MCHB-HRSA-25-027-(T76)-COE-final.pdf

Maternal and Child Health Bureau

Notice of Funding Opportunity

Application due January 27, 2025

Centers of Excellence in Maternal and Child Health Education, Science, and Practice Opportunity number: HRSA-25-027

Contents Before you begin 4

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 5

Basic information 6

Key facts 6

Key dates 6

Eligibility 7

Program description 9

Award information 16

Step 2: Get Ready to Apply 18

Get registered 19

Find the application package 19

Application writing help 19

Step 3: Prepare Your Application 21

Application contents and format 22

Step 4: Learn About Review and Award 38

Application review 39

Selection process 43

Award notices 44

Step 5: Submit Your Application 45

Application submission and deadlines 46

Application checklist 48

Step 6: Learn What Happens After Award 50

Post-award requirements and administration 51

Contents 2

Reporting 53

Contacts and Support 55

Appendix: Standards for using MCHB grant funds to support trainees 58

Endnotes 64

Contents 3

Before you begin If you believe you are a good candidate for this funding opportunity, secure your SAM.gov and Grants.gov registrations now. If you are already registered, make sure your registrations are active and up-to-date.

SAM.gov registration (this can take several weeks) You must have an active account with SAM.gov. This includes having a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI).

See Step 2: Get Ready to Apply

Grants.gov registration (this can take several days) You must have an active Grants.gov registration. Doing so requires a Login.gov registration as well.

See Step 2: Get Ready to Apply

Apply by the application due date Applications are due by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on January 27, 2025.

To help you find what you need, this NOFO uses internal links. In Adobe Reader, you can go back to where you were by pressing Alt + Left Arrow (Windows) or Command + Left Arrow (Mac) on your keyboard.

Before you begin 4 https://sam.gov/ https://grants.gov/

Jump to a step

1. Review 2. Get Ready 3. Prepare 4. Learn 5. Submit 6. Award Contacts

Step 1:

Review the Opportunity

In this step

Basic information 6

Key facts 6

Key dates 6

Eligibility 7

Program description 9

Award information 16

Basic information Health Resources and Services Administration

Maternal and Child Health Bureau

Division of Maternal and Child Health Workforce Development

Building national centers of excellence to advance maternal and child health education and public health practice.

Have questions?

Go to Contacts and Support.

Key facts Opportunity name:

Centers of Excellence in Maternal and Child Health Education, Science, and Practice

Opportunity number:

HRSA-25-027

Announcement version:

New

Federal assistance listing:

93.110

Statutory authority: 42 U.S.C. § 701(a)(2) (Title V, § 501(a)(2) of the Social Security Act)

Key dates NOFO issue date: October 28, 2024

Informational webinar:

November 20, 2024

Application deadline:

January 27, 2025

Expected award date is by:

May 1, 2025

Expected start date: June 1, 2025

See other submissions for other time frames that may apply to this NOFO.

Summary The Centers of Excellence in Maternal and Child Health Education, Science, and Practice (CoE) program establishes national centers that strengthen and expand the maternal and child health (MCH) workforce by training graduate and post-graduate public health (PH) students in MCH. CoEs also establish academic-practice partnerships with state Title V Maternal and Child Health Services Block Grant recipients and other MCH organizations, providing technical assistance and subject matter expertise to strengthen MCH capacity.

Funding details Application Types: Competing Continuation, New

Expected total available funding in FY 2025: $5,659,000

Expected number and type of awards:

• Up to 13 grants for base CoE funding.

• Up to 5 supplements for the MCH Postdoctoral Fellowship.

• Up to 1 supplement for the annual meeting.

Funding range per award:

• Up to $366,769 per year for base CoE.

• Up to $170,000 per year for the MCH Postdoctoral Fellowship.

• Up to $41,000 per year for the annual meeting.

We plan to fund awards for five 12-month budget periods for a total five-year period of performance from June 1, 2025, to May 31, 2030.

The program and awards depend on the appropriation of funds and are subject to change based on the availability and amount of appropriations.

1. Review 2. Get Ready 3. Prepare 4. Learn 5. Submit 6. Award Contacts

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 6 https://www.grants.gov/learn-grants/grant-terminology#g

Pending the availability of funds during each year of the period of performance, each year one designated CoE recipient will apply for an administrative supplement of up to $41,000 post-award to cover the costs of hosting the annual meeting. The CoE recipient will be chosen annually based on recipient(s)’ indicated availability, as noted in the application. The meeting host will rotate among CoE recipients. This annual meeting requirement may be waived during Year 5 of the period of performance.

As part of the application for CoE program funding, you may also apply for optional supplemental funding of up to $170,000 per year, to support the MCH Postdoctoral Fellowship to increase the number of MCH public health faculty. We plan to fund up to five supplemental awards. You must apply for the base CoE program funding in order to apply for this optional MCH Postdoctoral Supplement. To apply for this supplement, follow the instructions in Attachment 7.

