Community Grant Program
Round 1
Request For Applications (RFA)
Release Date: December 15, 2008
Application Deadline: 5:00 p.m., February 25, 2009
Funding for the Healthy Eating Active Living (HEAL) Initiative and Community Grant Program
is provided by the following organizations:
HNHfoundation
Anthem Foundation
Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Foundation
Endowment for Health
NH Charitable Foundation
The lead organization responsible for coordinating the HEAL Initiative is the
Foundation for Healthy Communities.
Community Grant Program RFA
Table of Contents
BACKGROUND INFORMATION AND ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS ............................. 3
COMMUNITY GRANT PROGRAM APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS ................................... 5
I. Steps for Submitting a Community Grant Program Application .........................................5
II. Community Grant Program Application Timeline ..............................................................6
III. Community Grant Program Information Sessions ...............................................................6
IV. HEAL Community Partnerships and Grant Projects ...........................................................7
V. Selection Process/Criteria ....................................................................................................7
VI. Technical Assistance ............................................................................................................9
VII. Terms of Grants and Use of Funds ...................................................................................11
VIII.HEAL Contact Information .............................................................................................11
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Community Grant Program RFA
BACKGROUND INFORMATION AND ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS
The New Hampshire Healthy Eating Active Living (HEAL) Initiative is seeking community
partnerships to apply for the first round of its Community Grant Program. Up to four communities
will be awarded three-year grants of up to $150,000 each and technical assistance. This Request for
Applications (RFA) provides background information about the HEAL Initiative and the Community
Grant Program application process.
What is the HEAL Initiative?
The HEAL Initiative, or HEAL, is aimed at improving the health and quality of life of New
Hampshire’s residents. HEAL envisions a New Hampshire where all residents improve health and
quality of life through healthy eating and active living.
Prospective applicants should first gain a thorough understanding of HEAL before beginning the
application process. HEAL is fully explained in the Healthy Eating Active Living Action Plan for
New Hampshire 2008, a blueprint for statewide efforts to assist residents in adopting and
maintaining healthy weight.
What is the role of the Community Grant Program (CGP)?
The CGP will fund eligible communities to implement HEAL policy, practice and communication
interventions. The CGP will support community partnerships with the capacity and desire to achieve
the multi-sector interventions targeted in the Healthy Eating Active Living Action Plan for New
Hampshire 2008. Existing community partnerships with the ability to implement HEAL’s Top
Priorities and Recommended Interventions are ideal candidates to apply for the CGP.
What is an eligible community?
The CGP is interested in supporting community partnerships that serve geographic communities
within New Hampshire. We recognize that 'community' can be defined in many different ways.
CGP projects will serve a minimum population base of 10,000 for a community. Small rural
towns will need to collaborate with adjacent rural towns or nearby cities to meet the population
minimum. Based on available grant funding, as well as the desired breadth and depth of
interventions, we suggest that the total community population served not exceed 50,000.
Manchester and Nashua may be an exception to this upper population limit, or may decide to
target areas within their respective cities. It is important that the targeted geographic community
be one that makes sense for individuals and families that live, learn, work and play there. Also,
the service area of community partner organizations should be a factor in defining the geographic
area.
In the application, community partnerships will be asked to list the cities and towns in their
proposed geographic areas. They will also be asked to identify the total population for the
geographic area using the 2007 Population Estimates of New Hampshire Cities and Towns
prepared by the NH Office of Energy and Planning.
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Community Grant Program RFA
Who can apply?
Community partnerships will select a local or regional 501(c)(3) non-profit organization with a
strong focus on promoting the public’s health to serve as the lead agency and community grant
recipient. If an appropriate 501(c)(3) non-profit organization is not available, a public entity
qualified to supervise community health projects, may serve as the lead agency. The lead agency
will submit the application, be responsible for overall management of the community grant and act as
the fiscal agent.
Why is HEAL necessary for New Hampshire?
