[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 133 (Friday, July 11, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 37273-37274]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-18123]
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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
Supplement to the Cooperative Agreement With the National
Association of State Alcohol and Drug Abuse Directors, Inc.
AGENCY: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
(SAMHSA), HHS.
ACTION: Notice of planned single-source supplemental award.
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SUMMARY: SAMHSA plans to supplement an ongoing cooperative agreement
between SAMHSA and the National Association of State Alcohol and Drug
Abuse Directors, Inc. (NASADAD). The supplement augments an effort
already underway, and will fund a detailed inventory of prevention
activities funded by the ``20 percent set-aside'' within the Substance
Abuse Prevention and Treatment Block Grant, as well as a detailed
inventory and analysis of each State's data capability. Consistent with
the goal of the existing cooperative agreement between SAMHSA and
NASADAD, these projects will support the States in their efforts to
establish, improve, and maintain viable and effective substance abuse
systems that meet the needs of their clients.
SAMHSA has based its decision to fund these projects through the
cooperative agreement on NASADAD's unique position as an association of
Single State Agencies (SSAs) for substance abuse services. As the only
National organization representing State substance abuse agencies,
NASADAD's membership is composed of the State officials directly
responsible for the administration of public substance abuse policies
and services in the respective States. NASADAD includes State
membership of all but one of the Substance Abuse Prevention and
Treatment (SAPT) Block Grant recipients, as well as full and continuous
communication with the leadership and staff of these agencies. Its
membership also administers the 20 percent of the States' allotments
from the SAPT Block Grant that are required by law to be used for
substance abuse prevention efforts. NASADAD enjoys the confidence of
its member States, providing the requisite access to carry out the
activities of these supplements.
In view of the above considerations, SAMHSA has determined that a
supplement to the existing cooperative agreement is the most effective
way to assist the States by developing a detailed inventory of
prevention activities and an inventory and analysis of each State's
data capability. The prevention set-aside supplement would address the
needs of State and local government officials, the service provider
community, other members of the affected public and the Federal
government for further information regarding the use of the set aside.
While the overall use of illicit drugs has declined in recent years,
there has been an increase in the use of marijuana by youth in the
United States. This increase is of great concern to the public and the
State and Federal governments. In response, the Office of National Drug
Control Policy has developed a National Drug Abuse Strategy, the first
goal of which is designed to reduce illicit drug abuse by youth.
Similarly, the Department of Health and Human Services has designed a
Secretarial Initiative addressing this important issue. While Federal
efforts can make an important contribution to reducing illicit drug use
by youth, States and local governments realize it is essential that
they refine and add to the existing base of prevention programs. For
maximum effectiveness, these State and local efforts must be science-
based and coordinated with other programs. This project will assist
States and communities to design more effective programs, and will
complement other
[[Page 37274]]
SAMHSA initiatives to assist the States and service providers such as
the Center for Substance Abuse Prevention's (CSAP) State Incentive
Grant Program, as well as CSAP's new Regional Centers for the
Application of Prevention Technology. The project will also foster
technology transfer by making available to all a detailed analysis of
each State's prevention activities.
The supplement related to State data capability is intended to
address the States' need for information regarding each State's
capability to collect, analyze, and report data on the need for, and
provision of, substance abuse treatment and prevention services. The
States are currently engaged in a variety of related data collection
activities funded directly by, or under the maintenance of effort
requirements of, the SAPT Block Grant. These activities include
prevention and treatment needs assessments, evaluation of managed care
activities, treatment outcome performance pilot studies, a prevention
minimum data set, the uniform facilities data set, the treatment
episode data set, and numerous data systems initiated and maintained by
individual States. By providing information on data activities in all
States, this project will allow each State to learn from the experience
of others and improve the availability and quality of substance abuse
prevention and treatment services.
The Federal government is moving aggressively in the direction of
assessing performance by measuring outcomes. In this context, the
inventory and analysis of State data capability will assist the States
in addressing two critical needs. First, it will help them efficiently
use Federal funds for data collection activities, thereby improving the
performance of the data systems themselves. Second, it will clarify the
States' capabilities to measure the performance of their service
programs. This project will assist each State in improving its data
structure and will provide both the States and the Federal government
with the information necessary to plan a realistic transition to
performance-based measurement.
This notice is not a request for applications; only NASADAD is
eligible to apply for the supplement to the existing cooperative
agreement. If the NASADAD supplemental application is recommended for
approval by the Special Review Committee and the SAMHSA National
Advisory Council, funds will be made available.
Authority: The supplement will be made under the authority of
Sections 501(d)(5) and 1935(b)(1)(C) of the Public Health Service
Act, as amended (42 U.S.C. 290aa and 42 U.S.C. 300x-35).
The Catalogue of Federal Domestic Assistance number for this
program is 93.119.
Availability of Funds
Up to $200,000 in total costs (direct and indirect costs) will be
available for the prevention inventory, and up to $200,000 total costs
(direct and indirect costs) will be available for the evaluation of
State data capabilities.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Stephen G. Wing, SAMHSA Office of
Policy and Program Coordination, Room 12C-05 Parklawn Building, (301-
443-0593). The mailing address is: 5600 Fishers Lane, Rockville,
Maryland 20857.
Dated: July 7, 1997.
Richard Kopanda.
Executive Officer, SAMHSA.
[FR Doc. 97-18123 Filed 7-10-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4162-20-P
