Funding Opportunity to Support Live Healthy Miami Gardens

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1 Funding Opportunity to Support Live Healthy Miami Gardens Request for Letters of Interest Health Foundation of South Florida (HFSF) is pleased to invite eligible organizations to submit a Letter of Interest (LOI) for the initial phase of the Live Healthy Community Partnerships (LHCP) first grant cycle. Proposed projects must align with the Live Healthy Miami Gardens Community Action Plan (see below). Applicants must submit the online LOI Form no later than 3:00 p.m. on Friday, October 2, The LOI Form is available at: Live Healthy Miami Gardens Letter of Interest Form Eligibility The interested organization or prospective lead applicant (in the case of a collaboration among more than one agency pursuing grant support) must be a tax- exempt nonprofit under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code or a local or state public agency. Organizations that do not meet this criteria must partner with eligible organizations to submit a joint- application with the eligible organization serving as the lead applicant. Though not a requirement, preference will be given to organizations that demonstrate cultural competency and a successful track record of working in the City of Miami Gardens. Application Process/Timeline The application process begins with the submission of a Letter of Interest (LOI). LOIs will be categorized by selected strategy and reviewed by the Foundation with consultation from outside experts. Applicants with the strongest track record of success implementing the selected or related strategies in Miami Gardens or in similar communities will be invited to develop and submit a full proposal. Those not selected to submit a full proposal will be notified within one week of the LOI submission deadline. Key Dates Funding Opportunity Workshops: September 22 & 23 (see locations and times below) Letter of Interest Deadline: October 2, 3:00 p.m. Invitations for Full Proposals: October 9 Full Proposal Development Workshops: October Full Proposal Deadline: October 30, 3:00 p.m. Funding Announcements: January 2016

2 Funding Opportunity Workshops Health Foundation will provide two opportunities for potential applicants to meet with Foundation staff and Miami Gardens representatives to learn more about the initiative and funding. Although attendance at one of these workshops is not required to submit an LOI, participation from interested organizations is strongly encouraged. To register for the workshops please click here: Registration for HFSF Funding Opportunity Workshops The dates and locations of those workshops are: Workshop 1, Tuesday September 22 Workshop 2, Wednesday September 23 9:30-11:30 a.m. 2:00-4:00 p.m. Holy Family Episcopal Church Betty T. Ferguson Recreational Complex NW 7 th Avenue 3000 NW 199 th Street Miami Gardens, FL Miami Gardens, FL Grantmaking Parameters Health Foundation of South Florida intends to provide up to $500,000 of total grant support in this funding cycle for projects that align with strategies in the Community Action Plans developed by the community. Grants will likely range from $10,000 to $100,000 and will be limited to 6 to 24 months in duration. Questions Contact Lindsay Corrales, Program Officer, at LCorrales@hfsf.org or

3 About Live Healthy Miami Gardens (LHMG) In 2014, Health Foundation of South Florida (HFSF) launched an initiative aimed at strengthening community capacity to collaboratively plan and collectively carryout strategies to improve health. After an extensive selection process, the Foundation selected the City of Miami Gardens to invest up to $3.75 million over six years. During the selection process, each community selected an agency to serve as the primary coordinator, convener, communicator and backbone of the initiative. Miami Gardens stakeholders selected the City of Miami Gardens to serve as the Host Agency for the neighborhood initiative. One of the first activities the Host Agency embarked on was the formation of a steering committee comprised of community residents and key stakeholders to provide leadership and oversight of the initiative. The initial focus of this group, called the Host Council, was to identify the high priority health issues in Miami Gardens and provide guidance for the development of a Community Action Plan to address them. As the initiative moves from planning to implementation, Host Council members will serve as ambassadors/advocates for the Live Healthy Miami Gardens (LHMG) initiative, monitor its work, approve action plan modifications and help problem solve. Community Action Plan Using information gathered from existing data sources and community focus groups, the Host Council selected five Health Impact Areas: Physical Activity Nutrition & Healthy Eating Primary Healthcare Mental Healthcare Alcohol, Tobacco, and Other Drugs* In addition to the five Health Impact Areas, the Host Council also prioritized Communication across all strategies as a key component of the Community Action Plan. *In this cycle of the Foundation s grantmaking, funding is available in the areas of Physical Activity, Nutrition & Healthy Eating, Primary Care, Mental Healthcare, and Communication. In future grantmaking cycles, funding will be available for additional strategies in the all Impact Areas, including Alcohol, Tobacco, and Other Drugs. Sub- Councils were created for each Health Impact Area to guide the development of a Community Action Plan (CAP) and monitor the progress of the initiative in each area to ensure targeted objectives are met. The strategies in the CAP which are being supported through this funding cycle are summarized below. Please note that these descriptions are only meant to provide a preliminary introduction to the strategies. More detailed information will be provided during the LOI workshops.