Governor John Lynch, and First Lady Dr. Susan Lynch say in their introductory letter to the Healthy
Eating Active Living Action Plan for New Hampshire 2008, “New Hampshire is proud of its
reputation as a healthy state. However, increasing rates of overweight and obesity among our
children and adults place us at long-term risk for serious health problems. Nearly one quarter
(22.4%) of New Hampshire adults are obese and 38% are overweight; nearly 13% of New
Hampshire children and adolescents 10-17 years old are overweight.” Reversing these trends so that
New Hampshire residents can experience greater health and quality of life is a challenge we face as a
state.
What is the HEAL approach to addressing overweight and obesity in New Hampshire?
The HEAL Initiative is focused on bringing together and supporting statewide partnerships to
implement evidence-based and promising interventions across multiple community sectors to
achieve the following long-term goals:
Goal 1: To increase the number of New Hampshire residents who improve health and quality of
life through healthy eating and active living.
Goal 2: To increase the number of community and state policies, environmental support systems
and legislative actions that are planned and implemented to support healthy eating and active
living.
Goal 3: To increase the number of organizations that implement recommended healthy eating
and active living interventions.
Research shows that a multi-sector approach to implementing evidence-based and promising
interventions, emphasizing policy and environmental changes, is the most effective way to influence
individual knowledge, attitude, and behavior towards healthy eating and active living. HEAL aims to
make it easier for New Hampshire residents to select healthy food options and engage in regular
physical activity where they live, learn, work and play.
The HEAL CGP targets specific interventions across the following five sectors:
Schools – places where children, adolescents, young adults and families may be reached with
healthy eating and active living interventions. Includes schools, before and after school
programs, early childcare and preschools, colleges and universities.
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Community Grant Program RFA
Health Care Industry – places where individuals and families may receive healthy eating and
active living guidance, resources and professional support. Includes health care providers, health
insurers, public health agencies, professional organizations, health professional schools.
Communities & Municipalities – places that support healthy eating and active living through
the built environment, policy initiatives, recreation opportunities and community educational
resources. Includes community agencies (e.g., social services, faith-based, civic organizations,
etc.), municipalities (e.g., municipal departments, town planners, town offices, elected officials,
etc.).
Businesses & Worksites – places where employees and dependents may be reached through
health promotion interventions. Includes large, medium and small private and public employers.
Food & Recreation Industries – places where individuals and families frequent as consumers of
food and recreation products and services. Includes grocers, restaurants, farmers’ markets, health
clubs, municipal recreation programs, sports retailers.
Individuals & Families will be the beneficiaries of HEAL interventions. As they take steps to adopt
healthy lifestyle behaviors, they will also become good role models and advocates for positive
changes in each of the community sectors.
COMMUNITY GRANT PROGRAM APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS
The remainder of this RFA provides an overview of the CGP. Detailed instructions for completing
and submitting an application are included in the CGP Application.
I. Steps for Submitting a Community Grant Program Application
1. Download and review the CGP Application, Forms and Resource Documents from the
HEAL website.
2. Complete and submit the Required Letter of Intent by 5:00 p.m. on January 9, 2009.
Your application will be accepted only if preceded by this letter.
3. Convene your community partners to assist with preparing your application.
4. Thoroughly review the Healthy Eating Active Living Action Plan for New Hampshire
2008 Resource Document.
5. Register for and participate in a CGP Information Session. See page 6 of this document for
registration procedures.
6. Prepare your application, making sure to complete all parts of the application and
supplemental forms. Use the Resource Documents to assist with writing your application.
7. Use the HEAL Community Grant Program Application Checklist on page 2 of the application
to verify that your application is complete and properly submitted.
8. Submit your application in accordance with the instructions on the Application
Checklist by 5:00 p.m. on February 25, 2009. Incomplete applications or applications
submitted after the deadline will not be accepted for review.
