May 23, 2001 - Grants to Improve Pre-Teens' Physical Activity

National nonprofit organizations in health, education, or social services with affiliates or membership in at least 10 states may apply for awards ranging from $100,000 to $175,000 to help schools and communities promote healthful physical activity in pre-teens ages 9 to 13 and to provide information to caregivers including parents, teachers, coaches, and teenagers, who are in a position to influence the young people. Grant recipients will be expected to work intensively with existing media sources and also to develop tools to educate parents, school administrators, and physical education personnel about the importance of physical activity. The announcement appeared in the Federal Register May 23, 2001.

May 14, 2001 - Grant Available for Parent Interventions to Supplement School-Based Risk Reduction Programs

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention today announced the availability of $300,000 in fiscal 2001 funds, with a possibility of an additional $700,000 in future years, for development and dissemination of a parent intervention component to supplement school-based sexual risk reduction and chronic disease prevention programs. Applications may be submitted by public and private nonprofit organizations and by governments and their agencies. Applicants should be able to show a history of conducting evaluation research in partnership with interdisciplinary groups of health researchers and local racial and ethnic minority communities. The announcement appeared in the Federal Register for May 14, 2001.


May 14, 2001 - Judge Rules Parents Can't Sue State for EPSDT Benefits

In a ruling that's getting widespread attention, a federal district judge has ruled that parents can't bring suit against state Medicaid officials for failing to provide Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnosis, and Treatment (EPSDT) to all eligible children under Medicaid. Judge Robert Cleland of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan dismissed a lawsuit brought by two parent organizations against Michigan Medicaid officials responsible for the EPSDT program, saying Medicaid is a "voluntary contract between two sovereigns"--the state and the federal government--and Medicaid recipients who are the beneficiaries of that contract have no third-part right to enforce it in court. Judge Cleland said the parent groups' effort to ensure all disadvantaged children receive EPSDT was "commendable," but he urged parents to follow other avenues of protest, including administrative hearings and even asking the secretary of Health and Human Services to withhold Michigan's Medicaid funds. In their lawsuit, the parents did not ask for damages but for an injunction to prevent state officials from violating the federal Medicaid law. Lawyers for the parents said they intend to appeal Judge Cleland's decision. The case is Westside Mothers v. Haveman.

May 8, 2001 - Grants to Improve Understanding of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced today that it will enter into cooperative agreements with public or private nonprofit organizations such as colleges, universities, research institutions, or hospitals, or with state/ local government agencies, to educate parents and professionals working in schools, public health agencies, and social services agencies about fetal alcohol syndrome and how to access diagnosis and treatment for affected children. Approximately $500,000 in fiscal 2001 funds is available for an expected two to four awards ranging from $75,000 to $200,000 each. The deadline to submit applications is June 29, 2001; The announcement of the availability of funds appeared in the Federal Register May 8.

May 7, 2001 - PE Grants Available

The U.S. Department of Education announced today that school districts can apply for grants expected to average $300,000 each to initiate, expand, or improve physical education programs. The grants can't be used to fund extracurricular activities. Applicants are required to perform needs assessments of their current PE programs and, based on the assessment, describe how they will use federal funds to help meet state standards for physical education. Priority for funding will go to applicants who will use at least half the funding to benefit schools identified for improvement by their states under Title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act. Deadline to file applications is June 18. For further information, see the announcement which appeared on Federal Register for May 7, 2001.