As part of the application for CoE program funding, you may also apply for a one-time supplement per CoE program of up to $70,000. This optional CoE Emerging Issues supplement will advance MCH public health. This may be awarded for any of the five budget periods for a funding period of one year and is subject to the availability of funds. You must apply for the base CoE program funding in order to apply for this optional Emerging Issues Supplement. To apply for this supplement, follow the instructions in Attachment 8.

Eligibility Who can apply Types of eligible organizations These types of domestic* organizations may apply.

• Public institutions of higher education.

• Non-profit private institutions of higher education.

• Native American tribal governments and organizations that are institutions of higher learning (education)

See 42 CFR § 51a.3(b).

* “Domestic” means the 50 states, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Northern Mariana Islands, American Samoa, Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and the Republic of Palau.

Individuals are not eligible applicants under this NOFO.

1. Review 2. Get Ready 3. Prepare 4. Learn 5. Submit 6. Award Contacts

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 7 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-42/chapter-I/subchapter-D/part-51a#51a.3

Other application criteria Related NOFO requirement HRSA has issued a related NOFO, MCH Public Health Catalyst Program (HRSA-25-025).

You may only apply for funding under either HRSA-25-025 or HRSA-25-027. You are not eligible to apply for the Centers of Excellence in MCH Education, Science, and Practice Program (HRSA-25-027) if you apply for the MCH Public Health Catalyst Program (HRSA-25-025). Applicants that submit applications under both HRSA-25-025 and HRSA-25-027 will be required to select one application to move forward to merit review.

Council on Education in Public Health (CEPH) accreditation requirement You must be an institution of higher education with a school or program of public health accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH). You must provide documentation of your school/program’s CEPH accreditation status as Attachment 1. Recipients must maintain CEPH accreditation status throughout the period of performance and notify us of any change in status.

Trainee support To receive support under this program, a trainee must be one of the following:

• A U.S. citizen or non-citizen national.

• An individual lawfully admitted for permanent residence to the United States.

• Any other “qualified alien” under section 431(b) of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996, Pub. L. 104-193, as amended.

Please review other trainee support information in the Appendix.

Project director HRSA recognizes only one Project Director. The Project Director must be a faculty member employed by the applicant organization at the time you submit the application. The Project Director should dedicate at least 20% of their time to grant-related activities. The dedicated time can be supported through in-kind contributions or by grant funds. We do not allow co-Project Directors.

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 8

Completeness and responsiveness criteria We will review your application to make sure it meets these basic requirements to forward in the competition.

We will not consider an application that:

• Is from an organization that does not meet all eligibility criteria.

• Requests funding above the award ceiling shown in the funding range.

• Is submitted after the deadline.

Application limits You may not submit more than one application. If you submit more than one application, we will only accept the last on-time submission.

Cost sharing This program has no cost-sharing requirement. If you choose to share in the costs of the project, we will not consider it during merit review. We will hold you accountable for any funds you add, including through reporting.

Program description Purpose The purpose of the Centers of Excellence in Maternal and Child Health (MCH) Education, Science, and Practice (CoE) program is:

• To strengthen and expand the MCH workforce by training graduate and post-graduate public health students in MCH.

• To advance MCH science, research, practice, and policy through a well-trained MCH public health workforce.

Program goals and objectives The program goals are to:

• Establish national centers that recruit and train graduate and post-graduate students in MCH public health and support faculty experts who provide technical assistance to the MCH public health field.

• Expand the MCH public health workforce.

The program objectives to be accomplished during the period of performance include:

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 9

• Provide didactic and experiential training in MCH public health that leads to a graduate-level MCH degree, certificate, or concentration.

• Recruit and train students from backgrounds that are underrepresented in the MCH workforce, including but not limited to students from economically disadvantaged and racially/ethnically underrepresented backgrounds.

• Retain and graduate at least 80% of MCH public health students who complete over 300 hours of training per student.

• Establish or strengthen a minimum of three academic-practice partnerships with state Title V Maternal and Child Health Services Block Grant recipient agencies or community organizations to provide MCH subject matter expertise.

This notice includes an additional opportunity to apply for the MCH Postdoctoral Fellowship Supplement. The purpose of this supplement is to support postdoctoral training to:

• Increase the number of faculty in MCH academia, increase MCH research and teaching capacity within Schools and Programs of Public Health.

• Enhance skills in the formation of MCH policy, including the translation of research to practice and policy.

This notice also includes an additional opportunity to apply for the CoE Emerging Issues Supplement. The purpose of this supplement is to:

• Support CoE programs to respond to emerging issues in MCH public health.

• Expand the reach of CoE activities to underserved communities with MCH needs.

About MCHB and Strategic Plan The HRSA Maternal and Child Health Bureau (MCHB) administers programs with focus areas in maternal and women’s health, adolescent and young adult health, perinatal and infant health, child health, and children with special health care needs.

To learn more about MCHB and the Bureau’s Strategic Plan, visit the Mission, Vision, and Work page on the MCHB website.

