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

• 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

• 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