HRSA’s Maternal and Child Health Bureau (MCHB) is working in partnership with states, communities, and public-private partners to help women, infants, children, adolescents, and their families with special healthcare needs. The Emergency Medical Services for Children (EMSC) is administered by MCHB.
There is a growing recognition that children have unique needs in emergency situations that often can vary from those of adults due to physiological developments. The EMSC is in place to enhance the pediatric capability of the emergency systems originally designed for adults.
HRSA/MCHB released the Funding Opportunity Announcement on November 29, 2010 with an application due date January 14, 2011. The funds from this announcement (HRSA-11-059) will be used to establish an EMSC National Resource Center to:
• Improve the infrastructure, quality, and safety of pediatric emergency care
• Assist national, state, and local capacity to improve emergency care by developing a research infrastructure
• Help children in times of emergencies and disasters and help to improve emergency preparedness
• Help to collect, analyze and use pediatric emergency care data
States and/or accredited academic medical centers applying for the funding need to have a proven track record in providing technical assistance and support in this field and knowledge of the emergency care system in the U.S.
One of the duties for the awardee is to coordinate communications. The awardee is to provide electronic communication among EMSC grantees, stakeholders, federal agencies, and then distribute EMSC resources through electronic media.
Funding will be provided in the form of a cooperative agreement. A cooperative agreement, as opposed to a grant is an award instrument where substantial involvement is anticipated between HRSA and the recipient during the time of the contemplated project.
This program will provide funding for fiscal years 2011 2014. Approximately $1,860,000 is expected to be available annually to fund the project. The period of support is up to four years with an optional fifth year based on performance.
For more information, go to www.grants.gov or email HRSAGAC@hrsa.gov or email David Heppel, M.D., Director, Division of Child, Adolescent, and Family Health at dheppel@hrsa.gov or call (301) 443-3954.