1. Review 2. Get Ready 3. Prepare 4. Learn 5. Submit 6. Award Contacts

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 10 https://mchb.hrsa.gov/programs-impact/title-v-maternal-child-health-mch-services-block-grant https://mchb.hrsa.gov/about-us/mission-vision-work https://mchb.hrsa.gov/about-us/mission-vision-work

Background The 2021 Public Health Workforce Interests and Needs Survey (PH WINS) highlights that over 45% of state and local health department staff plan to leave or retire in the next five years.[1] An estimated 6,500 additional full-time equivalents (FTEs) will be needed to fill anticipated MCH staffing gaps at state and local health departments.[2] Schools and Programs of Public Health (SPPH) with specialized training in MCH are uniquely qualified to train a diverse MCH workforce that is prepared to fill anticipated vacancies, reach communities that are underserved,[3] and carry out essential MCH services nationwide.[4]

The current and future governmental and academic public health workforce is not reflective of the groups that experience disparities in MCH outcomes.[5],[6] Students from backgrounds that are underrepresented in the public health workforce[7] (Asian, Black, Hispanic, and Native American) also remain underrepresented in their public health educational programs at SPPHs.[8],[9] Additionally, Black, Hispanic, and Native American faculty are underrepresented among associate and full professor positions in public health.[10],[11] At the same time, only 11% of the governmental MCH public health workforce has formal public health training.[12] Between 2015 and 2022, only 19% of masters and doctoral graduates in MCH public health entered the governmental workforce upon graduation. An additional 19% of graduates entered positions in academic institutions.[13]

HRSA established the CoE program to strengthen MCH education in public health and technical support to Title V programs. From 2020 through 2022, HRSA’s CoEs trained 10,567 students in MCH public health. 2,442 of those are long-term trainees.[14] 45% of long-term trainees were from a racial group underrepresented in the MCH workforce and 13% identified as Hispanic or Latino. 92% of former CoE trainees demonstrated field leadership five years after training program completion, 79% work with MCH populations, and 42% work in a public health organization or agency. During the same period, CoE programs engaged in over 5,000 technical assistance activities to state Title V agencies and other MCH organizations.

To increase the number of MCH faculty in SPPH, HRSA established the MCH Postdoctoral Fellowship program. Since 2020, CoE programs have trained 17 post-doctoral fellows or junior faculty from diverse backgrounds. 86% of fellows who completed the program are now employed as faculty members at academic institutions.

Program requirements and expectations To achieve the goals and objectives stated in the purpose section, you are expected to complete the following activities.

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 11

Training and education

• Maintain a comprehensive, graduate-level MCH public health curriculum. The MCH curriculum should lead to a master’s or doctoral-level MCH degree, certificate, or concentration[15] that is formally recognized by your institution and meets the requirements for such a degree, certificate, or concentration outlined by the Council for Education on Public Health (CEPH).[16]

• Offer at least one foundational MCH course that covers MCH history, social determinants of health, Title V and related MCH legislation, and life course theory.

• Provide additional MCH courses and/or electives that build upon the foundational course and introduce students to diverse topics in MCH.

• Implement an MCH curriculum that:

◦ Teaches students about public health leadership skills, the social determinants of health, [17] cultural and linguistic responsiveness, and how to reduce longstanding disparities in MCH outcomes.

◦ Addresses MCH public health priorities outlined by state Title V agencies.

◦ Exposes students to emerging MCH and public health issues, and how to use community-informed approaches to identify emerging issues.

◦ Trains students on current and emerging topics in MCH epidemiology, data collection, surveillance systems, applied and quantitative analytic methods, and frameworks relevant to state and local MCH populations and programs.

• Include persons with lived experience[18] or community members in the delivery of the MCH curriculum.

• Provide opportunities for students to complete an MCH-related applied practice experience (APE)[19] or integrated learning experience (ILE).[20]

• Use the MCH Leadership Competencies and the 10 Essential Public Health Services to inform program competencies.

◦ Include opportunities for exposure to interprofessional, interdisciplinary, or cross-sector partners. These opportunities may be didactic, skills-based, seminars, mentoring, community service projects, research, and/or peer leadership learning experiences.

• Provide opportunities for student engagement in MCH research, program implementation, or program evaluation projects during their training.

• Advise and mentor MCH students to improve retention and support their interest in MCH public health careers. Culturally congruent mentorship is encouraged for students and faculty from underrepresented populations. [21] Offer professional development opportunities (for example, networking with practicing MCH professionals or career development).

1. Review 2. Get Ready 3. Prepare 4. Learn 5. Submit 6. Award Contacts

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 12 https://mchb.tvisdata.hrsa.gov/ https://mchb.hrsa.gov/programs-impact/focus-areas/building-mch-leaders-mch-workforce/leadership-competencies https://www.cdc.gov/public-health-gateway/php/about/index.html

Trainee recruitment and retention

• Recruit and retain students from backgrounds that are underrepresented in the

MCH workforce, including but not limited to students from economically disadvantaged and racially or ethnically underrepresented backgrounds.

• Train at least 50 graduate-level (masters and/or doctoral) students annually. At least 50% should be long-term trainees (see Appendix). This includes students in MCH coursework and/or the MCH degree, certificate, or concentration.

◦ Long-term trainees are students who participate in at least 300 hours of didactic and experiential training that leads to a graduate degree.

