National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research-Disability and Rehabilitation Research Projects and Centers Program-Rehabilitation Research and Training Centers, 10378-10380 [05-4105]
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10378
Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 41 / Thursday, March 3, 2005 / Notices
888–293–6498; or in the Washington,
DC, area at (202) 512–1530.
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: https://www.gpoaccess.gov/nara/
index.html.
Dated: Feburary 14, 2005.
John H. Hager,
Assistant Secretary for Special Education and
Rehabilitative Services.
[FR Doc. 05–4104 Filed 3–2–05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000–01–P
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
National Institute on Disability and
Rehabilitation Research—Disability
and Rehabilitation Research Projects
and Centers Program—Rehabilitation
Research and Training Centers
Office of Special Education and
Rehabilitative Services, Department of
Education.
ACTION: Notice of proposed priority.
AGENCY:
SUMMARY: The Assistant Secretary for
Special Education and Rehabilitative
Services proposes one funding priority
for the National Institute on Disability
and Rehabilitation Research’s (NIDRR)
Disability and Rehabilitation Research
Projects and Centers Program,
Rehabilitation Research and Training
Centers (RRTC) program. This priority
may be used for competitions in fiscal
year (FY) 2005 and later years. We take
this action to focus research attention on
areas of national need. We intend this
priority to improve rehabilitation
services and outcomes for individuals
with disabilities.
DATES: We must receive your comments
on or before April 4, 2005.
ADDRESSES: Address all comments about
this proposed priority to Donna Nangle,
U.S. Department of Education, 400
Maryland Avenue, SW., room 6030,
Potomac Center Plaza, Washington, DC
20204–2700. If you prefer to send your
comments through the Internet, use the
following address:
donna.nangle@ed.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Donna Nangle. Telephone: (202) 245–
7462.
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
VerDate jul<14>2003
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Jkt 205001
request to the contact person listed
under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
CONTACT.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Invitation To Comment
We invite you to submit comments
regarding this proposed priority.
We invite you to assist us in
complying with the specific
requirements of Executive Order 12866
and its overall requirement of reducing
regulatory burden that might result from
this proposed priority. Please let us
know of any further opportunities we
should take to reduce potential costs or
increase potential benefits while
preserving the effective and efficient
administration of the program.
During and after the comment period,
you may inspect all public comments
about this proposed priority in room
6030, 550 12th Street, SW., Potomac
Center Plaza, Washington, DC, between
the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 4 p.m.,
Eastern time, Monday through Friday of
each week except Federal holidays.
Assistance to Individuals With
Disabilities in Reviewing the
Rulemaking Record
On request, we will supply an
appropriate aid, such as a reader or
print magnifier, to an individual with a
disability who needs assistance to
review the comments or other
documents in the public rulemaking
record for this proposed priority. If you
want to schedule an appointment for
this type of aid, please contact the
person listed under FOR FURTHER
INFORMATION CONTACT.
We will announce the final priority in
a notice in the Federal Register. We will
determine the final priority after
considering responses to this notice and
other information available to the
Department. This notice does not
preclude us from proposing or funding
additional priorities, subject to meeting
applicable rulemaking requirements.
Note: This notice does not solicit
applications. In any year in which we choose
to use this proposed priority, we invite
applications through a notice in the Federal
Register. When inviting applications we
designate the priority as absolute,
competitive preference, or invitational. The
effect of each type of priority follows:
Absolute priority: Under an absolute
priority, we consider only applications
that meet the priority (34 CFR
75.105(c)(3)).
Competitive preference priority:
Under a competitive preference priority,
we give competitive preference to an
application by either (1) awarding
additional points, depending on how
PO 00000
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well or the extent to which the
application meets the competitive
priority (34 CFR 75.105(c)(2)(i)); or (2)
selecting an application that meets the
competitive priority over an application
of comparable merit that does not meet
the priority (34 CFR 75.105(c)(2)(ii)).
Invitational priority: Under an
invitational priority, we are particularly
interested in applications that meet the
invitational priority. However, we do
not give an application that meets the
invitational priority a competitive or
absolute preference over other
applications (34 CFR 75.105(c)(1)).
