GRANT OPPORTUNITY

GEORGIA HEALTH EQUITY GRANT INITIATIVE

Point of Contact: Dana Greer

Georgia Department of Community Health

Office of Procurement Services and Grant Administration

2 Peachtree Street, NW - 35th Floor

Atlanta, GA 30303-3159

Application Submission Due Date: July 10, 2008 by 4:00 p.m.

Please carefully read, sign, and adhere to all attached DCH Ethics Statements and Ethics in Procurement Policy prior to responding to any Department of Community Health Request for Grant Applications (RFGA). Failure to do so could result in the disqualification of the application during the application review process.

Table of Contents

Background / 3
Purpose / 4
Eligibility / 5
Funds Available / 6
Funding Cycle / 6
Funding Preference / 6
Types of Projects Eligible for Funding / 6
Program Requirements / 7
Deliverables / 7
Application Instructions / 8-15
Appendix A / Grant Application Form
Appendix B / Project Partner Composition
Appendix C / Statement of Ethics
Appendix D / Ethics in Procurement Policy
Appendix E / Business Associate Agreement
Appendix F / Grant Budget
Appendix G / Biographical Sketch
Appendix H / Letter of Intent (Sample) – Due June 30, 2008.

Georgia Health Equity Grant Initiative
Program Description and Requirements
Background / The Georgia Department of Community Health (DCH) was created in 1999 (Senate Bill 241) with the responsibility for:
§  Insuring over two million people in the State of Georgia,
§  to maximize the State’s health care purchasing power,
§  to coordinate health planning for state agencies,
§  and to propose cost-effective solutions to reducing the numbers of uninsured.
The Office of Health Improvement (OHI) office within DCH has the responsibility of disseminating education, heightening awareness and network development to change the current state of health disparities in Georgia. OHI accomplishes this goal by focusing on four major health diseases:
1.  Heart disease and stroke,
2.  Diabetes,
3.  Cancer,
4.  HIV/AIDS.
In addition to the above, OHI includes a focus in other health disease areas such as obesity, infant mortality, etc.
OHI is implementing the Georgia Health Equity Initiative to address the need for reduction and elimination of health disparities in Georgia. As a part of this initiative, an inaugural report was developed and released on April 18, 2008 by the Georgia Department of Community Health (DCH), Office of Health Improvement and its Minority Health Advisory Council (MHAC). This report, Health Disparities Report 2008: A County-Level Look at Health Outcomes for Minorities in Georgia, is an account of the health status of Georgia’s minority populations by county. It aims to identify inequality in health care and outcomes, and to encourage action towards health equality for all Georgia.
The report provides an assessment of disparities in each of the categories utilizing available data from a variety of data sources including but not limited to, hospital discharge data, and vital statistics. It is the intent of the OHI and the MHAC that this report be used as an intervention tool as is a first step in identifying gaps in health status, missing data and the greatest opportunities to make a positive impact in reducing and eliminating health disparities. For full copy of the report go to www.dch.georgia.gov and follow the link to the Georgia Health Equity Initiative.
Purpose / Racial and ethnic disparities in health have been well-documented across a broad range of medical conditions and for a wide range of ethnic and racial groups. These differences have been noted in health outcomes, such as quality of life and mortality; processes, quality, and appropriateness of care; and the prevalence of certain conditions or diseases. The Georgia Office of Health Improvement (OHI) and its Office of Minority Health (OMH) has selected to focus on efforts to reduce and eliminate health disparities for cancer, cardiovascular disease (CVD), diabetes, HIV/AIDS, as well as, co-morbidities associated with these chronic diseases such as hypertension, stroke and obesity. These illnesses and conditions have the highest incidence, prevalence, mortality and place extreme burden of disease among Georgia’s minority populations, the uninsured and the medically underserved.
The OHI is committed to working in partnership and collaboration with intrastate agencies, private and public entities, as well as, with minority and other community based organizations throughout the state. And, the Department of Community Health recognizes that it is imperative that we align state and federal resources to bring community based solutions to Georgians to improve their health status and quality of life. Improved health status not only strengthens physical and mental wellness but also our economy. Creating a healthy community will stimulate strong families and communities across Georgia resulting in greater economic viability at the state and local levels.
Toward that end, the Office of Health Improvement (OHI), Office of Minority Health has appropriated $1,000,000.00 to develop a statewide grant program to:
1) Reduce and eliminate racial and ethnic health disparities;
