Request for Application (RFA)

Michigan Fitness Foundation2017 Mid-Year Capacity-Building Projects

michigannutritionnetwork.org/how-to-apply

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This institution is an equal opportunity provider.RFA Title: Fiscal Year 2017 Mid-Year Capacity-Building Projects

Issued By: Michigan Fitness FoundationRelease Date: January 6, 2017Notification of Intent Due Date: January 27, 2017Application Due Date: February 10, 2017Funding Announced: Anticipated March 2017Funding Ceiling Amount: $50,000 per applicantTechnical Assistance: midyear-rfa-2017@michiganfitness.org

PurposeOne of the important roles of the Michigan Fitness Foundation (MFF), as a Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program-Education (SNAP-Ed) Implementing Agency, is to build capacity statewide and implement pilot projects for efficient, effective, and innovative nutrition education and physical activity programming to meet needs in underserved areas and for priority underserved populations. MFF is seeking local and regional partners to pilot SNAP-Ed interventions focused on:

Linking direct nutrition education and policy, systems, and environmental change (PSE) interventions;

Reaching new audiences and/or eligible participants in new venues; and Using a multi-sector collaborative approach to not only achieve program goals but also establish

a foundation for sustainability and long-term implementation.

Background

What is SNAP-Ed?

The overall goal of SNAP-Ed is to increase the likelihood that people receiving or eligible for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) will make healthy food choices within a limited budget and choose physically active lifestyles consistent with the current Dietary Guidelines for America and MyPlate recommendations.

The United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) SNAP provides nutrition assistance benefits to eligible low-income households so they can purchase food from authorized food retailers. The overall goal of SNAP is to provide eligible low-income households with nutrition benefits to ensure they have access to an adequate diet.

In Michigan, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) administers all SNAP and SNAP-Ed programming. The Michigan Fitness Foundation (MFF) is a SNAP-Ed Implementing Agency, overseeing a network of on-the-ground organizations implementing SNAP-Ed throughout Michigan. More information about this network can be found at michigannutritionnetwork.org.

The Focus of SNAP-Ed at the Michigan Fitness Foundation

Proposed SNAP-Ed programming must be targeted to low-resource Michiganders eligible for SNAP and is intended to result in the following behavior change outcomes:

1. Increased fruit and vegetable consumption (make half your plate fruits and vegetables) and2. Increased physical activity (and reduced sedentary behaviors).

SNAP-Ed approaches delivered to qualifying audiences must include:

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1. Individual or group-based nutrition education, health promotion, and intervention strategies

and one of the following:

2. Comprehensive, multi-level interventions at multiple complementary organizational andinstitutional levels

3. Community and public health approaches to improve nutrition

Please refer to the Dietary Guidelines for Americans for detailed information on the Social-Ecological Framework for Nutrition and Physical Activity Decisions depicted below. MFF uses comprehensive interventions that address multiple levels of this framework to reach the SNAP-Ed target population in ways that are relevant and motivational to them, while addressing constraining environmental and/or social factors in addition to providing direct nutrition education.

SNAP-Ed Evaluation Framework Logic Model

The SNAP-Ed Evaluation Framework: Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Obesity Prevention Indicators (Framework) includes a focused menu of outcome indicators that align with the SNAP‐Ed guiding principles and lend support to documenting changes resulting from multiple approaches in low-income nutrition education and obesity prevention efforts (see below). MFF uses the Framework to identify and map out indicators of success when implementing multi-component programs. The accompanying Interpretive Guide provides details about what is measured for each indicator.

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Evidence-based Interventions

Because SNAP-Ed programming must be rooted in evidence-based or practice-tested interventions, it is important that all approaches demonstrate a thorough research review or sound self-initiated evaluation to demonstrate that the projects and programs have been tested and are meaningful for their specific target audience. As a result of these assurances, SNAP-Ed programs are more likely to have the intended impact on behavior. For the mid-year capacity-building opportunity, MFF has selected existing, proven-effective, and actionable interventions, consistent with the context of SNAP-Ed.

