delivering remotely to confirm that: 1) the programs are allowed for remote delivery; and 2) that training is readily available for applicants who need it. Note that the NCOA website includes programs on the pre-approved list in Appendix B and C, as well as other programs not on the list. For this funding opportunity, applicants may ONLY propose programs on the pre-approved lists in Appendix B and C.

State the projected total number of participants that you expect to reach through your proposed CDSME and/or self-management support program that you propose. For any group series program, provide a target number of completers and a specific target completion rate. Provide a rationale for these targets, e.g., by referencing your previous experience delivering CDSME and/or self-management support programs, the number of older adults and adults with disabilities in your state/region/tribe with behavioral health conditions and/or chronic pain, saturation of target participant population (i.e. “low hanging fruit”), partner commitments, referral systems, and other factors. Targets should be realistic and achievable. In developing your participant/completer targets, please reference the Guidance for Administration for Community Living 2020 Chronic Disease Self-Management Education Grant Applicants: Considerations for Estimating Participation and Completer Targets in Appendix E.

Provide a coherent approach to implementing/disseminating the proposed CDSME and/or self-management support program(s).

Describe how your approach will engage approximately 25% of your completer target (CDSME programs) and participant target (self-management support programs) by the end of Year 1, 50% by the end of Year 2, and 100% of your target by the end of Year 3.

Describe any existing CDSME, self-management support, and other evidence-based prevention initiatives in your area and how you plan to coordinate with and leverage these efforts. This should include a description of any existing capacity to deliver the proposed program(s), i.e., the number of host sites, implementation sites, and delivery personnel (such as trainers and leaders/coaches).

If your existing infrastructure for the proposed program(s) is inadequate, please describe and provide a rationale for any proposed training(s). If you require training, you must include a letter of support from the program developer(s) and/or entity that will provide training with your application. The letter should state that the training will be provided no more than three months after the applicant receives the Notice of Award from ACL.

For any remote program(s) proposed, please identify the IT/technology support needs you anticipate and provide a detailed plan for how you will address these.

Describe how you intend to identify, market to, and recruit participants for your proposed program(s).

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Describe any major challenges and barriers you anticipate encountering, and how your project will address those challenges and barriers.

Work Plan You should also provide a project Work Plan for Years 1, 2, and 3 which reflects and is consistent with the Project Narrative and Budgets. This Work Plan should include a statement of the project’s overall goals, anticipated outcomes, key objectives, and the major tasks/action steps that will be pursued to achieve the goals and outcomes, as well as identify timeframes involved (including start- and end-dates) and the lead person responsible for completing the task.

The Work Plan can be attached to your application as an appendix.

Outcomes and Evaluation Project Outcomes This section must clearly identify the quantifiable and measurable outcomes that will result from this project, including progress towards the above-noted grant goals.

List measurable outcomes in the Work Plan grid under “Measurable Outcomes” in addition to any discussion included in the narrative.

Any proposed outcomes should address the goals of this funding opportunity and be quantifiable, measurable, and likely to be achieved during the project period.

Quality Assurance Describe your plans for developing and implementing a quality assurance program to ensure continuous quality improvement and ongoing methods for monitoring the fidelity of your proposed programs. This section should include the methods, techniques, and tools that will be used to:

1. Monitor and track progress on the project’s tasks and objectives;

2. Monitor whether the proposed programs are being implemented with fidelity*, as well as identify processes for corrective actions;

3. Ensure the ACL-required dataset is being collected and reported accurately by the implementation sites and how you will identify and troubleshoot any potential problems);

and

4. Document the lessons learned both positive and negative.

* Fidelity is the extent to which delivery of the evidence-based program consistently adheres to the program’s intent and design. In other words, the extent to which you are delivering the program exactly how it is meant to be implemented. Maintaining fidelity to the program is essential to ensure that your participants receive the intended health benefits from the program.

