Each collaborative should be comprised of at least one healthcare organization or health insurance provider and at least one community-based or social service organization. Participants may represent any of the following sectors:

• hospitals;
• safety net providers / federally qualified health centers;
• community-based clinics;
• health insurance plans/payers; 
• community-based social service organizations; 
• behavioral health providers; and/or
• public health departments.

The pilot programs the collaboratives wish to develop should also demonstrate: 

A focus on identified population and/or health conditions based on public health, Community Health Needs Assessment, and/or other data showing a racial, ethnic, or other health disparity. Approaches must be data driven and metrics will be developed as part of the planning phase to demonstrate impact and value.

An understanding of evidence-based strategies and plans to utilize effective strategies to create impact. Approaches must be evidence-based, evidence-informed, or promising practices that address identified health disparities.

A commitment to equitable engagement and processes and plans to implement inclusive strategies and acknowledge power imbalances to foster equitable engaged processes.

Technology-enabled solutions and approaches that leverage technological innovations to expand the reach and impact of proposed work.

Plans for sustainability and early thinking about sustainability and long-term adoption.

This initial phase of the funding opportunity will provide up to $17,500 per collaborative to support their participation in the workshop as well as other pilot development and planning activities. 

After participating in the workshops and designing the pilot, the collaboratives will have the opportunity to apply for a multi-year implementation grant from the Health Foundation in 2023. 

Click here to fill out the Health Equity Collaboratives Preliminary Application. Deadline to submit is November 18, 2022 at 12 noon (EST). 

For additional information on this opportunity, or if you have questions about the Preliminary Application, please attend our special Health Equity Collaborative Funding Webinar on October 20, 2022 at 11:30 am.  

Click here to register to attend the webinar. 

If you would like to learn more about health equity strategies and the integration of social needs and clinical care, read this fact sheet from Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ or explore the Social Interventions Research & Evaluation Network website.

What are the guidelines for this funding request?

Please refer to the information found above on this webpage or view the recording of our informational webinar, also above. 

Where can I access the application?

To apply, please fill out the form found here. If you are having difficulties, please email Fernanda Kuchkarian at FKuchkarian@hfsf.org for assistance.    

When is the application deadline?

Applications must be submitted using this form by November 18, 2022 at 12 noon (ET). If you are not able to submit using the form, please contact Fernanda Kuchkarian at FKuchkarian@hfsf.org for assistance.

What are the dates for the required workshops?

Planning and development workshops will be convened in-person and virtually. Participation is required for the following dates:

• December 9, 2022 (virtual)
• January 13, 2023 (in-person)
• February 10, 2023 (virtual)
• March 2, 2023 (in-person)

Are direct support organizations of public universities able to apply with partners?

The Health Foundation of South Florida is prioritizing applications from health care sector partners and social and human services organizations. Additional organizations are welcome to collaborate with the required organizations to apply for funding as a Health Equity Collaborative.

Are private universities allowed to be the lead?

While universities may be partners involved in the Health Equity Collaboratives based on the identified issue and proposed solution, it is imperative that certain organizations are central to this effort. Therefore, the lead for the collaborative should be a healthcare organization, health insurance provider, community-based organization, or social service organization.

What is the overall amount of money available for the multi-year grants?

The expected average grant size for the multi-year grants (2-3 years) will be $350,000 – $500,000 per collaborative. However, projects will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.

How many collaboratives do you anticipate funding in each county?

The Health Foundation of South Florida seeks to invest in at least four to five collaboratives across the South Florida region.

Will the application be made available in another format?

Applications should be submitted through the form platform. If you are having difficulties, please contact Fernanda Kuchkarian at FKuchkarian@hfsf.org.

Can a Palm Beach County Group participate?

Applicants need to submit projects that will serve Broward, Miami-Dade, and/or Monroe counties for this funding opportunity.

Can an organization submit more than one proposal?

If an organization has multiple partnerships and the capacity to commit leadership support and staff resources, they can submit more than one application.

Could you please confirm that my organization meets the eligibility criteria?