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Community Grant Program RFA
II. Community Grant Program Application Timeline
December 15, 2008 First round Request for Applications
(RFA) released
January 9, 2009 by 5:00 p.m. Required Letters of Intent due
January 13, 2009, Concord, 1:00-3:00 p.m. HEAL CGP Information Sessions
*Snow date: January 14, 2009 (same time) Registration required – deadline
January 8, 2009 for both sessions
January 20, 2009, Lincoln, 1:00-3:00 p.m.
*Snow date: January 22, 2009 (same time)
February 25, 2009 by 5:00 p.m. Applications due
March 16 - 20, 2009 Grant finalists notified and proposal
presentation dates scheduled
March 30 - April 3, 2009 Finalists present proposals to review
panel
April 14, 2009 HEAL CGP awards announced
May 1 - July 31, 2009 Final work plans developed and
approved with support from HEAL
representatives
August 1, 2009 - October 30, 2010 Work plan implementation
November 1, 2010 - January 31, 2011 HEAL work plan progress
assessment and continuation of
interventions in progress
February 1, 2011 - April 30, 2012 Work plan implementation
May 31, 2012 Final grant reports due
III. Community Grant Program Information Sessions
Two CGP Information Sessions will be held during January 2009. The purpose is to provide an
overview of the HEAL Initiative and CGP. Attendance is strongly recommended for
communities intending to apply.
The information sessions are scheduled as follows:
Central Foundation for Jan. 13, 2009 1:00-3:00 p.m. Registration
Location* Healthy Jan. 14, 2009 (snow date) 1:00-3:00 p.m. deadline for
Communities both sessions:
Concord, NH
North InnSeason Jan. 20, 2009 1:00-3:00 p.m. Jan. 8, 2009
Country Resorts South Jan. 22, 2009 (snow date) 1:00-3:00 p.m.
Location Mountain
Lincoln, NH
* A conference call option is available for all prospective applicants for the Central Location session.
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Community Grant Program RFA
Following are registration instructions for each of the above sessions:
1. Register via email to tjohnson@healthynh.com.
2. Include “CGP Information Session” and the location name (Central or North Country) in
the subject line.
3. Include the following information in the message box:
Name and title, organization, address, phone number, and email address.
For the Central Location session, indicate whether you will attend “in-person” or
participate via “conference call”.
Any specific questions you would like addressed during the sessions.
IV. HEAL Community Partnerships and Grant Projects
Community partnerships, representing geographical communities, will be responsible for
implementing grant projects. Grant projects must target HEAL interventions in at least three
HEAL sectors. At a minimum, initial partnerships must have partners representing the sectors
targeted in the grant project. It is the goal of the CGP that community partnerships successfully
recruit partners from all HEAL sectors. Therefore, applications will address how a six sector
partnership will be engaged by the end of the grant period and how the partnership will be
sustained into the future.
Priority consideration will be given to communities that have existing coalitions or partnerships
with demonstrated success implementing community health interventions.
Examples of individual partners representing the HEAL sectors include:
Schools – teachers, principles, school district representatives, representatives of SAUs,
PTA/PTO representatives, etc.
Health Care Industry – family practice physicians, pediatricians, public health
practitioners and administrators, hospital representatives, etc.
Communities & Municipalities – local and regional government officials, town
planners, representatives of boards and commissions (planning, conservation, recreation,
health), recreation club representatives (biking, hiking, running), etc.
Businesses & Worksites – company/organization employees and leaders, Chamber of
Commerce representatives, etc.
Food & Recreation Industries – restaurant owners and employees, food retailer
representatives, local community farm representatives, health club and fitness facility
representatives, etc.
Individuals & Families – parents, children, seniors, individuals with disabilities, and
other citizens.
V. Selection Process/Criteria
A review panel, consisting of the Foundation for Healthy Communities and the HEAL CGP
Committee, will evaluate applications and select grant recipients. The CGP Committee includes
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Community Grant Program RFA
individuals who are intimately knowledgeable about the HEAL Initiative and who have had
experience with community grant programs.
