health promotion and disease preventive programS

ASTHMA STRATEGIC

AND

SUSTAINABILITY PLAN DEVELOPMENT

Department of Community Health grant funding is subject to availability

and is awarded at the discretion of the Department Commissioner

Release Date: tuesday, MAY 24, 2011

Closing Date: 2:00 PM EST, thursDay, JUNE 23, 2011

Point of Contact: Arnita e. Watson, Issuing Officer

Georgia Department of Community Health

2 Peachtree Street, NW, 35th Floor

Atlanta, Georgia 30303-3159

Georgia Department of Community Health, HEALTH PROMOTION AND DISEASE PRVENTION

ASTHMA STRATEGIC AND SUSTAINABILITY PLAN AND DEVELOPMENT GRANT

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Section
Background: Purpose and Program Overview, Eligibility and Funding Preference, Match and Cost Sharing ………………………………………………………
Special Requirements: Deliverables and Application Submission……
SUBMISSION GUIDELINES: Submission Format and Required Content ……
Required Content: Appendices, Other Content and Supplemental
Information
APPLICATION REVIEW AND Evaluation Criteria
Appendix A. / Grant Application Form
Appendix B. / Ethics Statement: Includes Signature Page
Carefully read, sign, and adhere to Appendix B, the DCH Ethics Statements prior to responding to any Department of Community Health Request for Grant Applications (RFGA). Failure to do so could result in the disqualification of your application at any time during the application process.
Appendix C. / Ethics in Procurement Policy: Includes (2) Signature Pages
Carefully read, sign, and adhere to Appendix C, the DCH 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 your application at any time during the application process.
Appendix D. / Business Associate Agreement: Includes Signature Page
Appendix E. / Budget Plan
Appendix F. / Biographical Sketch
Appendix G. / ORGANIZATION CHART TEMPLATE
Appendix H. / WORK PLAN Template
Appendix I. / timeline template

