06-4936. Office of Safe and Drug-Free Schools; Overview Information; Grants for the Integration of Schools and Mental Health Systems; Notice Inviting Applications for New Awards for Fiscal Year (FY) 2006

Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 84.215M

DATES:

Applications Available: May 30, 2006.

Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: July 10, 2006.

Deadline for Intergovernmental Review: August 9, 2006.

Eligible Applicants: State educational agencies (SEAs), local educational agencies (LEAs), and Indian tribes. Additional eligibility requirements are listed elsewhere in this notice under section I. Funding Opportunity Description, Additional Requirements.

Estimated Available Funds: $4,861,300. Contingent upon the availability of funds and the quality of applications, we may make additional awards in FY 2007 from the list of unfunded applications from this competition.

Estimated Range of Awards: $150,000-$350,000.

Estimated Average Size of Awards: $243,065.

Estimated Number of Awards: 20.

Note:

The Department is not bound by any estimates in this notice.

Project Period: Up to 18 months.

Full Text of Announcement

I. Funding Opportunity Description

Purpose of Program: Grants for the Integration of Schools and Mental Health Systems will provide funds to increase student access to high-quality mental health care by developing innovative approaches that link school systems with the local mental health system.

Priority: In accordance with 34 CFR 75.105(b)(2)(iv), this priority is from section 5541 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, as amended (ESEA) (20 U.S.C. 7269).

Absolute Priority: For FY 2006 and any subsequent year in which we make awards based on the list of unfunded applications from this competition, this priority is an absolute priority. Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(3) we consider only applications that meet this priority.

This priority is:

Increasing student access to quality mental health care by developing innovative approaches to link local school systems with the local mental health system. A program funded under this absolute priority must include all of the following activities:

(1) Enhancing, improving, or developing collaborative efforts between school-based service systems and mental health service systems to provide, enhance, or improve prevention, diagnosis, and treatment services to students.

(2) Enhancing the availability of crisis intervention services, appropriate referrals for students potentially in need of mental health services, and ongoing mental health services.

(3) Providing training for the school personnel and mental health professionals who will participate in the program.

(4) Providing technical assistance and consultation to school systems and mental health agencies and families participating in the program.

(5) Providing linguistically appropriate and culturally competent services.

(6) Evaluating the effectiveness of the program in increasing student access to quality mental health services, and making recommendations to the Secretary about sustainability of the program.

Additional Requirements: The following requirements are from the notice of final requirements for this program published elsewhere in this issue of the Federal Register.

Requirement 1—Coordination of Activities

Recipients of a grant under the Grants for the Integration of Schools and Mental Health Systems program are required to coordinate project activities with projects funded under the Department of Health and Human Services' Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration's Mental Health Transformation State Infrastructure Grants (MHTSIG) program (CFDA 93.243), if a grantee's State receives a MHTSIG award. If a recipient of a grant under the Grants for the Integration of Schools and Mental Health Systems program has received or receives a grant under the Department of Education's Emergency Response and Crisis Management (ERCM) program (CFDA 84.184E), the recipient must coordinate mental health service activities under this grant with those planned under its ERCM grant. Projects funded by this program must complement, rather than duplicate, existing or ongoing efforts.

Requirement 2—Safe Schools/Healthy Students Recipients Excluded From Receiving Awards

Former or current recipients under the Safe Schools/Healthy Students program (CFDA 84.184L) are not eligible to receive a grant under this program. Recipients of Safe Schools/Healthy Students awards are responsible for completing a scope of work under that program that is very similar to the activities required under the Grants for the Integration of Schools and Mental Health Systems program. By restricting the applicant pool to eliminate former or current grantees under the Safe Schools/Healthy Students program, we will be able to focus Federal funds on entities that have not yet received Federal support to develop and implement strong linkages with other entities in their communities for the provision of mental health services to students.

Applicants may compete for both the Grants for the Integration of Schools and Mental Health Systems and Safe Schools/Healthy Students programs in the same year; if applicants are deemed eligible for funding in both grant competitions, the applicant will receive the larger and more comprehensive of the awards.

