About Us
The Houston Health Foundation works to address critical public health needs impacting the Houston region’s most underserved families and children.
Our banner programs include: See to Succeed, Project Saving Smiles, My Brother's Keeper, Community Nutrition, and Community Re-Entry.
We remain committed to our mission of providing valuable health services to the children and families of Houston's most underserved communities. The success of our foundation is undoubtedly attributed to the participation, collaboration, and creativity of our board members and community partners, who continue to create innovative programming to support our mission.
The Houston Health Foundation is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization. Your donations are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law.
Page last reviewed: May 4, 2023
Advancing Health Equity and Outreach Education Grant
Application Instructions
- Application deadline: Thursday, October 24, 2022, at 12am/midnight (Central Standard Time)
- Applications will be accepted on or after October 3, 2022. Funding awards will be made on a highest-ranked basis.
- Only applications with projects facilitated in zip codes 77075, 77047, 77031, 77051, 77017, 77013, 77026, 77076, 77080, 77016, 77028, 77078, 77091, 77093, 77034 and 77092 will be considered.
- No faxed applications will be accepted. The applicant organization's Board Chair, CEO, Executive Director, or designated member must sign the application.
For more information or questions concerning the application process, please email Shawn Sellers-Rouege, Health Equity Grant Project Manager.
Summary
The goal of the Houston Health Foundation is to advance the work of the Houston Health Department by identifying and addressing gaps and factors that influence COVID-19-related health disparities. Ensuring a sufficient workforce, infrastructure, and capacity is critical to providing equitable health access to disproportionately affected populations. The Foundations’ focus is to support the efforts of community-based organizations serving identified targeted zones to implement these initiatives at the neighborhood level.
Under this Request for Applications, the Houston Health Foundation invites non-profit organizations and community groups to apply for funding supporting initiatives that expand equitable access to critical COVID-19 education, healthcare, testing, tracing, and other wrap-around services. These innovative strategies will build community trust, expand capacity and build infrastructure for the next emergency.
Applicants may request up to $50,000.00 for the proposed project. However, available funding is contingent upon funding in the Houston Health Foundation’s budget.
Program Impact
The Advancing Equity and Outreach Education Grant aim to reach underserved, disproportionately higher-risk populations affected by COVID-19. These groups include Hispanic, Black, Asian American Pacific Islander, and other racial and ethnic minority populations. The funding made available by this RFP will assist community organizations and community-based grassroots organizations in reaching residents by using funds to implement a holistic approach that closes information gaps culturally and linguistically. Partnering organizations will implement locally tailored strategies and best practices to reduce the COVID-19 risk by facilitating a mix of local community COVID-19-related activities and other services that advocate for health equity within low-income neighborhoods.
Priority ranking will be given to projects that ensure healthy-viable communities by providing equitable health resources for all community residents without discrimination and serve as models for long-term, city-wide programs.
This open invitation to apply is for projects that range from 10 months to a maximum of 12 months to complete.
Salaries and benefits for existing staff and routine operating and administrative expenses may be considered in proportion to the work and length of the project.
Eligibility
Funding eligibility is extended to small neighborhood community-based organizations with 501(c)(3) status, community advocacy groups, and coalitions that provide services within targeted low-income neighborhoods of Greater Houston with an annual operating budget of $1M or less. The applicant organization must have a governing Board of Directors, an executive director or member responsible for the organization's day-to-day management. Applicants must be in good financial standing and have the appropriate organizational capabilities to receive and administer grant funds.
Only applications with projects facilitated in zip codes 77075, 77047, 77031, 77051, 77017, 77013, 77026, 77076, 77080, 77016, 77028, 77078, 77091, 77093, 77034 and 77092 will be considered.
Administrative Requirements
Grant funds will be granted via direct deposit to the organization’s verified bank account for those organizations selected.
Applicant must be able to demonstrate a general liability policing naming the Houston Health Foundation as a covered party within 30 days of the signed contract.
To ensure each project follows the purpose stated in the original proposal, funded organizations will be required to follow a reporting schedule and guidelines and submit a written one-page report to the Houston Health Foundation upon project completion.
This is a paid-for performance grant which will require monthly reporting of project results and associate invoicing.
Scope of Work: Advancing Equity Through Partnerships Outreach Education
This work aims to identify and address current gaps and factors influencing COVID-19-related health disparities. Under this strategy, key partners will broadly address health disparities and inequities related to COVID-19 within targeted zones, addressing and, as necessary, dispelling misinformation and barriers to mitigation practices due to mistrust.
Within this grant, the specific responsibilities will be to:
- Disseminate scientifically accurate, culturally, and linguistically responsive COVID-19-related information provided by the City of Houston Health Department.
- Develop mechanisms such as community advisory groups that include leaders representing racial and ethnic minority groups and members representing underserved populations to inform COVID-19 and future emergency response activities.
- Build and implement cross-sectoral partnerships to align public health, healthcare, and non-health interventions that decrease the risk for COVID-19.
- Establish and demonstrate best practices for reaching disproportionately affected populations with effective culturally and linguistically tailored programs that promote testing, contact tracing, and quarantine, including racial and ethnic minority populations and rural communities.
- Disseminate culturally and linguistically responsive COVID-19 prevention communications through various channels, e.g., local media, local or community newspapers, radio, TV, and trusted communications agents written in plain language and formats and languages suitable for diverse audiences. Including people with disabilities, limited English proficiency, etc.
- Host or support events that engage disproportionately affected populations with effective culturally and linguistically tailored programs and practices providing information for testing, contact tracing, proper isolation, vaccinations, and access to health-related services. This may be accomplished through outreach or group educational sessions.