ASTHMA STRATEGIC Grant

Table of Contents

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Background / The Georgia Department of Community Health (DCH) was created in 1999 by Senate Bill 241 and has the responsibility for insuring over two million people in the State of Georgia, maximizing the State’s health care purchasing power, coordinating health planning for State agencies and proposing cost-effective solutions for reducing the number of uninsured.
The Georgia Asthma Control Program (GACP) is part of a national initiative launched by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Environmental Health to reduce the burden of asthma and improve the health and quality of life for all persons affected by asthma through effective control of the disease.
Purpose / The purpose of this grant is to demonstrate effectiveness to facilitate a strategic planning and sustainability planning process to result in the development of two publications: a strategic plan and a sustainability plan for the Georgia’s Asthma Control Program.
The Georgia Asthma Program seeks grantees prepared to lead the Georgia Asthma Program in the development of a strategic plan to clarify its mission, identify the priorities, and set strategic goals and objectives to address the burden of asthma in Georgia. The Georgia Asthma Program is also seeking a vendor to facilitate the development of a sustainability plan for the Georgia Asthma Control Program. Sustainability planning will include the actions the program will take to maximize its chances to thrive despite funding. The sustainability planning process will include, but is not limited to, establishing consensus on the contents of the plan, setting the sustainability vision, identifying items to be sustained, identify level of activity that will be sustained, assessing assets, identifying strategies to be employed, and developing a financial plan for sustainability.
Program Overview / The Department of Community Health, Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Programs encourages Georgians to improve the quality of their lives by achieving healthy lifestyles, creating healthful environments and preventing chronic disease, disability and premature death.
Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Programs implement population based programs and services aimed at reducing disease risks, promoting healthy youth development, targeting unhealthy behaviors, providing access to early detection and treatment services, and improving management of chronic diseases.
Asthma is a life threatening disease that can have a negative effect on the lives of children and adults with asthma, as well as, on the family members who care for them. Approximately 230,000 (10%) of children in Georgia have asthma. Among children with asthma, hospitalization rates are highest for those ages four and under. Approximately 41,000 (11%) of middle school students and approximately 44,000 (10%) of high school students in Georgia have asthma. An estimated 524,000 (8%) adult Georgians have asthma. Asthma is more common among adult women (11%) than adult men (4%). Adults with higher education and income are less likely to be affected by asthma than adults with lower education and income.
The Georgia Asthma Control Program has identified the following five-year goals:
1) Enhance the capacity to address asthma management and treatment at the state
and local level;
2) Enhance the state surveillance and evaluation capacity;
3) Reduce Georgia’s emergency room visits for asthma;
4) Reduce Georgia’s asthma hospitalization rate;
5) Reduce asthma deaths;
6) Increase the proportion of people with asthma that report they have received
asthma self management education; and
7) Increase the proportion of people with asthma who receive appropriate care.
Eligibility / Applicants for this grant must be able to provide the following:
1.  Have at least five (5) years of demonstrated qualifications/ability/prior experience in providing strategic planning and/or sustainability planning services.
2.  Provide a writing sample, preferably related to strategic planning or sustainability planning.
Funding Preference / Funding Preference will be given to applicants with at least five (5) years of demonstrated experience in providing strategic planning and/or sustainability planning services to nonprofit organizations and/or governmental agencies.
Matching Funds / “Matching funds” are encouraged but not required for these efforts.
Total Award Amount / Up to $75,000.00 Federal Funds; funds are subject to budget reductions. Upon award no more than 25% of the funding may be expended during any one quarter period.
Anticipated Awards / One (1) award is anticipated as a result of this funding effort.
Funding Cycle
(Subject to budget approval) / July 2011 – March 2012
Special Requirements / Funding under this effort requires:
§  Review and become familiar with Georgia’s Asthma State Plan in order to provide background for the development of a strategic plan and a sustainability plan
§  Identify the data necessary to make informed decisions including; conducting relevant best practice research, documenting literature reviews to further inform the strategic planning and sustainability process
§  Reviewing new science/information related to successful asthma control strategies and identifying evidence-based models.
§  Conduct semi-structured key informant interviews with stake holders involved in the Georgia Asthma Control Program and the Georgia Asthma Advisory Council (GAAC). A total of up to 20 interviews should be conducted. The purpose of these interviews is to contextualize the evaluation of the current state plan and to provide input to the plan development process.
§  Facilitate and convene up to a total of 3-4 planning sessions for the strategic plan.
§  Develop a template/framework to inform the flow and form of the development of the strategic plan. The vendor will:
o  Synthesize and translate data where necessary
o  Provide relevant narrative descriptions to accompany charts, graphs, diagrams, etc.
o  Organize the content of the plan in a fluent and readable manner
o  Identify gaps in the information
o  Edit and proof – read the plans
§  Develop a template/framework to inform the flow and form of the development of the sustainability plan. The vendor will:
o  Synthesize and translate data where necessary
o  Provide relevant narrative descriptions to accompany charts, graphs, diagrams, etc.
o  Organize the content of the Plan in a fluent and readable manner
o  Identify gaps in the information
o  Edit and proof – read the plan
§  Coordinate and facilitate one statewide meeting near the end of planning process prior to the production of final draft of the strategic plan for publication
§  Coordinate and facilitate one statewide meeting near the end of planning process prior to the production of final draft of the sustainability plan for publication
Deliverables / Awardee deliverables include but are not limited to the following:
§  Develop protocols, surveys and planning templates – Due on or before the last day of July 2011
§  Conduct best practice literature review – Due on or before the last day of July 2011
§  Submit minutes, agendas, and sign-in sheets no more than 30 days after the date of each meeting. Meeting minutes should include, among other things, the outcome of all action items and the progress made toward completion of the plan. Advisory Council meetings shall occur based upon the following schedule:
o  1st Quarterly Advisory Council meeting – on or before August 31, 2011
o  2nd Quarterly Advisory Council meeting – on or before October 31, 2011
o  3rd Quarterly Advisory Council meeting – on or before January 31, 2012
§  Submit the names, credentials, and contact information of key informants and an exemplar of key informant interview questions to the DCH/DPH 30 days prior to the commencement of interviews. The results of the key informant surveys/interviews shall be produced on or before September 30, 2011.
§  Conduct three (3) advisory council meetings from August 2011 through January 2012.
§  Submit minutes, agendas, and sign-in sheets no later than 30 days after the date of each meeting. Meeting minutes should include, among other things, the outcome of all action items and the progress made toward completion of each the plan.
§  Convene one (1) statewide meeting of stakeholders to review and provide input on the final draft of each of the plans.
§  Complete strategic plan draft – Due on or before the last day of January 2012.
§  Complete sustainability plan draft – Due on or before the last day of January 2012.
§  Assist the Division of Public Health in developing a Sustainability Task Force (STF) for the Georgia Asthma Control Program by identifying and recruiting a minimum of ten persons to serve as member of the STF on or before the last day of August 2011.
§  Plan the Sustainability Task Force (STF) meetings, securing the location, and setting the dates and times of such meetings. The vendor will set the agenda, record the minutes, and ensure the completion and submission of meeting action items. The vendor shall ensure that the STF meets at least quarterly during the contract term. The vendor shall facilitate and manage the STF in such a way as to ensure that meetings result in the completion of the following objectives and goals:
o  Identification of programs/activities to be sustained
o  Identification of the infrastructure to support the programs activities to be sustained
o  Development of annual and 5-year sustainability budgets
o  Development of the Sustainability Plan resulting in the creation and implementation of activities related to the Georgia Asthma Control Program
§  Research and compile at least 6 potential funding sources to support Georgia’s Asthma Control Program on or before the last day of February 2012.
§  Produce the final Georgia Asthma Control Program’s Strategic Plan on or before February 28, 2012.
§  Produce a state-level sustainability plan that conforms to the Georgia Asthma Control Program’s Strategic Plan on or before March 31, 2012.
Submission of Questions / Questions must be submitted in writing to Arnita Watson, by 2:00 P.M, June 7, 2011. Response to questions will be posted within five business days from closing date.
Deadline for Submission / APPLICATIONS MUST be received by 2:00 P.M. THURSDAY, June 23, 2011.


