2009 NACDD ACHIEVE RFA Frequently Asked Questions

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1) Q: In the Communities RFP, local health departments are cited as being eligible applicants, but the paragraph preceding the list states that 501(c)3 status is required. We are a county health department, which is a division of our State Health Department, and therefore are exempt from taxes, but we do not hold the 501(c)3 designation. Are we eligible to apply for this grant?

A: Yes, under the requirements of this application a county health department is eligible to apply since it is a tax exempt government agency.

2) Q: Regarding the other national organization’s funding RFPs: I understand each community can only submit one application...Ideally, they would know if any of these partners are also planning to apply, but what if that connection is not made and a YMCA and CHD in the same county applies?

A: The CDC funded four national partners to implement ACHIEVE; the YMCA of the USA, National Recreation and Park Department, NACCHO, and NACDD. Each application is separate and has different applicant eligibility. Ideally, communities requesting funding should work together to ensure collaboration; but, that is not a requirement to submit an application. Communities can submit more than one application; but, will only be awarded funding from one national organization. Each application will be reviewed individually by the appropriate national organization; however, there is a process in place to ensure that communities do not overlap with funding from multiple sources.

3) Q: Does the NACDD SHD Application Form need to include the names of all communities that are applying for funding from the other three national partners (NACCHO, YMCA, or NRPA)?

A: The only names of the communities you need to include in your NACDD SHD application are those communities that are applying for the NACDD funding. We do not need the names of the communities that are applying for NRPA, NACCHO, or the YMCA funding. This SHD application must link directly with those communities and or organizations that are applying for NACDD funding only.

4) Q: Am I correct in understanding that Steps to a Healthier US funded communities are eligible to apply?

A: Current ACHIEVE communities funded by the YMCA of the USA or NACDD and those communities funded the CDC’s Strategic Alliance for Health are not eligible to apply. Communities eligible to apply must meet the criteria in Section C “Eligible Applicants” in the RFA. If a Steps to a Healthier US community meets this criteria and are not ineligible to apply, then yes, they can submit an application for NACDD funding.

5) Q: We are a non-profit made up of volunteers from more than 30 communities statewide that works with landlords and housing professionals to protect residents from secondhand smoke in multi-unit housing. We are very interested in applying for funding through your program, however noticed mention of projects addressing policy change around tobacco use, not policy change around other tobacco-related issues such as secondhand smoke exposure. Before we begin development of the formal application I was hoping for your input as to whether you think this type of program would qualify for funding through the ACHIEVE initiative.

A: The purpose of the initiative is to enable local communities to address chronic disease risk factors of physical inactivity, poor nutrition, and tobacco use at the policy, systems, and environmental change level to reduce the burden of chronic diseases such as obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. Policy, systems and environmental change strategies addressing tobacco use and prevention is considered appropriate for this application so yes, secondhand smoke exposure is acceptable. This application focuses on policy strategies and not programs.

6) Q: I am currently writing the ACHIEVE grant with _____ County Health Dept and I would like to discuss my grant ideas. I received the new ACHIEVE RFP due in January, but I am in the middle of writing the one due Monday. Could we talk about the similarities etc? I am wondering if we should go for this second one instead.

A: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention funded four national partners to implement the ACHIEVE Initiative throughout the nation; NACCHO, NRPA, YMCA, and NACDD. Each application is separate and distinct in who is eligible to apply and who they will fund. It sounds like you are working on the NACCHO application since you are working with a local health department. The intent of each application is similar in that communities must create a team of committed individuals to work together to implement policy, systems and environmental change strategies for physical inactivity, poor nutrition, and tobacco use. Each application has different funding amounts and different assessment tools. You can apply for both applications; however, a process has been designed by the national partners to ensure that selected communities do not receive funding from more than one organization.

7) Q: On the Community RFA webpage it says: “C. Eligible Applicants Applications for grant funding must be from 501(c)(3) organizations such as universities, nonprofit organizations, government agencies and other entities that are tax-exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and are not private foundations as defined under Section 509(a).” Not all CHDS have 501(c)3 status. Most of the CHDS that have tax exemption status do not fall under 501(c)3. There are only 5 or 6 counties that have this status. However the overarching eligibility for this grant states that the applicant would need to be “tax-exempt under section 501(c)3”. Does your clarification supersede the RFA language quoted above?