Requirement 3—Preliminary Interagency Agreement (IAA)

Applicants for an award under the Grants for the Integration of Schools and Mental Health Systems program must develop and submit with their applications a preliminary interagency agreement (IAA). The IAA must contain the signatures of an authorized representative of at least (1) one or more State or local educational agencies or Indian tribes; (2) one or more juvenile justice authorities; and (3) one or more State or local public mental health agencies. This preliminary IAA would confirm the commitment of these partners to complete the work under the proposed project, if funded. If the applicant is funded, recipients will complete a final IAA as required by section 5541(e) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, as amended (ESEA). The final IAA must be completed and submitted to us, signed by all parties, no later than 12 months after the award date.

Applications that do not include the proposed preliminary IAA with all of the required signatures will be rejected and not be considered for funding.

Requirement 4—Inclusion of Parental Consent Considerations in Final IAA

The final IAA must include a description of policies and procedures that would ensure appropriate parental or caregiver consent for any planned services, pursuant to State or local laws or other requirements.

Requirement 5—Provision of Direct Services

Grant funds under this program must not be used to provide direct services to students.

Program Authority: 20 U.S.C. 7269.

Applicable Regulations: (a) The Education Department General Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) in 34 CFR parts 74, 75, 77, 79, 80, 81, 82, 84, 85, 97, 98, 99, and 299.

(b) The notice of final requirements for this program published elsewhere in this issue of the Federal Register.

Note:

The regulations in 34 CFR part 79 apply to all applicants except federally recognized Indian tribes.

II. Award Information

Type of Award: Discretionary grants.

Estimated Available Funds: $4,861,300. Contingent upon the availability of funds and the quality of applications, we may make additional awards in FY 2007 from the list of unfunded applications from this competition.

Estimated Range of Awards: $150,000-$350,000.

Estimated Average Size of Awards: $243,065.

Estimated Number of Awards: 20.

Note:

The Department is not bound by any estimates in this notice.

Project Period: Up to 18 months.

III. Eligibility Information

1. Eligible Applicants: SEAs, LEAs, and Indian tribes. Additional eligibility requirements are listed elsewhere in this notice under section I. Funding Opportunity Description, Additional Requirements.

2. Cost Sharing or Matching: This program does not involve cost sharing or matching but does have a supplement-not-supplant requirement. Any services provided through programs carried out under this grant must supplement, and not supplant, existing mental health services, including any services provided under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (20 U.S.C. 1400 et seq.).

IV. Application and Submission Information

1. Address To Request Application Package: Education Publications Center (ED Pubs), P.O. Box 1398, Jessup, MD 20794-1398. Telephone (toll free): 1-877-433-7827. FAX: [phone]. If you use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD), you may call (toll free): 1-877-576-7734.

You may also contact ED Pubs at its Web site: http://www.ed.gov/​pubs/​edpubs.html or you may contact ED Pubs at its e-mail address: [e-mail].

If you request an application from ED Pubs, be sure to identify this competition as follows: CFDA number 84.215 M.

You may also download the application from the Department of Education's Web site at: http://www.ed.gov/​fund/​grant/​apply/​grantapps/​index.html.

Individuals with disabilities may obtain a copy of the application package in an alternative format (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, or computer diskette) by contacting the program contact person listed in this section.

The public can also obtain applications directly from the program office: Dana Carr, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., room 3E242, Washington, DC 20202-6450. Telephone: [phone] or by e-mail: [e-mail].

If you use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD), you may call the Federal Relay Service (FRS) at 1-800-877-8339.

2. Content and Form of Application Submission: Requirements concerning the content of an application, including the requirements for Interagency Agreements, together with the forms you must submit, are in the application package for this program.

3. Submission Dates and Times: Applications Available: May 30, 2006.

Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: July 10, 2006.

Applications for grants under this competition may be submitted electronically using the Electronic Grant Application System (e-Application) accessible through the Department's e-Grants system, or in paper format by mail or hand delivery. For information (including dates and times) about how to submit your application electronically, or by mail or hand delivery, please refer to section IV.6. Other Submission Requirements in this notice.

We do not consider an application that does not comply with the deadline requirements.

Deadline for Intergovernmental Review: August 9, 2006.

4. Intergovernmental Review: This program is subject to Executive Order 12372 and the regulations in 34 CFR part 79. Information about Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs under Executive Order 12372 is in the application package for this competition.

5. Funding Restrictions: Grant funds under this program will not be used to provide direct services to students. We reference additional regulations outlining funding restrictions in the Applicable Regulations section of this notice.

6. Other Submission Requirements: Applications for grants under this competition may be submitted electronically or in paper format by mail or hand delivery.

a. Electronic Submission of Applications.