Note: NIDRR supports the goals of
President Bush’s New Freedom Initiative
(NFI). The NFI can be accessed on the
Internet at the following site: https://
www.whitehouse.gov/infocus/newfreedom.
The proposed priority is in concert
with NIDRR’s Long-Range Plan (Plan).
The Plan is comprehensive and
integrates many issues relating to
disability and rehabilitation research
topics. While applicants will find many
sections throughout the Plan that
support potential research to be
conducted under the proposed priority,
a specific reference is included for the
priority presented in this notice. The
Plan can be accessed on the Internet at
the following site: https://www.ed.gov/
rschstat/research/pubs/.
Through the implementation of the
NFI and the Plan, NIDRR seeks to: (1)
Improve the quality and utility of
disability and rehabilitation research;
(2) foster an exchange of expertise,
information, and training to facilitate
the advancement of knowledge and
understanding of the unique needs of
traditionally underserved populations;
(3) determine best strategies and
programs to improve rehabilitation
outcomes for underserved populations;
(4) identify research gaps; (5) identify
mechanisms of integrating research and
practice; and (6) disseminate findings.
Rehabilitation Research and Training
Centers
RRTCs conduct coordinated and
integrated advanced programs of
research targeted toward the production
of new knowledge to improve
rehabilitation methodology and service
delivery systems, alleviate or stabilize
disability conditions, or promote
maximum social and economic
independence for persons with
disabilities. Additional information on
the RRTC program can be found at:
https://www.ed.gov/rschstat/research/
pubs/res-program.html#RRTC.
E:\FR\FM\03MRN1.SGM
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Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 41 / Thursday, March 3, 2005 / Notices
General Requirements of Rehabilitation
Research and Training Centers
RRTCs must—
• Carry out coordinated advanced
programs of rehabilitation research;
• Provide training, including
graduate, pre-service, and in-service
training, to help rehabilitation
personnel more effectively provide
rehabilitation services to individuals
with disabilities;
• Provide technical assistance to
individuals with disabilities, their
representatives, providers, and other
interested parties;
• Identify anticipated outcomes of
RRTC activities that are linked to stated
RRTC objectives;
• Disseminate informational materials
to individuals with disabilities, their
representatives, providers, and other
interested parties; and
• Serve as centers for national
excellence in rehabilitation research for
individuals with disabilities, their
representatives, providers, and other
interested parties.
The Department is particularly
interested in ensuring that the
expenditure of public funds is justified
by the execution of intended activities
and the advancement of knowledge and,
thus, has built this accountability into
the selection criteria. Not later than
three years after the establishment of
any RRTC, NIDRR will conduct one or
more reviews of the activities and
achievements of the RRTC. In
accordance with the provisions of 34
CFR 75.253(a), continued funding
depends at all times on satisfactory
performance and accomplishment of
approved grant objectives.
Priority
Background
In April 2002, President George W.
Bush announced the creation of the
New Freedom Commission on Mental
Health. He charged the Commission
with studying the mental health care
system in the United States and making
recommendations that would enable
adults with serious mental illness and
children with serious emotional
disturbance to live, work, learn, and
participate fully in their communities.
The Commission Report, ‘‘Achieving the
Promise: Transforming Mental Health
Care in America’’ (July 2003), along
with reports from the Surgeon General
and numerous other public and private
entities, offer consensus on a number of
findings addressed in the proposed
priority. These include the importance
of enhancing self-determination;
consumer-driven, community-based
interventions; collaboration within the
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16:38 Mar 02, 2005
Jkt 205001
mental health service system; workforce
development; and culturally competent
care.
One promising area noted in
‘‘Achieving the Promise: Transforming
Mental Health Care in America’’ is
consumer-operated services. Such
services are common: A national survey
of the mental health self-help sector
conducted by the U.S. Substance Abuse
Mental Health Administration’s Center
for Mental Health Services shows that
mental health support groups and selfhelp organizations run by and for
mental health consumers and their
families now outnumber traditional
mental health organizations by almost
two to one (Goldstrom, I., Campbell, J.,
Rogers, J., Lambert, D., Blacklow, B.,
Manderscheid, R., and Henderson, M.
(Forthcoming). National estimates of
mental health mutual support groups,
self-help organizations, and consumeroperated services. Administration and
Policy in Mental Health).