Request for Applications (RFA)Overview

This RFA solicits applications from organizations to implement multi-level, multi-component SNAP-Ed programming with eligible audiences and in qualifying locations throughout Michigan. MFF is issuing a competitive application process for funding up to $50,000 to Michigan-based organizations who will implement SNAP-Ed interventions with priority underserved populations:

Native Americans Arab Americans Hispanics/Latinos Individuals with disabilities Veterans Refugees Seniors Teens

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Or in priority locations with eligible participants: Communities in Crisis (Detroit and Flint, or others with rationale) Rural Communities

Interventions will be designed to address local needs while simultaneously informing a statewide perspective on SNAP-Ed programming. To accomplish this, MFF will standardize program design and evaluation and work closely with funded organizations to define the programming scope and sequence. Furthermore, because interventions identified in the RFA represent new SNAP-Ed programming in Michigan, evaluation conducted by MFF, in partnership with funded organizations, will be essential to inform any real-time project modifications.

MFF will select applicants based on their application and organizational capacity. Priority will be given to applicants that 1) serve at least one of the identified underserved populations; 2) clearly link their chosen direct nutrition education and PSE interventions; 3) use a multi-sector partnership and planning approach to achieve program goals; and 4) are not currently funded through SNAP-Ed.

The anticipated programming period is March 2017 through February 2018.

Target Audience

When an organization applies for Michigan SNAP-Ed funding, the target audience(s) must be identified for the all programs and activities being implemented. It is required that programming focus on eligible audiences, regardless of whether you chose to work with an identified priority population(s) or eligible people in priority locations. According to USDA regulation, target audiences fall into four categories listed below. The examples listed are not inclusive of all potential audiences.

Category 1 – Income-based:Persons eligible for other means-tested Federal assistance programs such as Supplemental Security

Income (SSI), the WIC Program, or TANF.Persons typically not eligible for SNAP such as incarcerated persons, residents of nursing homes,

boarders, or college/university students are ineligible for SNAP-Ed.

Category 2 – Qualifying locations: Persons at qualifying locations that serve low-income individuals such as food banks, food

pantries, soup kitchens, public housing, and SNAP/TANF job readiness program sites, and other such sites.

Category 3 – Locations serving low-income populations:

Persons at other venues when it can be documented that the location/venue serves generally low-income persons where at least 50 percent of persons have gross incomes at or below 185 percent of poverty guidelines/thresholds. This would include, for example, persons residing or schools or childcare centers located in census tract areas or other defined areas where at least 50 percent of persons have gross incomes that are equal to or less than 185 percent of the poverty threshold or children in schools where at least 50 percent of children receive free and reduced priced meals.

Venues/locations identified in qualified census tractso To see the statewide view of the eligible tracts, go to http://map2healthyliving.org,

then do the following: 1. In the “What to Look For” section, scroll to the Geographic section and click the

“Eligible Census Tract” layer.2. Click “Go”.

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Category 4 – Retail locations serving low-income populations: Persons shopping in grocery stores when the store has been documented to redeem average

monthly SNAP benefits of $50,000 or more or persons shopping in grocery stores located in census tracts where at least 50 percent of persons have gross incomes that are ≤185 percent of the poverty threshold.

Application QuestionsNarrative

Address the following topics (items 1-10) in a narrative, limited to four (4) single-spaced pages. This narrative will be a separate Word document you create using 1-inch top and bottom margins as well as an easily readable font and font size. The following items, including the subcategories, should be addressed in the order outlined below.

1. Organization name, location, and service area in Michigan, as well as a brief description of existing programs offered.

2. How do your organization’s mission, vision, and work align with SNAP-Ed?

3. Briefly describe your organization’s capacity (e.g., staffing, ability to follow SNAP-Ed requirements, local partnerships to achieve programming, etc.) to implement SNAP-Ed programming. Does your organization have experience in partnering with SNAP-Ed or delivering programs with similar target audiences?