If you choose to submit your application to us electronically, you must use e-Application available through the Department's e-Grants system, accessible through the e-Grants portal page at: http://e-grants.ed.gov.

While completing your electronic application, you will be entering data online that will be saved into a database. You may not e-mail an electronic copy of a grant application to us.

Please note the following:

• Your participation in e-Application is voluntary.
• You must complete the electronic submission of your grant application by 4:30 p.m., Washington, DC time, on the application deadline date. The e-Application system will not accept an application for this competition after 4:30 p.m., Washington, DC time, on the application deadline date. Therefore, we strongly recommend that you do not wait until the application deadline date to begin the application process.
• The regular hours of operation of the e-Grants Web site are 6 a.m. Monday until 7 p.m. Wednesday; and 6 a.m. Thursday until midnight Saturday, Washington, DC time. Please note that the system is unavailable on Sundays, and between 7 p.m. on Wednesdays and 6 a.m. on Thursdays, Washington, DC time, for maintenance. Any modifications to these hours are posted on the e-Grants Web site.
• You will not receive additional point value because you submit your application in electronic format, nor will we penalize you if you submit your application in paper format.
• You must submit all documents electronically, including the Application for Federal Education Assistance (ED 424), Budget Information—Non-Construction Programs (ED 524), and all necessary assurances and certifications. If you choose to submit your application electronically, you must attach any narrative sections of your application as files in a .DOC (document), .RTF (rich text), or .PDF (Portable Document) format. If you upload a file type other than the three file types specified above or submit a password protected file, we will not review that material.
• Your electronic application must comply with any page limit requirements described in this notice.
• Prior to submitting your electronic application, you may wish to print a copy of it for your records.
• After you electronically submit your application, you will receive an automatic acknowledgment that will include a PR/Award number (an identifying number unique to your application).
• Within three working days after submitting your electronic application, fax a signed copy of the ED 424 to the Application Control Center after following these steps:

(1) Print ED 424 from e-Application.

(2) The applicant's Authorizing Representative must sign this form.

(3) Place the PR/Award number in the upper right hand corner of the hard-copy signature page of the ED 424.

(4) Fax the signed ED 424 to the Application Control Center at [phone].

• We may request that you provide us original signatures on other forms at a later date.

Application Deadline Date Extension in Case of System Unavailability: If you are prevented from electronically submitting your application on the application deadline date because the e-Application system is unavailable, we will grant you an extension of one business day to enable you to transmit your application electronically, by mail, or by hand delivery. We will grant this extension if—

(1) You are a registered user of e-Application and you have initiated an electronic application for this competition; and

(2)(a) The e-Application system is unavailable for 60 minutes or more between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m., Washington, DC time, on the application deadline date; or

(b) The e-Application system is unavailable for any period of time between 3:30 p.m. and 4:30 p.m., Washington, DC time, on the application deadline date.

We must acknowledge and confirm these periods of unavailability before granting you an extension. To request this extension or to confirm our acknowledgment of any system unavailability, you may contact either (1) the person listed elsewhere in this notice under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT (see VII. Agency Contact) or (2) the e-Grants help desk at 1-888-336-8930. If the system is down and therefore the application deadline is extended, an e-mail will be sent to all registered users who have initiated an e-Application.

Extensions referred to in this section apply only to the unavailability of the Department's e-Application system. If the e-Application system is available, and, for any reason, you are unable to submit your application electronically or you do not receive an automatic acknowledgment of your submission, you may submit your application in paper format by mail or hand delivery in accordance with the instructions in this notice.

b. Submission of Paper Applications by Mail.

If you submit your application in paper format by mail (through the U.S. Postal Service or a commercial carrier), you must mail the original and two copies of your application, on or before the application deadline date, to the Department at the applicable following address:

By mail through the U.S. Postal Service: U.S. Department of Education, Application Control Center, Attention: (CFDA Number 84.215M), 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20202-4260; or

By mail through a commercial carrier: U.S. Department of Education, Application Control Center—Stop 4260, Attention: (CFDA Number 84.215M), 7100 Old Landover Road, Landover, MD 20785-1506.

Regardless of which address you use, you must show proof of mailing consisting of one of the following:

(1) A legibly dated U.S. Postal Service postmark,

(2) A legible mail receipt with the date of mailing stamped by the U.S. Postal Service,

(3) A dated shipping label, invoice, or receipt from a commercial carrier, or

(4) Any other proof of mailing acceptable to the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Education.

