NOTICES
Availability of Traumatic Brain Injury Grant Funds to Support TBI Education
[35 Pa.B. 1284] The Bureau of Family Health (Bureau), Division of Child and Adult Health Services is accepting applications to support education and awareness of the causes and consequences of concussion/mild-severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) among youth in junior high and high school. Funding for up to $3,000 is available to support education and awareness of the causes of TBI as a result of sports or other activities. Activities should educate school staff (that is, teachers, athletic trainers, coaches, school nurses), community sports programs, and/or providers of recreational opportunities which could result in physical injury, appropriate prevention strategies and intervention activities in the event that youth sustain concussions which could result in mild to severe head injury.
For the purpose of this funding opportunity, a TBI is defined as an insult to the brain, not of a degenerative or congenital nature, caused by an external physical force that may produce a diminished or altered state of consciousness, which results in impairment of cognitive abilities or physical functioning or in the disturbance of behavioral or emotional functioning. These impairments may be either temporary or permanent and cause partial or total functional disability or psychosocial maladjustment.
Youth with concussions/mild head injury often do not benefit from intervention because the extent of the injury is not recognized. Currently, approximately 200 high schools and colleges in this Commonwealth are utilizing preplay neuropsychological testing to develop a ''baseline'' or ''benchmark'' of an athlete's level of cognitive functioning in the event that the youth has a concussion while participating in sports. While growth in this type of program has grown dramatically over the past 5 years, the majority of high schools in this Commonwealth are not using any kind of concussion management program and junior high/middle schools, and recreational programs have been particularly underserved. Additional screening tools are also available that can be utilized after a youth sustains a concussion/head injury to determine if further evaluation or action is needed. Available resources appear at the end of this document.
The learning objectives of the proposed education and awareness activities must incorporate education on TBI, not just head injury, and should include the following:
1. How to prevent concussions/mild head injuries.
2. How to recognize the warning signs that indicate a concussion/mild head injury has occurred.
3. How to intervene in the event that a concussion/mild head injury is suspected.
Educational and recreational settings in communities in this Commonwealth are being targeted for this effort. Through educational opportunities, teachers, coaches, athletic trainers, school nurses, camp counselors, and the like, will be better equipped to prevent, recognize, manage and provide support for youth sustaining concussions/head injuries resulting from participation in sports or other recreational activities. Project funds must be used to reimburse purchases and activities occurring prior to April 1, 2005.
Eligible applicants are public and private organizations, community-based programs and agencies in this Commonwealth as recognized by a Federal Tax ID number. Individuals may not apply. Informal groups without Federal Tax ID numbers are encouraged to partner with a sponsor organization who may apply on behalf of the group. For-profit organizations may apply. However, no applicant may take a profit from these funds. Only those organizations, programs or agencies that have not received any grant funds from the Bureau of Family Health during the current fiscal year may apply for these funds.
Applicants may include but are not limited to:
* Sports organizations (such as football, baseball, cheerleading, hockey and soccer)
* Schools
* Recreation providers
* Community organizations
* Park and recreation centers
* Camps
* Athletic directors, coaches, trainers and school nurses
* Parent groups and organizations
To apply for funding, a complete application must be postmarked and mailed to the Department of Health (Department) no later than 4 p.m. on March 18, 2005. Applications may be mailed or hand delivered. Applications may not be faxed. Late applications will not be accepted regardless of the reason. The Department expects to notify all applicants of award status by March 31, 2005. It is anticipated that nine awards of up to $3,000 or less will be made. This is a reimbursement program. Grantees must spend their own funds first and then be reimbursed by the Department.
Application Process
Applicants must complete Attachment A ''FY 2004-2005 Application'' and attach a clear and concise narrative of no more than five typewritten pages single spaced that includes the following information, labeled by section:
1. The organization's justified need for the awareness and educational activity.
2. The targeted audience for the training.
3. A description of the awareness and education activities that address the learning objectives under the Purpose section of this funding opportunity, including who will do the training and training content (any training/educational material used must be described).
4. A description of how funds will be expended.
5. How the proposed activity will be evaluated or measured for a change in awareness and education on head injury and TBI, specifically.
An explanation of an authorized official of an organization who can bind the provisions of your proposal must sign and date Attachment A. Submit an original and three complete copies of the application, which includes Attachment A, a narrative addressing the previous five points, and any supporting documentation. Applications should be page-numbered and unbound. Incomplete applications will not be reviewed.