4. Provide a brief needs assessment that builds a case for why you selected the population(s) and/or location(s) and how that selection ties to the interventions you chose (answer all four sections below):

a. What gap will your proposed programming address?b. How did you identify the need?c. What other related efforts are currently being offered in your proposed area and to your

proposed target population(s)? The Map to Healthy Living (M2HL) (www.m2hl.org) is a resource that can help you answer this question.

d. Describe how your needs assessment ties to your chosen interventions.

5. Choose your direct nutrition education intervention (one is required): a. Faithful Families (faith-based settings, adults and families)b. Health Matters (individuals with disabilities)c. The Learning Kitchen (youth or adults)d. Cooking with Kids (k-3 youth)e. Let’s Cook (older youth)f. Eat Healthy – see FAQs for details (parents/grandparents of preschool children)g. Growing Healthy Habits (youth, ESL adults)h. MyGarden – see FAQs for details (youth, ESL adults)i. Fresh Conversations – see FAQs for details (seniors)j. Linking Lessons – see FAQs for details (teens)k. Media Smart Youth (teens)l. Fruit, Vegetable, and Physical Activity Toolbox for Community Educators (adults)

6. Choose your PSE intervention (and make PSE changes) to reach the communities in which your direct education audience lives, learns, works, plays, eats, or shops (one is required):

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a. Faithful Families Assessments (faith-based settings)b. Rec-Connect Physical Activity Assessment – see FAQs for details (all populations)c. Fit Business Kit – (worksites where low-income people are employed) d. Stock Healthy Shop Healthy (corner stores/small grocers; all populations)e. CX3 – Corner Store Assessment (all populations)f. CX3 – Pantry Assessment (all populations) g. Farm to Institution (pre-school, school, business/church)h. Youth Participatory Action Research (teens)i. Baltimore Healthy Stores (all populations)j. Fruit, Vegetable, and Physical Activity Toolbox for Community Educators Assessments

(adults)

7. Briefly describe how your selected direct nutrition education and PSE interventions work in tandem to address the needs of your identified population(s).

8. Describe how a collaborative approach will be used to implement the chosen interventions. A collaborative approach includes actively working with representatives from multiple sectors to achieve changes in the nutrition and physical activity environments. Provide a minimum of two letters of support from at least two non-SNAP-Ed funded organizations that outline how they will participate in program implementation.

9. MFF will provide evaluation support for all funded projects. Check the box below to acknowledge your understanding that all process and outcome evaluation will be developed by MFF in coordination with funded applicants.

Acknowledged

10. Provide brief qualifications of key staff responsible for delivering/administering the proposed interventions.

Project Implementation11. Complete Proposed Project Timeline on page 10. This will be a separate Word document you

create using 1-inch top and bottom margins as well as an easily readable font and font size.

Budget12. Complete the budget summary worksheet (Excel document) and provide a brief budget

justification narrative (separate Word document) that describes the expenses outlined in the budget. Keep administrative costs to a minimum.

Eligibility CriteriaAll applicants are required to:

Partner with at least two non-SNAP-Ed funded organizations as part of program implementation.

Conduct all programming within the state of Michigan and with SNAP-Ed eligible populations.

Have the ability, capacity, and expertise to implement chosen interventions with fidelity. Have the capacity to participate in required process and behavioral outcome evaluation, as

defined by MFF, specific to proposed programming. Conduct programming within the context of SNAP-Ed program parameters, which can be found

here.7

Have the capacity to participate in a reimbursement grant. Organizations are reimbursed for allowable program costs, including staff time and effort.

Have an accounting system that at a minimum shall at minimum shall consist of chart of accounts, cash receipts journal, cash disbursements journal and general ledger.

Conduct all reporting according to federal, state, and program requirements.

Preparing Your Application PackageTo be considered for funding, all applicants must complete both steps listed below.

Step 1: Submit a notification of intent by January 27, 2017 using the following instructions.

On your organization’s letterhead, briefly describe the: Organization’s mission; Focus audience(s) and/or setting(s) you anticipate working with/in for this project; Anticipated funding request (this is an estimate, you will not be held to this amount); and Contact information for an organizational point person.

To submit your notification of intent, send it as a Word or Pdf attachment to: midyear-rfa-2017@michiganfitness.org.

