The Calfornia State Rural Health Association
is pleased to provide the following funding announcements for the advancement of health in rural areas

Funding opportunities in this member update:
Community Based Mini-Grants
2007 Seed Grant Program
2007 Rural People, Rural Policy Cohort
Rural Health Works Technical Assistant Awards
Minority Health Initiative Wellstone Fellowship
Champions for Healthy Kids
Advanced Education Nursing Traineeship
Healthy Eating Research: Building Evidence to Prevent Childhood Obesity - Round 2
Rural Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, Sexual Assault, Stalking, and Child Abuse Enforcement Assistance Program
Recovery Community Services Program
Targeted Capacity Expansion Program for Substance Abuse Treatment and HIV/AIDS Services
Information Technology Initiative
National Health Service Corps Loan Repayment Program
Rural Business Opportunity Grant
Red Laces Program to Fight Childhood Obesity

ODPHP has contracted with John Snow to administer these mini-grants in collaboration with the Health and Human Services (HHS) Regional Health Administrators. Across the U.S., up to 270 grants will be awarded; grants will cover the period from July 1, 2007 to June 30, 2007; each grant will range from $2,000 to $5,000 for the grant period. The intention of the mini-grant is that it provides seed money for a local level project. It is possible that additional resources may be leveraged by the mini-grant recipients. In general, small, community-based organizations, including faith-based groups, after school programs, coalitions and others with budgets of less than $750,000 per year can apply for these funds.

ODPHP is currently in the process of developing the mini-grant application, and anticipate it will be release in early 2007. If you would like to added to the distribution list, send your contact information, including email address to lenee_simon@hhs.gov.

If you have any questions, please contact Lenee Simon (240-453-8252) or Carter Blakey (240-452-8254) in ODPHP.

2007 Seed Grant Program
The Nancy R. Gelman Foundation (NRGF)
Application Deadline: January 17, 2007

The Nancy R. Gelman Foundation (NRGF) announces its 2007 Seed Grant Program. We are extremely pleased to fund projects aimed at improving outcomes for women with breast cancer. Applications should be submitted with one hard copy and one email copy and should be both postmarked and sent by email to grants@nrgf.org.

The deadline for grant applications to be received by email at grants@nrgf.org and to be postmarked for receipt at NRGF's offices is Wednesday, January 17, 2007. The NRGF Medical Advisory Board will render its decisions regarding funding on or before Friday, March 2, 2007; NRGF officials may contact applicants with suggestions for revision of proposals, including budget revisions, at any time. The total amount disbursed in this or any given year will be determined by the strength of the overall applicant pool.

Projects for which a seed grant may be awarded must:

• Demonstrate a need for start-up, interim, or supplemental funding within the period of April 1, 2007 to April 1, 2008.
• Not already be funded by other sources (projects which represent a clear new initiative extending beyond the scope of a currently funded project are permissible).
• Prospectively state an objective outcome measure which will be used to gauge project success.

Types of projects which these “seed grants” might fund could include:

• A mentored summer fellowship for a medical student to work in a laboratory, gaining experience in basic research on breast cancer mechanisms or therapies.
• Community-based efforts to promote breast cancer awareness and early detection among populations at increased risk.
• Development of information materials to encourage appropriate screening and to help guide newly diagnosed patients, or those whose cancer has recurred, through the challenging maze of treatment options.
• Fledgling research studies, like those we are funding at UWCCC, to pave the way for further advances in breast cancer therapy.
• Quality initiatives in cancer or emergency department nursing units to improve care for patients with breast cancer.
• A summer research project studying end-of-life care for breast cancer patients and making recommendations to hospitals and hospice organizations to improve care.

Link to full announcement: http://www.nrgf.org/grants.html#information.

2007 Rural People, Rural Policy Cohort
Kellogg Foundation
Application Deadline: January 22, 2007

A program of the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, Rural People, Rural Policy is a multi-year national initiative designed to energize and equip organizations and networks to shape policy that improves the lives of rural people and the vitality of rural communities.

A primary component of the program is the creation of Rural Policy Networks — sets of organizations selected from four specific geographic regions and "at large" from the United States. The five networks engage in a process that develops their individual and collective strategies, skills, and efforts to improve the impact of public and private policy on rural people and rural places.

