FUNDING AGENCY: North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Public Health
Chronic Disease and Injury Section
Physical Activity and Nutrition Branch
ISSUE DATE: April 1st, 2010
IMPORTANT NOTE: Indicate agency or organization name and RFA number on the front of each application envelope or package, along with the date for receipt of applications specified below.
Applications will be received until __ 5:00 pm on __ May 14th, 2010.
Electronic copies of the application will be posted on the website (www.eatsmartmovemorenc.com) on April 1st, 2010 and electronic copies are also available upon request by contacting Mary Bea Kolbe at the address below.
Send all applications directly to the funding agency address shown below.
Direct all inquiries concerning this RFA to:
Mailing Address: C/O: Mary Bea Kolbe
Community Development Specialist
Physical Activity and Nutrition Branch
1915 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, North Carolina 27699-1915
(919) 707-5229
Location/ Hand Delivery Address: 5505 Six Forks Road
3rd Floor, D12
Raleigh, North Carolina, 27609
Physical Activity and Nutrition Branch
Chronic Disease and Injury Section
NC Division of Public Health
RFA #A-208
Deadline for Applications: May 14th, 2010
I. INTRODUCTION
The North Carolina Division of Public Health (NC DPH) is pleased to announce the Eat Smart, Move More Community Grants Program for State Fiscal Years 2010-2011 and 2011-2012. Grants will be awarded through a competitive application process to local health departments and their community partners to change the policies and environments that impact the physical activity patterns of North Carolina children.
For the 2010-2011 and 2011-2012 cycles, the Eat Smart, Move More (ESMM) Community Grants Program will consist of 20 separate community interventions (10 each year) that target increasing physical activity and/or decreasing sedentary behaviors in disadvantaged youth populations. All 20 funded projects for years 2010-2011 and 2011-2012 will be chosen in the 2010/2011 application process.
With the grant funds, grantees will plan and implement interventions to impact at-risk youth populations (defined as low-income, rural, or underserved minorities) ages 9 – 14 and specifically focus on increased physical activity and/or reduced sedentary behavior.
Applicants will use a comprehensive multi-level approach to impact the policies and environments in their community that address the physical activity needs of children and the adults that influence them, thus supporting implementation of the goals and objectives of Eat Smart, Move More: North Carolina’s Plan to Prevent Overweight, Obesity and Related Chronic Diseases.
The Physical Activity and Nutrition (PAN) Branch in the North Carolina Division of Public Health will be responsible for the administration of these grant funds. Funding for the ESMM Community Grants Program comes from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Cooperative Agreement “Nutrition, Physical Activity and Obesity Program.” Awards will be given to local health departments for a maximum of $20,000 each. The total number of grants awarded is based on availability of funds. The estimated start date for projects funded for 2010 – 2011 is July 1, 2010; for projects funded for 2011 – 2012 is July 1, 2011. The grant periods will end on May 31, 2011 and May 31, 2012, respectively.
II. BACKGROUND
Poor diet and physical inactivity are major contributors to chronic disease, including heart disease, certain types of cancer, diabetes, high blood pressure, stroke, and obesity. Obesity is a serious health concern in North Carolina. In 2008, nearly two-thirds (65.7%) of adults in North Carolina were overweight or obese[1].
Childhood obesity is a national public health problem whose burden is being felt in North Carolina to a greater extent than many other states. In 2008, North Carolina ranked 14th in the nation in childhood overweight and obesity for youth ages 10 to 17[2]. In 2008, almost one-third (32.8%) of youth ages 10 to 17 in North Carolina were either overweight or obese[3]. From 2001 to 2007, the proportion of high school students who were overweight or obese increased from 27.2% to 29.9%[4]. That’s an increase of nearly 25,000 students[5] or enough to fill 325 school buses[6].
Contributing to the rising obesity rate is a lack of physical activity and a preponderance of sedentary behaviors. North Carolinians live, learn, earn, play and pray in environments that promote increased intake of un-healthful foods and physical inactivity. The evidence suggests that public health approaches that affect large numbers of diverse populations in multiple settings—communities, schools, preschools, childcare, before and after school programs, faith and health care facilities—are going to be most effective in addressing the problem. Policy and environmental change initiatives that make healthful choices available, affordable, and easy will likely prove most effective in combating childhood obesity.
Over the ten-year history of the ESMM Community Grants program recipients have demonstrated that educational programs targeting increases in individual physical activity behaviors have short-term positive effects. Current evaluation of the grants captures process measures and tracks environmental and policy changes. Grantee reports indicate that interventions have encouraged behavior change, however until now resources have not been available to evaluate the adoption and maintenance of lifestyle changes or the sustainability of policy and environmental changes. For the 2010-2011 and 2011-2012 funding cycles, the PAN Branch will change the focus of the ESMM Community Grants to specifically measure the impact of grant activities. The PAN Branch, in partnership with East Carolina University (ECU), received Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJ) funding to examine how interventions funded through the ESMM Community Grants program affect the physical activity behaviors of children and families. In addition evaluation efforts will assess community partnerships and capacity for creating sustainable community environments that support active living in under-resourced communities.
III. SCOPE OF SERVICES
Interventions must target multiple factors in the physical and social environments that influence physical activity behaviors. Target population size should be between 200 and 500 and must include youth ages 9-14. Proposed interventions should include recommended strategies from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Guide to Community Preventive Services: http://www.thecommunityguide.org/index.html or the Center of Excellence for Training and Research Translation: http://www.center-trt.org/index.cfm OR develop new, innovative strategies that have the potential to become promising practices.
All interventions must include at least ONE policy or environmental change (based on the Socio-Ecological Model) from the Community or Organizational Level AND at least one change from the Interpersonal or Individual Level shown below:
1. Community, Organizational Level:
· Environmental: establish and maintain supportive environments for healthful lifestyle options (i.e. physical activity) by improving accessibility, affordability and/or safety.
· Policy: establish and implement policies and standards to support physical activity.
2. Interpersonal, Individual Level:
· Interpersonal: Establish programs that increase physical activity through group interaction/support.
· Individual: Design programs to teach individuals skills needed to make behavioral changes related to physical activity.
Evaluation
Grantees will be expected to document changes to policies and environments and to monitor the progress of interpersonal strategies (e.g., classes, walking groups, etc.). Grantees will also be expected to gather input from key project partners as part of their evaluation process. A brief Evaluation Plan is expected as part of the application and is addressed in detail on page 12.
As outlined in the Statement of Assurances (Attachment E), grantees will be expected to report activities monthly during their project period using the online Progress Monitoring and Reporting system (PMR). Grantees will also be expected to report outcomes and lessons learned at the end of the project period by completing the “final report” section of the PMR.
Grantees will be expected to assist with all evaluation activities led by the RWJ Project Coordinator and ECU (as outlined in Attachment E). Evaluation activities will include objectively measured physical activity and self-reported behavior questionnaires for project participants, and local Project Coordinators will participate in semi-structured interviews. Data collection utilizing standardized forms (to be provided) will occur at baseline (fall 2010), year one post-test (fall 2011), and year two post-test (fall 2012). For objectively measured physical activity, grantees will assist the RWJ Project Coordinator in the identification of approximately 100 youth to be selected to wear accelerometers (Actigraph GT1M) for seven consecutive days. For self-reported physical activity and sedentary behaviors, the target population will be required to complete a questionnaire that will ask about time spent engaged in physical activity, watching TV, playing video games, using a computer, listening to music, and texting during the week. Local Project Coordinators will also be required to participate in three semi-structured interviews, led by the RWJ Project Coordinator, and to provide information about their community and key partner organizations as needed.
Eligibility:
All agencies who intend to submit an application must submit a Letter of Intent (LOI) via email by April 30th, 2010. LOIs should be sent to Mary Bea Kolbe at and should contain a brief statement of the agency’s intent to apply, the agency’s name, address and the primary contact person’s name, email address, mailing address and phone number.
Grants will be awarded to county or district health departments. All health departments are eligible and encouraged to apply. Only one application per county health department will be accepted. District health departments may submit applications for more than one county in their district. Community partners are encouraged to collaborate with their county/district health department to apply for grant funding.
Counties that received a 2009-10 ESMM Community Grant and did not successfully complete their grant project OR did not spend the full amount (no more than $250 unspent funds) of their grant award will be ineligible to apply for these grants.
Note: Applicant organizations that have an existing policy or healthful environmental change in place, and that encourage adoption of healthful practices in their organizations will be given priority in the application process.
Funding:
The North Carolina Division of Public Health will fund 10 projects in year 1 (2010 – 2011) and 10 in year 2 (2011 – 2012). Awards will range between $10,000 to $20,000 each for the approximate service periods of July 1, 2010 to May 31, 2011 or July 1, 2011 to May 31, 2012.
Grantees will be notified by June 25th, 2010 if they will receive funding in year 1 (2010-2011) or year 2 (2011-2012), however all grantees will participate in evaluation activities in 2010, 2011 and 2012. The number of grant awards will be based on available funds.
Funds may be used for:
· Materials, equipment, supplies and resources needed to implement the proposed intervention
Examples include: curricula, materials, signage, educational and promotional materials and resources
· Sub-contracted services necessary to carry out a portion of the programmatic effort or for the acquisition of routine goods or services needed for the proposed intervention
· Incentives to encourage participants to complete data collection for all base-line, post-test year 1 and post-test year 2.
· Training expenses (for training(s) that will be provided as part of the intervention) Examples include: space rental, training materials, speaker fees, substitute teacher fees
· Travel and staff development (note: travel must be computed at rates up to the current State regulations)
· Administrative costs such as postage and office supplies
Funds may NOT be used for:
· Replacement of funds from other sources from currently budgeted expenses (i.e. current staff positions)
· Office equipment or computer hardware
Please note:
A limited amount of funding will be available for the installation of permanent structures or surfaces.
IV. GENERAL INFORMATION ON SUBMITTING APPLICATIONS
1. Award or Rejection
All qualified applications will be evaluated and award made to that agency or organization whose combination of budget and service capabilities is deemed to be in the best interest of the funding agency. The funding agency reserves the unqualified right to reject any or all offers if determined to be in its best interest. Successful applicants will be notified by: June 25th, 2010.
2. Cost of Application Preparation
Any cost incurred by an agency or organization in preparing or submitting an application is the agency's or organization's sole responsibility; the funding agency will not reimburse any agency or organization for any pre-award costs incurred.
3. Elaborate Applications
Elaborate applications in the form of brochures or other presentations beyond that necessary to present a complete and effective application are not desired.
4. Oral Explanations
The funding agency will not be bound by oral explanations or instructions given at any time during the competitive process or after awarding the grant.
5. Reference to Other Data
Only information that is received in response to this RFA will be evaluated; reference to information previously submitted will not suffice.
6. Titles
Titles and headings in this RFA and any subsequent RFA are for convenience only and shall have no binding force or effect.
7. Form of Application
Each application must be submitted on the form provided by the funding agency, and will be incorporated into the funding agency's Agreement Addendum.
8. Exceptions
All applications are subject to the terms and conditions outlined herein. All responses will be controlled by such terms and conditions. The attachment of other terms and conditions by any agency and organization may be grounds for rejection of that agency or organization's application. Funded agencies and organizations specifically agree to the conditions set forth in the Agreement Addendum.
9. Advertising
In submitting its application, agencies and organizations agree not to use the results there, from or as part of any news release or commercial advertising without prior written approval of the funding agency.
10. Right to Submitted Material
All responses, inquiries, or correspondence relating to or in reference to the RFA, and all other reports, charts, displays, schedules, exhibits, and other documentation submitted by the agency or organization will become the property of the funding agency when received.
11. Competitive Offer
Pursuant to the provision of G.S. 143-54, and under penalty of perjury, the signer of any application submitted in response to this RFA thereby certifies that this application has not been arrived at collusively or otherwise in violation of either Federal or North Carolina antitrust laws.