Expanding Partnerships and Disseminating HIV Prevention Materials to Reduce HIV and other STDs among Adolescents through National Non-Governmental Organizations | Apply Online

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is CDC RFA PS16-1603?

CDC RFA PS16-1603 is a CDC funding opportunity issued as a cooperative agreement to expand the reach of CDC's adolescent HIV and STD prevention work by partnering with national non-governmental organizations (NGOs). It is designed to spread CDC-proven approaches and tools more broadly and faster, including beyond traditional school systems.

What is the main goal of this funding opportunity?

The goal is to accelerate adoption of CDC's school-based adolescent sexual health prevention approach by using national NGO partners as multipliers. The emphasis is on expanding communication, distribution, and uptake of CDC-developed guidance and materials so more adolescents benefit from consistent, evidence-informed prevention messaging and better connections to services.

Who is the target population?

The target population is adolescents ages 10 to 19. The work emphasizes preventing HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and reducing unintended teen pregnancy.

How does this opportunity relate to CDC's existing work with schools?

CDC already funds work with state and local education agencies to strengthen what happens inside secondary schools. This funding opportunity adds a complementary lane by supporting national organizations that can extend and amplify CDC approaches and tools, including in non-traditional school settings and other youth-serving environments.

What are the core components of CDC's school-based prevention framework referenced in the opportunity?

The opportunity builds on CDC's framework that includes: implementing exemplary sexual health education (ESHE), increasing student access to sexual health services (SHS) such as HIV and STD testing, creating safe and supportive environments (SSE) especially for students at higher risk, and educating decision makers about policies that affect student health.

Is this funding intended to replace current school-based prevention work?

No. The funding is intended to amplify existing CDC school-based prevention efforts by improving how CDC guidance and materials are communicated, distributed, and adopted through national partners.

What types of activities are recipients expected to carry out?

Recipients are expected to use CDC funds to leverage their own resources, relationships, and communication platforms to expand reach. Practical activities include packaging, tailoring, adapting, and distributing CDC materials so they are easier for varied stakeholders to use while remaining aligned with CDC's adolescent HIV and STD prevention approach.

Why does the opportunity emphasize "reach"?

Reach is a major theme because CDC is looking for organizations that can extend prevention tools and information through channels that schools alone may not cover. This includes organizations operating in non-traditional school settings and other youth-serving environments.

What are the strategies applicants can propose under this opportunity?

Applicants may propose work under one or both of two strategies: (1) building and strengthening national partnerships (coalition-building and coordination) with groups committed to reducing HIV, STDs, and unintended teen pregnancy among adolescents, and (2) adapting and distributing CDC-developed school-based HIV prevention guidance and related materials to organizations committed to adolescent HIV and STD prevention in both school and non-traditional settings.

What does Strategy 1 (national partnerships) focus on?

Strategy 1 focuses on building and strengthening national partnerships with public health and public education influencers and other groups with a stake in adolescent HIV/STD prevention and teen pregnancy reduction. The intent is to promote consistent prevention priorities across organizations and reduce siloed efforts.

What does Strategy 2 (products and dissemination) focus on?

Strategy 2 focuses on adapting and distributing CDC-developed school-based HIV prevention guidance and related materials. Adaptation may include reformatting, audience-specific framing, or delivery changes to fit different channels, while still reflecting CDC guidance.

Does the opportunity allow applicants to propose both strategies?

Yes. Applicants may propose work under one strategy or both strategies.

What does it mean that this is a cooperative agreement?

A cooperative agreement means CDC is expected to have substantial involvement during implementation. This differs from a traditional grant with minimal interaction, and signals closer collaboration between CDC and recipients during the funded work.

Which CDC program and federal identifiers are associated with this award?

The award is administered by HHS-CDC-NCHHSTP under CFDA 93.079.

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligible applicants are nonprofit organizations, including those with or without 501(c)(3) status, as long as they are not institutions of higher education.

Are institutions of higher education eligible?

No. The eligibility information provided specifies that nonprofits are eligible as long as they are not institutions of higher education.

How many awards were anticipated?

The opportunity anticipated up to 8 awards.

What was the maximum award amount?

The award ceiling was $400,000.

When was the opportunity posted and when did it close?

The opportunity was posted on February 17, 2016 (and created the same day). The closing date was April 18, 2016.

Is the funded work focused on direct service delivery?

Success is framed less as delivering direct services in a single place and more as expanding the ecosystem of organizations sharing consistent, evidence-based prevention materials, strengthening cross-sector partnerships, and increasing adolescents' access to accurate information, supportive environments, and appropriate sexual health services.

What outcomes is the FOA trying to influence?

The FOA aims to increase the spread and adoption of consistent, evidence-informed prevention messaging and tools, strengthen partnership alignment, and ultimately help reduce HIV and STD transmission and reduce unintended teen pregnancy among adolescents ages 10 to 19.

What does "safe and supportive environments (SSE)" mean in this context?

Within the CDC framework referenced, SSE refers to creating environments in schools that are safe and supportive for all students, with special attention to students at higher risk.

What is meant by increasing access to sexual health services (SHS)?

In this context, SHS includes sexual health services such as HIV and STD testing, and the funded work supports expanding access by improving connections and pathways to these services through broader dissemination of CDC guidance and tools.

What does "exemplary sexual health education (ESHE)" refer to?

ESHE refers to CDC's emphasis on implementing strong sexual health education approaches within schools as part of a broader prevention framework.

What role do decision makers and policies play in this opportunity?

The CDC framework referenced includes educating decision makers about policies that affect student health, supporting a policy environment that reinforces effective adolescent HIV/STD prevention and teen pregnancy reduction.

What kinds of partners or networks are important for applicants?

The opportunity emphasizes national NGOs with established national networks and credibility with key audiences, capable of coordinating influencers across public health and public education and reaching youth-serving settings beyond traditional school systems.

What does "adapting" CDC materials allow recipients to do?

Adaptation indicates that materials may be tailored for different audiences or delivery channels (for example, through formatting or framing changes) so they are easier to use across varied stakeholders, while remaining aligned with CDC guidance.

What is the overall approach CDC is encouraging through this FOA?

CDC is encouraging a multiplier approach: national NGO partners use their platforms and relationships to distribute and reinforce CDC-developed, evidence-informed prevention guidance, improving consistency and scale of adoption and helping more adolescents access accurate information, supportive environments, and sexual health services.