The Surgeon General’s Report on
Mental Health estimated that about one
in five Americans experience a mental
disorder in a given year (U.S.
Department of Health and Human
Services, 1999. Mental Health: Report of
the Surgeon General. Rockville, MD:
U.S. Department of Health and Human
Services, Substance Abuse and Mental
Health Services Administration, Center
for Mental Health Services, National
Institutes of Health, National Institute of
Mental Health. Available on-line:
http: //www.surgeongeneral.gov/library/
mentalhealth/home.html). Serious
mental illness can interfere with the
ability to work, attend school, or
manage day-to-day activities. For
example, labor force participation and
employment rates are substantially
lower for people with mental health
disabilities than for people with other
disabilities or with no disability (Jans,
L., Stoddard, S. & Kraus, L., 2004.
Chartbook on Mental Health and
Disability in the United States. An
InfoUse Report. Washington, DC: U.S.
Department of Education, National
Institute on Disability and
Rehabilitation Research). As cited in the
final report of the President’s New
Freedom Commission on Mental Health,
the ‘‘annual indirect cost of mental
illnesses is estimated to be $79 billion.’’
(New Freedom Commission on Mental
Health, 2003. Achieving the Promise:
Transforming Mental Health Care in
America. Final Report. DHHS Pub. No.
SMA–03–3832. Rockville, MD.)
NIDRR, in collaboration with the U.S.
Substance Abuse Mental Health Service
Administration, proposes a priority for
an RRTC on promoting access to
effective consumer-centered and
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10379
community-based practices and
supports for adults with serious mental
illness. This priority focuses on
outcomes rather than activities. The
overall outcome for this proposed
priority mirrors the President’s charge:
To work towards enabling adults with
serious mental illness to live, work,
learn, and participate fully in their
communities.
Proposed Priority
The Assistant Secretary proposes a
priority for one RRTC which must focus
on promoting access to effective
consumer-centered and communitybased practices and supports for adults
with serious mental illness.
The RRTC must—
(1) Identify or develop and evaluate
models, methods, and measures for
improving the quality of mental health
outcomes through transformation of the
service delivery system in a manner that
reflects and embodies consumer choice.
These models, methods, and measures
may focus on, but are not limited to selfdetermination, consumer-centered
services, consumer choice, and
coordination across service systems. All
of these efforts must be culturally
competent and appropriate for targeted
populations;
(2) Identify or develop and then
evaluate strategies for translating
evidence-based mental health research
findings and best practices into effective
interventions, including the
development of tools and supports for
providers of mental health or other
adjunctive services that reflect
consumer choice; and
(3) Identify or develop and evaluate
interventions, such as peer support
services, that help to improve workforce
capacity and choice for adults with
serious mental illness.
In addition to the activities proposed
by the applicant, the RRTC must—
• Conduct a state-of-the-science
conference on its respective area of
research in the third year of the grant
cycle and publish a comprehensive
report on the final outcomes of the
conference in the fourth year of the
grant cycle. This conference must
include materials from experts internal
and external to the RRTC;
• Coordinate on research projects of
mutual interest with relevant NIDRRfunded projects as identified through
consultation with the NIDRR project
officer;
• Involve individuals with
disabilities in planning and
implementing its research, training, and
dissemination activities, and in
evaluating the RRTC; and
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Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 41 / Thursday, March 3, 2005 / Notices
• Demonstrate in its application how
it will address, in whole or in part, the
needs of individuals with disabilities
from minority backgrounds.
Executive Order 12866
This notice of proposed priority has
been reviewed in accordance with
Executive Order 12866. Under the terms
of the order, we have assessed the
potential costs and benefits of this
regulatory action.
The potential costs associated with
the notice of proposed priority are those
resulting from statutory requirements
and those we have determined as
necessary for administering this
program effectively and efficiently.
In assessing the potential costs and
benefits—both quantitative and
qualitative—of this notice of proposed
priority, we have determined that the
benefits of this proposed priority justify
the costs.
Summary of potential costs and
benefits: The potential costs associated
with this proposed priority are minimal
while the benefits are significant.
Grantees may anticipate costs associated
with completing the application process
in terms of staff time, copying, and
mailing or delivery. The use of eApplication technology reduces mailing
and copying costs significantly.
