As you may know, we were thrilled to receive the full $125 million in CAP funding for FY2001. We are currently in the process of visiting over 50 additional programs that were approved but unfunded in last year's cycle. We aim to have these grants out in March.

Additionally, we are working on program guidance for the FY2001 application, and plan to fund additional communities. There may also be funds available for expansion grants for current grantees, and more information will be available on that process shortly.

In addition to getting help from your CAP team, we have set up a contract with the Management Assistance Corporation (MAC). MAC is available (for free!) to help answer questions, assist you in figuring out next steps, and to link you with consultants in the areas of information systems (MIS), legal, and clinical. If you need further on-site assistance, there will be limited funds available to help you obtain these resources. While these are the main areas MAC is focusing on, you can feel free to contact them with any consulting and TA needs you have and they will try to help. You can reach MAC by calling Bill Kowgios or Kelly Garry-Burks at 1-301-468-6006 ext. 502 or ext. 504 or e-mailing Bill at bkowgios@mac1988.com or Kelly at kgarryburks@mac1988.com. Folks at MAC will work with CAP to figure out how to best assist you.

Technical Assistance Calls

Starting February 6th, every Tuesday from 1:00 to 2:30 EST, we will be hosting a CAP related technical assistance call for all interested grantees. The calls will be an opportunity to get briefings on particular topics, connect with other grantees, and receive technical assistance from consultants and CAP staff on a variety of topics. We have picked the first few topics for calls, and hope to create the topics for future calls from your suggestions and needs. In order to register for the calls, please contact Audrey Smolkin (215-861-4794 or asmolkin@hrsa.gov) with your name and phone number. Please contact us at least a week prior to the call to register. We will likely repeat the MIS call series throughout the year.

We are working on having March calls include a legal overview/briefing, a clinical session on linking social services, "disease management 101," and an additional MIS call on project management and evaluation. Any feedback on suggested topics is greatly appreciated!

The CAP resource and referral website is coming soon! As of early next week you will be able to access the first stage of our website by linking to www.capcommunity.org. This site will have a bulletin board for asking questions and having discussions and provide you with some resource links. A more in-depth resource website should be up by around the end of February.

Computer Scholarship Program: Up to $2,000 available for smaller budget organizations to purchase computers or update their technology through the purchase of Internet access, networking tools, software, and the like. Deadline February 9, 2001.

• Developing an Interpreter Services Program

• Developing a Clinician Volunteer Program

• Developing a Chronic Disease Program

More information on both of these grant opportunities is available on the VIH website at www.volunteersinhealthcare.org. If you have questions, please contact VIH at their toll-free main number, (877) 844-8442.