Eligible Costs
The maximum cumulative award to any one applicant (as identified by Federal Tax ID number) is $3,000 per fiscal year. Funds may be used for reimbursement of the costs up to April 1, 2005. The budget section of the application must include a budget narrative detailing by line item how project funds will be used. Expenses eligible for reimbursement under this project include:
1. Purchase of a concussion screening program.
2. Purchase of educational materials.
3. Trainers with expertise in TBI (see resource list).
4. Consultation by the trainer for the program after the initial training.
5. Training costs.
Ineligible Costs
The following costs are not eligible for reimbursement under this project:
1. Administrative/indirect costs.
2. Purchases/activities mandated by the Americans With Disabilities Act.
3. New building construction or structural renovation of an existing space.
4. Capital expenses or equipment.
Summary Report and Invoice Procedures
To receive reimbursement of approved expenses, awardees must submit the following documentation to the Bureau by May 1, 2005:
1. A summary report of activities and evaluative efforts.
2. An attendance list, including person's position in relation to youth.
3. A plan for continuing traumatic brain injury awareness and education.
4. An invoice with expense documentation supporting line item amounts.
All funding decisions are contingent upon the availability of Fiscal Year 04/05 funds and Department approval by means of a proposal review panel. The approval will be based upon a common set of pre-established criteria, including:
1. Does the applicant justify the need for the awareness and educational program.
2. Does the audience of the proposed activity meet the intended target.
3 Does the awareness and education activities meet the learning objectives.
4. The reasonableness of proposed expenditures/purchases.
5. Can the evaluation or measures taken demonstrate a change in awareness and knowledge.
6. Will the activity proposed be of an ongoing, systemic benefit to the community.
Potential Resources
* Brain Injury Association of Pennsylvania, (866) 635-7097, www.biapa.org
* ImPACT, (877) 646-7991, website: www.impacttest.com.
* Keywords to search for products or programs: Concussion assessment instruments, brain injury, return-to-play guidelines, computerized testing, internet testing.
* Printed materials:
* When Your Child's Head Has Been Hurt: www.tbitac.org. Alternative format can be obtained from TBI Technical Assistance Center (202) 884-6802.
* UPMC Center for Sports Medicine Card (412) 432-3670
* American Neurological Association Palm Card: (800) 321-7037
Applications should be mailed to the Department of Health, Bureau of Family Health, Division of Child and Adult Health Services, 7th Floor--East Wing, Health and Welfare Building, P. O. Box 90, Harrisburg, PA 17108, Attention: Becky Kishbaugh, TBI Grant Administrator.
Persons with questions regarding this notice or who wish to request a copy of the application should contact Becky Kishbaugh, (717) 783-5436, ext. 3137, rkishbaugh@state.pa.us.
Persons with a disability who require an alternative format of this notice or of the application (for example, large print, audiotape, Braille) may also contact Becky Kishbaugh at (717) 783-5436, ext. 3137 or persons who are speech or hearing impaired may use V/TT: (717) 783-6514 or the Pennsylvania AT&T Relay Service at (800) 654-5984 (TT)
Attachment A
Pennsylvania Department of Health--Bureau of Family Health
APPLICATION
Traumatic Brain Injury Education Applicant Information:
* Name of Organization: ___________________________
* FID Number: ___________________________
* Complete Mailing Address: ___________________________
___________________________* Contact Person: ___________________________
* Telephone Number: (______) ______ Fax Number: (______) ______
* E-mail Address: ___________________________
Itemized Budget:
Itemized Activity Expenses
#1: ___________________________ = $ ______ #2: ___________________________ = $ ______ #3: ___________________________ = $ ______ #4: ___________________________ = $ ______ #5: ___________________________ = $ ______ #6: ___________________________ = $ ______ #7: ___________________________ = $ ______ (attach additional sheets, if necessary) TOTAL = $ ______
*May not exceed $3,000 Provide any additional budget justification details here:
Attach copies of the proof of the cost for every expense proposed within your itemized budget.
Authorized Applicant Signature/Title: ___________________________
Printed Name: ___________________________
CALVIN B. JOHNSON, M.D., M.P.H,
Secretary
[Pa.B. Doc. No. 05-297. Filed for public inspection February 11, 2005, 2005, 9:00 a.m.]
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