Cooperative Agreements to Promote Adolescent Health through School-Based Surveillance and Risk Behavior Reduction

Funding is to improve the health and well-being of our nation's youth by working with education and health agencies, and other organizations to reduce HIV, STD, teen pregnancy, and related risk behaviors among middle and high school students. The pro

This funding supports a multi-component, multi-level effort to support youth reaching adulthood in the healthiest possible way. The three components are: 1: School-Based Surveillance 2: School-Based HIV/STD Prevention 3: Technical Assistance and Capacity Building. Component 2 consists of three strategies: 2A - Sexual Health Education (SHE); 2B - Sexual Health Services (SHS); and 2C - Safe and Supportive Environments (SSE).

Component 1 eligible applicants are limited to: State Governments or their Bona Fide Agents (includes the District of Columbia); Local Governments or their Bona Fide Agents; Territorial Governments or their Bona Fide Agents in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, American Samoa, Guam, the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and the Republic of Palau Governments; American Indian or Alaska Native tribal governments (federally recognized or state-recognized); and American Indian or Alaska native tribally designated organizations. If an education agency declines to apply for funding, the health agency in its jurisdiction or the health agency's Bona Fide Agent may apply on its behalf. To obtain and then maintain funding for Component 2, local education agencies are required to apply for and meet the additional requirements of Component 1. While agencies are encouraged to apply for funding for both YRBS and Profiles, education or health agencies in jurisdictions that are not applying for Component 2 funding are permitted to apply for a reduced amount of funding under Component 1 for a single survey (either YRBS or Profiles). Component 2 eligible applicants are limited to local education agencies (LEA) only. An LEA must demonstrate an ability to reach a minimum of 10,000 students in priority schools (high schools, or a combination of middle and high schools) with the proposed work plan in order for the application to be eligible for review. LEA with an enrollment of less than 10,000 students may combine with other geographically contiguous districts to create a consortium application. In doing so, the consortium must designate a single LEA to submit the application and, if funded, administer the program. This designated LEA will become the fiscal agent and responsible agency for all activities under this cooperative agreement. Existing regional structures such as Boards of Cooperative Educational Services (BOCES) or their equivalent may also apply. Component 2 applicants are also required to apply for and meet the requirements of Component 1. Component 3 eligibility is open to all applicants.

Official state education agencies in states and territories in the United States (including the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Guam, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, the Republic of Palau, and the U.S. Virgin Islands); local education agencies; public and private non-profit organizations that serve education organizations; school-aged youth; and school personnel including, but not limited to, teachers, school nurses, paraprofessionals, and school administrators.

Funding will build the capacity of districts and schools to contribute to reducing HIV infection, other STD, and related risk behaviors among adolescents, as well as reducing disparities in HIV infection and other STD among specific adolescent sub-populations. Recipients will improve the health of middle school and high school students by:  * collecting and using quality surveillance data;  * strengthening HIV/STD instruction and delivery;  * strengthening access to/use of key health services; and  * establishing / maintaining safe and supportive environments.

Financial assistance is provided for a 12-month budget period with a period of performance of up to five years subject to the availability of funds and satisfactory progress of the recipient.

Applicants should inform their state single point of contact (SPOC) as early as possible that they are applying prospectively for federal assistance and request instructions on the state's process.

Applications will be evaluated on the review criteria described in the Notice of Funding Opportunity Announcements (NOFOs). In general, the review and selection process of complete and responsive applications to the NOFO consists of determination of the scientific and technical merit by objective or peer review, availability of funds, and relevance of program priorities and the priorities of CDC.

After review and approval, a Notice of Award (NoA) will be prepared and processed, along with appropriate notification to the public.

Check Grants.gov for any relevant NOFO information regarding processes for applying for assistance.

Cooperative agreement period of performance is 1 to 5 years. After initial awards, and subject to availability of funds, projects may be continued non-competitively contingent upon satisfactory progress by the recipient (as documented in required reports) and the determination that continued funding is in the best interest of the Federal government.