A: Yes, local health departments that are considered a government agency are eligible to apply.

8) Q: Do communities applying for these funds apply through the State Health Department?

A: Yes, the community application must be submitted to the SHD by Monday, January 12, 2009, at 11:59 pm ET. The SHD application must include a listing of all communities from that state who are applying for these funds. This doesn’t suggest an endorsement from the state; but must be included since the selected communities will be working in collaboration with the SHDs. The SHD application will include a listing of all community applicants and will be sent to NACDD by 11:59 pm ET on January 14, 2009. The SHDs do NOT review or approve these community applications for funding; this will be done by NACDD.

9) Q: According to the website, under section "C. Eligible SHD Applicants" it is indicated that "SHD applicants must provide collaboration and coordination to local communities/entities from each respective state in the application process and commit to processing community applications by the due date." What are the expectations for state processing? Are states expected to review, evaluate and/or make recommendations based on applications submitted by community agencies - or are states to collate and submit community applications - along with the state application?

A: The SHD application must include a listing of all communities from that state who are applying for these funds. This doesn’t suggest an endorsement from the state; but must be included since the selected communities will be working in collaboration with the SHDs. The SHD application will include a listing of all community applicants and will be sent to NACDD by 11:59 pm ET on January 14, 2009. The SHDs do NOT review or approve these community applications for funding; this will be done by NACDD. Please collect the applications via email and send them along with the SHD application form to the email address in the SHD RFA.

10) Q: If a more detailed review process of community applications is necessary, this would require additional negotiation between the state and our local public health authority leadership organization. Would a complete review/recommendation process expected to take place prior to the application deadline of January 14, 2009?

A: The SHD is not required to review the applications at all. This process is more to promote collaboration and coordination between and among the SHD and the local applying entity from the beginning. You will not be required to have any follow up beyond submitting these applications until the selection and award is made and then only if communities in your state are selected. If an award is made to a community in your state, then, the requirements for the SHD are detailed in the SHD RFA.

11) Q: Can a state's application submission include multiple community applicants? Is there a limit to the number of community applicants? We anticipate the possibility of several community applicants, and wish to consider if timing for a competitive review process is necessary.

A: Yes, a SHD application can include multiple community applications. The SHD Application Form has room for 5 communities to be listed; but, you can add to this form if needed. You will not need to review these applications at all so will not need to have a competitive review process in place for your state. This will be handled by NACDD.

12) Q. Am I correct that a maximum of $75,000 will be available to each grantee community to be spent over a period of three years, and not $75,000 for each year of a three year project period?

A: The entire award amount of up to $75,000 will be disbursed within the first year of the project to the fiscal contact listed in the community application. These funds can be carried over into the remaining two project years. The actual disbursement schedule will be included in the memorandum of agreement with the selected communities. These are linked directly to the deliverables in the first year of the project. The $4,000 SHD set-aside for travel and other meeting attendance costs for the State Health Department Expert Advisor is only necessary for year one of the project period. This is for travel to the Coaches Meeting, the Action Institute, assistance at community meetings (if needed) and other costs associated with travel expense.

13) Q: Section B Project Description states “NACDD will fund up to 13 communities/organizational entities for no more than $75,000 (this includes a $4,000 set aside for SHD travel assistance) each to fully implement the ACHIEVE Initiative for a three-year or longer project period.” Does this mean the funded communities will each receive $25,000 per year for 3 years?

A: No. The entire award amount of up to $75,000 will be disbursed within the first year of the project to the fiscal contact listed in the community application. These funds can be carried over into the remaining two project years. The actual disbursement schedule will be included in the memorandum of agreement with the selected communities. These are linked directly to the deliverables in the first year of the project. The $4,000 SHD set-aside for travel and other meeting attendance costs for the State Health Department Expert Advisor is only necessary for year one of the project period. This is for travel to the Coaches Meeting, the Action Institute, assistance at community meetings (if needed) and other costs associated with travel expense.

14) Q: Are federally recognized tribes eligible as community applicants?

A: No, a federally recognized tribe is not eligible to apply. However; a community located on a reservation is eligible to apply through the appropriate SHD as is any community in that state.

