Promoting Access with a Language Services Assistance Symbol

The Office of Minority Health announces the anticipated availability of funds for Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 under the authority of 42 U.S.C. § 300u-6 (Section 1707 of the Public Health Service Act) for demonstration projects that support and evaluate the use of a universal symbol to inform people about the availability of language assistance services in health settings. Demonstration projects are time-limited projects for the purpose of assessing the effectiveness of an approach or intervention toward reaching a desired outcome. We expect award recipients under this opportunity to consider approaches to sustainability beyond the end of the support provided by OMH. This initiative aligns with Make America Healthy Again Commission goals, and supports Executive Order 14224 by improving access to healthcare for new Americans with limited English proficiency, as well as individuals with communication disabilities.Individuals with limited English proficiency (LEP) and people with disabilities face barriers to health care and social services that increase their risk for poor health outcomes. Language assistance services are all oral, written, and signed language services needed to assist effective communication for individuals with LEP and people with disabilities. This initiative aligns with Make America Healthy Again Commission goals, and supports Executive Order 14224 by improving access to healthcare for new Americans with limited English proficiency, as well as individuals with communication disabilities.During Fiscal Year 2024, OMH is developing a universal symbol that will indicate the availability of language assistance services. We intend for funded projects to demonstrate the effectiveness of the universal symbol in raising awareness and prompting individuals to request language assistance services in health settings. OMH also expects funded projects to demonstrate progress towards health care communication related Healthy People 2030 objectives. Related information can be found at https://health.gov/healthypeople/objectives-and-data/browse-objectives/health-communication#:~:text=Developmental-,Health%20Care,-Increase%20the%20proportion. Eligible applicants include any private nonprofit or public entity located in a State. “State” includes, in addition to the several States, only the District of Columbia, Guam, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the...

An independent review panel evaluates applications that pass the screening and meet the responsiveness criteria in the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO). These reviewers are experts in their fields, and are drawn from academic institutions, non-profit organizations, state and local government, and Federal government agencies. Based on the Application Review Criteria as outlined in the NOFO, the reviewers will comment on and rate the applications, focusing their comments and rating decisions on the identified criteria. In addition to the independent review panel, Federal staff will review each application for programmatic, budgetary, and grants management compliance.

Fiscal year 2025: Projected: Center for Indigenous Innovation and Health Equity. National Lupus Outreach and Clinical Trial Education Program. Health Equity Leadership Development Initiative. Healthy Families Community-Based Perinatal Health Initiative. Healthy People 2030 Leading Health Indicators Initiative. Demonstrations Reducing Dementia Disparities. Innovative Approaches for Reducing Disparities in Kidney Health National Coordinating Center for Language Access Services. Promoting Access with a Language Services Assistance Symbol.