Dissemination This section should describe the method that will be used to disseminate the project’s results and findings in a timely manner and in easily understandable formats, to parties who might be interested in using the results to inform practice, service delivery, program development, and/or policy-making, including and especially those parties who would be interested in replicating the project.

Applicants should also clearly state their commitment to cooperating with any broader efforts led by ACL and/or the National CDSME Resource Center to help others understand how they could replicate the project activities in their communities.

In addition, all applicants should state their commitment to participating in to any national evaluations of the program(s) they have proposed for remote delivery.

Sustainability This section should:

Describe how you will develop strategies to support the proposed programs during and beyond the grant period. For more information on business planning and financial sustainability, please visit https://www.ncoa.org/center- for-healthy-aging/basics-of-evidence-based-programs/offering-evidence-based-programs. Grantees’ sustainability plans should utilize a mulit-payor approach, i.e., funding from healthcare, business, philanthropy, public funding, etc., and not be limited to federal funding like the Older Americans Act Title IIID.

Describe your plans to identify and convene strategic partners and other stakeholders on a regular basis via a steering committee or another formal advisory group. The function of the steering committee is to provide guidance on key issues relevant to your proposed work plan to promote the success of your project. Indicate the specific role that each partner/stakeholder will assume with respect to helping the applicant meet its proposed deliverables. At least two of the partners should provide a firm commitment at the time of application to taking action to help secure and/or providing funding to sustain the program(s) beyond the end of the grant period. Strategic partners should include state and/or community-level stakeholders that address behavioral health and/or chronic pain.

Letters of Commitment Provide letters of support confirming commitments to the project by key collaborating organizations and agencies. These letters should describe the specific role of each partner in the project (should it be funded). Please include the letters of commitment as an appendix to your application and use a Table of Contents to indicate which letters represent which partners, clearly specifying the three letters that are required:

1. State Unit on Aging. It is expected that the State Unit on Aging (SUA) will provide a letter affirming their support of your proposed project. If the State Unit on Aging (SUA) declines to provide a letter, you must provide documentation indicating this (i.e., an email from the SUA stating that letters of support are not being provided). If you are a SUA applicant, include a letter from your SUA director. This requirement is applicable for all applicants except tribes/tribal entities. You can locate applicable SUA information using the search feature on https://eldercare.acl.gov/Public/Index.aspx.

If you are a tribe or tribal entity, you must include a tribal resolution that states the reasons you are applying for the grant, and your commitment to executing the grant activities (should it be awarded).

https://www.ncoa.org/center-for-healthy-aging/basics-of-evidence-based-programs/offering-evidence-based-programs/sustainability/ https://www.ncoa.org/center-for-healthy-aging/basics-of-evidence-based-programs/offering-evidence-based-programs/sustainability/ https://www.ncoa.org/center-for-healthy-aging/basics-of-evidence-based-programs/offering-evidence-based-programs/sustainability/ https://eldercare.acl.gov/Public/Index.aspx

2. Area Agency(ies) on Aging. It is expected that relevant Area Agencies on Aging will provide a letter affirming their support of your proposed project. Include a letter from each Area Agency on Aging (AAA) that reaches/covers your target geographic area (a letter from the state AAA association is not permissible in lieu of this requirement). If you are an applicant from a Single State Authority (Alaska, Delaware, Nevada, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Washington DC, and Wyoming) or tribe/tribal entity, this requirement is not applicable). You can locate applicable AAA information using the search feature on https://eldercare.acl.gov/Public/Index.aspx.

3. Program Administrator. Applicants are expected to begin delivering their proposed CDSME/self-management support programs within three to six months after receiving their Notice of Award. If you require training for the evidence-based programs you propose before you can begin delivery of the programs, your application must include letters of support from the program administrators that will be providing training. The letter(s) should state that the training will be provided within three months of award notification. ACL encourages applicants to have a thorough discussion with the program administrator to ensure that applicants: 1) fully understand the requirements and length of the training/certification process; 2) understand – and can budget appropriately – for the full cost of the training/certification; and 3) proposed an appropriate target population for the program(s) selected. For any program(s) identified for remote delivery, applicants should also confirm with the administrator that the program(s) proposed are indeed available in this format.

