REQUEST FOR APPLICATIONS (RFA) The RCPNC is accepting grant applicatins fr prjects that use creative strategies t imprve crdinatin amng USDA-FNS Child Nutritin prgrams and ther nutritin assistance prgrams. Prjects shuld aim t increase prgram participatin rates amng families with children in 324 persistently pr rural cunties in 15 states. Grant funding will enable cmmunities t better crdinate the prgrams f varius nutritin assistance prgrams, which is expected t result in imprved prgram participatin rates. Examples f USDA Nutritin Assistance Prgrams include: Special Supplemental Nutritin Prgram fr Wmen, Infants, and Children (WIC) Supplemental Nutritin Assistance Prgram (SNAP) Schl Breakfast Prgram (SBP)* Natinal Schl Lunch Prgram (NSLP)* Summer Fd Service Prgram (SFSP)* Child and Adult Care Fd Prgram (CACFP)* Fd Distributin Prgram n Indian Reservatins (FDPIR) *Nte: USDA-FNS Child Nutritin Prgram Award Amunt The RCPNC will award selected grantees up t $100,000 t supprt prjects that use creative strategies t increase crdinatin amng USDA-FNS Child Nutritin prgrams and ther nutritin assistance prgrams. While the maximum amunt that can be requested fr cnsideratin under an individual grant applicatin is $100,000, the minimum amunt that can be requested is $50,000. Up t 25 applicants will be selected fr awards. Applicant Eligibility Gvernment r nn-prfit rganizatins at the state r lcal (city r cunty) level lcated in 324 cunties in the 15 states with the highest number f persistently pr cunties may apply fr funding t supprt prject implementatin. A list f eligible cunties can be fund at www.rcpnc.rg. Applicatin Deadline and Prject Duratin Applicatins will be accepted until September 30, 2015. Selected applicants will be ntified befre the anticipated grant start date in Nvember/December 2015. The grant perid ends March 31, 2019. REQUEST FOR APPLICATIONS DEADLINE: Must be received by September 30, 2015 1
Applicatin Requirements Letter f Intent. While it is nt mandatry, we highly recmmend that all applicants wh are interested in submitting an applicatin fill ut the nline Letter f Intent available at http://j.mp/1eylapj. The Letter f Intent des nt bligate candidates t cmplete the applicatin. The infrmatin it prvides allws RCPNC persnnel t cnfirm the applicant s eligibility as well as prepare fr the review and selectin prcess. Eligible applicants intending t submit an applicatin are encuraged t submit Letters f Intent by September 1, 2015. Applicants wh have limited access t the Internet may send a Letter f Intent by mail. If they d s, their Letter f Intent shuld, at a minimum, prvide the fllwing infrmatin: 1. Principal investigatr r lead crdinatr (first and last name) 2. Organizatin name 3. Organizatin type (state r lcal gvernment/nn-prfit) 4. Address 5. Cunty (Must be ne f the 324 cunties listed at www.rcpnc.rg) 6. Telephne number 7. Email address f the principal investigatr r lead crdinatr 8. Request fr a paper cpy f the applicatin Written Letters f Intent shuld be mailed t: Jann Lianekhammy Rural Child Pverty Nutritin Center University f Kentucky Schl f Human Envirnmental Sciences 107 Eriksn Hall Lexingtn, KY 40506-0054 RFA Online Applicatin. The RFA is an nline applicatin that allws thse with little t n grant writing experience the pprtunity t cmpetitively submit an applicatin. An applicatin help guide, dwnladable thrugh the nline applicatin, helps applicants cmplete the applicatin s mre technical questins. The applicatin requests infrmatin abut cmmunity resurces, rganizatinal capacity, and existing cllabratins. It als asks grant applicants t describe hw their prpsed prject will creatively increase crdinatin effrts amng varius nutritin prgrams, as well as rates f participatin in thse prgrams in their cmmunity ver the lng term. A timeline f prject activities, a budget, and budget narrative that justifies prject expenses are als required. Prjects shuld use cmmunity-invlvement mdels and als address barriers that prevent families with children frm enrlling in nutritin prgrams. Research has identified fur barriers t participatin in varius nutritin prgrams. Prjects may be fcused n ne r mre f these barriers: Infrmatin and Awareness. A lack f knwledge ften prevents therwise eligible families frm participating in prgrams such as Wmen, Infants, and Children (WIC), 2