◦ Long-term trainees may receive grant funding (for example, stipends, tuition assistance, or travel). Financial support must be limited to students whose background, career goals, and leadership potential are aligned with the purpose of the CoE program.

◦ MCHB-funded long-term trainees should fulfill the following requirements as part of their 300+ hours of training:

▪ Participate in the MCH student interest group.

▪ Complete an MCH research, practice, or capstone experience.

▪ Participate in leadership training or education.

Faculty

• Identify a Project Director (PD) who will have direct, day-to-day responsibility for grant activities. The PD should:

◦ Be a faculty member at the applicant organization and have demonstrated leadership in MCH public health.

◦ Have relevant experience and expertise with graduate-level curriculum development, teaching, and mentoring students.

◦ Have expertise in one or more MCH topic areas.

◦ Commit a minimum of 20% of their time to the CoE program grant, which may be a combination of grant and in-kind support. The 20% effort cannot be shared by two faculty members. Effort for the CoE Project Director does not include the Project Director time and effort for the MCH Postdoctoral Fellowship Supplement (See Attachment 7).

• Identify core faculty who will support this program and advise and mentor students. Faculty should represent diverse disciplines, demonstrate expertise in MCH, and have a strong track record in working with and mentoring students from underrepresented backgrounds.

• Identify at least one faculty member who has relevant MCH practice experience.

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 13

MCH student interest group

• Support a student-led MCH student group that builds community and advances a shared interest in MCH public health, leadership development, and MCH-related careers at your institution.

◦ The group should be supported by CoE faculty and meet regularly.

◦ Activities can include professional development, journal clubs, community service activities, and MCH seminars or symposia with guest speakers relevant to MCH.

Consultation and subject matter expertise

• Provide technical assistance, consultation, or subject matter expertise to state

Title V Maternal and Child Health Services Block Grant recipient agencies or MCH organizations, particularly those in underserved communities.

• Support MCH epidemiology capacity building, research, or dissemination in response to Title V agency needs in your state or region. These activities can include doctoral student dissertation research, using state or local datasets to better understand MCH populations.

• Engage MCH students in technical assistance activities to teach them applied public health practice skills.

Partnerships

• Establish or strengthen a minimum of three academic-practice partnerships in your state or region. One partnership must be with a state Title V MCH agency.

• Mentor MCH Public Health Catalyst Programs (HRSA-25-025) to develop their MCH curricula and degree offerings.

• Partner with MCH or public health organizations, including other HRSA- and MCHB- funded programs[22] co-located at your academic institution or within your state or region, to advance MCH public health training and education. Activities may include joint leadership seminars, trainee research opportunities, and networking events.

• Collaborate with other CoE program recipients funded under this announcement (HRSA-25-027). Collaborative activities include:

◦ Participating in regular all-recipient calls.

◦ Planning and managing the annual recipient meeting one year during the period of performance for programs funded under HRSA-25-027 and HRSA-25-025 (MCH Public Health Catalyst Program).

1. Review 2. Get Ready 3. Prepare 4. Learn 5. Submit 6. Award Contacts

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 14 https://mchb.hrsa.gov/programs-impact/title-v-maternal-child-health-mch-services-block-grant

◦ The Project Director is expected to attend the annual recipient meeting. Grant funds can be used to support additional faculty and/or staff attendance at the annual meeting.

Advisory committees

• Establish an advisory committee to guide your program’s activities and plans. The advisory committee should include students and/or alumni, faculty, state Title V agency leadership, community members, and persons with lived experience. The committee should meet at least annually.

Performance measurement, evaluation, and continuous quality improvement

(CQI)

We expect you to measure your performance and conduct CQI activities. Actions include:

• Measuring performance on key activities and program objectives.

◦ This includes Discretionary Grants Information System (DGIS) measures noted in the reporting section, such as:

▪ Number and diversity of students trained.

▪ Number of partnerships and types of activities developed with Title V and MCH-related organizations.

▪ Former trainee outcomes. You are expected to track trainees for five years after completion of the CoE program and report on trainee outcomes outlined in the DGIS former trainee survey.

• Collecting and reporting annually in the non-competing continuation progress report on added measures that align with program goals and objectives, such as:

◦ Details on MCH curriculum and degree offerings.

◦ Number of MCH student ILEs or APEs.

◦ Number of trainees participating in faculty-led MCH research.

◦ Details on subject matter expertise and technical assistance provided to the MCH field.

◦ Details on the impact of CoE activities on national MCH landscape.

• Monitoring progress towards project goals and activities.

• Disseminating project methodologies, outcomes, impact, stories, tools, and educational resources.

1. Review 2. Get Ready 3. Prepare 4. Learn 5. Submit 6. Award Contacts

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 15

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• Conducting CQI activities annually (for example, using data and findings from performance measurement and/or evaluation work to inform and improve processes and outcomes).

◦ Develop a CQI plan that demonstrates how you will include trainee, alumni, faculty, and partner feedback and shows how information will be used to support program implementation and sustainability.

Award information Funding policies and limitations Policies

• We will only make awards if this program receives funding. If Congress appropriates funds for this purpose, we will move forward with the review and award process.

