National Viral Hepatitis Education, Awareness, and Capacity Building for Communities and Providers

In alignment with CDC's viral hepatitis strategic goals and current epidemiology, this Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) will address the need for increasing awareness of viral hepatitis prevention, testing, and treatment options among populations disproportionately affected by hepatitis B and/or hepatitis C virus infections. The priority populations' needs will also be addressed by increasing healthcare professionals' competence in the evaluation and treatment of hepatitis B and/or hepatitis C virus infection. The outcomes of this NOFO will be achieved through two separate components. An organization may apply for one component or both components by submitting two separate applications, one for Part A and one for Part B. Part A: Community Education, Awareness, and Capacity Building, and Part B: Professional Education and Training. Strategies and activities conducted under each part may contribute to more people with hepatitis B and hepatitis C able to make informed health decisions and obtain proper care and treatment which can lead to decreased morbidity and mortality from hepatitis B and hepatitis C. Part A strategies and activities focus on 1) leading, maintaining, and growing an existing coalition of public and private organizations serving populations disproportionately affected by hepatitis B and/or hepatitis C, 2) providing technical assistance and training to coalition members to deliver hepatitis B and/or hepatitis C educational outreach to disproportionately affected populations, and 3) building capacity of coalition members to conduct hepatitis B and/or hepatitis C virus infection testing and linkage to treatment in settings serving disproportionately affected populations. Short-term outcomes include increasing capacity of the coalition to expand services to a larger number of populations disproportionately affected by hepatitis B and hepatitis C, increasing capacity of coalition members to deliver hepatitis B and/or hepatitis C educational outreach to disproportionately affected populations, and increasing testing for hepatitis B and/or hepatitis C virus infection among disproportionately affected populations. Part B strategies and activities focus on 1) providing free comprehensive web-based, accurate, on-demand resources and trainings for healthcare professionals for hepatitis B and hepatitis C, and associated continuing education credits, and 2) actively marketing and promoting training and resources.