Phase I – Eliminating Health Disparities Initiative
A Request for Grant Proposals was released on November 16, 2005 and the deadline for final applications was March 1, 2006. The NC HWTF received more than 100 applications from organizations across the state to initiate new or expand existing services and programs. Based on an extensive external review process, 23 organizations were awarded $9.2 million in grant funding in May 2006. Grants were awarded for a three-year period starting July 1, 2006 and ending on June 30, 2009.
The majority of the grants awarded were to organizations that are working to:
- Increase the number of African-Americans, Latinos and American Indians who will have their risk factors for diabetes detected and treated, and who will implement lifestyle changes to successfully control their diabetes
- Increase the number of African-Americans, Latinos and American Indians who are able to recognize their risk factors for cardiovascular disease and implement lifestyle changes to manage those risks
- Improve health literacy skills to increase compliance with care management treatment plans
- Increase the number of African-Americans, Latinos and American Indians who recognize the symptoms and signs of cancer, and who seek timely diagnosis and treatment
- Increase the availability of culturally appropriate health promotion programs that provide information and options for healthy lifestyles
In addition, the Commission decided to provide a limited number of grants to organizations working to reduce obesity within the targeted ethnic/racial groups, as obesity is a risk factor for diabetes, cardiovascular disease and many forms of cancer. A grant was also made to an organization working to develop training modules and tools that improve the cultural competency skills of health care providers.
Funding decisions were based on:
- Partnerships and collaborations that are consistent with the goals and objectives of the initiative
- Proposed action plans grounded in evidence-based strategies, and promising practices appropriate for the population(s) served
- Grant services that are projected to reach adequate numbers of community members
- Applying organization’s plan and/or ability to build sustained community support for the proposed efforts among relevant stakeholders, including those not traditionally involved in health disparity reduction efforts
Phase II – Eliminating Health Disparities Initiative
In May 2008 the NC Health and Wellness Trust Fund Commissioners approved an additional $9 million for the Eliminating Health Disparities Initiative. It’s anticipated that the majority of these funds will be used for a second round of grant-making to public health, faith- and community-based organizations working to eliminate health disparities in low-income African-American, Latino and American Indian communities across the state. An RFP for the second round of grant-making will be disseminated on August 18, 2008 (for RFP and application, go to www.healthwellnc.com); grantees will be selected in Fall/Winter 2008, and Phase II of the Initiative will begin on July 1, 2009.