Affordable Care Act (ACA) Personal Responsibility Education Program

 

The purpose of the Personal Responsibility Education Program (PREP) is to educate adolescents and young adults on both abstinence and contraception for the prevention of pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections, including HIV/AIDS. PREP funding is directed toward the development of adolescent pregnancy prevention programming that incorporates medically accurate approaches, while replicating evidence-based programs or elements of programs that have been demonstrated to change behavior. PREP projects also offer services to prepare young people for adulthood by implementing activities that address at three of six adult preparation subjects, to include healthy life skills, adolescent development, parent-child communication, financial literacy, educational and career success, and healthy relationships. The program targets youth ages 10?19 and pregnant and parenting youth up to age 20.

General information about this opportunity
Last Known Status
Active
Program Number
93.092
Federal Agency/Office
Administration For Children and Families, Department of Health and Human Services
Type(s) of Assistance Offered
A - Formula Grants; B - Project Grants
Program Accomplishments
Fiscal Year 2016 It is anticipated that 93 grants will be awarded. Ninety three (93) grants were awarded.
Fiscal Year 2017 It is anticipated that 92 grants will be awarded
Fiscal Year 2018 In FY 2018, there were 92 formula and discretionary grant awards.
Fiscal Year 2019 In FY 2019, it is anticipated that there will be 92 formula and discretionary grant awards.
Authorization
The Personal Responsibility Education Program (PREP) is authorized and funded by Section 513 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. § 713). Section 2953 of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010 (Public Law (Pub. L. 111-148) established PREP and funded it for FY 2010 through 2014. Section 206 of the Protecting Access to Medicare Act of 2014 (Pub. L. 113-93) extended that funding through FY 2015. Section 215 of the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015 (Pub. L. No. 114-10) extended funding through FY 2017. Section 50503 of the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018 (Pub. L. No. 115-123) extended funding through FY 2019.
Who is eligible to apply/benefit from this assistance?
Applicant Eligibility
There is $55,250,000 appropriated annually to fund 59 States and Territories to enable them to carry out Personal Responsibility Education Programs (PREP). Eligible applicants include the 50 United States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, Northern Mariana Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and the Republic of Palau. States or Territories that did not apply for funding in FY 2016 or 2017, are no longer eligible to apply for this program for the five year project period and their allotments are made available as Competitive PREP grants to community-based organizations for the same State or territory. The annual award for the first cohort of Competitive PREP in FY2012 was $18,856,405.The award for the second cohort of Competitive PREP grants in FY2015 was $11,049,699. With the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018 extension of Competitive PREP through FY2019, the award amount in FY 2018 and the estimated amount for FY2019 awards is $10,230,522. Funds ($10,000,000) were reserved to award PREP Innovative Strategies (PREIS) grants to entities to implement innovative youth pregnancy prevention strategies and target services to high-risk, vulnerable, and culturally under-represented youth populations. Funds ($3,250,000) were reserved for Tribal PREP grants to Indian tribes and tribal organizations. Funds ($6,500,000) were reserved for program support that may be provided directly or through a competitive award process. Program support includes research, training and technical assistance, providing consultation and resources on a broad array of teen pregnancy prevention strategies, and developing materials to support grant activities. Funds shall also be reserved to evaluate PREP programs and activities.
Beneficiary Eligibility
PREP will provide services to adolescents and young adults. Applicants are encouraged to serve youth populations that are the most high-risk or vulnerable for pregnancies or otherwise have special circumstances, including youth in and aging of out foster care, homeless youth, youth with HIV/AIDS, victims of human trafficking, pregnant youth who are under 21 years of age, mothers who are under 21 years of age, and youth residing in areas with high birth rates for youth. Applicants must include the most recent pregnancy data for the State for youth ages 10 to 14 and youth ages 15-19, the most recent birth rates among the same age groups, and trends in those rates for the most recently preceding 5-year period for which data are available.
Credentials/Documentation
A signed letter from the authorized representative must accompany each application; it should include documentation establishing the authorized representative's authority to apply for and administer the PREP grant program funds on behalf of the State or Territory. For other funding available under this CFDA number, non-profit organizations applying for funding are required to submit proof of their non-profit status. The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) adopted the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Guidance in 2 CFR part 200, and has codified the text, with HHS-specific amendments in 45 CFR Part 75. ACF recipients must follow the requirements in 45 CFR Part 75.