• Support beyond the first budget year will depend on:

◦ Appropriation of funds

◦ Your satisfactory progress in meeting the project’s objectives

◦ A decision that continued funding is in the government’s best interest

• If we receive more funding for this program, we may:

◦ Fund more applicants from the rank order list

◦ Extend the period of performance

◦ Award supplemental funding

General limitations

• For guidance on some types of costs we do not allow or restrict, see Project

Budget Information in Section 3.1.4 of the R&R Application Guide. You can also see 45 CFR part 75, General Provisions for Selected Items of Cost.

• You cannot earn profit from the federal award. See 45 CFR 75.400(g).

• Congress’s current appropriations act includes a salary limitation, which applies to this program. As of January 2024, the salary rate limitation is $221,900. This limitation may be updated.

Program-specific limitations See Manage Your Grant for other information on costs and financial management.

1. Review 2. Get Ready 3. Prepare 4. Learn 5. Submit 6. Award Contacts

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 16 https://www.hrsa.gov/sites/default/files/hrsa/grants/research-related-application-guide.pdf#page=15 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-45/part-75/subject-group-ECFR5d90ba314caea08 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-45/part-75#p-75.216(b) https://www.hrsa.gov/grants/manage-your-grant

Indirect costs Indirect costs are those incurred for a common or joint purpose across more than one project and that cannot be easily separated by project (like utilities or a building that supports multiple projects). Learn more at 45 CFR 75.414, Indirect Costs.

Per 45 CFR 75.414, indirect costs for training awards cannot exceed 8% of modified total direct costs. To calculate the (MTDC), we exclude from the direct cost base:

• Direct cost amounts for, equipment, tuition, fees and participant support costs.

• Subawards and subcontracts exceeding $50,000.

For modified total direct costs, we use the definition at 2 CFR 200.1.

State or local governments and federally recognized Indian tribes can charge their negotiated rate or use their state cost allocation plans. For the purpose of calculating indirect costs, we do not consider state universities or hospitals as government agencies.

Program income Program income is money earned as a result of your award-supported project activities. You must use any program income you generate from awarded funds for approved project-related activities. Find more about program income at 45 CFR 75.307.

1. Review 2. Get Ready 3. Prepare 4. Learn 5. Submit 6. Award Contacts

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 17 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-45/section-75.414 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/part-200#p-200.1(Modified%20Total%20Direct%20Cost%20(MTDC)) https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-45/subtitle-A/subchapter-A/part-75/subpart-D/subject-group-ECFR911e5e1a30bfbcb/section-75.307

Step 2:

Get Ready to Apply

In this step

Get registered 19

Find the application package 19

Application writing help 19

Get registered SAM.gov You must have an active account with SAM.gov. This includes having a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI). SAM.gov registration can take several weeks. Begin that process today.

To register, go to SAM.gov Entity Registration and select Get Started. From the same page, you can also select the Entity Registration Checklist to find out what you’ll need to register.

When you register or update your SAM.gov registration, you must agree to the financial assistance general certifications and representations. You must agree to those for grants specifically, as opposed to contracts, because the two sets of agreements are different. You will have to maintain your registration throughout the life of any award.

Grants.gov You must also have an active account with Grants.gov. You can see step-by-step instructions at the Grants.gov Quick Start Guide for Applicants.

Find the application package The application package has all the forms you need to apply. You can find it online. Go to Grants Search at Grants.gov and search for opportunity number HRSA-25-027.

After you select the opportunity, we recommend that you click the Subscribe button to get updates.

After you select the opportunity, we recommend that you click the Subscribe button to get updates.

Application writing help Visit HHS Tips for Preparing Grant Proposals

Visit HRSA’s How to Prepare Your Application page for more guidance.

See Apply for a Grant for other help and resources.

1. Review 2. Get Ready 3. Prepare 4. Learn 5. Submit 6. Award Contacts

Step 2: Get Ready to Apply 19 https://sam.gov/content/entity-registration https://www.hrsa.gov/grants/apply-for-a-grant/prepare-your-application/assurances-non-construction-programs https://www.hrsa.gov/grants/apply-for-a-grant/prepare-your-application/assurances-non-construction-programs https://grants.gov/applicants/applicant-registration http://www.grants.gov/quick-start-guide/applicants https://www.grants.gov/search-grants https://www.hhs.gov/grants-contracts/grants/get-ready-for-grants-management/tips-for-preparing-grant-proposals/index.html https://www.hrsa.gov/grants/apply-for-a-grant/prepare-your-application https://www.hrsa.gov/grants/apply-for-a-grant

Join the webinar For more information about this opportunity, join the webinar on Wednesday, November 20, 2024, at 2 p.m. ET. You can join at this Zoom link.

If you are not able to join through your computer, you can call in:

• Phone number: 669-254-5252

• Meeting ID: 161 059 4884

We will record the webinar. If you are not able to join live, you can replay it at Find Grant Funding | HRSA .

Have questions? Go to Contacts and Support.

