Section 577.160  Selection Criteria

a)         The Department will review applications based on the criteria in Sections 577.140 and 577.150(c)(1) or (c)(2) and subsections (b), (c) and (d) (as applicable).  In making its determination to issue a grant, the Department shall determine which applications best allow the achievement of goals specified in the Department's notice of grant opportunity.  The Department shall also give consideration to factors including, but not limited to, underserved populations, past performance of an applicant and availability of funds.

b)         The applicant shall also demonstrate local support for the program.  Local support can be demonstrated through funds, services or other resources.  The ratio of State support to local support shall be determined by the Department in a manner that is consistent with the purpose of the Act, based on the criticality of the need for more professional health care services and the geographic location and the economic base of the designated shortage area. (Section 20 of the Act)

c)         The Department shall give preference to a grant application that demonstrates the following:

1)         establishing a program at locations that exhibit potential for extending psychiatric practice physician availability to designated shortage areas;

2)         having programs located away from communities in which medical schools are located; and

3)         having programs located in hospitals that have affiliation agreements with medical schools located within the State. (Section 15(2)(A) through (C) of the Act)

d)         The Department shall use the following as secondary criteria to determine the distribution of grant funds:

1)         adequate courses of instruction in the child and adolescent behavioral disorder sciences;

2)         availability and systematic utilization of opportunities for residents to gain experience through local health departments, community mental health centers, or other preventative or occupational medical facilities;

3)         a continuing program of community oriented research in such areas as risk factors in community populations;

4)         sufficient mechanisms for maintenance of quality training, such as peer review, systematic process reviews, referral system, and maintenance of adequate records; and

5)         an appropriate course of instruction in societal, institutional, and economic conditions affecting psychiatric practice. (Section 15(2) of the Act)