Promoting Adolescent Health through School-Based HIV Prevention

"The ""Promoting Adolescent Health through School-Based HIV Prevention"" program, issued under funding opportunity number CDC-RFA-PS18-1807, is administered by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention. The initiative reflects CDC’s longstanding mandate to reduce the prevalence of HIV, STDs, and associated risk behaviors among adolescents in the United States. The funding mechanism is a cooperative agreement that enables CDC to maintain significant involvement throughout the implementation process. The primary purpose of this funding opportunity is to improve the health and well-being of middle and high school students by supporting education and health agencies in developing and implementing sustainable school-based HIV/STD prevention strategies. The five-year initiative is structured around three key components: school-based surveillance, school-based prevention programming, and technical assistance. The surveillance component supports the administration of the Youth Risk Behavior Survey and the School Health Profiles survey. The prevention component focuses on sexual health education, sexual health services, and safe and supportive school environments. The technical assistance component provides specialized support to strengthen the implementation capacity of funded local education agencies (LEAs). Eligible applicants vary by component. Component 1 is open to state, local, tribal, and territorial government education and health agencies. Component 2 is restricted to local education agencies, which must also apply for and comply with Component 1 requirements and serve a minimum of 10,000 students through priority schools. LEAs with smaller enrollments may apply as a consortium. Component 3 is open to organizations capable of providing technical assistance at the national level. Eligibility includes but is not limited to independent school districts, public and private institutions of higher education, state and local governments, tribal organizations, and nonprofits, both with and without 501(c)(3) status. The NOFO outlines strict submission requirements. Component 2 applicants must submit a Memorandum of Understanding between the LEA and the local public health agency and at least one letter of commitment from relevant district offices. Application packages must be submitted electronically via Grants.gov, with the final closing date for this round having been May 18, 2023. Letters of intent were due February 26, 2018, and the estimated award date was July 2, 2018. The CDC anticipates issuing approximately 135 awards across all components, with award amounts ranging from $12,000 to $350,000 per year based on agency type and program component. Evaluation of applications involves a multi-phase review. Key considerations include organizational capacity, alignment with public health objectives, data collection and usage strategies, and the feasibility of work plans. All recipients are required to submit regular performance and evaluation data. Funded organizations must also submit success stories to demonstrate program progress. Recipients will work closely with CDC to assess outcomes related to youth sexual health behaviors, testing rates, communication with parents, and school connectedness. Recipients of Component 2 and relevant Component 3 sub-awards are required to allocate at least 6% of their budgets toward evaluation activities. Throughout the performance period, CDC provides hands-on support, including training, technical guidance, evaluation assistance, and coordination with national partners. All application materials, including letters of intent and full proposals, were submitted through Grants.gov. For assistance, applicants could contact Brownie Anderson-Rana at fli2@cdc.gov or 770-488-2771. While the current opportunity is closed, it has been issued on a recurring basis, and future cycles are anticipated. "

CDC advises collaborating across components, engaging stakeholders early, and using existing data systems to inform planning. Strong emphasis is placed on clear work plans and measurable outcomes.