DELTA HEALTH ALLIANCE
INDIANOLA PROMISE COMMUNITY
2010 - 2011 FUNDING OPPORTUNITY
OPERATION OF A TEEN CENTER AT THE BEHTUNE CENTER IN THE
SOUTH GATE COMMUNITY
INDIANOLA, MISSISSIPPI
About the Delta Health Alliance
For decades, the statistics that describe the health of citizens of the Mississippi Delta have
remained among the worst in the country. Obesity rates exceed a third of the population; many
chronic conditions, such as diabetes and high blood pressure, are 50 percent above national
averages; and more infants in the Delta die within their first year of life (as a percentage of the
population) than anywhere else in the United States. To make matters worse, the number of
health care providers who serve the Delta is shrinking while the cost of medical care and
prescription drugs is increasing.
Responding to these challenges requires a new and different approach. Since 2001, the Delta
Health Alliance (DHA) has been changing health care in the Mississippi Delta by improving
access to health care and providing education for healthier lifestyles. We accomplish this
mission in four ways:
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First, the DHA links the four major universities that serve the Delta with the University of
Mississippi Medical Center and with the Delta Council, the region’s economic
development organization.
Second, the latest findings from the fields of science, medicine, and public health are
used to create our programs.
Third, every one of these initiatives will be assessed regularly on the basis of objective
statistical data that is produced and recorded as part of the projects.
Fourth, we do our work through community partners, recognizing that long-lasting
change only occurs when it comes from the community itself.
To make a difference, to break the cycles that foster poor health and a less than adequate
health care system, takes time. It takes money. It takes constant assessment and reassessment
of program data. And it takes everyone working together toward a common goal.
On the Indianola Promise Community
The Indianola Promise Community is a community-led initiative unique to the Delta which offer
programs that the touch the lives of children in Indianola, Mississippi by improving access to
quality healthcare, providing programs for early childhood development and literacy and
addressing the social needs of children as well as their families. The Indianola Promise
Community is a multi-year project that will be implemented in several phases, building upon an
incredible amount of work and involvement from the community in each phase. The goal of the
Indianola Promise Community is to build a continuum of programs that will blanket Indianola
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with programs that cover significant unmet needs of children from prenatal care to college
preparation, focusing specifically on health care, adult literacy, early childhood development,
parenting, after school tutoring, healthy lifestyles, and social needs for children and teens. All
programs work together to create a path that leads a child from early age into the job market.
About the South Gate Area
The South Gate Area (zip code: 38751) was built in the mid 60s by the Yazoo-Mississippi
housing Authority. There are approximately 200 homes in the neighborhood consisting mainly
of low income residents.
South Gate was annexed into the city in the early 70s. The neighborhood surrounds the
Bethune Activity Center that is occupied by the City of Indianola Parks and Recreation
Department. The neighborhood has changed a lot in the last few years but most of the homes
are occupied by second generation families along with grandmother or grandfather.
Funding Opportunity Description
The Delta Health Alliance through the Indianola Promise Community is seeking a professional
firm (public and private organizations as well as community-based or faith-based organizations)
to operate a Community Teen Center at the Bethune Center in the South Gate Community;
Indianola, Mississippi. The operator will be experienced, can provide programs and activities
that respond to the cultural diversity of the area, and has the fiscal and service capacity to
manage the Center. The teen center will operate six days a week and include summer
programs.
The City of Indianola is located in Sunflower County and is part of the Mississippi Delta, an area
embellished with high incidences of crime, school drop outs, teen pregnancy, obesity, and drug
use. Indianola, especially the South Gate community suffers from the lack of constructive
programs and activities for youth. The teen center will provide a safe haven where youth, ages
10-19 can participate in a comprehensive program of academic tutoring, mentoring, nutrition,
sports, and cultural/community involvement. The teen center will offer programs that will
promote the educational, physical and life skills necessary to prepare and empower youth for
leadership in their communities and success in their personal lives.
The Award amount will not exceed $150,000. Only one award is anticipated and it will be
made on a competitive basis. All applications received and meet the guidelines will be reviewed
by a Review Team using a Criteria Worksheet and Scoring Sheet to provide the reviewer with a
standard for evaluation.
The RFP is open to professional and licensed organizations operating in the state of Mississippi.
Both non-profit and for profit agencies are eligible to apply.
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Scope of Work
The Scope of Work for the Teen Center would include the use of evidenced-based models such
as Teen Outreach Program developed by Junior League of St. Louis, MO; United Teen Equality
Center (UTEC) in Lowell, MA; or First Serve Life Skills Curriculum program patterned after the
Ashe-Buchholz Tennis Center at Moore Park in Miami, FL in developing programs and activities.
These programs have gained a positive reputation for providing constructive activities that
contribute to reducing crime and illicit activity, increasing academic performance, and providing
life skills to ensure success in school, in the community and in life. Applicants do not have to
use these specific models but must identify the model upon which their proposal is based. The
type of programs and activities provided should consist of:
Homework assistance through tutoring, mentoring and use of computer labs
Nutrition education to promote healthy lifestyles and combat obesity
Life and leadership skills development through motivational speakers, debates, and goal
setting exercises which are integrated throughout all phases of the program