What is the process for applying and being award this assistance?
Pre-Application Procedure
Preapplication coordination is not applicable.
Application Procedure
2 CFR 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards applies to this program. The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) adopted the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Guidance in 2 CFR part 200, and has codified the text, with HHS-specific amendments in 45 CFR Part 75. ACF recipients must follow the requirements in 45 CFR Part 75. The PREP program includes formula and competitive grant awards to a range of entities
Award Procedure
For FY 2016 and FY 2017 funds allotted to States and Territories (States), the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) advised States and Territories of the funding opportunity through a Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA). States and territories that were awarded FY 2016 and/or FY 2017 funds submitted a letter of intent in order to receive awards in FY 2018 and FY 2019. There are 51 State PREP grantees.In FY2016, an FOA was published to award funds to a second cohort of PREIS grantees. Applications were reviewed by an Objective Review Committee applied the criteria given in the FOA in order to derive priority scores. The review panels consisted of expert peer reviewers who reviewed each application for responsiveness to the screening criteria. Federal staff provided oversight to the review process.
Deadlines
Not applicable.
Approval/Disapproval Decision Time
From 90 to 120 days. Consult the FOA or contact the headquarters office, as appropriate, for application deadlines.
Appeals
Not applicable.
Renewals
From 90 to 120 days.
How are proposals selected?
Funded State programs must replicate evidence-based, effective programs or strategies that substantially incorporate elements of effective programs that have been proven on the basis of rigorous scientific research to change behavior, which means delaying sexual activity, increasing condom or contraceptive use for sexually active youth, or reducing pregnancy among youth. The programs must include activities to educate youth who are sexually active regarding responsible sexual behavior with respect to both abstinence and the use of contraception. Such activities should teach "adulthood preparation" subjects including healthy relationships, adolescent development, financial literacy, parent-child communication, educational and career success, and healthy life skills. The programs must: be medically-accurate and complete; include activities to educate youth who are sexually active regarding responsible sexual behavior with respect to both abstinence and the use of contraception; place substantial emphasis on both abstinence and contraception for the prevention of pregnancy among youth and sexually transmitted infections; and must provide age-appropriate information and activities. The information and activities carried out under the program must be provided in the cultural context that is most appropriate for individuals in the particular population group to which they are directed. REQUIREMENTS OF INNOVATIVE STRATEGIES PROJECTS: Proposals were funded based on how effectively they can develop, replicate, refine, and test innovative strategies for preventing teenage pregnancy. Programs must be medically accurate, age appropriate, and target services to identified vulnerable and at-risk populations. The programs must include activities to educate youth who are sexually active regarding responsible sexual behavior with respect to both abstinence and the use of contraception. Such activities should teach "adulthood preparation" subjects including healthy relationships, adolescent development, financial literacy, parent-child communication, educational and career success, and healthy life skills. Funded projects are expected to generate lessons learned so others can benefit from these strategies and innovative approaches and increase the capacity of communities to develop, implement, and evaluate interventions for dissemination and replication by others. Funded projects must show that the proposed intervention is: (a) based on some preliminary evidence of effectiveness; (b) a significant adaptation of an evidence-based program; or (c) is a new and innovative approach to teenage pregnancy prevention with a sound basis in research. REQUIREMENTS OF TRIBAL PROJECTS: Criteria for Tribal projects were developed by the Secretary, in consultation with Indian Tribes and Tribal Organizations that were deemed appropriate. Tribal PREP funding is directed toward the development of culturally appropriate comprehensive teen pregnancy prevention programs that incorporate medically accurate approaches replicating effective programs or elements of programs that have been demonstrated to change behavior. Tribal PREP focuses on the same fundamental requirements as the State PREP projects-the education of youth on both abstinence and contraception and on other adulthood preparation subjects with the goal of preventing teen pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) including HIV/AIDS. Funds support PREP efforts that are dedicated to the development of comprehensive, high quality interventions and services that rely on the best available research evidence to inform and guide practice. Since there are few studies of teen pregnancy prevention programs targeting youth in Tribal communities, adaptation