1. Review 2. Get Ready 3. Prepare 4. Learn 5. Submit 6. Award Contacts

Step 2: Get Ready to Apply 20 https://hrsa-gov.zoomgov.com/j/1610594884?pwd=grrZav19qdLhIB16ObxSDNlSBxQMJz.1 https://www.hrsa.gov/grants/find-funding https://www.hrsa.gov/grants/find-funding

Step 3:

Prepare Your Application

In this step

Application contents and format 22

Application contents and format Applications include five main components. This section includes guidance on each.

Application page limit: There is a 60-page limit for the overall application.

Submit your information in English and express whole number budget figures using U.S. dollars.

Make sure you include each of these:

Components Submission format

Project abstract Use the Project Abstract Summary form.

Project narrative Use the Research & Related Other Project Information form.

Budget narrative Use the Research & Related Budget form.

Attachments Insert each in the Attachments Form.

Other required forms Upload using each required form.

Required format You must format your narratives and attachments using our required formats for fonts, size, color, format, and margins. See the formatting guidelines in Section 3.2 of the R&R Application Guide.

Project abstract Complete the information in the Project Abstract Summary form. Include a short description of your proposed project. Include the needs you plan to address, the proposed services, and the population groups you plan to serve. For more information, see Section 3.1.2 of the R&R Application Guide.

Project narrative Use the Research & Related Other Project Information form to attach the project narrative. In the project narrative, you will describe all aspects of your project. Project activities must comply with the nondiscrimination requirements.

Use the section headers and the order listed.

1. Review 2. Get Ready 3. Prepare 4. Learn 5. Submit 6. Award Contacts

Step 3: Prepare Your Application 22 https://www.hrsa.gov/sites/default/files/hrsa/grants/research-related-application-guide.pdf#page=25 https://www.hrsa.gov/sites/default/files/hrsa/grants/research-related-application-guide.pdf#page=25 https://www.hrsa.gov/sites/default/files/hrsa/grants/research-related-application-guide.pdf#page=14

Introduction See merit review criterion 1: Need

• Briefly describe the purpose of your project.

• State the program(s) you are applying to, including supplemental funding opportunities (MCH Postdoctoral Fellowship and the CoE Emerging Issues Supplement) that are available under this announcement.

Need See merit review criterion 1: Need

• Identify and evaluate national, regional, and/or local MCH workforce development needs and describe the gaps the project is intended to fill.

• Describe the need for academic-practice partnerships in MCH in your geographic area.

• Describe the need for a dedicated MCH-specific public health training program at your university and in your geographic area.

• Describe the students in the SPPH and their unmet MCH training needs that this program will address.

• Discuss any relevant barriers to students’ access to education and success in your program. These barriers might include physical health, psychological health, physical environment, social environment, and economic stability.

Approach See merit review criterion 2: Response

Goals and objectives

• List your project goals and the specific objectives that respond to the stated need and purpose of the project.

• Provide objectives that are specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, time-bound, inclusive, and equitable (SMARTIE) for each proposed project goal.

Training and education

• Describe how your CoE will train graduate and post-graduate public health students in MCH.

• Describe the curriculum that you will provide, including the didactic and experiential components. Include a description of required and elective coursework, practicum experiences, and other pertinent information in Attachment 2. If you are proposing to support both master’s and doctoral-level students, include a description of the requirements for both degrees.

Step 3: Prepare Your Application 23

• Describe the expected competencies of program graduates and how they align with MCH Leadership Competencies, the 10 Essential Public Health Services, and other critical skills for the future MCH public health workforce. Detail how you plan to measure these competencies.

• Describe how the following elements will be included in your MCH curriculum:

◦ Life course perspective.

◦ Leadership development.

◦ Title V history and legislation and other related public health programs.

◦ Social determinants of health.

◦ Principles of health equity.

◦ Cultural and linguistic responsiveness.

◦ Current and emerging issues in MCH and public health, including use of community-informed approaches to identify emerging issues.

• Describe how you will educate students in current and emerging topics in MCH epidemiology, data collection, surveillance systems, applied and quantitative analytic methods, and frameworks relevant to state and local MCH populations and programs.

• Describe how you will integrate multiple perspectives and evidence into the curriculum to expose trainees to diverse MCH perspectives and topics.

• Describe how community members or persons with lived experience will be included in curriculum delivery.

• Describe how you will build student skills in MCH research, program implementation, or evaluation.

• Describe how trainees will be exposed to interdisciplinary, interprofessional, or cross-sector learning experiences.

Trainee recruitment and retention

• Describe how you will recruit a cohort of MCH public health students. Highlight special efforts directed toward recruiting students who are underrepresented in the MCH public health workforce, including but not limited to students from economically disadvantaged and racially or ethnically underrepresented backgrounds.

• Estimate the number of long-term trainees who will benefit from the program each year. Describe how these students will fulfill the following requirements as part of their 300+ hours of training:

◦ Participate in the MCH student interest group.

◦ Complete an MCH-specific research, practice, or capstone experience.

1. Review 2. Get Ready 3. Prepare 4. Learn 5. Submit 6. Award Contacts

Step 3: Prepare Your Application 24 https://mchb.hrsa.gov/programs-impact/focus-areas/building-mch-leaders-mch-workforce/leadership-competencies

◦ Participate in leadership training or education.

