My Experience with Working Collaborations and Writing a HRSA Grant

1. My Experience with Working Collaborations and Writing a HRSA Grant Daquarii J. Rock Grants Manager Project ACCESS Project ACCESS/MentalHealth

2. Overview • The Palouse Region • Project ACCESS • Project ACCESS/MentalHealth • Proposal Development and Grant Writing • Tips and Hints • Working Together • Lessons Learned • Questions • Contact Information

3. The Palouse Region(23 towns, 2 counties, 2 states, 3 hospitals, & 2 universities)

4. Whitman County, WA -and- Latah County, ID Pop. 40,740 2,159 sq. miles 21 people per sq. mile Median household income: $28,584 60% work for WSU, Pullman Regional Hospital, or SEL Pop. 34,935 1,077 sq. miles 19 people per sq. mile Median household income: $32,524 40% work for the UI or Gritman Medical Center

5. The Palouse Alliance • Create clear roles & responsibilities • Avoid duplication of efforts • Decrease time spent in meetings • Eliminate unintentional competition • Maximizing use of resources • Cooperative data gathering • Streamline strategic planning

6. Project ACCESS(Accommodate & Collaborate Community Education & Services for Seniors) • 2006 (HRSA - Rural Health Care Services Outreach grant) • Our focus: • Transportation • Community Education • Caregiver Support Groups • Gatekeeper Program Training • Sustainability through partnerships • COA, AAA, INWAA

7. Project ACCESS/Mental Health • Professional Education & CEUs • Establishing “Rural Network Partners” • Faith-Based Organizations (Clergy) • Social Workers • Long-term care providers • Mental Health Professionals • Primary-care Providers • Emergency Response Personnel • Partnering for Success • SHIBA, ALTCEW, MHFA

8. Determining the Need • What issues come up across groups? • Where are gaps in services? • What has been done in the past? • Who worked on this? • What didn’t work? • What worked? • New approach • Prioritize!

9. Finding Funding • www.grants.gov • Search function • Private Foundations • State Agencies • Local Granting Agencies

10. Is the Funder Right for You? • Contact the funding Agency • Speak directly to the Program Officer • Ask questions! • Listen carefully • Ask for suggestions -“How can I maximize the program’s relevance to your goals?” - “What can I do to make our application more appealing to the reviewers?”

11. Finding a Funder (cont.) • Know what the agency wants to fund • Are you aligned with their goals? • What kinds of programs have they funded in the past? • Ideally, funding your program should help the agency achieve their goals. • Do your research • Is this the best funder for the program?

12. Keep In Mind… • Avoid jargon • Present gaps in current services • Don’t assume reviewers know your topic (background) • Make your proposal clear, simple, easy and enjoyable to read, • Stay focused on the people

13. Writing the Grant Application • Read the Guidance! • Again • Again • Again • Discuss the guidance with others • Break it down into little pieces • If you are unsure – ask the program manager

14. Work Plan Abstract Letters of Support State offices Government Agencies Public Figures Staffing plan Memorandum of Agreement Attachments Budget Program Narrative Edits Steps and Pieces

15. Sample Work Plan

16. Program Abstract • One page • Why is this an important program? • Who, what, where and why? • Consider your audience • Simple and clear • Purpose and Goals • Just say it!

17. Email Sample letter Abstract Deadline! Calls Who do you know? Drop names Follow-up Send info via email Call on the phone! Drop by Letters of Support

18. Sample Staffing Plan

19. Attachments • Not a continuation of the narrative • Supplement • Can be time consuming and labor intensive • Make a list of requirements • Get some help? • Label files well • Become ONE with your attachments

20. Budget & Budget Narrative • Follow the guidance! • It is clear • It is detailed • It is valuable • Be realistic • Include all required line items • Don’t ask for more than is allowed • Add, re-add, then get someone else to add for you!

21. Sample Budget & Justification

22. Edit • All in the “same voice” • Edit a paper copy • Use Proper tense • Avoid acronyms & abbreviations • Be consistent • Follow the Reviewers Guide

23. Hints and Tips • Read the Request for Proposals (RFP) carefully! • Organize your proposal according to the RFP • Be thorough - yet concise • Pay attention to the point allocation by reviewers before you begin writing • Show the funder the return on investment • “We will spend money here to make/save money here.” • Be specific • “We need X amount of money to accomplish X specific task.” • Ask lots of questions

24. Working Together • Make things clear to the group • What is our structure? • What are our responsibilities? • What authority do we have? • What other authorities have an interest (or a “say”) in what we are doing? • Logistics • What, when, where, who

25. Partners should… • Say “Yes” to the work • Not just to the invitation (or obligation) – attend meetings • Fulfill all dimensions of the partnership • Contribution to discussion and decision making. • Know the specific expectations of their role • Ask questions and say it out loud! • Know the mission and purpose

26. Partners should… (cont.) • Support the group and be accountable • Be prepared for the commitment • Respond to emails • Return calls • In a timely manner • Be clear about time restraints & limitations • Respect confidentiality

27. Lessons Learned by Working Together • Sometimes “the vision” changes to meet needs • Competition can help • Egos like to be rubbed • People appreciate recognition and feed back • Sometimes people just don’t want to play • “It’s not what you know…” • Peer pressure can be a good thing • It takes time, effort, & energy • Celebrate success!

28. Questions?

32. Daquarii J. Rock Project ACCESS 225 E. Palouse River Dr. Moscow, ID 83843 208-883-6483 accessonthepalouse@gmail.com www.accessonthepalouse.org