Funding Opportunity Announcement: Pediatric Disaster Care Centers of Excellence

Application Deadline is August 27

In April, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR) sought information on general concepts and specific ideas from providers particularly in the pediatric care community about a vision for an archetype of a more comprehensive, enhanced, national capability for pediatric care during disasters. Using the information received helped ASPR develop a new funding opportunity. ASPR recently released the Pediatric Disaster Care Centers of Excellence Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) to support the creation of up to two Pediatric Disaster Care Centers of Excellence (COE) that will serve as pilot sites.

Children represent 25 percent of the U.S. population and face specialized medical issues due to their unique developmental and physiologic characteristics. Pediatric care requires specialized equipment, supplies, and pharmaceuticals. While pediatric hospitals provide excellent care for children on a day-to-day basis, special consideration needs to be given to providing pediatric care during public health emergencies and disasters.

ASPR envisions this FOA as part of a multiyear plan to address pediatric disaster care needs as ASPR aims to address known gaps in pediatric disaster care of all pediatric patient populations by augmenting the existing clinical capabilities within states and across multi-state regions. Future elements of the vision would include field equipment, mobile medical facilities, telemedicine, and training and education. This FOA does not aim to establish the Network in its entirety, but instead funds a limited number of demonstration projects that will help identify issues, develop best practices, and demonstrate the potential effectiveness and viability of this concept to apply nationwide. For maximum success, applicants should have existing pediatric preparedness capabilities and the capacity to manage pediatric patients within their own state and within a self-defined multi-state region during a disaster. The application deadline is August 27, 2019.