2) Promote health and quality of life of individuals and communities;
3) Build on community strengths and assets to address health issues;
4) Develop effective working relationships among community members and the organizations and leaders who serve them; and
5) Focus on prevention and early detection.
The national focus on health disparities is, as defined, the unequal burden in disease morbidity and mortality rates experienced by ethnic/racial groups as compared to the dominant group has been centered on minority groups who have consistently demonstrated higher risk of certain diseases and poorer health outcomes. In Georgia, like the nation, most of the data and the discussions focus on African-American/Black and Latino/Hispanic comparisons of health outcomes to majority populations. Although there have been some improvements in access to quality health care among minority populations, the gap has not narrowed over time.
It is well documented that minority populations— generally classified as African Americans, Native Americans, Asian/Pacific Islanders, and Hispanics—have a higher incidence of chronic diseases, higher mortality rates, and poorer health outcomes than individuals classified as white. In addition to race and ethnicity, other characteristics such as culture, gender, and class or socio-economic status are associated with poor health outcomes.
Social determinants of health such as unemployment, housing and food availability contribute to racial and ethnic health disparities (REHD). These socio-economic factors combined with access to care barriers, lack of health insurance, poor health literacy, linguistic barriers, and provider discrimination are significant contributors to health disparities.
Eligibility / All public and private entities as well as community based organizations, including, but not limited to, Federally Qualified Health Clinics (FQHC’s), Rural Health Clinics, Volunteer Clinics, Rural and Critical Access Hospitals.
Priority Areas of Focus / Cancer
Cancer is the second leading cause of death in Georgia. Overall, death rates from cancer are 10% higher than the national average. Blacks are 27% more likely to die from cancer than Whites, and Black men are twice as likely to die from prostate cancer as White men. Lung (17%), colorectal (41%), and pancreatic cancer (50%) mortality rates are higher among Black males than White males. Breast (36%), colorectal (54%), and pancreatic cancer (48%) mortality rates are higher among Black females than White females.
Cardiovascular Disease (CVD)
Disparities exist by race in the incidence and mortality from CVD. Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in Georgia accounting for 34% of all deaths. In 2004, Georgia’s CVD deaths were 14 % higher than the national rate and the CVD death rate was 1.3 times higher in Blacks than Whites.
Diabetes
Death rates from diabetes are rising 1.8% per year in Georgia. An estimated 8.7% of all Black adults in Georgia are currently diagnosed with diabetes, compared to 6.9% Hispanics, and 6.3% Whites. Approximately 211,000 additional Georgians have undiagnosed diabetes.
Source: GDHR, 2002. In 2004, approximately 475,000 Georgians aged 18 or older reported being diagnosed with diabetes. The age adjusted diabetes death rates for Blacks was 37.8 per 100,000 compared to a death rate of 18.7 per 100,000 for their White counterparts.
HIV/AIDS
In 2006, there were an estimated 10,416 people living with HIV (non-AIDS) and 18,838 people living with AIDS in Georgia for a total of 29,254 people. The reported AIDS cases in Georgia are the 8th highest among all states. Many sexually transmitted diseases (STD), including HIV and AIDS, are disproportionately represented in ethnic minority groups. Seventy-three percent (73%) of all persons with HIV (non-AIDS) and seventy percent (70%) with AIDS in Georgia are African American.
Source: Georgia Department of Human Services, Division of Public Health
Other
The OHI/OMH recognizes that health disparities exist across a broad range of diseases and conditions that result in adverse health outcomes for the medically underserved, uninsured and racial and ethnic populations in Georgia.
Funds Available / The Department intends to award approximately ten to fifteen grants ranging from $75,000 to $100,000.00 in total for a period of 12-months.
Funding Cycle / July 1, 2008 – June 30, 2009
(approximate date of award)
Funding
Preference / Funding for this project will be utilized to support programs and initiatives in areas of the state where high incidence of disease and health disparities are evident. It is necessary to provide funding in these areas to ensure that the resources are made available to these special populations that would otherwise not be able to secure these life changing services. Providing grant opportunities to local communities to address the local needs has been recognized at the state and federal levels as the most cost effective means of managing health care and improving health status. It is also recognized that providing primary and preventive care, disease management, and education and wellness programs greatly improves health and is the most cost efficient means of addressing health disparities. The successful grant applications will demonstrate that the funding will improve access to these vital services to improve the health status of Georgia and improve the economic viability of our communities and state.