Application Submission

Submission requires remittance of the original, one (1) copy and five (5) CDs of the Grant Application. Applications may be delivered via U.S. mail, an express mail carrier, hand delivered or couriered. Completed applications must be received by 2:00 P.M. THURSDAY, JUNE 23, 2011. If the application is incomplete or non-responsive to submission requirements, it will not be entered into the review process. The applicant will be notified the application did not meet submission requirements.

Timely and complete submissions are the responsibility of the applicant(s). The Department of Community Health welcomes completed submissions prior Thursday, June 23, 2011, closing date however all submissions are final. ALL Late applications will be considered non-responsive to submission requirements.

Mailing Address for Application Delivery

Arnita E. Watson, Issuing Officer

Georgia Department of Community Health

2 Peachtree Street, NW, 35th Floor

Atlanta, Georgia 30303-3159

E-mail:

Submission Format

The Grant Proposal must be submitted in the following format or the application will be considered non-responsive and will not be entered into the review process:

1.  Word or PDF file format

2.  Font Size: 12 point unreduced (Arial or Times New Roman)

3.  Page Size: 8.5 by 11 inches

4.  Page Margin Size: One inch

5.  Number and Label all pages; not to exceed the maximum number of pages where applicable.

6.  Headers should identify each section and Footers should include: the name of the organization.

I.  required content:

1.  Organizational Narrative: The Organizational Narrative should include any pertinent background information pertaining to organization goal, mission, structure etc. The organizational narrative shall not exceed a maximum of 3 pages (if the narrative exceeds the page limit, only the first pages which are within the page limit will be reviewed). Please include the following:

·  Brief summary of applicant’s history

·  Brief summary of applicant’s mission and goals

·  Brief summary of the type of technical assistance, organizational development, capital improvements, management and/or provider salary support which will be provided to communities

·  Description of similar work, prior successes and abilities to deliver successful outcomes.

·  Brief summary of relationship with other complementary programs or statewide efforts

2.  Project Narrative: The project narrative should be double spaced and should not exceed a maximum of 5 pages (if the narrative exceeds the page limit, only the first pages which are within the page limit will be reviewed). The narrative should clearly articulate and describe the project goals and anticipated outcomes, as well as, describe the project type and be inclusive of the following: