CRITERION 4

Specificity of the implementation plan and its appropriateness for achieving the stated goals and objectives. This includes consideration of the thoroughness, completeness and sophistication of the proposed multi-phased plan of activities. Such a plan would necessarily include a detailed description of critical tasks, a schedule of when these tasks will be completed, and an explanation of the means proposed for accomplishing these tasks. including the means the applicant will employ to place graduates in career positions in the field of aging.

(40 points)

CRITERION 5

Adequacy of the applicant's plans for attracting faculty and students to the program who are members of minority groups (Asian and Pacific Islanders, Blacks, Hispanics, and Native Americans), and for developing appropriate course content and practicum experience concerning the special needs of minority elderly.

(30 points)

CRITERION 6

Commitment of the applicant institution to carry out the proposed project and the likelihood that similar activities will be carried out beyond the period of AoA support.

(20 points)

CRITERION 7

Appropriateness and justification of the budget. This will include an assessment of the budget as to its reasonableness in supporting the activities proposed for achieving project activities.

(20 points)

SECTION 7 ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS

Any public or private post-secondary educational institution may apply for a grant under this announcement. A public or private non-profit agency, organization or institution may apply for a grant under the "consortia" category provided it is affliated or has a letter of agreement with a post-secondary educational institution concerning the proposed project.

The Administration on Aging expects to make up to seventy (70) multiple year awards in this program for Fiscal Year 1979. Anticipated funding

and range of awards for each of the four (4) program categories are:

The Administration on Aging expects that projects will range from nine (9) months to three (3) years in duration, depending upon the application request, AoA's acceptance or modification of that proposed project period, and the availability of funding.

The closing date for receipt of applications under the Gerontology Career Preparation Program is August 13, 1979. Applications may бe mailed or hand delivered. Hand delivered applications will be accepted daily, except Saturdays, Sundays, and Federal holidays, from 9:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. through August 13, 1979. Mailed applications received after the closing date will be accepted only if they show a U.S. Postal Service postmark or a U.S. Postal Service mail receipt of no later than August 13, 1979.

TITLE IV-A MINORITY RESEARCH ASSOCIATE PROGRAM

SECTION 1 BACKGROUND

The Administration on Aging will initiate under Title IV-A of the Older Americans Act two special programs in FY '1979 to address the shortage. of minority researchers in the field of aging and the lack of personnel trained to meet the community service needs of racial and ethnic minority elderly Asian/Pacific Americans, Blacks, Hispanics, and Native Americans. Both the Minority Research Associate Program and the Minority Recruitment Program *are initiated in response to the 1978 Amendments to the Older Americans Act which authorize the Commissioner on Aging through either grant or contract:

"to assess future national personnel needs, including the need
for training of advocates, with respect to the elderly with
special emphasis on the needs of elderly minority group indivi-
duals and the need for the training of minority group individuals
to meet such needs." (01der Americans Act: Title IV, Part A Training,
Section 404(a)6).

Training persons effectively to plan, manage, and deliver services responsive to the needs of minority elderly initially depends upon the extent of available information concerning the special circumstances of minority elderly and the range of policies and programs which impact on their well-being. The Administration on Aging recognizes that the base of knowledge concerning minority aging has long lagged measurably behind other fields of gerontology, both quantitatively and qualitatively. The lack of such a knowledge base not only attests to a shortage of research resources among minority groups but also accounts, to some degree, for the unserved and underserved among the minority elderly.

One response to this problem is greater support for research projects on minority aging, an initiative which AoA undertook through its Title IV-B Research and Development Program in FY 1977. Another response is to stimulate greater interest and involvement in the field of gerontology on the part of minority social scientists. That approach is followed in the Minority Research Associate Program set forth below.

The Minority Recruitment Program will be supported through contract award under the Small Business Administration's Section 8(a) Minority Business Firm Program.

The objective of the Minority Research Associate Program is to provide opportunities to strengthen the interest, participation, and productivity of minority scholars in the field of aging research, particularly studies related to service provision and delivery to minority elderly. By catalyzing increased efforts to expand the base of knowledge concerning minority aging, the Program will contribute to advances in public policies and programs to serve the minority aging.

The Minority Research Associate Program is designed to attract qualified
minority social scientists to the field of aging by supporting their
participation as research associates in gerontology institutes, centers,
or programs of study which in turn, are distinguished by their capacity
for scholarship, research, and education in the field of aging.
Grants will be made to institutions with sufficient program resources
to:

O effectively recruit qualified minority social scientists;
provide extensive opportunities for education and research
in gerontology;

SECTION 3

foster research activity focused on improvement of services
or service delivery, changes in Federal programs, or new
policy recommendations benefiting minority elderly.

SCOPE OF PROJECT ACTIVITIES

The objectives of the Program and the value of each Minority Research Associate project can be realized only if there is a close match between the particular strengths of the applicant institution's gerontology program and the special potential of the minority social scientist(s) for pursuing an emergent interest in aging research. Accordingly, the project activities should be designed, planned, and scheduled to reflect how the host institution and the minority research associate candidate(s) will work in tandem to achieve the Program Objectives outlined in the previous Section. Applications will be reviewed, approved, and funded on the understanding that the named research associate candidate(s) remain committed to participate in the project. At the outset of the Program, no more than one or two minority research associates are expected to be supported under each project. The Administration on Aging anticipates that a significant number of research associate candidates will be recruited from private research organizations, social service agencies, and post secondary educational institutions, particularly institutions with large minority enrollments. Upon completion of the project, the minority research associate(s) will be expected to continue to carry out research in the field of aging.