Notice2022-11899
Funding Opportunity: Staff Sergeant Parker Gordon Fox Suicide Prevention Grant Program
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
June 3, 2022
Issuing agencies
Veterans Affairs Department
Abstract
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) published a document in the Federal Register on April 15, 2022, concerning a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for suicide prevention services grants under the Staff Sergeant Parker Gordon Fox Suicide Prevention Grant Program (SSG Fox SPGP). This Notice amends two provisions in section I to clarify requirements regarding the provision or coordination of a baseline mental health screening to participants.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 87 Issue 107 (Friday, June 3, 2022)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 107 (Friday, June 3, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 33880-33881]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2022-11899]
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DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS
Funding Opportunity: Staff Sergeant Parker Gordon Fox Suicide
Prevention Grant Program
AGENCY: Department of Veterans Affairs.
ACTION: Notice of funding opportunity; correction.
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SUMMARY: The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) published a document
in the Federal Register on April 15, 2022, concerning a Notice of
Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for suicide prevention services grants under
the Staff Sergeant Parker Gordon Fox Suicide Prevention Grant Program
(SSG Fox SPGP). This Notice amends two provisions in section I to
clarify requirements regarding the provision or coordination of a
baseline mental health screening to participants.
DATES: Applications for suicide prevention services grants under the
SSG Fox SPGP Program must be received by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on
June 10, 2022. In the interest of fairness to all competing applicants,
this deadline is firm as to date and hour, and
[[Page 33881]]
VA will treat as ineligible for consideration any application that is
received after the deadline. Applicants should take this practice into
account and make early submission of their materials to avoid any risk
of loss of eligibility brought about by unanticipated delays, computer
service outages or other submission-related problems.
ADDRESSES: For a Copy of the Application Package: Copies of the
application can be downloaded from the SSG Fox SPGP website at <a href="https://www.mentalhealth.va.gov/ssgfox-grants/">https://www.mentalhealth.va.gov/ssgfox-grants/</a> grants/. Questions should be referred
to the SSG Fox SPGP at <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#b5e3f4e6e6f2f3dacdf2c7d4dbc1c6f5c3d49bd2dac3"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="b5e3f4e6e6f2f3dacdf2c7d4dbc1c6f5c3d49bd2dac3">[email protected]</span></a>. For detailed SSG Fox SPGP
information and requirements, see part 78 of title 38 CFR part 78.
Application Submission: Applicants must submit applications
electronically following instructions found at:
<a href="http://www.mentalhealth.va.gov/ssgfox-grants/">www.mentalhealth.va.gov/ssgfox-grants/</a> grants/. Applications may not be mailed
or sent by facsimile (fax). Applications must be received by the SSG
Fox SPGP Office no later than 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on the
application deadline date. Applications must arrive as a complete
package. Materials arriving separately will not be included in the
application package and may result in the application being rejected.
Technical Assistance: Information on obtaining technical assistance
preparing a suicide prevention services grant application is available
on the SSG Fox SPGP website at <a href="https://www.mentalhealth.va.gov/ssgfox-grants/">https://www.mentalhealth.va.gov/ssgfox-grants/</a> grants/.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Sandra Foley, Director, SSG Fox
SPGP, Office of Mental Health and Suicide Prevention, 11MHSP, 202-502-
0002 (this is not a toll-free telephone number), or
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#6e382f3d3d29280116291c0f001a1d2e180f40090118"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="257364767662634a5d6257444b51566553440b424a53">[email protected]</span></a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: As VA prepares to implement the SSG Fox SPGP
and coordinate with grantees, we identify the requirement in 38 CFR
78.50(a) that ``Grantees must provide or coordinate the provision of a
baseline mental health screening to all participants,'' including
children, could present significant logistical and legal difficulties.
VA is unaware of any validated tool that can be used by non-clinicians
as a baseline mental health screening to assess suicide risk and mental
and behavioral health conditions for persons under the age of 18.
Further, persons under the age of 18 generally need parental consent to
access screening services like this, and such a requirement could
delay, or at least complicate, compliance with this requirement. It is
also unclear how often children under the age of 18 would be active
participants in programs administered by grantees, physically present
with the grantee or otherwise in contact and coordination with the
grantee. Given these factors, we do not believe it is appropriate, at
this time, to require applicants to plan to screen participants under
the age of 18 in their programs. Consequently, VA will not require
applicants under this Notice, or grantees awarded funds pursuant to
this Notice, to provide or coordinate a baseline mental health
screening to participants under the age of 18. VA will consider
possible changes to this requirement, as it prepares a final rule to
implement its interim final regulations from March 10, 2022.
We emphasize one point for clarity. VA expects applicants to be
aware that children may be members of a household of an eligible
individual and consequently could be participants in their programs. VA
expects that any applicant awarded a grant who is presented with a
person under the age of 18 who is in a mental health crisis or
emergency will take all appropriate actions necessary to serve and
protect that person.
CORRECTION:
In the Federal Register (FR) NOFO of April 15, 2022, in FR Doc
2022-08040, correct:
(1) Section I (Funding Opportunity Description), Paragraph D
(Approach), first paragraph, second sentence to read: ``Applicants must
include in their application how they will provide or coordinate the
provision of the baseline mental health screening to all participants
age 18 and over.''
(2) Section I (Funding Opportunity Description), Paragraph D
(Approach), third paragraph, first sentence to read: ``Baseline mental
health screening: Grantees must provide or coordinate the provision of
baseline mental health screenings to all participants age 18 and over
they serve at the time those services begin.''
(3) Section I (Funding Opportunity Description), Paragraph F
(Guidance for the Use of Suicide Prevention Services Funds), fifth
paragraph, third and fourth sentences to read: ``Grantees must
determine and document the degree of risk of suicide for each
participant age 18 and over using tools identified in the suicide
prevention services grant agreement. Prior to services ending, grantees
must provide or coordinate the provision of a mental health screening
to all participants age 18 and over they serve, when possible.''
Signing Authority
Denis McDonough, Secretary of Veterans Affairs, approved this
document on May 23, 2022, and authorized the undersigned to sign and
submit the document to the Office of the Federal Register for
publication electronically as an official document of the Department of
Veterans Affairs.
Jeffrey M. Martin,
Assistant Director, Office of Regulation Policy & Management, Office of
General Counsel, Department of Veterans Affairs.
[FR Doc. 2022-11899 Filed 6-2-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8320-01-P
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