15) Q: Some of our communities may wish to partner with the YMCA ACHIEVE initiative. I have not been able to locate the specific guidelines on the YMCA ACHIEVE initiative. Perhaps it is restricted to only YMCA staff? Previous emails list YMCA.net as the source of the RFP info, however I just checked and I cannot locate any reference to ACHIEVE on this site. Is the YMCA issuing a separate RFP and if so, how can folks obtain the guidance?

A: Yes, the YMCA has issued a separate RFA for ACHIEVE funding. For information on the YMCA ACHIEVE you will need to contact a local YMCA, or the number below. YMCA’s interested in applying to Y-USA’s ACHIEVE initiative can go to: www.YMCAexchange.org for more information or call the Government Relations and Policy office at (800) 932-9622. This site is only open to YMCAs.

16) Q: This is an inquiry as to how one would start an application with a coalition of programs in a state in order to apply for one of the Achieve grants. I have reviewed the concept and community base it must come from- You have 10 designated states (2007 data)- Do you have other states you are considering?

A: States will be considered for technical assistance support in conjunction with community applications for funding to implement ACHIEVE in 2009. Communities requesting funding from this RFA must complete the Community Application Form on the www.achievecommunities.org website located on the home page, right hand side. Any community requesting funding must submit the application to the State Health Department. For contact information for your state chronic disease director, please refer to the member page on the NACDD website at: www.chronicdisease.org

17) Q: Have you completed the application round for 2008?

A: Applications for 2008 ACHIEVE communities were completed with the 2007 RFA application. The current RFA is for 2009 ACHIEVE communities. You can find this application on the ACHIEVE website at www.achievecommunities.org.

18) Q: What are the deadlines for 2009?

A: The deadlines for the application process are outlined in the SHD and the Community RFA. The Community RFA is due to the SHD by Monday, January 12, 2009 at 11:59 pm ET. The SHD RFA application will be comprised of their application form and a copy of each community application form. This entire packet is to the NACDD by Wednesday, January 14, 2009 at 11:59 pm ET. Once selected, communities and the corresponding SHDs will be noticed in late February with Memorandum of Understanding documents in place for awarding funding beginning March 1, 2009.

19) Q: If a local health department is in an advanced phase of their work ( i.e., coalition formed and functioning, plan developed etc) should they apply for this grant anyway? Is the grant intended for those just starting to develop their organizational structure?

A: The Community RFA lists two types of eligibility for potential community awards: group 1 and group 2. Group 1 is a newer, forming coalition that seeks funding to support development of the coalition and implementation of ACHIEVE principles. This group must demonstrate that they are in a state of readiness as is outlined in the RFA. Group 2 is a more advanced coalition that seeks funding to support implementation of ACHIEVE and have already completed a community assessment, but must also ensure actions to advance policy, systems and environmental change strategies focusing on chronic diseases and their risk factors, especially tobacco use, poor nutrition and physical inactivity.

20) Q: I am wondering if I may contact the SHD team you notified, for information, etc.

A: Yes, you are encouraged to contact the SHD team for your state.

21) Q: What does "SHD" stand for?

A: SHD stands for State Health Department.

22) Q: Can the SHD send me the actual application form?

A: The SHD can send you a copy of the application form. However, if you access the following website you can download a copy directly: http://www.achievecommunities.org/2009NACDD_CommunityRFA.cfm This takes you directly to the Community RFA. You can click on “download the community application form to download the community form.

23) Q: What will the awarded communities be expected to implement? I wanted to clarify if a grantee can use the funds to support an existing program of their own that may also meet the mission of the ACHIEVE Initiative.

A: Communities will be expected to implement policy, systems and environmental change strategies impacting chronic diseases and their associated risk factors such as tobacco use, poor nutrition and physical inactivity. Specific deliverables can be found in Section H on page 3 of the Community RFA. Also, please note that ACHIEVE will not support programs; however, if the “program” you mention in your question refers to a group or coalition, then yes, this program can apply but must stipulate how they plan on organizing around these change strategies.

24) Q: I am just completing the CDC DACH FOA for Healthy Communities. May I use the same communities for your RFP? If so, then those communities would put in your communities application? It is not clear to me if this is part of/separate from the CDC DACH State Capacity FOA.

