Universal Newborn Hearing Screening (93.251)

Program

93.251 Universal Newborn Hearing Screening

Federal Agency

Agency: Department of Health and Human Services
Office: Health Resources and Services Administration

Authorization

Section 399M of the Public Health Service Act.

Program Number

93.251

Last Known Status

Active

Objectives

This program supports state programs for reducing the loss to follow-up of infants who have not passed a physiologic newborn hearing screening examination prior to discharge from the newborn nursery. Although more than 95% of newborns are screened for hearing loss in the first few days of life, nationally about 20-40% of infants for whom further assessment is indicated do not return for follow-up. This funding opportunity is to initiate new activities to significantly reduce this loss to follow-up. Support is also provided to one national technical resource center.

Types of Assistance

PROJECT GRANTS

Uses and Use Restrictions

This program supports state programs for reducing the loss to follow-up of infants who have not passed a physiologic newborn hearing screening examination prior to discharge from the newborn nursery. Although more than 95% of newborns are screened for hearing loss in the first few days of life, nationally about 20-40% of infants for whom further assessment is indicated do not return for follow-up. This funding opportunity is to initiate new activities to significantly reduce this loss to follow-up. Applicants should have a relationship with both the Title V programs and the Early Intervention programs.

Eligibility Requirements

Applicant Eligibility

Grants to States and one grant to an organization that will provide technical assistance to the States.

Beneficiary Eligibility

Infants/Families will benefit.

Credentials/Documentation

Applicants should review the individual HRSA Guidance documents issued under this CFDA program for any required proof or certifications which must be submitted prior to or simultaneous with submission of an application package. OMB Circular No. A-87 applies to this program.

Application and Award Process

Preapplication Coordination

Preapplication coordination is required. Environmental impact information is not required for this program. This program is excluded from coverage under E.O. 12372.

Application Procedure

OMB Circular No. A-102 applies to this program. OMB Circular No. A-110 applies to this program. HRSA requires all applicants to apply electronically through Grants.gov.

All qualified applications will be forwarded to an objective review committee. Based on the advice of the objective review committee, the HRSA program official with delegated authority is responsible for final selection and funding decisions.

Award Procedure

Notification is made in writing by a Notice of Grant Award.

Deadlines

Contact the headquarters or regional office, as appropriate, for application deadlines.

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time

Final decisions are made 2 to 3 months after receipt of applications.

Appeals

Not Applicable.

Renewals

Project periods for are for 3-5 years. The submission of a progress report and budgetary information will be requested for each continuation year.

Assistance Considerations

Formula and Matching Requirements

This program has no statutory formula.

This program has no matching requirements.

This program does not have MOE requirements.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance

Awards are made annually, in accordance with the project period method of awarding grants. Payments are made through a Letter-of-Credit or Cash Demand System. See the following for information on how assistance is awarded/released: Notification is made in writing by a Notice of Grant Award.

Post Assistance Requirements

Reports

Annual Report. No cash reports are required. FSR. No expenditure reports are required. No performance monitoring is required.

Audits

In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-133 (Revised, June 27, 2003), "Audits of States, Local Governments, and Non-Profit Organizations," nonfederal entities that expend financial assistance of $500,000 or more in Federal awards will have a single or a program-specific audit conducted for that year. Nonfederal entities that expend less than $500,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in Circular No. A-133.

Records

Grantees are required to maintain grant accounting records for 3 years after the date they submit the FSR. If any litigation, claim, negotiation, audit, or other action involving the award has been started before the expiration of the 3-year period, the records shall be retained until completion of the action and resolution of all issues which arise from it, or until the end of the regular 3-year period, whichever is later.

Program Accomplishments

Fiscal Year 2008: Fifty-six State/territorial projects and one national technical assistance project were awarded in fiscal year 2008. Fiscal Year 2009: It is anticipated that 57 State/territorial projects and the technical assistance project will be funded in fiscal year 2009. The technical resource cooperative agreement also receives support. Fiscal Year 2010: No Current Data Available

Financial Information

Account Identification

75-0350-0-1-550.

Obligations

(Project Grants) FY 08 $10,189,000; FY 09 est $15,362,356; FY 10 est not reported.

Range and Average of Financial Assistance

$125,000 to $1.500,000; $250,000.

Regulations, Guidelines and Literature

This program is subject to the provisions of 45 CFR Part 92 for State, local and tribal governments and 45 CFR Part 74 for institutions of higher education, hospitals, other nonprofit organizations and commercial organizations, as applicable.

Related Programs

Not Applicable.

Information Contacts

Regional or Local Office

See Regional Agency Offices. Irene Forsman, Integrated Services Branch, Division of Services for Children with Special Health Needs, Maternal and Child Health Bureau, Health Resources and Services Administration, Department of Health and Human Services, Room 18A-18, 5600 Fishers Lane, Rockville, MD 20857. Telephone: (301) 443-9023.

Headquarters Office

Irene Forsman 5600 Fishers Lane, Room 11-A18, Rockville, Maryland 20857 Phone: (301) 443-9023

Web Site Address

www.hrsa.gov.

Examples of Funded Projects

Fiscal Year 2008: Funds have been awarded to State/territorial health agencies for implementation of universal statewide newborn hearing screening prior to hospital discharge with linkages to a medical home, audiologic diagnosis by 3 months of age, enrollment in a program of early intervention services and linked to family support by 6 months of age for infants identified with hearing loss. Fiscal Year 2009: No Current Data Available Fiscal Year 2010: No Current Data Available

Criteria for Selecting Proposals

The objective review of all applications includes thorough and consistent examinations of each submission by persons knowledgeable in the field for that support is requested and has no direct relationship with the organization or individual submitting the application and do not have personal or invested interest in the award of a grant to that organization or individual. Peer review is a system that uses reviewers that are the professional equals of the principal investigator or program director and will be responsible for directing or conducting the proposed project. That is a form of objective review. Reviewers may be Federal or nonfederal. Final review criteria are included in the application kit.