4 Health Impact Area 1: Physical Activity Strategy 1.1: Support resident s physical activity by creating Walking or Fitness Groups with a social support component. As defined by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention s (CDC) Guide to Strategies to Increase Physical Activity in the Community, social support interventions in community settings focus on building, strengthening, and maintaining social networks that provide supportive relationships for physical activity behavior change. New social networks can be formed, or existing networks in a social setting outside the family, such as in the workplace or community, can be used. Intervention components can include setting up a buddy system, making contracts with others to complete specified levels of physical activity, or setting up walking or other groups to provide companionship, friendship, and support while being physically active. Participants can be connected with other participants and program staff members to monitor progress and encourage continuation of activities. Some programs or interventions involve formal discussion groups in which barriers and negative perceptions about activities are addressed. Through this strategy, Live Healthy Miami Gardens seeks to increase opportunities for residents to form walking and fitness groups with a social support component. Examples of possible support includes helping new or ongoing walking groups in: mapping out walking routes; training group leaders in recruiting, retaining, and motivating participants; providing pedometers and resource materials for participants; and providing occasional workshops on related health and wellness issues. Strategy 1.2: Increase physical activity in the worksite. The workplace and the health of the workers within it are intimately linked. Ideally, workplaces should not only protect the safety and wellbeing of employees but also provide them opportunities for better long- term health and enhanced quality of life. Effective worksite programs, policies, and environments which are health- focused and worker- centered have the potential to significantly benefit employers, employees, their families, and communities. The 2008 Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans recommends creating a culture of wellness in the worksite may improve employees health, and a full wellness program can have financial and human benefits. Through this strategy, Live Healthy Miami Gardens seeks to develop a comprehensive approach to worksite health results in a planned and organized set of programs, policies, benefits, and environmental supports designed to meet the health and wellness needs of employees of the City of Miami Gardens and other employers located within the City.

5 Health Impact Area 2: Nutrition & Healthy Eating Strategy 2.1: Offer Cooking Classes/Demonstrations to increase food and cooking knowledge and promote healthful eating. During the Live Healthy Miami Gardens planning process where information was gathered from the community through surveys and focus groups, residents rated unhealthy eating as the #2 health problem in Miami Gardens. Residents also reported that they felt they lacked knowledge and skills necessary to prepare healthy, affordable meals. One focus group participant stated it best by saying, I eat what I have always eaten because I haven t really learned a new or better way to eat. Healthy eating is a learned skill. The goal of this strategy is to teach all residents, including low income (i.e. SNAP and SNAP eligible) and youth, the skills to select and prepare healthy meals in an effort to foster lifelong positive healthy lifestyles. By educating Miami Gardens residents about making healthier choices, nutrition educators and chefs can have a positive impact on residents nutrition and improve the health and well- being of families and children in Miami Gardens. Health Impact Area 3: Primary Care Strategy 3.1: Improve the health literacy of Miami Gardens residents.. Health literacy is complex and involves skills, knowledge, and the expectations that health professionals have of the public s interest in, and understanding of, health information and services. Health information and services are often unfamiliar, complicated, and technical. People of all ages, races, incomes, and education levels are affected by limited health literacy. Health literacy affects people's ability to: navigate the healthcare system, including filling out complex forms and locating providers and services; share appropriate personal information, such as health history with providers; engage in self- care and chronic- disease self- management; and understand mathematical concepts such as probability and risk. Limited health literacy is also associated with worse health outcomes and higher costs. According to research from the U.S. Department of Education, only 12 percent of English- speaking adults in the United States have proficient health literacy skills. The impact of limited health literacy disproportionately affects lower socioeconomic and minority groups. Health Literacy is based on two premises: (1) everyone has the right to health information that helps them make informed decisions and (2) health services should be delivered in ways that are understandable and beneficial to health, longevity, and quality of life. Through this strategy, Live Healthy Miami Gardens seeks to increase the health literacy rate of Miami Gardens residents and their ability to take action to protect and promote their health and wellness.

6 Health Impact Area 4: Mental Health Strategy 4.1: Train Miami Gardens residents, service providers, law enforcement and other first responders in Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) to aid in identification and support for at risk residents. In 2012, emergency room visits in Miami Gardens due to mental disorder diagnoses was 73.3 per 10,000 adults. In ZIP code the rate was as high as per 10,000. To help build the community s capacity to address mental health issues in Miami Gardens, Live Healthy Miami Gardens prioritized Mental Health First Aid training for first responders, service providers and residents. Mental Health First Aid has a strong evidence base. Detailed studies have been completed and journal articles published on Mental Health First Aid s positive impact on public awareness, stigmatizing attitudes about mental illness and application of helping first aid behaviors. Mental Health First Aid allows for early detection and intervention by teaching participants about the signs and symptoms of specific illnesses like anxiety, depression, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, eating disorders, and addictions. Through this strategy, Live Healthy Miami Gardens seeks to increase the number of residents, service providers, law enforcement and other first responders who are trained in Mental Health First Aid to assist in identification and support for at risk residents. Health Impact Area 5: Alcohol, Tobacco, & Other Drugs In this cycle of the Foundation s grantmaking, funding is available in the areas of Physical Activity, Nutrition & Healthy Eating, Primary Care, Mental Healthcare, and Communication. In future grantmaking cycles, funding will be available for additional strategies in the all Impact Areas, including Alcohol, Tobacco, and Other Drugs. Communication Communication During Live Healthy Miami Gardens 18- month planning process, information was gathered from residents, service providers and other stakeholders through surveys and focus groups as well as five Sub- Councils which addressed the Health Impact Areas (HIAs) prioritized as main areas of focus for the initiative. The common thread identified for all five HIAs was the need for educational information residents could use to improve their overall health and increase their health literacy. Also, much frustration was expressed regarding the lack of access to reliable, comprehensive and timely information on available community resources. As a result, the Host Council prioritized a communications strategy that will support a community outreach program, communicate about all facets of Live Healthy Miami Gardens, and provide a comprehensive listing of available resources, at the local level. To accomplish this, the Live Healthy Miami Gardens Host Council and Sub- Council on Communication recommended the following three separate but interlinked approaches: 1. A website with a Resource Inventory Platform; 2. Social media presence to increase information and messaging about living a healthy lifestyle for Miami Gardens residents and people who work in the city; and 3. Branding and messaging specific to the Live Healthy Miami Gardens initiative.