The arizona area health education centers

Arizona Area Health Education Centers (AHEC) Program

1834 E. Mabel Street P.O. Box 210425 Tucson, AZ 85721 Tel: (520) 626-0265 Fax: (520) 626-4037

The Arizona Area Health Education Centers (AzAHEC) program promotes community and educational partnerships and research to enhance access to quality health care with an emphasis on the needs of rural and urban underserved communities and populations. The AzAHEC program provides educational programs in partnership with academic institutions, communities, health care agencies, and other organizations that promote the health of Arizona residents. The AzAHEC program includes five regional centers that are integral to meeting the mission of the AzAHEC program. These regional centers contribute to improving the recruitment, education, and retention of the state's health workforce, improving diversity and cultural competence of Arizona’s healthcare workforce, and identifying and addressing the health needs of Arizona’s communities and residents.

Eligible applicants include faculty and students of the University of Arizona. A minimum of two different health professions must be represented on the team and one of these must hold a faculty appointment within one of the four UAHS Colleges (Medicine, Nursing, Pharmacy or Public Health).

Ten awards of up to $5,000 per project will be made.

I)       APPLICATION GENERAL OVERVIEW

1. 
   Purpose: The purpose of this interprofessional grant program is
   

1) To foster innovation in interprofessional education and collaborative practice through community engagement;

2. 
   Eligible Applicants: Faculty and students of the University of Arizona. At least two disciplines must be represented and each team must comprise at least one faculty and one student.
   

3. 
   Collaboration with one of the five AzAHEC regional centers is required. Each team must demonstrate how they will work collaboratively to address an area of need related to social determinants of health identified by the communities served by an AzAHEC regional center.
   

Principles of community engagement should be evident. For guidance on community engagement, please see: Principles of Community Engagement, 2^nd Edition, available: http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/communityengagement/pdf/pce_report_508_final.pdf.

4. 
   Number of Grants and Funds Available: Ten projects will be funded in amounts up to $5,000. If indirect costs are requested, the indirect rate may not exceed eight (8) percent. The total budget including indirect costs may not exceed $5,000.
   

5. 
   Project Funding Period: The project funding period is for one year, beginning in March 2017. A progress report (e.g., narrative description of progress, preliminary outcomes data, financial accounting, etc.) will be required within the first six months of the project. Satisfactory progress must be demonstrated for continuation of project funding.
   

6. 
   Due Date and Submission of Application: Proposals must be submitted electronically to the Arizona AHEC office at RFA@azahec.org and received by January 19, 2017.
   

7. 
   Questions should be directed to: AzAHEC staff at RFA@azahec.org or 520-626-0265.
   

8. 
   Review Criteria: The application review process is competitive and will be based on the following criteria: 
   

1. 
   Compliance with program guidelines and requirements including an established relationship with one of the five AzAHEC regional centers (e.g., evidenced by jointly-planned activities with the regional center inclusive of project design and/or study question, shared budget, dissemination plan). Funding preference will be given to those projects that evidence jointly-planned and shared projects with the AzAHEC regional centers.
   
2. 
   Appropriateness of the proposed budget.
   
3. 
   Ability of the applicant to carry out the project, including timely human subjects approval.
   
4. 
   Innovativeness, potential for publication and leveraging other funding.
   

9. 
   Reporting Requirements: Grantees are required to submit progress and final reports that are descriptive and quantitative summaries of the project. Reports that are incomplete will be returned to the principal investigator.
   

The progress report, maximum three pages, is due within six months of the project start date and must include:

1. 
   Detailed description of the actual project implementation, including qualitative and quantitative descriptions of progress on project objectives
   
2. 
   Progress as related to budget and timeline
   

The final report must include:

1. 
   Detailed description of the actual project as implemented that includes the target audience/population served
   
2. 
   Project outcomes (include descriptive and quantitative data)
   
3. 
   Final budget accounting
   
4. 
   Copies of publications, abstracts, or posters, which must explicitly cite support from the Arizona AHEC program with this language: Funded by a grant from the Arizona Area Health Education Centers (AHEC) Program. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of Arizona AHEC.
   
5. 
   The final report is due 90 days upon project completion.
   

2. 
   APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS:
   

1. 
   Proposals are limited to 5 pages excluding vita and administrative letters of support. Applicants should use single-spaced, 12-point font such as Times New Roman or Arial. The proposal should include:
   
   1. 
      Arizona AHEC Project Funding Request Summary (form shown on pages 5-6 of this application) (Review Score: 5 points)
      
   2. 
      Arizona AHEC Budget Form and Budget Justification Narrative (shown on page 7 of this application; limit narrative to no more than two pages) (Review Score: 30 points)
      
   3. 
      Proposal narrative (Review Score: 50 points)
      
   4. 
      Dissemination Plan (travel for one presentation may be included in the budget up to $1,200. International travel is not allowed.) (Review Score: 5 points)
      
   5. 
      Reference List (not included in the page limits) (Review Score: 0 points)
      
   6. 
      Letter of support from faculty advisor (Review Score: 5 points)
      
   7. 
      Letter of support from department head or designated departmental authority (Review Score: 5 points)
      

2. 
   Research proposals should include the following:
   

1. 
   Introduction and background
   
2. 
   Purpose and specific aims
   
3. 
   Research question(s) or hypotheses
   
4. 
   Significance, particularly to Arizona communities and populations
   
5. 
   Theoretical foundation
   
6. 
   Methodology, research design, sampling, and instrumentation
   
7. 
   Data analysis
   
8. 
   Timeline
   
9. 
   Generalizability, scope and limitations
   
10. 
    Dissemination plan
    

3. 
   Project proposals should include the following:
   

1. 
   Introduction and background
   
2. 
   Purpose and specific aims
   
3. 
   Benefit of the project to Arizona communities and/or populations
   
4. 
   Theoretical foundation or framework for the project
   
5. 
   Methodology
   
6. 
   Project evaluation plan
   
7. 
   Project timeline
   
8. 
   Expected outcomes
   
9. 
   Strengths and limitations
   
10. 
    Dissemination plan
    

3. 
   BUDGET and BUDGET NARRATIVE: Complete the Budget Form shown on page seven of this application. The first column should contain an itemized description of budget items using the categories provided. The second column should list the funds requested by the applicant. The third column should include the rationale for the requested project funds. Not all budget categories will necessarily apply to every application. Use those categories that are applicable to your project. Funding for standard office equipment will not be approved. Computer equipment and other high-cost equipment items need strong justification of need. Student stipends will not be funded; however, student-related travel costs, including meals and housing, are acceptable.
   

PROJECT FUNDING REQUEST SUMMARY