A: The State Health Department application must include a “listing” of communities in the state that have submitted a Community RFA. If your communities in your CDC FOA are the same communities that apply for this RFA, then yes, they should be listed. Only communities that actually apply for the Community RFA can be listed however. The SHD RFA application is separate from the Community RFA application. However, the Community RFA application must go through the SHD and be added to the “listing” in the SHD Application. This NACDD ACHIEVE RFA is separate from the CDC FOA but are similar in scope and both seek to implement healthy community programming focusing on policy, systems and environmental change strategies impacting chronic diseases and the associated risk factors of tobacco use, poor nutrition and physical inactivity. It is expected that the NACDD ACHIEVE SHD application be linked to the goals and objectives of the SHD application for the CDC FOA and will work in an integrated fashion with the locally funded projects.

25) Q: Define a healthcare purchaser.

A: In this context, we are referring to managed care organizations, health maintenance organizations, hospitals, or other health care providers or plans.

26) Q: Is $75,000 spanned out for the whole three-year contract?

27) Q: Define community assessment. Does it have to be part of a state initiative or something we did separately?

A: In relation to the ACHIEVE Initiative, a community assessment refers to a review of the data in your community specific to chronic diseases, the associated risk factors, other demographic data, and an inventory of policies, systems and environmental change strategies. THE ACHIEVE Community RFA lists three specific assessments that may be used, and a fourth option for one that is not listed but would need prior approval. For a community applying for Group 2 status under Section C Eligibility, a community assessment can be part of the states assessment process if it is separate and focuses on the community the application is based on. However, for groups applying as a Group 1 community, no prior assessment is necessary. All selected applicants will participate in an assessment process once funded.

28) Q: Can we include letters of recommendation with our submission?

A: Please refer to Section L in the Community RFA. It specifically details that only one letter of support from the fiscal agent should be attached and that no other attachments other than those requested in the RFA will be reviewed.

29) Q: For the ACHIEVE funding opportunity, can an applicant apply to NACDD and NACCHO?

30) Q: Does the funding for the CHART Team travel come out of the $75,000 budget? If so how many members are required to attend?

A: Yes, funding for all CHART travel to the Coaches meeting planned for April 2009 for 2-3 people and to the Action Institute in July or August 2009 for up to ten CHART members will be paid for out of these funds, including the travel reimbursement for the SHD Expert Advisor (through the $4,000 set aside).

31) Q: We are a suburban health district serving approx 280,000 people and are considering applying. We are in the process of trying to build a stronger and more broadly based coalition for our county to provide more organized chronic disease messaging – Can the community be a county rather than an individual community?

A: Yes, the "community" can be defined as any geo-political division be it county, city, tri-region, neighborhood, or other defined area as served by the coalition.

32) Q: Do you know what date we should submit the paperwork to our state to enable the application for the ACHIEVE grant to be forwarded by the due date in January?

A: Community applications are due to the State Health Department’s Chronic Disease Director/Program by January 12, 2009 at 11:59 pm ET. Please see Section J Submission Process in the Community RFA. The SHD Application is due to NACDD by January 14, 2009 at 11:59 pm ET.

33) Q: So much of this sounds exactly like the NACCHO grant we submitted on 12/8. Can we use the same information, name, etc as we did for the original grant?

A: The CDC funded four national partners to implement ACHIEVE through various constituent groups. While similar in many ways, each national partner has some variation in eligibility and application content and requirements. Your names and other information may or may not be similar, it depends on how each application is written. Also, please note that while communities may submit multiple applications, if selected a community will only receive funding from one national organization.

34) Q: How should the Community application be submitted?

A: The Community application Word document downloaded from the website contains the application form and all templates. Communities should keep the completed application and all templates within this one file and submit to their State Health Department by email. No other documents or attachments should be submitted and will not be accepted.

States will complete the State Health Department application and attach it along with all Community applications received and send in one email to David Yum (dyum@chronicdisease.org). If all attachments cannot be sent in one email, websites such as http://www.yousendit.com and http://www.drop.io can be used to facilitate the submission.

View FAQ Page 2 (Questions 35-51)