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

This Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) will address the need for conducting viral hepatitis testing of populations most affected by chronic hepatitis B and/or chronic hepatitis C and linking patients as appropriate to care and treatment, thereby reducing morbidity and mortality. This will be achieved through two completely separate components, Part A: Community Education and Awareness and Capacity Building and Part B: Professional Education/Training. Part A strategies and activities focus on leading and growing an existing national coalition that serves populations or geographic areas with high rates of viral hepatitis. The national coalition will (1) share strategies, materials, and lessons learned; (2) provide technical assistance to conduct culturally competent educational outreach; (3) build capacity to test the target populations; and (4) engage members in implementing CDC’s educational campaign(s). Outcomes for Part A are: (1) increased number and capacity of coalition members to deliver culturally competent educational outreach; (2) increased awareness among people living with chronic hepatitis B and/or chronic hepatitis C of their infection; and (3) increased exposure to CDC’s education campaign(s). Part B activities are: developing free, accurate, up-to-date, Continuing Education-accredited comprehensive web-based, on-demand hepatitis materials, resources, and trainings for health professionals. The outcomes for part B are increasing the knowledge and skills of health professionals, including the ability to screen, diagnose, medically manage, and provide care to people with chronic viral hepatitis.