The CDC Foundation is requesting applications from eligible community-based organizations (CBOs) and state public health agencies partnering to work through cross-sector collaboration to address health issues that focus on systems change approaches to advancing health equity.
Donor Name: CDC Foundation
State: All States
County: All Counties
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 10/06/2023
Size of the Grant: Up to $128,000
Grant Duration: 1 year 2 months
Details:
The CDC Foundation, the Association of State and Territorial Health Official (ASTHO) and Michigan Public Health Institute (MPHI) will convene a cohort of up to seven Collaboratives to complete capacity-building activities to achieve their common goals of advancing opportunities for all community members to live their healthiest lives.
Communities, including state health agencies and community-based organizations, have been working toward everyone having opportunities to access health care, clean air, parks, childcare, transportation options and the many other aspects of our lives that impact our overall health. The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated barriers some members of communities experience in having health opportunities. As a result, state health agencies have an influx of funding to strengthen their workforce capacities and the public health infrastructure. State health agencies cannot create build impact alone, though; they can only achieve long-term, sustainable change through partnership and leadership from their communities and by addressing the community’s specific needs. The Strategies to Repair Equity and Transform Community Health (STRETCH) Initiative works to strengthen the foundational relationships imperative to ensuring all members of the community can thrive and improve the structures and processes needed to consistently move this work forward.
The goal of STRETCH 2.0 is to promote necessary skills, core competencies, power sharing and authentic relationships among state team members and their community partners to advance and sustain health equity through systems change. Collaboratives will move through capacity building activities to develop and achieve their common priorities and goals. Prior participation in STRETCH 1.0 is not required. Collaboratives from states who participated in STRETCH 1.0 and states who did not are both encouraged to apply.
Levels of Engagement
STRETCH 2.0 will have three levels of engagement:
- National
- National Peer learning network of seven Collaboratives comprised of a state public health agency and community organization or coalition in authentic partnership to develop and implement strategies to build capacity.
- Cohort
- Cohort Tailored and individualized technical assistance and capacity building provided to the Collaborative with a goal to grow in knowledge and skills related to equity and systems change.
- Collaborative
- Collaborative capacity building grants will support community-based and community-led work that creates a sustainable foundation for cross-sectoral collaboration and coordination designed to spur progress on a key public health issue(s) that advances health equity. Projects should focus on a specific place such as a city, county or region and/or a specific group within a defined geography. STRETCH seeks applicants who plan to work through cross-sector collaboration to address health issues that focus on systems change approaches to advancing health equity.
Funding Information
Seven awards will be made to the community partner in each collaborative in an amount up to $128,000.
Project Period
January 1, 2024 – March 31, 2025
The foundation will fund
- This funding is intended to assist with project costs for established cross-sector collaborative efforts or expanding the scope and impact of an existing collaborative.
- Applications should focus on building the capacity of the collaborative to advance health equity.
Eligibility Criteria
Applicants should consider the following “readiness ” criteria when assessing whether they are a good fit to participate in the STRETCH 2.0 cohort. If your collaborative meets the criteria, then see below on how to apply.
- Have a pre-established partnership between a CBO/community coalition and a state public health agency and a commitment to engage in the project together.
- Committed to addressing the root causes (e.g., structural biases, ableism, sexism, etc.) of health inequities that are being addressed.
- Focus on addressing inequities for historically and currently marginalized populations.
- Have potential for buy-in and active involvement of community, public health and other pertinent leaders.
- Have prior experience with (or willingness to engage in) collaboration between multisector organizations and a state public health department.
- Have leadership team members who authentically identify with the community being served.
- Have a commitment to implement and sustain efforts for the long term.
- Capacity to attend and participate in the core program listed above
The CBO/community coalition fiscal sponsor should be defined as an organization that works at the local and state level, using their deep connections and role as a trusted resource within the community to improve a community’s social, physical, economic and emotional health, wellbeing and overall vitality. Further, organizations must:
- Be recognized by their state of incorporation as a non-profit organization;
- Have sustainable operations, be in good financial standing and have a proven record of program effectiveness. The CDC Foundation reserves the right to conduct applicants’ financial and due diligence reviews; and
- Be an equal opportunity employer with all-inclusive membership that does not discriminate on the basis of gender, race/ethnicity, color, sex, sexual orientation, country of national origin or nationality, age, religion, intellectual or physical disabilities and military or veteran status in its activities or operations
For more information, visit CDC Foundation.