If you mail your application through the U.S. Postal Service, we do not accept either of the following as proof of mailing:

(1) A private metered postmark, or

(2) A mail receipt that is not dated by the U.S. Postal Service.

If your application is postmarked after the application deadline date, we will not consider your application.

Note:

The U.S. Postal Service does not uniformly provide a dated postmark. Before relying on this method, you should check with your local post office.

c. Submission of Paper Applications by Hand Delivery.

If you submit your application in paper format by hand delivery, you (or a courier service) must deliver the original and two copies of your application by hand, on or before the application deadline date, to the Department at the following address: U.S. Department of Education, Application Control Center, Attention: (CFDA Number 84.215M), 550 12th Street, SW., Room 7041, Potomac Center Plaza, Washington, DC 20202-4260.

The Application Control Center accepts hand deliveries daily between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Washington, DC time, except Saturdays, Sundays, and Federal holidays.

Note for Mail or Hand Delivery of Paper Applications: If you mail or hand deliver your application to the Department:

(1) You must indicate on the envelope and—if not provided by the Department—in Item 4 of the ED 424 the CFDA number—and suffix letter, if any—of the competition under which you are submitting your application.

(2) The Application Control Center will mail a grant application receipt acknowledgment to you. If you do not receive the grant application receipt acknowledgment within 15 business days from the application deadline date, you should call the U.S. Department of Education Application Control Center at [phone].

V. Application Review Information

1. Selection Criteria: The selection criteria for this program are from 34 CFR 75.210 and are listed in the application package.

2. Review and Selection Process: Additional factors we consider in selecting an application for an award are the equitable distribution of grants among the geographical regions of the United States and among urban, suburban, and rural populations.

VI. Award Administration Information

1. Award Notices: If your application is successful, we notify your U.S. Representative and U.S. Senators and send you a Grant Award Notification (GAN). We may also notify you informally.

If your application is not evaluated or not selected for funding, we notify you.

2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements: We identify administrative and national policy requirements in the application package and reference these and other requirements in the Applicable Regulations section of this notice.

We reference the regulations outlining the terms and conditions of an award in the Applicable Regulations section of this notice and include these and other specific conditions in the GAN. The GAN also incorporates your approved application as part of your binding commitments under the grant.

3. Reporting: At the end of your project period, you must submit a final performance report, including financial information, as directed by the Secretary. You must also submit an interim progress report twelve months after the award date. This report should provide the most current performance and financial expenditure information, including baseline data.

4. Performance Measures: The Secretary has established the following key performance measures for assessing the effectiveness of the Grants for the Integration of Schools and Mental Health Systems program:

a. The percentage of schools served by the grant that have comprehensive, detailed linkage protocols in place; and

b. The percentage of school personnel served by the grant who are trained to make appropriate referrals to mental health services.

These two measures constitute the Department's measures of success for this program. Consequently, applicants for a grant under this program are advised to give careful consideration to these two measures in conceptualizing the approach and evaluation of their proposed project. If funded, applicants will be asked to collect and report data in their performance and final reports about progress toward these measures. The Secretary will also use this information to respond to the evaluation requirements concerning this program established in section 5541(f) of the ESEA.

VII. Agency Contact

For Further Information Contact: Dana Carr, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., room 3E242, Washington, DC 20202-6450. Telephone: [phone] or by e-mail: [e-mail].

If you use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD), you may call the Federal Relay Service (FRS) at 1-800-877-8339.

Individuals with disabilities may obtain this document in an alternative format (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, or computer diskette) on request to the program contact person listed in this section.

VIII. Other Information

Electronic Access to This Document: You may view this document, as well as all other documents of this Department published in the Federal Register, in text or Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF) on the Internet at the following site: http://www.ed.gov/​news/​fedregister.

To use PDF you must have Adobe Acrobat Reader, which is available free at this site. If you have questions about using PDF, call the U.S. Government Printing Office (GPO), toll free, at 1-888-293-6498; or in the Washington, DC, area at [phone].

Note:

The official version of this document is the document published in the Federal Register. Free Internet access to the official edition of the Federal Register and the Code of Federal Regulations is available on GPO Access at: http://www.gpoaccess.gov/​nara/​index.html.

Dated: May 24, 2006.

Deborah A. Price,

Assistant Deputy Secretary for Safe and Drug-Free Schools.