NOTE: After the notification of intent is submitted, reviewed, and approved, you will be invited to access an application in the MFF online grant portal (Fluxx). It will take 2-3 days to complete this process. You will receive instructions on how to access the application in Fluxx.

Step 2: By February 10, 2017, complete and submit one (1) electronic AND two (2) printed versions of the following eight (8) items using the instructions outlined below.

1. Application Narrative – Create a new Word document and complete the Application Narrative following the instructions beginning on page 6 of this document.

2. Project Timeline page 10 (including Reach & Contacts Table)3. Budget – Complete the Budget Summary Worksheet (Excel) 4. Budget Narrative (Word)5. Assurances – The Assurances (Word) must be completed and signed by the applying

organization.6. Letter of Qualification – The text from the Letter of Qualification template (Word) must be

copied onto the letterhead of the applicant organization and signed.7. MFF SNAP-Ed Applicant Information Sheet (Word) – complete this form8. Letters of Support (at least two letters from non-SNAP-Ed funded organizations)

IMPORTANT: When creating your files, please include your organization's name as part of the file name. For example, if your organization is named the "Springfield Association," you would name your Narrative Application file: springfield-narrative-rfa-2017

NOTE: The complete application package will be submitted through MFF’s online grant portal (Fluxx). The 8 application components listed above will be uploaded into the application in Fluxx. You do not have to wait for access to the application in Fluxx to begin preparing your application package.

FY17 RFA information can also be found on the Michigan Nutrition Network web page containing this RFA or by following this path:

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Go to michigannutritionnetwork.org/how-to-apply/ Scroll down to the section titled “2017 Mid-Year RFA”

When submitting the printed documents, two (2) copies of the entire application package (one copy should include original signatures on the Assurances and Letter of Qualification) should be organized in the order listed on the previous page and mailed to:

Mid-Year 2017 RFAc/o Sarah Panken, MS

Michigan Fitness Foundation1213 Center Street, Lansing, MI 48906

ORP.O. Box 27187, Lansing, MI 48909

The anticipated programming period is March 2017 through February 2018.

Submission Deadlines

Notification of intent must be received 4:00pm EST on Friday, January 27, 2017 or earlier Complete application package must be received via the MFF online grant portal (Fluxx) by 4:00

p.m. EST on Friday, February 10, 2017 Printed versions must be postmarked by Friday, February 10, 2017.

For questions or technical assistance, please review the Mid-Year RFA FAQ document or email: midyear-rfa-2017@michiganfitness.org.

Project Timeline Template

[Enter organization name here]Complete the Reach and Contacts Table below according to the instructions found here.

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Delivery Site AudienceCategory and

Description

Audience Description

ReachDirect reach /

all other reach

ContactsDirect reach / all other reach

EXAMPLE:2 Senior Meal Sites

3: Eligible Census tract

Adults M/F 65+

60/200 360/400

/ /

/ /

Complete the information in red italics:

Direct Nutrition Education Intervention

Direct Education Intervention: Name of curriculum/intervention used with specified audience (e.g., age range) in a particular setting(s) (For example, summer meal site, after-school, worksites, etc.)

Scope and Sequence: Number of lessons per time period at each site. (For example, 1 lesson per week for 5 weeks at each site.) Also specify which lessons or modules will be used.

Number of Sites: # (type of sites) (For example, 4 schools) Intervention Time Period: When programming occurs (For example, April 2017 through June

2017 - 3 months or September 2017 through October 2017 - 6 weeks) Total Contacts for direct education: Based on the Reach and Contacts Table above

PSE Intervention

PSE Intervention: Name of PSE intervention implemented with specified audience in a particular setting

Implementation: List key general implementation activities (For example, conduct assessment, form a team, prioritize policy and environmental changes, etc.)

Number of Sites: # (type of sites) Intervention Time Period: When the intervention occurs (For example, mid-June through August

– 12 weeks) PSE Activities: List key outcomes achieved (For example, at least one nutrition or physical

activity policy or environmental change implemented at 4 sites, etc.)

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