Community partnerships whose applications specifically target HEAL’s goals and recommended
interventions will be given priority consideration for funding. Up to six finalists with the
strongest applications will be invited to present their proposed projects in person to the review
panel.
Grant awards will be given to those community partnerships with applications deemed by the
review panel to have the greatest merit based on the criteria listed below (in the order they appear
in the application). Applications will be scored on a 100 point scale. Weighting for each of the
criteria is included below and in the Application.
A. Proposed Project Narrative (45 points)
1. Community Background Information: a) meets CGP minimum population base
standard; b) relevant demographic and geographic information provided to support
targeted interventions; c) need for and potential barriers to healthy eating and active
living clearly demonstrated based on available local data/information; and, d) community
partnership has previous experience implementing similar community health projects.
2. Project Goals and HEAL Interventions Targeted: a) project goals are clear; b) project
targets specific HEAL interventions across at least three sectors based on community
need; and, c) project lists community organizations and built-environment features to be
impacted by HEAL interventions.
3. Implementation: a) community partnership has the capacity, qualifications and
experience to successfully implement the project; b) effective strategies are proposed to
engage community residents (individuals and families) in the project; c) the applicant
demonstrates capacity for long-term sustainability evidenced through ongoing
commitment of the community partnership, community residents, funding, in-kind
support and other resources; and, d) willingness to serve as a model HEAL community to
help motivate and support other communities throughout the state in adopting HEAL
interventions.
B. Community Partnership Information and Roles (20 points): The applicant clearly
describes the initial multi-sector community partnership, including each partner’s roles, skills
and responsibilities in contributing to a successful grant project.
C. Proposed HEAL Work Plan (20 points): The proposed work plan describes the following:
a) target goals and HEAL sectors; b) target HEAL interventions; c) possible implementation
resources; d) desired results of interventions; and, e) proposed actions during year one of the
grant project. A sample HEAL work plan is included as a Resource Document to assist
applicants with developing their proposed work plans.
D. Proposed Project Budget and Justifications (5 points): The budget meets all CGP funding
criteria, relates directly to the Proposed HEAL Work Plan, is supported with appropriate
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Community Grant Program RFA
justifications, and shows contributions of in-kind resources from the community and
community partners equal to 25% of the proposed budget.
E. Partner Letters of Commitment (10 points): Each partner letter demonstrates commitment
and ability to carry out grant project responsibilities.
VI. Technical Assistance
HEAL representatives from the HEAL Home (Foundation for Healthy Communities) and the NH
Department of Health and Human Services (NH DHHS), Nutrition and Health Promotion
Section, will provide technical assistance for grantees during planning and implementation. The
Foundation for Healthy Communities is responsible for coordinating the HEAL Initiative. The
NH DHHS is operating under a five-year cooperative agreement with the Centers for Disease
Control to provide community based technical assistance and evaluation of the HEAL Initiative.
A. Technical Assistance during the Application Process
Technical assistance will be available during the application process through the following
means:
1. Informational Sessions
HEAL CGP Information Sessions will be conducted at two regional locations. Details
and registration instructions for the informational sessions are included on page 6 of this
RFA.
2. Question and Answer Internet Forum
Applicants may submit questions to the Question and Answer Internet Forum. The
deadline for submitting questions is 5:00 p.m. on February 17, 2009. Answers to
questions will be posted on the HEAL website until February 20, 2009.
3. Scheduled Conference Calls to Finalists
HEAL representatives will provide guidance to CGP finalists with preparing to present
their proposed projects in person to the HEAL CGP review panel.
B. Technical Assistance for HEAL Grantees
Community grant award recipients will have a grant period of three years to plan, implement
and evaluate their HEAL projects. Representatives of the HEAL Home and NH DHHS will
provide technical assistance throughout the project with a strong focus on fostering
community-wide involvement through engagement of partners representing multiple HEAL
sectors. These representatives understand that each New Hampshire community is unique.
