OVERVIEW

The Oregon School-Based Health Care Network is a nonprofit membership organization dedicated to advancing access to quality health care for youth. We do this building the capacity of the centers and their staff, developing grassroots leadership and working locally, nationally and state wide on policy advocacy.

PURPOSE OF FUNDING

In response to the demonstrated need among school-aged children and youth for support in achieving healthy relationships, the EC Brown Foundation awarded the Network a two-year grant to develop a project that would provide resources to SBHC staff around supporting students in this area.

In order to develop a project responsive to the needs of SBHC staff the Network distributed a needs assessment to identify areas for professional development, resource topics, and the ways that staff prefer to access resources. The survey was distributed online in May, 2007.

• All certified SBHCs in Oregon responded to the survey.
• More than 50% of respondents said they would like professional development in 10 out of 11 topic and skill development areas.
• SBHC staff greatly prefer materials (88.7%) and trainings (face-to-face: 71%, web-based: 56.5%), as methods of receiving resources on the topic areas.
• Website links to programs also rated high (64.5%).

In response to the survey, the Network is developing:

1. An online resource center (this website), where staff can access, review and recommend resources;
2. Targeted regional trainings and professional development opportunities based on survey responses;
3. Mini-grants for SBHCs to implement projects in the topic areas.

PROJECT EXAMPLES

The following are some examples of the kinds of SBHC projects or collaborative projects between SBHCs and schools that could be funded as a CORE grant.  This list is not exclusive and other ideas that address youth sexual health/ healthy relationships are welcomed.

• Meaningfully engage underrepresented youth and community members in planning youth sexual health curriculum or services.
• Identify and reduce youth sexual health inequities by promoting knowledge of or providingservices that address inequities.
• Develop collaborations between youth, parents, faith communities, and other community groups to inform or support healthy sexuality/ relationship education or services.
• Identify, implement, and evaluate evidence-based youth sexual health curriculum or services.
• Establish collaborations with other SBHCs or with schools to coordinate the teaching of youth sexual health knowledge and skills.
• Increase awareness and critical thinking about media images of youth sexual health among youth, staff, parents, and/or community members.
• Increasee the quality of youth sexual health services by establishing and evaluating a quality improvement process.

WHAT WE ARE FUNDING

Through this mini-grant program, the Network seeks to fund new SBHC projects that support healthy student relationships and SBHC staff skill development.

We are open to a wide variety of projects and activities. For example: conference attendance, purchasing materials, hiring consultants or trainers, establishing a support group or community advisory board, etc. You can think large or small, and we are happy to discuss potential projects with you.

Requirements

Your project must address at least one of the following topic areas AND at least one SBHC staff skill area:

• HEALTHY STUDENT RELATIONSHIP TOPIC AREAS (choose at least one)
  1. Building skills for healthy relationships (e.g. negotiation skills, refusal skills, pro-social skills, problem-solving skills)
  2. Addressing/preventing abuse within relationships (e.g. harassment, bullying, relational aggression, isolation, physical/mental abuse)
  3. Asset building (e.g. support systems, empowerment, constructive use of time, positive values, positive identity, commitment to learning, social competencies)
  4. HIV/STD prevention
  5. Sexual orientation and gender identity

   

• SBHC STAFF SKILL AREAS (choose at least one)
  1. Using communication and learning styles
  2. Cultural competency
  3. Developing meaningful partnerships between your SBHC and the school community
  4. Developing meaningful partnerships with the broader community
  5. Working with youth (e.g. advisory boards, peer to peer mentoring/support, focus groups)

WHO SHOULD APPLY

Eligible applicants meet all the following criteria:

• Certified school-based health centers or SBHC planning grant sites in the State of Oregon. Please note, non-profit organizations, government agencies, schools, and others are welcome to partner with SBHCs on projects.
• Single sites or collaborations between multiple sites

FUNDING

School-based health centers will be funded up to $10,000 per SBHC for 1 year of participation. Partnerships between sites are welcome, and each site would be eligible for up to $10,000 with a combined maximum of $30,000. It is possible that grants may be extended for an additional year. Budgets may be negotiated after application submission.

EXCLUSIONS

The following will not be funded under this grant:

• Out of state travel
• A current program, unless the program will be significantly changed or enhanced
• Medical services

IMPORTANT DEADLINES AND DATES

Application TA Conference Calls: Wednesday, May 13th 3:30pm – 4:30pm AND Thursday, May 14th 3:30pm – 4:30pm These calls will be an opportunity for you to ask questions about the application and evaluation, and receive feedback on potential projects. Call In Number 712)432-1620, and participant code 123666#

Application Due Date: Applications are due Wednesday, July 15th, 2009.

IF YOUR PROJECT IS FUNDED

The following is required of all grantees:

• Signed sub-grantee agreement between the Network and your SBHC or medical sponsor
• Complete mid-year and year-end progress and fiscal reports to be submitted to the Network
• Participation in program evaluation surveys
• At least one project representative in attendance at the 2009 Network Institute (October 9, 2009)

COMPLETING THE APPLICATION

APPLICATION REVIEW

Applications will be reviewed by the CORE Grant advisory council, a diverse group of health and education professionals, including Network staff.

In order to assure that funds are distributed equitably, we hope for a broad variety of applicants including:

1. Geographic area (rural/urban, area of the state);
2. Student population (elementary/middle/high school)

Application Scoring

Applicants will be scored on the quality, comprehensiveness and feasibility of their proposals. Special consideration will be given to proposals that include youth participation, partnership-building within the school community or partnership-building with the broader community.

Please contact Jennifer Melo with any questions at 503.813.6480 or jennifer@osbhcn.org.