Health Care Access Grants

Call for nominations: ASCLA award honors accessibility-related projects

The Association for Specialized and Cooperative Library Agencies (ASCLA) seeks nominations for the 2009 ASCLA/KLAS/NOD award.

Sponsored by ASCLA, the National Organization on Disability and Keystone Systems, this award recognizes an innovative and well-organized project that successfully developed or expanded services for people with disabilities. The award can be for a specific service(s) program or for a library that has made its total services more accessible through changing physical and/or attitudinal barriers. The winner receives $1,000 and a certificate provided by Keystone Systems.

Those interested in submitting a nomination can download the award nomination form from the awards section of the ASCLA website or request the form from Liz Markel, ASCLA Marketing Specialist, via e-mail at lmarkel@ala.org. All nominations must be received by Dec. 15.

Recent award recipients have included the Braille Institute of Library Services, Los Angeles (2007) for its Telephone Reader Program; the Skokie Public Library (Ill.), Youth Services Department (2006) for its efforts to educate library staff about children with special needs, offer programming for these children and their families and present disabilities awareness programs for the general public; Johnson County Library, Shawnee Mission (Kan.) for its “Literature for the Learning Disabled Adult” program (2005); and the Ward M. Canaday Center for Special Collections, University of Toledo (2004), for its Regional Disability History Archive Project.

ASCLA, a division of the American Library Association (ALA), is a diverse organization of librarians and support staff who work in academic and public libraries, state agencies, specialized libraries and multi-type cooperatives, as well as those who are self-employed.

T. Mark Hodges International Service Award

The T. Mark Hodges International Service Award (ISA) was established in 2007 to honor outstanding individual achievement in promoting, enabling, and/or delivering improvements in the quality of health information internationally through the development of health information professionals, the improvement of libraries or an increased use of health information services.
T. Mark Hodges (1933-2006), 1999 recipient of the Marcia C. Noyes Award from the Medical Library Association, was a lifelong believer in the importance of international connections between librarians.
The ISA winner will receive a certificate at the MLA annual meeting and the option of receiving a cash prize of $500, or a donation from the Medical Library Association in the amount of $500 to a charity of their choice.
Criteria
The award is designed to enable MLA to recognize the widest range of achievement in the development of health information services in the international context. It will normally recognize a professional contribution over a sustained period of time, but may also mark a single, outstanding achievement of global significance. The nominee’s achievement may cover the whole range of health information services or a single aspect, and similarly it may be worldwide in its impact, or of more narrow and intense focus.
Procedures for Judging
An international jury of not less than three MLA members shall be appointed by the MLA President after consultation with the officers of the International Cooperation Section. The judges’ decision shall be based entirely on the information provided on the nomination forms and supporting documents and will be submitted to the Board for ratification.
Eligibility
Eligibility for the ISA will not be limited to members of MLA. The winner will normally hold a professional Library or Information Science qualification but in the case of exceptional candidates this criterion may be waived at the judges’ discretion.

For more information on the procedures for awards and honors nominations or applications, contact Lisa C. Fried, mlapd2@mlahq.org, 312.419.9094, x28.

New Connections: Increasing Diversity of Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Programming (Junior Investigators Program)
2008 Call for Proposals Round 4

Deadline: Nov 13, 2008

Program Area: Building Human Capital

Purpose:

The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s (RWJF) New Connections: Increasing Diversity of RWJF Programming aims to expand the diversity of perspectives that inform RWJF programming and introduce new researchers and scholars to the Foundation, while simultaneously helping to meet staff needs for data analysis. The program invites Junior Investigators—scholars from historically disadvantaged and underrepresented communities who have received their doctorate within the last seven years—to address specific questions posed by one of RWJF’s program areas using secondary data analysis. Eligible scholars include individuals from ethnic or racial minorities or low-income communities, first-generation college graduates, or others who historically have been underrepresented in research disciplines that RWJF supports.

In this funding round, RWJF asks applicants to address research questions from six program areas: Childhood Obesity, Coverage, Human Capital, Public Health, Quality/Equality and Vulnerable Populations. The six areas participating in this solicitation have each identified specific research questions they would like addressed in this funding cycle. Learn more in the call for proposals.

Program Information:

Eligibility & Selection Criteria:

New Connections program applicants must:

* have completed a doctorate within the last seven years (obtained by June 1, 2002 or later);
* be a citizen or permanent resident of the United States or its territories at the time of application;
* be affiliated with or sponsored by a nonprofit university or an organization that is tax-exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and is not a private Foundation as defined under Section 509(a) of the Internal Revenue Code;
* be from a group that has historically been underrepresented in the research activities supported by RWJF, such as people from ethnic or racial minority groups, first-generation college graduates and people from low-income communities;
* be a first time New Connections Junior Investigator;
* provide evidence of research skills addressing various aspects of health and health care (research fellowship or equivalent training or experience); and
* be committed to the goals and mission of New Connections, RWJF and its specific interest areas.

The following factors will be used in the selection process:

* Significance and relevance of the proposal to RWJF and team-specific questions.
* Uniqueness of the proposal. We seek proposals that will develop new evidence about the topic that provides a major contribution to the understanding of the problem.
* How the proposed work complements existing literature on the topic. We prefer research that is likely to produce new information, rather than use different data to confirm prior research results.
* How well the proposal incorporates secondary analysis in answering RWJF- and team-specific questions.
* Soundness of the project’s conceptual framework and methodology.
* Availability and appropriateness of datasets needed to answer the research question.
* Clarity of deliverables described in the proposal.

