45900081 - Public Health Evaluation Grants

Account Description FY2014
Spending
FY2015
GAA
4590-0081 Public Health Evaluation Grants
For a public health evaluation grant program; provided, that the department of public health shall report to the house and senate committees on ways and means 30 days before issuing a request for proposals for this program detailing the criteria to be used to award grants; provided further, that grant recipients shall be selected through a competitive grant process in which successful proposals shall: (a) demonstrate substantial experience conducting evaluations of federal, state or local public health programs; (b) focus on the evaluation of a state-funded department of public health program, which may include, but shall not be limited to: school-based health centers, smoking cessation programs, HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment programs, obesity prevention programs and child nutrition programs; (c) identify the state administrative datasets to be used; (d) ensure compliance with applicable privacy regulations, including institutional review board policies; and (e) propose an evaluation to be completed in not more than 24 months that will provide analysis that examines the following areas of policy relevance: (i) the quantifiable effect of the program on the population treated through the program; (ii) an estimate of the cost to the commonwealth of the public health problems being addressed through the program; (iii) a comparison of the cost of the program and the estimated short-term and long-term benefits received by program recipients through the programs; (iv) data limitations in estimating the effect of the programs; and (v) recommendations for further study; provided further, that in awarding grants, priority shall be given to organizations located within the commonwealth; provided further, that the request for proposals shall be issued not later than December 1, 2014; provided further, that the department of public health, the center for health information and analysis, the executive office of health and human services, the executive office of education, the department of housing and community development and other relevant state agencies shall work with grant recipients funded through this item as necessary to provide secure access to state-collected data necessary for evaluations; provided further, that organizations receiving funds through this item shall report quarterly to the house and senate committees on ways and means, the joint committee on public health and the department of public health on: (1) the status and preliminary results of studies funded through this item; and (2) any obstacles encountered in access to data or other information that is negatively affecting the completion of the study; and provided further, that funds appropriated in this item shall not revert and shall be available for expenditure through February 1, 2017
0 250,000