Sports instruction where participants engage in fun physical fitness, enjoy the camaraderie of
playing on a team with friends and peers
Job preparation training, such as writing resumes, interview skills, career counseling, dress for
success, job fairs, and youth bank accounts;
College Preparation, such as career counseling, college tours, ACT Test Preparation, State Exam
Assistance, career fairs, conferences, exhibits, scholarship assistance and search, College
Preparation Assistance and Programs for Middle and High School Students)
Community Service Activities/Service Learning, such as neighborhood clean-ups and housing
re-habilitation; neighborhood art projects, such as painting outdoor murals and creating mosaic
walkways in the neighborhood
Participate in Field trips to community sites to view gardens, tour colleges, and tours of
businesses where youth will learn about opportunities to improve their quality of life.
A "teen center" where youth can safely hang out with friends
Application Deadline
1) All proposals must be received by 12 midnight, February 28, 2011. Applications which
do not meet the deadline are considered late applications and will not be considered.
2) Award notifications will be made around March 31, 2011.
Applications may be mailed or electronically submitted to:
Delta Health Alliance
ATTN: Ms. Bernadette Parks
P.O. Box 277
Stoneville, MS 38776
662-390-3541
bparks@deltahealthalliance.org
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Review and Selection Process
A Review Team has been established to review and rank all applications which meet the
guidelines outlined above. The team will provide an objective review of proposals received in
response to this RFP. A Scoring Sheet which contains all review criteria will assist reviewers in
ranking applications. The Scoring Sheet will provide pertinent information related to that
criterion and provide the reviewer with a standard for evaluation. Review criteria are outlined
below with specific detail and scoring amounts. All components are required elements for all
proposals.
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INDIANOLA PROMISE COMMUNITY
2010 - 2011 FUNDING OPPORTUNITY
Teen Center
Application Guidelines
Format
All awards will be made on the basis of a written application. Proposals must be typed (doublespaced), utilize a 12 point standard font, and submitted on standard 8 ½ x 11 inch paper. The
matrix, budget justification and tables may be single spaced. One inch margins must be used.
The proposals must be a maximum of 10 pages or less not including the budget or appendices.
Any narrative that exceeds the 10 page maximum will not be reviewed or count toward the
applicant's score. Appendices should consist of additional information such as staff resumes,
support letters, MOA/MOUs and any other relevant information to the project. Appendices are
limited to an additional 15 pages.
Content
Cover Page
A cover page that includes the name, title, address, phone number, fax number, and email
address of the contact person.
Abstract (10 points)
Provide a summary of the application. It must include a brief description of the proposed
project, the proposed services, the methodology proposed, the impact and benefits of the
program and expected number of individuals served.
Background (25 points)
Description of the topic to be addressed
What is the service area and target population on which the project will focus its efforts?
Who, if any, is currently addressing the problem in your targeted area and why you feel the
need to address this problem also
Agency Background/Qualifications to address topic
Collaboration/Partnering efforts for proposal (Please attach MOA (Memorandum of
Agreement), MOS (Memorandum of Service), MOU (Memorandum of Understanding) and
Teaming Agreements.)
Proposal (35 points)
What is your organization’s solution to the topic? What are you going to do?
How will your solution be effective? How will it make a difference?
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Is your solution modeled after another program with “’proven” success? If so, state the
research to support your practice. Is it evidenced-based?
What are your goals and objectives for the project? (Must make them SMART---Specific,
Measurable, Achievable, Relative, and Time oriented) You must include a workplan matrix
worksheet to provide information on your SMART objectives.
(A completed Workplan Matrix is required, not optional.
Template for the Workplan Matrix is provided as an appendix to this RFP)
Sustainability (10 points)
Given that this award will provide start up costs, what plans are in place to sustain the program
once funding support ends?
What resources in the community will be leveraged to continue the program after this initial
period?
Evaluation (10 points)
How will you evaluate your program? Evaluative measures must be able to assess: 1) to what
extent the program objectives have been met, and 2) what impact has been made or what
behavior change was made. The applicant must include relevant process/outcome measures
and provide baseline data on participants. The use of pre/post tests may be utilized. Please
attach evaluation plan and tools you intend to use.
Evaluation Questions
1. Is this project Evidence-Based? (Used models that have some creditability and
accountability in obtaining measurable outcomes)
2. Are SMART Objectives used to explain project’s objectives?
3. Have baseline data been established? If so, please explain the methods and tools used to
collect and analysis this data. If not, please explain?
4. After the project’s ending date, will this project have the infrastructure to sustain this
program?
5. What is the return on investing in this program?
6. Will there be collaboration from new and/or existing partners?
Budget and Budget Justification (10 points)
Develop a detailed budget to include costs to support overall project activities. Items listed in
budget must be tied directly to a specific phase of the project.
The budget must include a written budget narrative that explains the amounts requested for
each line item in the budget.
The budget justification should provide sufficient detail to justify the amount and purpose of
each line item for the entire project period. Please use the attached spreadsheet to develop
the budget.
(A completed Budget Justification is Required, not optional.)
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WORKPLAN MATRIX
Goal One: (# of goals, objectives and activities will depend upon your proposed plan, please add rows or delete as needed)
Objective
Activities
Person(s) Responsible
A.
1) Activity #1
2) Activity #2
3) Activity #3