The foundation encourages any nonprofit organization that seeks to improve policy that affects rural people and rural places to apply to participate in a Rural Policy Network. This includes organizations working in economic development, education, community philanthropy, health, and/or other issues critical to rural vitality. Applying organizations may be anywhere on a spectrum from small to large, focused on one community or more than state, focused on a single issue or a wide range of issues, and/or young and learning to highly experienced.

Four networks are based in specific regions where WKKF has invested considerable resources in recent years: Central Appalachia (West Virginia and the Appalachian counties of Kentucky, Maryland, Ohio, Tennessee, and Virginia); the Mid South (Louisiana, Arkansas, and Mississippi); the Midwest/Great Plains (Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Montana); and the Southwest (New Mexico and Arizona). In addition, there is one At-Large Network that includes organizations that meet all the criteria for participation and are from outside the four specified geographic regions. Rural People, Rural Policy selects a cohort of up to twenty-five organizations every year, with five organizations joining each of the five Rural Policy Networks.

This year, each selected network member organization will receive a grant of $100,000 from WKKF, spread over five years, to support its participation. The grant amount covers travel and staff time related to participation in the initiative.

Link to full announcement: www.wkkf.org/rprp.

Rural Health Works Technical Assistant Awards
National Association of Counties
Application Deadline: February 1, 2007

NACo will select a limited number of counties to receive technical assistance awards on a competitive basis. The award includes intensive and expert technical assistance on the Rural Health Works model, a 4-5 month community engagement process bringing together a variety of health stakeholders. County officials must demonstrate their commitment to making Rural Health Works a success, providing leadership and guidance throughout the process.

Eligibility:

1. You are rural and have a hospital located in your county, preferably a Critical Access Hospital. (You can self-identify your rural status by going to the Office of Rural Health Policy website and entering in your zip code. http://ruralhealth.hrsa.gov/funding/eligibilitytestv2.asp)
2. You are a NACo member county
3. You will provide strong leadership over the “Rural Health Works” process

Link to full announcement: click here.

Minority Health Initiative Wellstone Fellowship
Families USA
Application Deadline: February 2, 2007

The Wellstone Fellow plays an integral role in the work of Families USA’s Minority Health Initiatives Department. The Wellstone Fellow’s primary responsibilities include assisting in the organization of trainings for community leaders and journalists and drafting policy briefs, fact sheets, and other publications. During the year, the Wellstone Fellow will learn about Medicare, Medicaid, efforts to achieve universal coverage, and other important health policy issues. Specifically, the fellow will learn how these issues play a role in reducing racial and ethnic health disparities and improving the health of communities of color. At the same time, the Wellstone Fellow will learn about conducting health care campaigns through communication and collaboration with our network of state grassroots advocates and organizations.

The fellowship will last one year, from August 2007 through July 2008, and fellows will receive a compensatory package that includes an annual stipend of $35,000 and excellent health care benefits. One fellow is selected each year.

Link to full announcement: http://www.familiesusa.org/about/wellstone-fellowship-about.html.

Champions for Healthy Kids
General Mills Foundation and American Dietetic Association Foundation
Application Deadline: February 1, 2007

The General Mills Foundation and the American Dietetic Association Foundation, in partnership with the President’s Challenge, are accepting applications for the 2007 Champions for Healthy Kids Champions Awards. Each year the Champions program awards fifty grants of $10,000 each to schools and community groups.

Grant recipients have used grant dollars to teach kids about healthy snacks, trying new vegetables, or navigating obstacle courses; training peer educators who deliver health education; and purchasing sports equipment.

Community-based, nonprofit organizations and agencies are eligible to apply. Organizations must have 501c(3) or 509(a) status. Preschools, as well as elementary, middle, and high schools are also eligible. The target audience must be youth between the ages of 2 and 20, and the proposal must have at least one nutrition objective and one physical activity objective. In addition, a registered dietician must be an integral part of the program's planning and activities.
This year’s application form is available on the General Mills Web site.

Link to full announcement: http://www.generalmills.com/corporate/commitment/champions.aspx.