They will tailor their assistance to grantees accordingly, offering information and resources
in the following helpful ways:
Providing resources and information to support implementation of HEAL
recommended interventions specific to those the community is targeting.
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Linking communities with state and national healthy eating and active living
resources they may not be aware of.
Providing timely assistance when unexpected challenges are encountered.
Assisting communities with staying on track towards the achievement of targeted
outcomes.
Grantees will be required to assign an individual as the primary contact for technical
assistance. This individual will be responsible for the following:
Filtering requests for technical assistance between the community partnership and
HEAL representatives.
Being present during all contacts with HEAL representatives.
Working with HEAL representatives to coordinate community visits, meetings and
conference calls.
Following are descriptions of technical assistance to be provided during planning and
implementation.
1. Planning Technical Assistance
Each grantee will spend the first three months of the grant period developing a final work
plan consistent with the application. HEAL representatives will support grantees by:
Providing guidance with strengthening the community partnership.
Spending time in grantee communities meeting with community partners to
finalize the work plan.
Providing the community partnership with guidance in developing effective
HEAL intervention and evaluation plans within a multi-sector approach.
Connecting the community partnership to appropriate evidence-based and
promising practices for increasing healthy eating and active living among
community members.
Being available via phone and email to provide ongoing support.
At the end of planning, grantees will have a finalized work plan. The work plan will
identify goals for increasing healthy eating and active living on a community wide basis.
Appropriate interventions will be selected for meeting the goals. Each intervention will
be supported by details necessary for carrying out the intervention, including a timeline
for completion, appropriate resources, expected outcomes, and methods for evaluating
outcomes.
2. Implementation Technical Assistance
HEAL representatives will provide grantees with work plan implementation support
during the remainder of the grant period using the following methods:
Scheduled meetings by phone to share ideas and information to keep projects
moving forward effectively.
Up to four community visits per year to review progress and provide
recommendations for maximizing intervention efforts.
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Availability, by phone and email, to provide timely assistance with HEAL work
plan implementation issues as they arise.
After 15 months of implementation, up to three months of time will be used to assess
progress made and make appropriate adjustments to the work plan. HEAL
representatives will be available to provide more in-depth assistance during this time
through visits to grantee communities, as well as phone and email contact. The purpose
is to ensure the best possible opportunities for success with achieving local community
HEAL goals. Any interventions already in progress will continue during this review
period. Any work plan revisions will be implemented during the remainder of the grant
period.
VII. Terms of Grants and Use of Funds
Grant recipients will be required to enter into a grant contract with the Foundation for Healthy
Communities. The contract will indicate performance expectations including use of funds,
training, reporting and evaluation requirements. Funds must be used specifically for the types of
projects and interventions identified in the Healthy Eating Active Living Action Plan for New
Hampshire 2008 as HEAL goals and recommended interventions.
Grantees will develop budgets and allocate grant funds in accordance with the following
guidelines:
Up to 50% of the total grant award may be allocated to engage a part-time staff person to
coordinate local HEAL efforts. We anticipate it will take up to 15 hours or two days per
week for the local HEAL coordinator role.
The remaining grant funds may be allocated to supplies, limited amounts of equipment,
project related travel, and other project related direct expenses.
8% of the total grant award may be allocated to indirect expenses.
Grantees will receive payment of grant funds according to the following schedule:
Initial payment of 10% of the approved first year grant budget following
acknowledgment of awards.
Payment of balance of first year budget upon completion and approval of the final HEAL
work plan following the initial three month planning period.
Payment of second year budget amount issued after submission of year one progress
report.
Payment of third year budget amount issued after submission of year two progress report.
VIII. HEAL Contact Information
The online Question and Answer Internet Forum must be used to submit questions pertaining to
the CGP application process. The deadline for submitting questions is 5:00 p.m. on February
17, 2009. Responses will be posted for applicants to see until February 20, 2009. The contact
for other information related to the HEAL Initiative is:
Terry Johnson, Director of the HEAL Initiative
Email: tjohnson@healthynh.com
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