The benefits of the RRTC Program
have been well established over the
years in that similar projects have been
completed successfully. This proposed
priority will generate new knowledge
and technologies through research,
development, dissemination, utilization,
and technical assistance projects.
Another benefit of this proposed
priority also will be the establishment of
a new RRTC that supports the
President’s NFI and will improve the
lives of persons with disabilities. This
new RRTC will generate, disseminate,
and promote the use of new information
that will improve the options for
individuals with disabilities to perform
regular activities in the community.
Applicable Program Regulations: 34
CFR part 350.
Electronic Access to This Document
You may view this document, as well
as all other Department of Education
documents published in the Federal
Register, in text or Adobe Portable
Document Format (PDF) on the Internet
at the following site: https://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–
VerDate jul<14>2003
16:38 Mar 02, 2005
Jkt 205001
888–293–6498; or in the Washington,
DC, area at (202) 512–1530.
area, awards will be not less than
$80,000.
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: https://www.gpoaccess.gov/nara/
index.html.
Note: Consistent with 34 CFR 75.104(b) of
the Education Department General
Administrative Regulations (EDGAR), we
will reject, without consideration or
evaluation, any application that proposes a
project funding level for any fiscal year that
exceeds the stated maximum award amount
for that fiscal year.
(Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance
Number: 84.133B, Rehabilitation Research
and Training Centers Program)
Program Authority: 29 U.S.C. 762(g) and
764(b)(2).
Dated: February 25, 2005.
John H. Hager,
Assistant Secretary for Special Education and
Rehabilitative Services.
[FR Doc. 05–4105 Filed 3–2–05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000–01–P
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Office of Special Education and
Rehabilitative Services; Overview
Information; State Personnel
Development Grants Program; Notice
Inviting Applications for New Awards
for Fiscal Year (FY) 2004 (To Be
Awarded in FY 2005)
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance
(CFDA) Number: 84.323A.
Dates: Applications Available: March
4, 2005. Deadline for Transmittal of
Applications: April 15, 2005. Deadline
for Intergovernmental Review: June 14,
2005.
Eligible Applicants: A State
educational agency (SEA) of one of the
50 States, the District of Columbia, or
the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico or an
outlying area (United States Virgin
Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and
the Commonwealth of the Northern
Mariana Islands). Current State Program
Improvement Grant grantees with multiyear awards who wish to apply for a
grant under the State Personnel
Development Program may do so,
subject to section 651(e) of the
Individuals with Disabilities Education
Act (IDEA), which prohibits a State
requesting to receive a continuation
award under the State Improvement
Grant Program, as in effect prior to
December 3, 2004, from receiving any
other award under this program
authority for that fiscal year.
Estimated Available Funds:
$8,350,992.
Estimated Range of Awards: In the
case of the 50 States, the District of
Columbia, and the Commonwealth of
Puerto Rico, award amounts will be not
less than $500,000, nor more than
$4,000,000. In the case of an outlying
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Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
We will set the amount of each grant
after considering—
(1) The amount of funds available for
making the grants;
(2) The relative population of the
State or outlying area;
(3) The types of activities proposed by
the State or outlying area;
(4) The alignment of proposed
activities with section 612(a)(14) of the
Individuals with Disabilities Education
Act (IDEA);
(5) The alignment of proposed
activities with State plans and
applications submitted under sections
1111 and 2112, respectively, of the
Elementary and Secondary Education
Act of 1965, as amended (ESEA); and
(6) The use, as appropriate, of
scientifically based research activities.
Estimated Average Size of Awards:
$927,888, excluding outlying areas.
Estimated Number of Awards: 9.
Note: The Department is not bound by any
estimates in this notice.
Project Period: Not less than one year
and not more than five years.
Full Text of Announcement
I. Funding Opportunity Description
Purpose of Program: The purpose of
this program, authorized under the
IDEA, is to assist SEAs in reforming and
improving their systems for personnel
preparation and professional
development in early intervention,
educational, and transition services in
order to improve results for children
with disabilities.
Priorities: In accordance with 34 CFR
75.105(b)(2)(v) these priorities are from
allowable activities specified in the
statute. (See sections 651–655 of the
IDEA).