and innovation are important. Further, programs that currently serve Native youth have not been rigorously evaluated and may not offer strong models for replication. Tribes and tribal organizations are encouraged, therefore, to adapt evidence-based (EB) models (or elements of EB models) that address the unique cultural needs of their communities. Adaptation must retain core elements of proven effective programs. REQUIREMENTS OF COMPETITIVE PREP PROJECTS: Competitive PREP funds support projects that educate youth between the ages of 10 and 19, and pregnant and parenting youth, under age 21, on abstinence and contraception for teen prevention of pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections (STIs), including HIV/AIDS. Applicants must also provide programming on at least three of six adulthood preparation subjects that are discussed in the published FOA. Further PREP funding is directed toward the development of comprehensive, teen pregnancy prevention programs that incorporate medically accurate approaches, while replicating evidence-based programs or elements of programs that have been demonstrated to change behavior. FYSB's Competitive PREP funding supports efforts that are dedicated to the development of comprehensive, culturally appropriate interventions and services that rely on the best available research to inform and guide practice.
How may assistance be used?
To carry out personal responsibility education programs designed to educate adolescents on both abstinence and contraception for the prevention of pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections, including HIV/AIDS. The State program component must fund teen pregnancy prevention and personal responsibility education programs that have been proven on the basis of rigorous scientific research, to change behavior, which means delaying sexual activity, increasing condom or contraceptive use for sexually active youth, or reducing pregnancy among youth. State programs must teach “adulthood preparation” subjects including healthy relationships, adolescent development, financial literacy, parent-child communication, educational and career success, and healthy life skills. Applicants for innovative program funding should describe the research base for proposed projects, such as the rationale for substantial modifications to evidence-based models and/or developmental research that suggests an innovative model is likely to be effective with a vulnerable or underserved population. Additionally, the innovative practices component must implement programs to target “high-risk, vulnerable, and culturally under-represented youth populations. Such programs must be either significant modifications of the above list of evidence-based models or are based upon other promising approaches with a strong research basis. All programs must agree to participate in a rigorous Federal evaluation of their project. Innovative programs must conduct their own rigorous, independent evaluations unless they are selected for the Federal evaluation. The list of evidence-based models was developed and is updated by the HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation (ASPE).From the $75,000,000 appropriation, $10,000,000 (13.3%) is designated for PREIS, which are demonstration grants for innovative teen pregnancy prevention and personal responsibility education programs (PREIS); $3,250,000 (5% of the appropriation after the $10,000,000 is removed) is set aside for Tribes and Tribal organizations; $6,500,000 (10% of the appropriation after the $10,000,000 is removed) is designated for program support and evaluation. The remaining $55,250,000 (73.7% of the appropriation) is for States to implement evidence-based demonstration projects and is allotted by formula. With the appropriations available to continue the PREP funding in FY2016, a new cohort of PREP grants awards were funded. In FY2016 and FY2017, States applied for funding and un-awarded funds allocated to States after this application period will be available for distribution on a discretionary basis to community-based organizations within those States. These Competitive PREP projects will have a three year project period. In FY2018 and FY2019, States applied for funding and un-awarded funds allocated to States after this application period will be available for distribution on a discretionary basis to community-based organizations within those States.
What are the requirements after being awarded this opportunity?
Reporting
Not applicable.
Auditing
In accordance with the provisions of 2 CFR 200, Subpart F - Audit Requirements, nonfederal entities that expend financial assistance of $750,000 or more in Federal awards will have a single or a program-specific audit conducted for that year. Non-Federal entities that expend less than $750,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in 2 CFR 200.503 The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) adopted the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Guidance in 2 CFR part 200, and has codified the text, with HHS-specific amendments in 45 CFR Part 75. ACF recipients must follow the requirements in 45 CFR Part 75. Audits are conducted in accordance with the requirements of 45 CFR Part 75 Subpart F.
Records
Retention requirements for records are covered by the provisions of 45 CFR SSSS75.361-365 and generally must be retained for three years from the submission date of the final expenditure report.
Other Assistance Considerations
Formula and Matching Requirements
Statutory Formula: Title V Public Law 113-93