B.
1)

C.
1)

Measures
Timeline
Measures
Timeline
Goal Two:
Objective
Activities
Person(s) Responsible
D.
1)

E.
1)

F.
1)

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BUDGET
Project Title
Object Class Categories
a. Personnel
Total
$
b. Fringe Benefits
c. Travel
d. Equipment
e. Supplies
f. Contractual
g. Other
h. Total Direct Charges
$
Budget Justification
Provide a budget justification narrative that explains the amounts requested for each line in the budget.
The budget justification should specifically describe how each item will support the achievement of
proposed objectives. The budget justification MUST be concise. Do not use the justification to expand
the project narrative. Include the following in the Budget Justification narrative:
Personnel Costs: Personnel costs should be explained by listing each staff member who will be
supported from funds, name (if possible), position title, percent full time equivalency, annual salary, and
the exact amount requested for each project.
Travel: List travel costs according to local and long distance travel. For all travel, the mileage rate,
number of miles, reason for travel and staff member/consumers completing the travel should be
outlined. The budget should also reflect the travel expenses associated with participating in meetings
and other proposed trainings or workshops relevant to the project activities. Mileage is reimbursable at
$.51/mile (based on current Federal rate).
Equipment: List equipment costs and provide justification to carry out the program’s goals. Extensive
justification and a detailed status of current equipment must be provided when requesting.
o Equipment is defined as durable items that cost $5,000 or more per unit and have a life
expectancy of at least 1 year
o Equipment must be inventoried
Supplies: List the items that the project will use. Office supplies could include paper, pencils, desktop
computers, and administrative consumables. Remember, they must be listed separately.
Contractual: Provide a clear explanation as to the purpose of each contract, how the costs were
estimated, and the specific contract deliverables.
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Other: Put all costs that do not fit into any other category into this category and provide an explanation
of each cost in this category.
In-directs: Note: The DHA limits in-directs to 20% of your eligible direct cost base.
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