Advanced Education Nursing Traineeship
Health Resources and Service Administration
Application Deadline: February 9, 2007

Grants are awarded to eligible institutions to provide financial support through traineeships for registered nurses enrolled in advanced education nursing programs to prepare nurse practitioners, clinical nurse specialists, nurse midwives, nurse anesthetists, nurse administrators, nurse educators, public health nurses and nurses in other specialties requiring advanced education. The traineeship program is a formula program so all approved applicants will receive funds.

Eligible applicants are collegiate schools of nursing, academic health centers, and other private or public entities accredited by a recognized body or bodies or State agency, approved by the Secretary of Education for the purpose of conducting nursing education.

Link to full announcement: http://www.grants.gov/search/search.do?mode=VIEW&oppId=11953.

Healthy Eating Research: Building Evidence to Prevent Childhood Obesity - Round 2
Childhood Obesity Prevention Research
Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
Application Deadline: February 13, 2007

Healthy Eating Research is a national program of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation that supports research on environmental and policy strategies to promote healthy eating among children to prevent childhood obesity, especially among low-income and racial/ethnic populations at highest risk for obesity. Findings are expected to advance the foundation’s efforts to reverse the childhood obesity epidemic by 2015. This second round of funding focuses on children’s food environments and policies in selected community settings — preschool, child-care, school and after-school environments, as well as nearby food outlets.

Preference will be given to those applicants that may be either public entities or nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status. Applicant organizations must be based in the United States or U.S. territories.

To help build a multi-disciplinary field of research, Healthy Eating seeks proposals from a variety of investigators in a range of fields, including agriculture, behavioral science, business, economics, education, law, marketing, medicine, nutrition, political science, psychology, public health, public policy, and urban planning.

Approximately $3 million in total funding will be awarded for two types of research grants: 1) Studies to identify and evaluate promising food environments and policy changes with potential to prevent obesity among children (12- to 18-month awards of up to $100,000 each, and 18- to 36-month awards of up to $400,000 each); and 2) Analyses of macro-level policy or system determinants of food environments and policies that relate to the targeted community settings (12- to 18-month awards of up to $75,000 each).

Link to full announcement: http://www.rwjf.org/applications/solicited/cfp.jsp?ID=19770.

Rural Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, Sexual Assault, Stalking, and Child Abuse Enforcement Assistance Program
U.S. Department of Justice
Application Deadline: February 15, 2007

The primary purpose of the Rural Program is to enhance the safety of victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, stalking, and child victimization by supporting projects uniquely designed to address and prevent these crimes in rural jurisdictions. The Office on Violence Against Women (OVW) welcomes applications that propose innovative solutions for achieving this goal. The Rural Program challenges victim advocates, law enforcement officers, pre-trial service personnel, prosecutors, judges and other court personnel, probation and parole officers, and faith- and/or community-based leaders to collaborate to overcome the problem of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, stalking and child victimization and to ensure that victim safety is paramount in providing services to victims and their children.

Link to full announcement: http://www.usdoj.gov/ovw/docs/rural_2007.pdf.

Recovery Community Services Program
SAMHSA, Center for Substance Abuse Treatment
Application Deadline: February 28, 2007

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (CSAT) announces the availability of FY 2007 funds for grants to deliver peer-to-peer recovery support services that help prevent relapse and promote sustained recovery from alcohol and drug use disorders. Successful applicants will provide peer-to-peer recovery support services that are responsive to community needs and strengths, and will carry out a performance assessment of these services.

Link to Full announcement: http://www.samhsa.gov/Grants/2007/TI_07_002.aspx.

Targeted Capacity Expansion Program for Substance Abuse Treatment and HIV/AIDS Services
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)
Application Deadline: February 28, 2007

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), Center for Substance Abuse Treatment is accepting applications for Fiscal Year 2007 funds for grants to enhance and expand substance abuse treatment and/or outreach and pretreatment services in conjunction with HIV/AIDS services in African American, Latino/Hispanic, and/or other racial or ethnic communities highly affected by the twin epidemics of substance abuse and HIV/AIDS.

