Department of Health and Human Services Grant: CCHD Newborn Screening Program

Applicants must have significant experience with newborn screening and genetics, and must show support and substantial collaboration with the state newborn screening program. In addition, to be eligible for an award, an applicant must assure that it has either (a) adopted, and implemented or (b) is in the process of adopting and implementing the guidelines and recommendations of the Advisory Committee that are adopted by the Secretary and added to the RUSP at the time the grant is awarded or renewed. Committee recommendations are available at http://www.hrsa.gov/heritabledisorderscommittee/.

Eligible applicants must create a network of the state public health department and hospitals and/or birth facilities. Applications must include memoranda of agreement from the state public health department (if it is not the primary applicant) as well as participating hospitals and birthing facilities.

This announcement solicits applications for activities to:

1) Enhance, improve or expand the capacity of state, local public health agencies and hospitals to: provide screening; counseling; link the results of CCHD screening to needed follow-up health care services; and/or perform the necessary quality assurance, outcomes analysis and other public health surveillance functions;
2) Assist in providing health care professionals and newborn screening program personnel with education in newborn screening and training in relevant new technologies for critical congenital heart disease (such as the use of pulse oximetry);
3) Develop and deliver educational programs (at appropriate literacy levels) about critical congenital heart disease newborn screening, counseling, testing, follow-up, treatment, and specialty services to parents, families, and patient advocacy and support groups; and
4) Establish, maintain, and operate a system to coordinate and assess screening programs and follow-up relating to critical congenital heart disease.