◦ If only a subset of MCH training program students will receive financial support, describe the differences in expectations for those students versus other program participants.

• Explain how you plan to retain students once they have entered the program. This should include specific details on mentorship, leadership skills development, and other opportunities, such as professional development.

• Describe the success of your current MCH training efforts, including the number of trainees who have completed the training and their current professional activities.

MCH student interest group

• Describe how you will support and sustain an MCH student interest group within your institution. Detail proposed activities, anticipated frequency of meetings, and group structure.

Consultation and subject matter expertise

• Describe the technical assistance, subject matter expertise, and consultation activities your CoE will offer. This may include, but is not limited to:

◦ Supporting Title V needs assessment and performance measurement.

◦ Sharing research and analysis with HRSA on emerging issues.

◦ Providing MCH training and education.

◦ Supporting community organizations, program evaluation and research, or policy formulation.

• Describe your plans to market your technical assistance offerings.

• Describe how you will support MCH epidemiology capacity building and research in collaboration with state Title V agencies.

• Describe how MCH trainees will be included in technical assistance activities and how this will be integrated into the curriculum.

Partnerships

• Describe the partnerships you will develop to achieve program goals.

◦ Document how you will build and sustain academic-practice partnerships with one or more state Title V agencies and at least two other relevant local, state, or regional partners.

• Describe how you will partner with different MCH or public health organizations, including other HRSA- or MCHB-funded programs co-located at your academic institution or within your state or region.

Step 3: Prepare Your Application 25

• Provide letters of support that demonstrate these partnerships in Attachment 3.

You must include a letter of support from at least one state Title V agency in Attachment 3.

• Detail how you can provide support to the MCH Public Health Catalyst Programs and other MCH faculty development programs as they develop MCH curricula and degree offerings.

• State your willingness to participate in regularly scheduled recipient calls and to plan the annual recipient meeting in one year of the period of performance. [23]

Important note: One designated recipient will apply for an administrative supplement of up to $41,000 post-award for the annual meeting. While internal planning for the annual recipient meeting must follow a budget of $41,000, you should not include these annual meeting costs in your overall budget request. Your proposed CoE budget should not exceed $366,769 per year, as annual meeting supplemental funding will not be finalized until post-award.

Advisory committees

• Describe the organization and composition of your CoE’s advisory committee.

Include information on current or invited members, committee member roles and responsibilities, and how often you plan to meet with the committee.

High-level work plan See merit review criteria 2: Response and 4: Impact

• Describe how you’ll achieve each of the objectives during the period of performance.

• Provide a timeline that includes each activity and identifies who is responsible for each. As needed, identify how key stakeholders will help plan, design, or carry out activities.

You will also include a more detailed work plan in your attachments.

Resolving challenges See merit review criterion 2: Response

Discuss challenges that you are likely to encounter in designing and carrying out the activities in the work plan. Explain approaches that you’ll use to resolve them.

Performance reporting and evaluation See merit review criteria 3: Performance reporting and evaluation and 5:

Resources and capabilities

Step 3: Prepare Your Application 26

• Monitoring. Describe how you will track project-related processes, activities, and milestones, and how you will use data to identify actual or potential challenges to implementation. Provide an initial list of measures (such as indicators and metrics) you will use to monitor progress.

• Performance measurement. Provide your plan for measuring and tracking program goals and objectives outlined in the purpose section. The plan should include required and proposed measures outlined in the program requirements and expectations section and plans for the timely collection and reporting of all measures.

◦ See reporting for more information.

• Continuous quality improvement. Describe your plans for using and incorporating information from monitoring, performance measurement, and evaluation to inform and improve processes and outcomes.

◦ Describe your capacity to collect and manage data in a way that allows for accurate and timely monitoring, performance measurement, and continuous quality improvement.

• Include a description of the available resources (for example, organizational profile, collaborative partners, staff skills and expertise, and budget), systems, and key processes you will use for data collection and management, monitoring, performance measurement, and continuous quality improvement. For example, you could describe your data sources, data collection methods, frequency of collection, and data management software.

• Describe your plan to evaluate how the program performs and how that understanding will contribute to continuous quality improvement. The evaluation should monitor ongoing processes and the progress towards the project’s goals and objectives. Describe barriers and your plan to address them.

Sustainability See merit review criterion 4: Impact

• We expect you to sustain MCH curricula, the student interest group, and partnerships after the period of federal funding ends. Propose a plan for project sustainability and describe the actions you’ll take to:

◦ Sustain key elements of your project beyond the federal funding period.

◦ Disseminate key elements of your project to relevant audiences. Examples include training methods, curricula, or strategies that have been effective in improving practices.

◦ Obtain future non-federal funding.

Step 3: Prepare Your Application 27

• Discuss challenges that you’ll likely encounter in sustaining the program. Include how you will resolve these challenges.

• Describe how project results and products may be replicable in other training programs.

Organizational information See merit review criterion 5: Resources and capabilities

• Briefly describe your mission, structure, and the scope of your current activities.

Explain how they support your ability to carry out the program requirements.