To be eligible for a grant from the Health Foundation of South Florida, applicants or the fiscal agent for the proposed Health Equity Collaborative must be a tax-exempt nonprofit under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, or a local or state governmental agency. Please refer to the criteria section on this webpage for additional information. Collaboratives must have:

• at least one healthcare organization or health insurance provider
  and
• at least one community-based organization or social service organization

Applicants may propose to include additional organizations in their Health Equity Collaborative as needed to address the identified issue. 

How many leaders should participate?

We recommend at least one leader for each organization represented in the Health Equity Collaborative application.

Will it be acceptable to replace a “leader” during a project?

We understand that staffing and resources change. In the event a participant needs to be replaced during the project, notification to the Health Foundation of South Florida or our partner on this initiative, Health Management Associates, will be sufficient and acceptable.

Is it expected for data analysis of our own data to occur to answer the problem statement? Or would it suffice to utilize publicly available data on South Florida Maternal health, and then write out our plan for how we will undergo stratification analysis within our own health system?

While teams are welcome to provide additional data analysis at the time of application, it is acceptable to reference publicly available data as needed for the planning phase.

Who can act as the fiscal agent?

To be eligible for a grant from the Health Foundation of South Florida, applicants must be a tax-exempt nonprofit under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, or a local or state governmental agency. Any of the organizations within the collaborative may serve as the fiscal agent to the other partners within the Health Equity Collaborative and must be capable of providing prompt and timely payment to partners.

Will you allow for any overhead costs? If so, what is the cap?

There is no budget required for the planning phase. A budget will be developed as part of implementation grants and the Health Foundation can provide support for indirect cost, calculated on a percentage basis (10-15%) according to your organization’s operating budget. 

Will the proposed project budget cover direct services or just policy, system and environment change strategies?

Budget may include both direct services and policy and system change strategies. Health Foundation is seeking to create long-term, sustainable change and as such policy and systems change will be an important outcome of pilot projects.

Will the Health Foundation of South Florida identify/support the potential for two or more collaboratives to work together during the planning phase to synergize reach for greater impacts (e.g., if the Foundation receives applications from collaboratives that overlap in population, geography, and/or focus area)?

We will encourage collaboration and synergy across partners throughout the duration of this project. As such, it is possible that new partnerships and collaborations will develop as a result of the learning that will take place.

How is the Health Foundation of South Florida defining sustainability?

In the context of this project, Sustainability should be thought of as the incorporation of policies, procedures, practices, and cultural norms, as well as the leadership support and fiscal framework to continue the project once the Foundation’s funding is no longer being used. Ideally, funded projects will seek changes to payment and reimbursement mechanisms that will support the work of the collaboratives upon proof of concept (i.e. return on investment).

Will all collaboratives selected for the planning phase be funded for the implementation phase?

Not all collaboratives that participate in the planning phase will be funded for the implementation phase. Future funding opportunities may be made available to collaboratives not initially selected for funding.

Will Health Management Associates’ technical assistance be available to collaboratives during implementation?

Yes, it is expected that Health Management Associates and/or others will continue to provide technical assistance as needed during implementation phase. 

How will the Health Foundation of South Florida evaluate the collaboratives over time?

During the planning phase, collaboratives will be evaluated based on the following milestones, at a minimum:

First Level Milestones

• Collaborative Leaders from each organization participate in the December workshop
• Memorandum of Understandings obtained from partners listed in the application
• Collaboration Team Charter developed

Second Level Milestones

• Collaborative Leaders from each organization participate in the January workshop

Third Level Milestones

• Collaborative Leaders from each organization participate in the February and March workshops
• Key activities identified for addressing the problem identified within the application
• Implementation plan drafted
• Implementation proposal/budget request submitted to HFSF

Over time, collaboratives should have a demonstrated impact in reducing health disparities, improving health outcomes, lowering health care costs, and demonstrating a return on investment to inform policy and/or system change (e.g. new payment/reimbursement mechanisms supporting clinical and social needs integration). 

What are the qualitative and quantitative reporting requirements in terms of format and frequency?

Reporting requirements will be developed during the planning phase. Typically, the Health Foundation of South Florida requires grantees to report on their progress every six months with check-ins by a program liaison, as needed. 

Where will the in-person sessions be held?

We anticipate hosting one session in Broward and one session in Miami-Dade.