Successful applicants will enter into a 12 month contract starting on the date of award (approximately July 1, 2008). Innovative and culturally specific projects will be targeted for funding at approximately $100,000 for a one-year period.
Using information provided within the Health Disparities Report: 2008, the proposed project must address a specific community and identify the methodology to yield measurable outcomes for behavior change and health outcomes. Grant applications must identify one or more of the six diseases and conditions, or risk factors, responsible for excessive or premature deaths in the targeted community.
Total funds available: $1,000,000. Applications will be considered in accordance with the standards of the Department of Community Health. Each grant application cannot exceed $100,000 for purchases of contractual services unless supported with matching or in-kind funds.
Only one application can be submitted by each agency.
Disbursements will be based on a cost reimbursement, in accordance to the terms of payment outlined within the grant award.
Agencies are strongly encouraged to collaborate on projects that minimize duplication in order to maximize the utilization and accountability of services for public funds. No agency my submit more than one application or be a part of more than one collaboration. Each agency must meet the minimum eligibility requirements for grant funding. Any collaboration must designate one lead agency to be responsible for the overall outcomes of the project, submitting invoices, modifying work plans, budgetary and program progress reports. Applications from individuals are not eligible for consideration.
All agencies are advised to include information on in-kind and other financial support for the program.
Upon acceptance of a grant award, the applicant organization assumes legal and financial responsibility for awarded funds and the conduct of supported activities. It is the responsibility of the organization to assure the appropriateness and quality of services and programs and the accuracy and validity of all fiscal, program and administrative information pertaining to the awarded grant.
All costs incurred under the terms of this agreement must be applicable to the program purpose.
Submission of a Letter of Intent is encouraged, but not required for consideration. The due date for the letter of intent is June 30, 2008.
Program Requirements / Projected Results
Applicants must identify anticipated, measurable results that are consistent with the overall program purpose and that address selected OHI expectations. Project results should fall within the following general categories:
·  Mobilizing communities, coalitions and networks by forming community groups, coalitions or local networks to promote reduction of health disparities.
·  Enhancing infrastructure to improve the capacity for addressing health disparities at the state county and/or local levels.
·  Increasing access to healthy care for underserved populations through such means as increasing access to insurance, decreasing geographic barriers to obtaining care and lowing cultural and linguistic barriers to care.
·  Increasing knowledge an awareness to effect change in the target’s group attitudes regarding health disparities through promotional and educational programs.
·  Increasing participation of minorities in the health professions to facilitate closing the health disparities gap through a diverse care workforce, including improving cultural and linguistic competence among health care professionals.
Deliverables / Each applicant under this program must propose to:
·  Carry out projects that facilitate the improvement of health outcomes for minorities and other underserved populations in Georgia and the reduction of health disparities.
·  Address at least two of the identified OHI/OMH expectations.
Evaluation Criteria / Applications received will be evaluated based upon the program requirements listed within section V of this request for grant. DCH reserves the right to incorporate additional evaluation criteria, consistent with the application requirements.
Deadline for Submission of Questions:
Offeror’s Conference Call:
Funding Application Deadline / Questions must be submitted in writing by June 12, 2008. Please submit questions to .
Date: June 13, 2008
Time: 10:00 a.m.
Call in Number: 1-866-921-2203
Room: *7633092*
(please enter the asterisk at the beginning and end of the number)
Applications must be received by: July 10, 2008, 4:00 p.m.
Dana Greer
Georgia Department of Community Health
Office of Procurement Services and Grant Administration
2 Peachtree Street, NW - 35th Floor
Atlanta, GA 30303-3159
Email:
Applications received after deadline will not be considered for funding.

GEORGIA HEALTH EQUITY INITIATIVE