The latest reported AIDS rates (CDC HIV/AIDS Surveillance Report, 2004, Vol. 16) are higher among African Americans and Hispanic/Latinos than other population groups in the United States. A recent report from the Centers for Disease Control found that AIDS rates surpass 72.1 per 100,000 for non-Hispanic Black, 25.0 per 100,000 for Hispanic, 4.4 per 100,000 for Asian/Pacific Islander and 9.9 per 100,000 for American Indian/Alaska Native adults and adolescents (HIV/AIDS Surveillance Supplemental Report 2006, Vol. 12, No. 1). In addition, the minority AIDS rate is also greater than 20 per 100,000 in all 51 Eligible Metropolitan Areas (Ryan White Title I grantees). Therefore, funding will be directed to activities designed to improve the delivery of services to racial and ethnic minority populations disproportionately impacted by HIV/AIDS in all 50 States, Puerto Rico, and the District of Columbia, including the 51 Eligible Metropolitan Areas identified as Ryan White Title I eligible.

SAMHSA/CSAT encourages applications from organizations that serve racial and ethnic minorities disproportionately impacted by the HIV/AIDS epidemic (i.e., African Americans, Hispanic/Latinos and other racial/ethnic minorities), based on the most recent estimated living AIDS cases, HIV infections and AIDS mortality among racial and ethnic minorities as reported by CDC.

SAMHSA/CSAT encourages applications from organizations whose board of directors, key staff and management have demonstrated experience serving minority communities and documented linkages to those populations. They should also be situated in close geographic proximity to the targeted populations.

Link to full announcement: http://www.samhsa.gov/grants/2007/ti_07_004.aspx.

Information Technology Initiative
HRSA
Application Deadline: March 29, 2007

The SPNS Information Technology Networks of Care Initiative will award funds for up to 4 years to support organizations that promote the enhancement and evaluation of existing health information networks for people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) in underserved communities. These organizations will hereupon be referred as demonstration projects. SPNS will also fund one Evaluation and Support Center that will conduct a cross-site evaluation of services and provide technical assistance and support to the demonstration projects.

Link to full announcement: click here.

National Health Service Corps Loan Repayment Program
Bureau of Health Professions
Application Deadline: March 30, 2007

The purpose of the National Health Service Corps (NHSC) Loan Repayment Program (LRP) is to ensure an adequate supply of health professionals to provide primary health services (through a culturally competent, interdisciplinary team of clinicians) to populations located in selected health professional shortage areas (HPSAs) identified by the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services. HPSAs can be found in rural and urban communities across the Nation. The NHSC LRP recruits fully trained health professionals who agree to provide primary health services in NHSC community sites. In return, the NHSC LRP assists clinicians in their repayment of qualifying educational loans that are still owed. The NHSC is seeking clinicians that demonstrate the characteristics for and interest in serving the Nation's medically underserved populations and remaining in HPSAs beyond their service commitment. It is important to remember that service to medically underserved populations is the primary purpose of the NHSC LRP and not the repayment of educational loans.

Link to full announcement: http://nhsc.bhpr.hrsa.gov/applications/lrp_07/index.asp.

Rural Business Opportunity Grant
USDA Rural Development
Application Deadline: March 30, 2007

The primary objective of the program is to improve the economic conditions of rural areas. Assistance provided to rural areas under this program may include technical assistance for business development and economic development planning.

Link to full announcement: http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/rd/nofas/2006/120806rbog.pdf.

Red Laces Program to Fight Childhood Obesity
Stride Rite and Saucony
Application Deadline: March 30, 2007

Saucony, a subsidiary of the Stride Rite Corporation, is committed to addressing the national epidemic of childhood obesity by cultivating a new wave of young runners. As part of this commitment, the company has partnered with Runner’s World magazine to launch the Saucony Run For Good Red Laces Program, which provides grants to communities and nonprofit organizations that support after-school running and physical fitness programs for kids.
All proposals must demonstrate that the grantee will conduct programs which increase participation in running in order to positively impact the lives of participants. Program participants must be 18 years of age or younger, and applicant organizations must have 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status.

The selection of grant recipients will be based on the following: utilization of running participation for enhanced health and/or well-being in children; ability to serve youth populations not traditionally exposed to running programs; and the ability to demonstrate support and inspiration in creating a program that exemplifies the Saucony Run For Good Program’s mission of inspiring the community of runners.

Link to full announcement: http://www.sauconyrunforgood.com/.