Schl Lunch, and Schl Breakfast. Prviding this infrmatin can be difficult and requires crdinatin amng different nutritin prgrams. Physical Access. In rural areas, physical access ften presents challenges t thse wh need these prgrams. Children wh rely n rural bus rutes t travel t schl, r wh travel by ther means, may find it difficult t get t schl early enugh fr schl breakfast prgrams. Access t high quality and inexpensive fd is als a majr cncern. Cmmunity Resurces. Insufficient cmmunity resurces als play a crucial rle, especially in prviding schl breakfast, lunch, and summer meal prgrams. Fr example, sme schls may nt have the physical capacity t huse lunch prgrams. Scial Stigma. Scial stigma is a well-knwn issue in prviding aid t thse in pverty. The pr are ften stigmatized when they use identifiable cards r vuchers frm prgrams such as SNAP r WIC t purchase fd in public stres and farmers markets. The greater cmmunity s lack f understanding f the prgrams can create scial stigma. T cmplete the nline applicatin, click n r cpy and paste the fllwing link t yur web brwser: http://j.mp/1foqper. The link t the nline applicatin can als be fund at www.rcpnc.rg. Special accmmdatins will be made fr applicants wh have limited access t bradband Internet service. Applicants shuld request a paper cpy f the applicatin and a RCPNC Applicatin Help Guide in their Letter f Intent. Prject Strategies The Rural Child Pverty Nutritin Center seeks innvative utreach strategies that use cmmunity invlvement t imprve crdinatin amng USDA-FNS Child Nutritin prgrams and ther nutritin assistance prgrams. The gal in imprving crdinatin is t increase participatin in thse prgrams. When grant funding ends, additinal funding will nt be prvided, s all prpsed prjects shuld be self-sustaining. Ideas fr sustainable strategies may invlve, but are nt exclusive t, the fllwing areas: 1. Identifying and applying effective mdels f sustained nutritin prgram crdinatin thrugh cmmunity invlvement. 2. Imprving utreach thrugh mre effective uses f technlgy and digital media and/r advances in cmmunicatins and crdinatin. 3. Engaging prgram participants t lead crss-prgram crdinatin effrts. Funding Expectatins Selected applicants are at a minimum bligated t use funds t attend tw FNS cnferences held in Alexandria, VA, cnduct a needs assessment in their cmmunity, and implement strategies based n needs. A full list f grantee bligatins is prvided in Bx 1. 3
Wrkshps. RCPNC training and assistance will prvide grantees with the tls they need t effectively implement and manage prjects. Fr this reasn, it is mandatry that a minimum f tw peple frm each grant participate in webinar training and attend tw wrkshps at the USDA-FNS headquarters in Alexandria, VA held at a date t be annunced in 2015 and in March 2019. Travel csts fr attending bth grantee wrkshps must be included in the applicatin budget. Needs Assessment. During the first wrkshp, the RCPNC will train grantees t cmplete a needs assessment in their cmmunity. Results f the assessment will prvide a better understanding f the needs and barriers t accessing healthy fds fr lw-incme families with children. T better understand cmmunity needs and barriers, grantees will cllect input frm a brad set f stakehlders and cmmunity members using surveys, fcus grups, and key infrmant interviews. Grantees will learn hw t priritize the identified needs. Based n the results f the needs assessment, strategies prpsed during the applicatin prcess will be refined and implemented. Assistance with Data Cllectin. Althugh n previus experience wrking with data is required, the RCPNC des seek applicants wh are pen t learning abut data cllectin and wh are cmmitted t prviding infrmatin that will help RCPNC researchers evaluate the impact f crdinatin strategies. Bx 1 Grantee Obligatins Attend tw wrkshps Cnduct a needs assessment within their cmmunity Develp and implement a strategy t increase participatin in nutritin prgrams based n the needs assessment Assist RCPNC with cllecting data t cnduct evaluatin f prjects Participate in mnthly cnference calls, webinars, and site visits (if deemed necessary) Interact and share ideas with ther selected grantees Cmplete quarterly prject reprts using prvided reprt templates Submit a timely final reprt, including any final adaptatins, mdels, and strategies develped under the RFA Share prject results at the final wrkshp The grantee will be respnsible fr wrking with the RCPNC evaluatin team t btain and cllect tw surces f data. The first will be cunty caselad data, as it relates t prjects, n the seven USDA nutritin prgrams (Supplemental Nutritin Assistance Prgram (SNAP), Special Supplemental Nutritin Prgram fr Wmen, Infants, and Children (WIC), Natinal Schl Lunch Prgram (NSLP), Schl Breakfast Prgram (SBP), Summer Fd Service Prgram (SFSP), Child and Adult Care Fd Prgram (CACFP), and Fd Distributin Prgram n Indian Reservatins (FDPIR). Data prir t the grant, as well as data thrughut the grant perid, is needed. The RCPNC will help grantees btain this data thrugh state and lcal gvernment cntacts. Secnd, the grantee will wrk with the RCPNC evaluatin team t cnduct a survey f the target ppulatin f the nutritin assistance prgrams. With input frm the grantee, the evaluatin team will design the survey t highlight and measure the prject s efficacy. Basic demgraphic and 4