Absolute Priority: For FY 2005 this
priority is an absolute priority. Under
section 653 of the IDEA and 34 CFR
75.105(c)(3), we consider only
applications that meet this priority.
Background of Priority: States have
been successful in improving
educational and transition services and
results for children with disabilities in
response to growing demands imposed
by factors, such as demographics, social
policies, and labor and economic
markets. In order for States to address
E:\FR\FM\03MRN1.SGM
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 41 (Thursday, March 3, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 10378-10380]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-4105]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research--
Disability and Rehabilitation Research Projects and Centers Program--
Rehabilitation Research and Training Centers
AGENCY: Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services,
Department of Education.
ACTION: Notice of proposed priority.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Assistant Secretary for Special Education and
Rehabilitative Services proposes one funding priority for the National
Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research's (NIDRR)
Disability and Rehabilitation Research Projects and Centers Program,
Rehabilitation Research and Training Centers (RRTC) program. This
priority may be used for competitions in fiscal year (FY) 2005 and
later years. We take this action to focus research attention on areas
of national need. We intend this priority to improve rehabilitation
services and outcomes for individuals with disabilities.
DATES: We must receive your comments on or before April 4, 2005.
ADDRESSES: Address all comments about this proposed priority to Donna
Nangle, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., room
6030, Potomac Center Plaza, Washington, DC 20204-2700. If you prefer to
send your comments through the Internet, use the following address:
donna.nangle@ed.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Donna Nangle. Telephone: (202) 245-
7462.
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 contact person listed under FOR FURTHER
INFORMATION CONTACT.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Invitation To Comment
We invite you to submit comments regarding this proposed priority.
We invite you to assist us in complying with the specific
requirements of Executive Order 12866 and its overall requirement of
reducing regulatory burden that might result from this proposed
priority. Please let us know of any further opportunities we should
take to reduce potential costs or increase potential benefits while
preserving the effective and efficient administration of the program.
During and after the comment period, you may inspect all public
comments about this proposed priority in room 6030, 550 12th Street,
SW., Potomac Center Plaza, Washington, DC, between the hours of 8:30
a.m. and 4 p.m., Eastern time, Monday through Friday of each week
except Federal holidays.
Assistance to Individuals With Disabilities in Reviewing the Rulemaking
Record
On request, we will supply an appropriate aid, such as a reader or
print magnifier, to an individual with a disability who needs
assistance to review the comments or other documents in the public
rulemaking record for this proposed priority. If you want to schedule
an appointment for this type of aid, please contact the person listed
under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.
We will announce the final priority in a notice in the Federal
Register. We will determine the final priority after considering
responses to this notice and other information available to the
Department. This notice does not preclude us from proposing or funding
additional priorities, subject to meeting applicable rulemaking
requirements.
Note: This notice does not solicit applications. In any year in
which we choose to use this proposed priority, we invite
applications through a notice in the Federal Register. When inviting
applications we designate the priority as absolute, competitive
preference, or invitational. The effect of each type of priority
follows:
Absolute priority: Under an absolute priority, we consider only
applications that meet the priority (34 CFR 75.105(c)(3)).
Competitive preference priority: Under a competitive preference
priority, we give competitive preference to an application by either
(1) awarding additional points, depending on how well or the extent to
which the application meets the competitive priority (34 CFR
75.105(c)(2)(i)); or (2) selecting an application that meets the
competitive priority over an application of comparable merit that does
not meet the priority (34 CFR 75.105(c)(2)(ii)).
Invitational priority: Under an invitational priority, we are
particularly interested in applications that meet the invitational
priority. However, we do not give an application that meets the
invitational priority a competitive or absolute preference over other
applications (34 CFR 75.105(c)(1)).
Note: NIDRR supports the goals of President Bush's New Freedom
Initiative (NFI). The NFI can be accessed on the Internet at the
following site: https://www.whitehouse.gov/infocus/newfreedom.
The proposed priority is in concert with NIDRR's Long-Range Plan
(Plan). The Plan is comprehensive and integrates many issues relating
to disability and rehabilitation research topics. While applicants will
find many sections throughout the Plan that support potential research
to be conducted under the proposed priority, a specific reference is
included for the priority presented in this notice. The Plan can be
accessed on the Internet at the following site: https://www.ed.gov/
rschstat/research/pubs/.
