INTEGRATING POLICY RESEARCH & HEALTH ADVOCACY RFP
INFORMATION FOR PROSPECTIVE APPLICANTS
September 27, 2010 12:00PM-1PM
Welcome and Webinar Overview
• RFP important concepts and information
• 20 minute Q&A
– Questions may be submitted in writing any time
– Questions may be verbalized during Q&A by “raising your
hand”
• 2 minute evaluation at end
RFP Rationale
• Role health policy research and advocacy play in
fulfilling CT Health’s mission and strategic objectives
• Health policy and grantmaking coming together in RFP
• Relevance of policy research and advocacy in the face
of impending governmental changes
About the Connecticut Health Foundation
• History, mission, theory of change, priority areas
About the Connecticut Health Foundation
Oral Health Goal: Improve the oral health of children from low-income families by supporting the
incorporation of oral health at every point where children and their families intersect with health
care, human service and education systems.
Oral Health Objective #1
Oral Health Objective #2
Oral Health Objective #3
Support institutionalization of
family oral health promotion and
links to “dental homes” into
health care, human service and
education systems to increase
the number of pregnant women
and children aged 0-5 years
from low-income families
receiving dental prevention and
treatment.
Support increasing the number
of patient- and family-centered
“dental homes” providing care in
coordination with the primary
medical provider for pregnant
women and children aged 0-5
years from low income families.
Support the implementation of
school-focused policies and
systems that promote family
oral health and links to “dental
homes” to increase the number
of children enrolled in the
national school lunch program
who are caries free or have
completed dental treatment.
About the Connecticut Health Foundation
Children’s Mental Health Goal: Reduce the number of at-risk children ages 6-14 entering
intensive treatment and/or the juvenile justice system due to mental health problems.
Children’s Mental Health Objective #1
Children’s Mental Health Objective #2
Promote a community-based system of early
identification and intervention for children at
risk of mental health problems.
Support developing and disseminating
knowledge in early identification and effective
interventions relating to children’s mental
health.
About the Connecticut Health Foundation
Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities Goal: Decrease racial and ethnic health disparities.
Racial and Ethnic Disparities Objective #1
Racial and Ethnic Disparities Objective #2
Create public will to eliminate racial and ethnic
health disparities.
Improve the quality of systems that enhance
patient-provider interactions toward more
equitable treatment and outcomes for patients
of color.
About the Connecticut Health Foundation
Cross Priority Area Policy Interests
Policy research and advocacy related to public programs that affect the health of large
numbers of underserved Connecticut residents, particularly Medicaid, HUSKY, and health
care reform issues that span the three priority areas.
Need and Opportunity
• What we heard from grantees and partners
• The power of policy research + strategic
communications and advocacy
Project Scope
• Purpose: Equip advocates and decision makers with
timely, actionable health policy data during upcoming
local, state, and federal election seasons and legislative
sessions
• Health Advocacy Definition: Efforts to educate
decision-makers, community leaders, and community
members about health-related public policy issues
This opportunity will not support lobbying
(see Alliance for Justice’s “What is Lobbying” www.afj.org)
Project Scope
• 18-months (research,
product production,
dissemination and
action-oriented
advocacy)
• Four awards each up
to $50,000
Examples of Research Activities
• Polling
• Legal/regulatory analysis
• Economic analysis
• Evaluation of public programs
• Survey research
• Focus groups
• 2ndary analysis of datasets
This opportunity is NOT intended to support scientific or academic research
Grantee Requirements
• 2-3 meetings with CT Health Representatives
– discuss and refine research question(s),
methodology, and advocacy objectives
– review findings and discuss communications,
dissemination, and advocacy plans
Grantees may request a preliminary meeting with CT Health for
assistance identifying an external consultant or technical
assistance provider
• Progress report at six month intervals
Eligibility
• 501(c)(3) organization or fiscal agent
• Out-of-state applicants must demonstrate CT
benefit and existing CT relationships
• Academic institutions and public entities NOT
eligible to apply unless acting as supporting
partner/subcontractor
• Current CT Health grantees may apply
Proposals Must Be Responsive to Grant
Objectives
1) Generate timely, actionable health policy data, analysis, and/or
recommendations that advance CT Health’s strategic objectives.
2) Support the use of research findings to
do two or more of the following:
-Increase the knowledge base about a health
issue amenable to policy solutions
-Evaluate outcomes or impact of current or
future health policy
-Stimulate public debate about a health
policy issue to raise its profile on the public
agenda
-Equip advocates
-Provide decision support to decision
makers
3) In one or more of the following ways,
increase the capacity of nonprofit
organizations to:
-Conduct or commission policy
research
-Translate and integrate
research findings for action
oriented advocacy/policy
change
-Effectively communicate and
disseminate findings to
specific target audience
Proposal Narrative – Project Section
i) Research question(s) and hypothesis - Why is it important? What’s
the desired outcome? Where’s the alignment with CT Health’s
strategic objectives?
ii) Policy research – Who would conduct it and what’s their
capacity/experience?
iii) Data collection and/or analysis methodology - What are the
strengths and limitations? Ensuring validity and credibility.
iv) Advocacy product(s) – What? Why? Target audience?
Sample/example.
iv) Action-Oriented advocacy/policy change – Who would use the
findings and how? Communications technical assistance needs.
v) High-level timeline of project benchmarks
Be sure to see RFP for full application requirements
Budget Guidance – Allowable Costs
• Staff time + fringe for research and advocacy
• Consultant or project partner subcontracts
• Local travel for in-state applicants; travel to
Connecticut permitted for out-of-state
applicants/subcontractors
• Editing, graphic design, printing, and dissemination for
products
• Up to 15% indirect rate
Application Submission
• E-mail complete proposal as a single PDF file by
noon eastern time
October 20, 2010 to (nancy@cthealth.org)
Late and incomplete applications will not be considered.
Grant Review Process
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Internal review for completeness
Ad hoc review panel
Program Committee of CT Health Board review
Full Board vote
Grant period: January 3, 2011-June 30, 2012
Selection Criteria
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Alignment with CT Health’s strategic objectives
Compelling research question(s) and hypothesis
Capacity
Sound methodology
Articulation of how findings will be used
Communications plan
Q&A
• Follow-up/offline questions to Elizabeth Krause
elizabeth@cthealth.org or 860.224.2200 x14