• Include a project organization chart in Attachment 5.

• Discuss how you’ll follow the approved plan, account for federal funds, and record all costs to avoid audit findings.

• Describe how you’ll assess the unique needs of the trainees you serve.

• Include a staffing plan and job descriptions for key faculty and staff in Attachment 6.

• Describe the Project Director’s qualifications and how they will meet the minimum of 20% time and effort to sustain this grant. Describe their demonstrated leadership in MCH public health, graduate-level teaching, and/or scholarly research.

• Describe how faculty will support grant implementation, including expectations for mentorship and advising of MCH students.

Faculty qualifications

• Document faculty and staff experience with the design, development, implementation, and evaluation of MCH training activities. Describe their experience managing training resources and working with other training entities.

• Describe how you will identify and include at least one faculty member with relevant MCH practice experience.

• Describe how you will engage early-career MCH faculty in CoE activities.

• Describe how you will support faculty time to meet the objectives of the CoE program.

• Include biographical sketches for key staff using the Research & Related Senior/ Key Person Profile form. See other required forms.

Budget and budget narrative See merit review criterion 6: Support requested

Step 3: Prepare Your Application 28

Complete the information in the Research & Related Budget form. Your budget should follow the instructions in Section 3.1.4 Project Budget Information of the R&R Application Guide and any specific instructions listed in this section. Your budget should show a well-organized plan.

HHS now uses the definitions for equipment and supplies in 2 CFR 200.1. The new definitions change the threshold for equipment to the lesser of the recipient’s capitalization level or $10,000 and the threshold for supplies to below that amount.

The total project or program costs are all allowable (direct and indirect) costs used for the HRSA activity or project. This includes costs charged to the award and non-federal funds used to satisfy any matching or cost-sharing requirement (which may include maintenance of effort, if applicable).

Reminder: Indirect costs for training awards cannot exceed 8% of modified total direct costs.

The budget narrative supports the information you provide in the Research and Related Budget Form. See other required forms. It includes an itemized breakdown and a clear justification of the costs you request. The merit review committee reviews both.

As you develop your budget, consider:

• If the costs are reasonable and consistent with your project’s purpose and activities.

• The restrictions on spending funds. See funding policies and limitations.

To create your budget narrative, see detailed instructions in Section 3.1.5 of the R&R Application Guide

Below are some additional instructions specific to this NOFO.

Participant and trainee support costs

• Identify the number of participants and trainees.

• Include trainee tuition, fees, health insurance, stipends, travel, subsistence, and other proposed costs that will be covered by this award.

• Separate these costs from others so we can identify them easily.

• Include a sub-total entitled “Total Participant and Trainee Support Costs” with the summary of these costs.

• Long-term trainees may receive grant supported funding (for example, stipends and tuition assistance). Detail costs for master’s and doctoral students. Please refer to the Appendix for specific information about qualifications, restrictions, allowable and non-allowable trainee costs, and stipend levels.

1. Review 2. Get Ready 3. Prepare 4. Learn 5. Submit 6. Award Contacts

Step 3: Prepare Your Application 29 https://www.hrsa.gov/sites/default/files/hrsa/grants/research-related-application-guide.pdf#page=15 https://www.hrsa.gov/sites/default/files/hrsa/grants/research-related-application-guide.pdf#page=15 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/part-200#p-200.1(Equipment) https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/part-200#p-200.1(Supply) https://www.hrsa.gov/sites/default/files/hrsa/grants/research-related-application-guide.pdf#page=18 https://www.hrsa.gov/sites/default/files/hrsa/grants/research-related-application-guide.pdf#page=18

Consultant services Identify each consultant, the services they will perform, the total number of days they will work, their travel costs, and the total estimated costs.

Attachments Place your PDF attachments in this order in the Attachments Form. See application checklist to determine if they count toward the page limit.

Attachment 1: Council on Education in Public Health (CEPH) accreditation status Provide documentation of your CEPH accreditation status as a School or Program of Public Health. Please do not provide the web link to the accreditation body’s website.

Attachment 2: MCH curriculum Provide a description of required and elective coursework, practicum experiences, and other pertinent curricular information.

Attachment 3: Agreements with other entities Provide any documents that describe working relationships between your organization and others you refer to in the proposal. Documents that confirm actual or pending contracts or agreements should clearly describe the roles of subrecipients and contractors and any deliverable. Make sure you sign and date any letters of agreement.

If letters of support are required for eligibility, include them in this attachment.

Attachment 4: Work plan Attach the project’s work plan. Make sure it includes everything required in the project narrative section.

Attachment 5: Project organizational chart Provide a one-page diagram that shows the full project’s organizational structure.

Clearly document where the MCH program is located organizationally within your institution and lines of oversight.

Attachment 6: Staffing plan and job descriptions for key personnel See Section 3.1.7 of the R&R Application Guide.

1. Review 2. Get Ready 3. Prepare 4. Learn 5. Submit 6. Award Contacts

Step 3: Prepare Your Application 30 https://www.hrsa.gov/sites/default/files/hrsa/grants/research-related-application-guide.pdf#page=22

Include a staffing…