Through the implementation of the NFI and the Plan, NIDRR seeks to:
(1) Improve the quality and utility of disability and rehabilitation
research; (2) foster an exchange of expertise, information, and
training to facilitate the advancement of knowledge and understanding
of the unique needs of traditionally underserved populations; (3)
determine best strategies and programs to improve rehabilitation
outcomes for underserved populations; (4) identify research gaps; (5)
identify mechanisms of integrating research and practice; and (6)
disseminate findings.
Rehabilitation Research and Training Centers
RRTCs conduct coordinated and integrated advanced programs of
research targeted toward the production of new knowledge to improve
rehabilitation methodology and service delivery systems, alleviate or
stabilize disability conditions, or promote maximum social and economic
independence for persons with disabilities. Additional information on
the RRTC program can be found at: https://www.ed.gov/rschstat/research/
pubs/res-program.html#RRTC.
[[Page 10379]]
General Requirements of Rehabilitation Research and Training Centers
RRTCs must--
Carry out coordinated advanced programs of rehabilitation
research;
Provide training, including graduate, pre-service, and in-
service training, to help rehabilitation personnel more effectively
provide rehabilitation services to individuals with disabilities;
Provide technical assistance to individuals with
disabilities, their representatives, providers, and other interested
parties;
Identify anticipated outcomes of RRTC activities that are
linked to stated RRTC objectives;
Disseminate informational materials to individuals with
disabilities, their representatives, providers, and other interested
parties; and
Serve as centers for national excellence in rehabilitation
research for individuals with disabilities, their representatives,
providers, and other interested parties.
The Department is particularly interested in ensuring that the
expenditure of public funds is justified by the execution of intended
activities and the advancement of knowledge and, thus, has built this
accountability into the selection criteria. Not later than three years
after the establishment of any RRTC, NIDRR will conduct one or more
reviews of the activities and achievements of the RRTC. In accordance
with the provisions of 34 CFR 75.253(a), continued funding depends at
all times on satisfactory performance and accomplishment of approved
grant objectives.
Priority
Background
In April 2002, President George W. Bush announced the creation of
the New Freedom Commission on Mental Health. He charged the Commission
with studying the mental health care system in the United States and
making recommendations that would enable adults with serious mental
illness and children with serious emotional disturbance to live, work,
learn, and participate fully in their communities. The Commission
Report, ``Achieving the Promise: Transforming Mental Health Care in
America'' (July 2003), along with reports from the Surgeon General and
numerous other public and private entities, offer consensus on a number
of findings addressed in the proposed priority. These include the
importance of enhancing self-determination; consumer-driven, community-
based interventions; collaboration within the mental health service
system; workforce development; and culturally competent care.
One promising area noted in ``Achieving the Promise: Transforming
Mental Health Care in America'' is consumer-operated services. Such
services are common: A national survey of the mental health self-help
sector conducted by the U.S. Substance Abuse Mental Health
Administration's Center for Mental Health Services shows that mental
health support groups and self-help organizations run by and for mental
health consumers and their families now outnumber traditional mental
health organizations by almost two to one (Goldstrom, I., Campbell, J.,
Rogers, J., Lambert, D., Blacklow, B., Manderscheid, R., and Henderson,
M. (Forthcoming). National estimates of mental health mutual support
groups, self-help organizations, and consumer-operated services.
Administration and Policy in Mental Health).
The Surgeon General's Report on Mental Health estimated that about
one in five Americans experience a mental disorder in a given year
(U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 1999. Mental Health:
Report of the Surgeon General. Rockville, MD: U.S. Department of Health
and Human Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services
Administration, Center for Mental Health Services, National Institutes
of Health, National Institute of Mental Health. Available on-line:
http: //www.surgeongeneral.gov/library/mentalhealth/home.html).
Serious mental illness can interfere with the ability to work, attend
school, or manage day-to-day activities. For example, labor force
participation and employment rates are substantially lower for people
with mental health disabilities than for people with other disabilities
or with no disability (Jans, L., Stoddard, S. & Kraus, L., 2004.
