Montana Healthy Communities Mini-Grant

As follow up to the 2015 Montana Healthy Communities Conference, a mini-grant program is now available. The purpose of the mini-grants are to help communities in Montana hatch and grow projects aimed at improving the health of communities by addressing “upstream” factors that influence health.

There is more to health than health care. In October 2015, the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis, the Montana Health Care Foundation and the Montana Office of Rural Health/Area Health Education Center (MORH/AHEC) at Montana State University hosted the first Montana Healthy Communities Conference with many sponsoring organizations. The conference brought awareness to how cross-sector partners can collaborate and harmonize to create collective impact.

An idea generated through the conference was to provide mini-grants to stimulate existing efforts and create new opportunities to improve health. Projects funded would involve community organizations; different sectors such as transportation, economic development, housing and early childhood; and include health and public health entities working together to improve community health. Mini-grants are expected to be between $250-1000.

All people, no matter where they live, should have the opportunity to thrive and achieve their fullest potential. Studies show a zip code may be more important than genetic code in determining health. That is why we need to find more comprehensive ways of building stronger, healthier communities that create the foundation for a long and productive life.

For more background on the Montana Healthy Communities Conference and multi-sector collaboration go to.

Informational webinars to help with the mini-grant application are scheduled in September and through the fall.

To view information and read website profiles about successful community based projects, visit the MORH/AHEC’s Rural Health Initiative (RHI) website: .

Expectations for Successful Projects:

  • WHAT: Projects that use evidence-based approaches with a clear understanding of measurable short term outcomes, such as those outlined in County Health Rankings at .A few possible project ideas include:
  • Creating or re-energizing a coalition to improve active lifestyles
  • Organizing a vaccination clinic and awareness campaign
  • Building or expanding a community garden or affordable housing
  • Classes and resources for expecting mothers or diabetics
  • A few possible project outcomes include:
  • Increased understanding of mental health by youth
  • More people using walking trails
  • Better graduation rates
  • Policies adopted by businesses/the community/elected officials
  • Increased awareness of cross-sector collaboration
  • More children getting dental care
  • Development of common language, values and common definitions
  • Expansion of a community garden or bike/walk path
  • WHO: Projects that include collaboration of two or more organizations striving to increase the number of evidence-based interventions or increase coordination of existing interventions to expand collective impact. We especially encourage multi-sector collaboration between health care/public health and community development organizations.
  • For example city planners, elected commissioners, affordable housing advocates and the public health department collaboratingon a project; the YMCA, United Way, hospital, local churches and local food producers acting as a team; community service organizations, schools, health clinic and college tackling an issue; National Forest Service, schools, Dept. of Agriculture, local government and a hospital funding infrastructure for physical activity, etc.
  • WHEN: Projects should be accomplished within one year of funding.
  • WHERE: At least one entity must be a non-profit, government entity or 501c3 located in Montana. The project must occur in a Montana community and rural or underserved communities are preferred.

Grantee Responsibilities and Expectations:

  • Committee: Assist in organizing and hosting a cross-sector committee for the project.
  • This committee will be critical in gaining sustainable partnerships between multi-sector organizations and will facilitate use of common language, common values and common definitions to gauge needs to address and determine how success is measured. This committee may be a pre-existing group, a new group or an expansion of an existing group.
  • Communication: Engaging community support is an essential component to this project. Significant impact occurs when multiple partners understand theinterconnectedness of “their” problems and solutions which is best facilitated by group setting communication.
  • Describe the partnership, how partners will share information, the work each partner will do and how partners will coordinate to plan the project.
  • Cooperate:The grantee is expected to: (a) share results in a Montana Healthy Communities webinar through the RHI webinar series,(b) assist in writing a website profile of project and (c) possibly present at the 2017 Montana Healthy Communities Conference.

OFFICIAL APPLICATION FOR THE

MONTANA HEALTHY COMMUNITIES MINI-GRANT

Please type or print and attach any additional pages.

Title of Project: ______

Project Narrative: Based on the focus points listed above, please attach a 2-3 page document to answer all of the following.

  1. What project would you like to do? Describe the project, including the goals you plan to accomplish and the people or population you plan to impact. See examples at .
  1. Why is this project important to your community?
  1. Include a simple project budget and how funds from the mini-grant will be used. For example, funds may be used to purchase supplies, hire staff, provide incentives, etc. Is part of the project funded by local funds? If so, how much and from what source?
  1. Please describe the project’s community support and cross-sector committee that will oversee this project.
  1. List the geographic areas (cities, communities, counties, schools, etc.) involved.
  1. When do you plan to implement the project, and how long will it last? For example a three-monthsafe sidewalk project, two-day vaccination clinic, food pantry expansion, after school alliance pilot, etc.
  1. What technical assistance might be helpful to you in planning, organization, and execution of the program?
  1. What are the project’s long-term objectives, and how are they going to be achieved after the mini-grant funds are depleted?

If awarded, I verify that the mini-grant assistance will be used specifically for the project approved by the MORH/AHEC as detailed in this application.

Montana Healthy Communities Mini-Grant Program, Letter of Intent

List Potential Community/Regional/State Partners: ______

______

Project’s Lead Contact Person: ______

Amount Requested ($250-1000): ______

Organization: ______

Address: ______

Phone: ______ Fax: ______

Email: ______Date:______

A check in the box verifies that you have read and agree with the requirements of the Montana Healthy Communities Mini-Grant process.

Community Responsibilities and Expectations

I will assist in organizing and hosting a cross-sector committee for the project.

I understand that involving community support is an essential component to this project, and all programs seeking assistance through the Mini-Grant must organize and host local meetings for their cross-sector committee.

I agree to cooperate with the MORH/AHEC during and after the completion of the project. I understand that this may include one or all of the following: (a) share results in a Montana Healthy Communities webinar through the RHI webinar series,(b) assist in writing a website profile of project and (c) possibly present at the 2017 Montana Healthy Communities Conference.

*For assistance in preparing and submitting this application call or email the below contact. Reviewers will contact the applicant if additional information is needed. Applications will be reviewed in November.

*Applications are due no later than October 31st, 2016, but we encourage you to apply earlier.

Please contact us with any questions or comments. Email applications to:

Questions?
Contact Kristin Juliar
406-994-6003 or email the
above address / If you cannot email a document, applications can be mailed to:
PO Box 170520
Bozeman, MT 59717
Or fax to: 406.994.5653

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