Any organization that is specifically named to have a significant role in carrying out the project should be considered an essential collaborator. The quality of the letter content (i.e., specificity with respect to the role of that partner) is more important than the quantity of letters submitted with your application. Signed letters of commitment should be scanned and included as attachments. Letters of commitment must be uploaded as part of the applicant package via Grants.gov – hard copies will not be accepted.

Organizational Capacity In this section:

Describe how the applicant agency is organized, the nature and scope of its work, and/or the capabilities it possesses. It may be helpful to include an organizational chart as an appendix to your application. Also include information about any contractual organization(s) that will have a significant role in implementing project and achieving project goals.

Describe any experience with health promotion programs (particularly those that are evidence-based) and how you will leverage this experience to integrate your proposed CDSME and/or self-management support program(s) within your organization.

Depending on your target population(s), describe any experience serving older adults/adults with disabilities who experience behavioral health concerns and/or chronic pain.

Describe the project management, including the roles and responsibilities of project staff, consultants, and partner organizations, as well as how they will contribute to achieving the project’s objectives and outcomes. You should:

https://eldercare.acl.gov/Public/Index.aspx o Provide a description of the qualifications and experience of the key personnel for this proposed project, including for the Project Director. Application must include resumes or CVs as an attachment.

o Specify who will 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 ACL.

o Detail the approach that will be used to monitor and track progress on the project’s tasks and objectives.

Budget Narrative/Justification Applicants are required to provide a detailed Budget Narrative/Justification. Your budget should be aligned with the proposed activities in your Project Narrative and Work Plan. It should also include travel for two project staff to a yearly CDSME-relevant professional development conference (see item #3 in grantee section of Cooperative Agreement Terms).

The Budget Narrative/Justification can be provided using the format included in the document, Budget Narrative/Justification Sample Format. Applicants are encouraged to pay particular attention to this document, which provides an example of the level of detail sought.

Applicants must submit the following:

Budget Narrative/Justification for Year 1;

Budget Narrative/Justification for Year 2;

Budget Narrative/Justification for Year 3; and A total, combined three-year budget.

3. Submission Dates and Times Due Date for Applications 02/02/2021

02/02/2021 Date for Informational Conference Call:

12/15/2020 Applications that fail to meet the application due date will not be reviewed and will receive no further consideration. You are strongly encouraged to submit your application a minimum of 3-5 days prior to the application closing date. Do not wait until the last day in the event you encounter technical difficulties, either on your end or, with http://www.grants.gov. Grants.gov can take up to 48 hours to notify you of a successful submission.

In addition, if you are submitting your application via Grants.gov, you must (1) be designated by your organization as an Authorized Organization Representative (AOR) and (2) register yourself with Grants.gov as an AOR. Details on these steps are outlined at the following Grants.gov web page: http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/register.html.

After you electronically submit your application, you will receive from Grants.gov an automatic notification of receipt that contains a Grants.gov tracking number. (This notification indicates receipt by Grants.gov only)

If you are experiencing problems submitting your application through Grants.gov, please contact the Grants.gov Support Desk, toll free, at 1-800-518-4726. You must obtain a Grants.gov http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/register.html

Support Desk Case Number and must keep a record of it.

If you are prevented from electronically submitting your application on the application deadline because of technical problems with the Grants.gov system, please contact the person listed under For Further Information Contact in section VII of this notice and provide a written explanation of the technical problem you experienced with Grants.gov, along with the Grants.gov Support Desk Case Number. ACL will contact you after a determination is made on whether your application will be accepted.

Note: We will not consider your application for further review if you failed to fully register to submit your application to Grants.gov before the application deadline or if the technical problem you experienced is unrelated to the Grants.gov system.

If for any reason (including submitting to the wrong funding opportunity number or making corrections/updates) an application is submitted more than once prior to the application due date, ACL will…