Grant Announcement for Faith-based Organizations

Fresh Ideas: Improving the Health of Immigrant and Refugee Communities
A special solicitation from the Vulnerable Populations Portfolio
Application Deadline:
Jan 15, 2007
Interest Area: Vulnerable Populations
Purpose:
This initiative aims to give immigrants and refugees the tools and support they need to improve and maintain their own health. Today, more than 30 million immigrants and refugees live in the United States. They often have high rates of chronic health problems, due at least in part to difficulties they have getting appropriate social and health services. Language barriers, lack of education and cultural differences sometimes make it harder for immigrants and refugees to obtain culturally appropriate services, outreach or other information that could help them live healthier lives.
The Vulnerable Populations Portfolio is interested in new community-based approaches to health and health care problems faced by immigrants and refugees. We seek projects that address:

• How health and social systems can accommodate the unique needs of different and changing immigrant and refugee populations
  
• How communities can engage in helping immigrants and refugees maintain and improve their health
  
• What strategies can overcome barriers that immigrants and refugees face when trying to access health and social services

To be considered, proposals must address ways for improving the health of new residents by linking how social factors—language skills, significant cultural differences, poor education, and poverty—affect health outcomes. We are interested in projects that address helping new populations integrate into their communities. RWJF is especially interested in providing support to organizations outside the formal network of health care providers, such as grassroots organizations, faith-based organizations and advocacy organizations (rather than traditional providers, such as hospitals and medical clinics).
Examples of projects that have received funding in the past:

• A health literacy program, in partnership with a local clinic, that teaches English as a second language to new immigrants by incorporating health issues like nutrition, how to navigate the health care system and how to find a medical "home."
  
• A domestic violence program for new immigrants that focuses on ways to keep victims of abuse with their families, in keeping with their cultural beliefs, instead of relying on traditional approaches like shelters and domestic abuse hot lines.
  

We anticipate reviewing groups of proposals several times in 2007. The first review deadline is January 15, 2007. However, we intend to re-post this call for proposals immediately after the January 15 review deadline. At that point, the criteria for proposals may remain the same, or they may change, based on the proposals received in the first round.
Program Details:
View CFP Details in HTML Format
How To Apply:
*Please read the Program Details before applying.
Submit a Brief Proposal (include the words I&R in the project title)
Eligibility & Selection Criteria:
Applicants may be either public entities or nonprofit organizations that are tax-exempt under Section 501(c)3 of the Internal Revenue Code.
Projects that will not be considered for funding:
Projects to continue existing programs or services
Direct medical/clinical services and other safety net efforts
Disease-specific only projects
Research or evaluation only (not part of overall program)
Your grant award request can not exceed 50 percent of your organization’s annual budget. Alternatively, you may partner with an organization that has an administrative infrastructure to oversee the accounting of the award funds.
Total Award:
Grants up to $300,000 (maximum grant award) for up to three years will be available. Under this initiative, we will fund eight to 10 projects for 2007.
Your grant award request can not exceed 50 percent of your organization’s annual budget. Alternatively, you may partner with an organization that has an administrative infrastructure to oversee the accounting of the award funds.