Chartbook on Mental Health and Disability in the United States. An
InfoUse Report. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Education, National
Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research). As cited in the
final report of the President's New Freedom Commission on Mental
Health, the ``annual indirect cost of mental illnesses is estimated to
be $79 billion.'' (New Freedom Commission on Mental Health, 2003.
Achieving the Promise: Transforming Mental Health Care in America.
Final Report. DHHS Pub. No. SMA-03-3832. Rockville, MD.)
NIDRR, in collaboration with the U.S. Substance Abuse Mental Health
Service Administration, proposes a priority for an RRTC on promoting
access to effective consumer-centered and community-based practices and
supports for adults with serious mental illness. This priority focuses
on outcomes rather than activities. The overall outcome for this
proposed priority mirrors the President's charge: To work towards
enabling adults with serious mental illness to live, work, learn, and
participate fully in their communities.
Proposed Priority
The Assistant Secretary proposes a priority for one RRTC which must
focus on promoting access to effective consumer-centered and community-
based practices and supports for adults with serious mental illness.
The RRTC must--
(1) Identify or develop and evaluate models, methods, and measures
for improving the quality of mental health outcomes through
transformation of the service delivery system in a manner that reflects
and embodies consumer choice. These models, methods, and measures may
focus on, but are not limited to self-determination, consumer-centered
services, consumer choice, and coordination across service systems. All
of these efforts must be culturally competent and appropriate for
targeted populations;
(2) Identify or develop and then evaluate strategies for
translating evidence-based mental health research findings and best
practices into effective interventions, including the development of
tools and supports for providers of mental health or other adjunctive
services that reflect consumer choice; and
(3) Identify or develop and evaluate interventions, such as peer
support services, that help to improve workforce capacity and choice
for adults with serious mental illness.
In addition to the activities proposed by the applicant, the RRTC
must--
Conduct a state-of-the-science conference on its
respective area of research in the third year of the grant cycle and
publish a comprehensive report on the final outcomes of the conference
in the fourth year of the grant cycle. This conference must include
materials from experts internal and external to the RRTC;
Coordinate on research projects of mutual interest with
relevant NIDRR-funded projects as identified through consultation with
the NIDRR project officer;
Involve individuals with disabilities in planning and
implementing its research, training, and dissemination activities, and
in evaluating the RRTC; and
[[Page 10380]]
Demonstrate in its application how it will address, in
whole or in part, the needs of individuals with disabilities from
minority backgrounds.
Executive Order 12866
This notice of proposed priority has been reviewed in accordance
with Executive Order 12866. Under the terms of the order, we have
assessed the potential costs and benefits of this regulatory action.
The potential costs associated with the notice of proposed priority
are those resulting from statutory requirements and those we have
determined as necessary for administering this program effectively and
efficiently.
In assessing the potential costs and benefits--both quantitative
and qualitative--of this notice of proposed priority, we have
determined that the benefits of this proposed priority justify the
costs.
Summary of potential costs and benefits: The potential costs
associated with this proposed priority are minimal while the benefits
are significant. Grantees may anticipate costs associated with
completing the application process in terms of staff time, copying, and
mailing or delivery. The use of e-Application technology reduces
mailing and copying costs significantly.
The benefits of the RRTC Program have been well established over
the years in that similar projects have been completed successfully.
This proposed priority will generate new knowledge and technologies
through research, development, dissemination, utilization, and
technical assistance projects.
Another benefit of this proposed priority also will be the
establishment of a new RRTC that supports the President's NFI and will
improve the lives of persons with disabilities. This new RRTC will
generate, disseminate, and promote the use of new information that will
improve the options for individuals with disabilities to perform
regular activities in the community.
Applicable Program Regulations: 34 CFR part 350.
Electronic Access to This Document
You may view this document, as well as all other Department of
Education documents published in the Federal Register, in text or Adobe
Portable Document Format (PDF) on the Internet at the following site:
https://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 (202) 512-1530.
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: https://www.gpoaccess.gov/
nara/.
(Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number: 84.133B,
Rehabilitation Research and Training Centers Program)
Program Authority: 29 U.S.C. 762(g) and 764(b)(2).
Dated: February 25, 2005.
John H. Hager,
Assistant Secretary for Special Education and Rehabilitative Services.
[FR Doc. 05-4105 Filed 3-2-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-P