prgram usage data will als be cllected thrugh the survey. The RCPNC will make the survey available in printed frm and nline. The grantee will help identify and encurage respnses. The RCPNC realizes that applicants may lack the knwledge and infrastructure t meet minimum bligatins. Hwever, all grantees will be prvided with training, assistance, and clear guidance frm the RCPNC t successfully fulfill these requirements. Scring Guidelines A diverse team f natinally recruited experts will serve as reviewers fr the RCPNC applicatins. The RCPNC Review Team will include representatives f FNS Child Nutritin prgrams, anti-hunger specialists, higher educatin faculty, and frntline persnnel wrking with implementing agencies. They will use a screcard t evaluate grant applicatins. The screcard is based n evaluatin factrs and criteria that clsely reflect the gals and bjectives f the RCPNC. Applicatins will be ranked accrding t verall scre, and the highest-ranked applicatins ut f a pssible 100 pints will be recmmended t RCPNC fficials fr further cnsideratin. Up t 25 grantees will be selected based n the ranking. Hwever, the RCPNC reserves the right t make an award ut f rank rder t meet agency pririties, prgram balance, gegraphical representatin, and prject diversity. Applicatins fr areas that serve a ppulatin that is 50% r higher Native American r Tribal District will be weighted mre heavily in the selectin prcess. The screcard can be fund n the next page. 5
Rural Child Pverty Nutritin Center Applicatin Screcard Need and Organizatinal Capacity These items assess the dcumented need and ability f the applying rganizatin t further implement prjects successfully as well as vercme challenges that may arise thrugh the grant perid. Applicant demnstrates cmmunity s need fr this grant funding. Cnsider current cmmunity s nutritin assistance prgram participatin rates if prvided. Applicant demnstrates penness t learning abut data cllectin and cmmitment t prviding infrmatin that will help RCPNC researchers evaluate the impact f crdinatin strategies. Applicant demnstrates ability t fulfill grant prject expectatins. Organizatin has the infrastructure t manage funded prjects rganizatinally, administratively, and fiscally. Prject staff members hld relevant qualificatins and experience and their prpsed rles r respnsibilities are apprpriate. Prject Cllabratin and Partnerships The criteria fr this sectin reflect best practices fr enhancing and sustaining cllabratin between agencies. Applicant prpses partnerships with apprpriate agencies necessary t implement the prpsed prject, and if they haven t had partnerships, demnstrates an understanding f barriers that prevented them frm develping partnerships in the past. Partnership includes delivering agency frm a FNS Child Nutritin prgram. Prject rles and respnsibilities have been clearly defined and agreed upn by all cllabrating partners. Letter(s) f Supprt were prvided by the applying rganizatin and all partnering rganizatins, including agencies that will be targeted fr imprved crdinatin. Letter(s) f Supprt shw strng cmmitment frm all partners t cllabrate with the applying rganizatin and assist with btaining relevant data fr evaluatin. Letter(s) f Supprt by federal, state, r lcal legislatrs/fficials demnstrate strng cmmitment tward reducing child hunger. Pssible Scre: 30 pts Pssible Scre: 20 pts 6
Prject Prpsal Prject plans shuld be clearly described and fcus n ways t imprve crdinatin strategies f nutritin assistance prgrams within their service area. The ptential fr applicant s prpsed strategies t imprve crdinatin between targeted nutritin assistance prgrams in its service area. Strategies in the prpsal are aimed at vercming cmmn barriers t nutritin assistance prgram participatin. Pssible Scre: 35 pts Strategies prpsed invlve cmmunity invlvement. Prject utcmes are sustainable beynd the grant. The prject timeline specifies clear tasks relevant t achieving prject gals. Tasks are set within a realistic timeframe. Estimates are apprpriate fr the scpe f the described prject. Need fr Infrastructure Cunties that demnstrate a strng need fr resurces and capacity building will receive additinal cnsideratin fr funding. The applicant's need will be assessed based n barriers t prgram participatin, demgraphics, pverty rates, rates f prgram participatin, gegraphic lcatin, and existing resurces in their service area. Pssible Scre: 15 pts Cmments: Ttal pssible scre: 100 The Rural Child Pverty Nutritin Center is supprted by funding frm the U.S. Department f Agriculture Fd and Nutritin Service. RCPNC grants are administered by the University f Kentucky. 7