Matching requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing.

This program has MOE requirements, see funding agency for further details. Additional Information: This program has Maintenance of Effort (MOE) requirements, see funding agency for further details. This program has an MOE requirement for states and local entities to require that expenditure of non-federal funds for activities, programs or initiatives allowed in this program be no less than such expenditures in FY2015. The intent is to supplement and not supplant the funds expended in FY2015 or the year prior to new awards.
Length and Time Phasing of Assistance
Funds allotted to States and Territories for a fiscal year shall remain available for expenditure by the State through the end of the second succeeding fiscal year. If a State or territory did not submit an application for FY2016 or FY2017, they are no longer be eligible to submit an application to receive funds from the amounts allotted to the State for each of fiscal years 2016 through 2020. State PREP grantees awarded in FY2016 and FY2017 submitted a letter of intent to receive funds in FY2018 and FY2019. State PREP allocated funding that was not requested by States will continue to be used to award the fifth budget year of discretionary grant awards to local organizations and entities for the same purpose and in the same geographic regions in FY2019. The Competitive PREP grant funding is available over a 36-month project period from the date of award and has been extended to a 60-month project period. Annual funding for this program is to be expended within 12 months of award. The PREIS grantees were awarded funding through cooperative agreements over a five-year project period. The annual funding is to be expended at the end of each 12 month budget period. A FY2016 funding opportunity for a second cohort of PREIS grants with a five-year project period was published and 8 grants were awarded. Tribal PREP grants are discretionary awards with a four-year project period. Annual awards are to be expended at the end of each 12-month budget period. Funding available through the FY2015 extension of the program was awarded through non-competing continuations to 14 current Tribal PREP grantees. An FY2016 funding opportunity for a second cohort of Tribal PREP grants with a five year project period was published and 8 programs were awarded. Method of awarding/releasing assistance: Periodic draw-downs of funds from the Department of Health and Human Services Payment Management System (PMS) are based upon need and project progress. Periodic draw downs are based upon need and project progress.
Who do I contact about this opportunity?
Regional or Local Office
None/Not specified.
Headquarters Office
LeBretia White, Program Manager
330 C Street., SW
Washington, DC 20021 US
lebretia.white@acf.hhs.gov
Phone: 2022059605
Fax: 2022059535
Website Address
http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/fysb/content/programs/top.htm
Financial Information
Account Identification
75-1512-0-1-506
Obligations
(Formula Grants) FY 18$43,726,481.00; FY 19 est $43,620,627.00; FY 20 est $43,620,627.00; FY 17$40,793,510.00; FY 16$43,398,751.00; - (Project Grants (Discretionary)) FY 18$23,611,032.00; FY 19 est $23,233,373.00; FY 20 est $23,233,373.00; FY 17$23,200,127.00; FY 16$25,404,896.00; -
Range and Average of Financial Assistance
Each State or Territory shall be allotted at least $250,000 or an amount determined by a formula, using the number of individuals who have attained age 10 but not attained age 19 in the State or Territory to the total number of such individuals in the entire U.S. based on the most recent Census data, whichever is greater. Applicants for which Census data are not available will be eligible for the minimum allocation of $250,000. The range for State PREP awards to 51 states and territories is $250,000 to $5,860,140.The range for the awards to 13 PREP Innovative Strategies grantees is $478,919 to $852,022. The range for the awards to 8 Tribal PREP grantees is $316,782 to $598,227. The range for the awards to the 21 Competitive PREP grantees is $250,000 to $794,240.
Regulations, Guidelines and Literature
No regulations have been developed at this time. Governing authorities shall be the legislative language and the terms and conditions of the cooperative agreement awards as described in the FOA.
Examples of Funded Projects
Fiscal Year 2018 There are four PREP funding streams, to include the State PREP formula grant program. The three discretionary grant programs are Tribal PREP, Competitive PREP, and PREP Innovative Strategies (PREIS). The PREIS program supports the implementation and evaluation of innovative strategies that previously have not been rigorously evaluated to effectively educate youth on the prevention of adolescent pregnancy, sexually transmitted infections (STIs), and HIV/AIDS.

 


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