An internal RWJF committee will review all proposals. RWJF does not provide individual critiques of proposals submitted.

Key Dates:

* October 22, 2008 (3 p.m.–4:30 p.m. ET)—Optional applicant Web conference call for Junior Investigator brief proposal applicants. To register, please visit www.rwjf–newconnections.org.
* November 13, 2008 (3:00 p.m. ET)—Deadline for receipt of brief proposals (must be submitted online).
* January 29, 2009—Select applicants invited to submit full proposals.
* February 18, 2009 (3:00–4:30 p.m. ET)—Optional applicant Web conference call for full proposal applicants. To register, please visit www.rwjf–newconnections.org.
* March 12, 2009 (3:00 p.m. ET)—Deadline for receipt of full proposals (must be submitted online).
* April 13–17, 2009—Finalist phone interviews.
* May 1, 2009—Notification of awards.
* June 15, 2009—Start of awards.

Total Award:
* RWJF will award up to 12 two-year grants of up to $75,000 each during this fourth funding round.
* New Connections grantees and alumni will also be eligible to receive a grant of up to $15,000 to support the publication and dissemination of the research they conduct under this grant. New Junior Investigators will be eligible for this additional grant during the last six months of their award.

Contact:

Hallene Williams, National Urban Fellow
Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
rwjf-newconnections@rwjf.org
Fax: (609) 514-5970
Office: (609) 627-5770
http://www.rwjf-newconnections.org

American Dental Education Association/International Federation of Dental Education Associations Orna Shanley Prize

A $1,000 prize awarded to an academic dental institution able to demonstrate innovative solutions that address local access to care issues.

The American Dental Education Association/International Federation of Dental Educators and Associations
Orna Shanley Prize for Enhancing Access to Care recognizes academic dental institutions around the world
that have demonstrated innovative solutions addressing local access to care issues. This prize is made
possible by a generous anonymous donor and ADEA member, who agreed to support this prize for five years.

Overview
A $1,000 scholarship is awarded to an academic dental institution able to demonstrate innovative solutions that
address local access to care issues. Examples include initiatives such as student engagement in communitybased
patient care settings, novel programs to enhance the effectiveness of the institution in addressing
access to care for local communities, and innovative collaborations with governmental agencies to improve
reimbursement for services provided by the academic dental institution.

Application Deadline
All applications must be received on or before December 8, 2008. Electronic submissions are not accepted.
Receipt of entries cannot be acknowledged. Decisions will be made by an award committee comprised of
individuals from ADEA and IFDEA.

American Dental Education Association
1400 K Street, NW, Suite 1100
Washington, DC 20005
Tel: 202-289-7201
Fax: 202-289-7204
www.adea.org

Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Community Health Leaders
2008 - 2009 Call for Nominations
Nov 7, 2008

Program Area:
Building Human Capital

Purpose:
The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Community Health Leaders (CHL) program each year honors 10 outstanding and otherwise unrecognized individuals who overcome daunting odds to improve health and health care, especially to underserved populations in communities across the United States. The program elevates the work of these unsung heroes through enhanced recognition, technical assistance and new leadership opportunities.

Program Information:

How To Apply:
*Please read the Program Details before applying.

Stage One: Online Nomination

Eligibility & Selection Criteria:
Community Health Leaders are identified through a nomination and review process. To be considered for a CHL award, a nominee must:

be accomplished in the field of community health at the midcareer level, with a three to 10 year record of accomplishment;
have created or substantially enhanced a health or health care initiative that improves both access to and quality of care in their community (e.g., broadened the reach of an established program; worked against conventional wisdom to establish a new initiative; changed the perception of a critical health issue);
have positively affected a significant number of people in the targeted community;
not have received significant national recognition for their work;
be a citizen or permanent resident of the United States or its territories at the time of the full nomination; and
be affiliated with a public or nonprofit organization that is tax-exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.
Criteria used to assess nominees will include:

accomplishments
innovation
collaborative leadership
systems change
impact
resiliency
inspiration
level of recognition
career status.
In addition to the criteria listed above, we seek geographic, ethnic and professional diversity among the CHL awardees.

Key Dates:
November 7, 2008 (5 p.m. ET)—Deadline for receipt of brief nominations.
December 10, 2008—Nominators notified if their candidates are selected to move to the full nomination stage.
January 15, 2009 (5 p.m. ET)—Deadline for receipt of full nominations.
May–July 2009—Site visits to finalists.
September 2009—Notification of awards.

Total Award:
Ten awards in the amount of $125,000 each will be made for the 2009 award cycle.

Contact:
Helen Dundas, administrative coordinator
RWJF Community Health Leaders
hdundas@rwjf.org
Office: (609) 627-5809
http://www.communityhealthleaders.org

Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Health Policy Fellows
2009-2010 Call for Applications

Deadline:

Nov 14, 2008

Program Area:

Building Human Capital

Purpose:

The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Health Policy Fellows program provides the nation's most comprehensive experience at the nexus of health science, policy and politics in Washington D.C. The fellowship is an outstanding opportunity for exceptional midcareer health professionals and behavioral and social scientists with an interest in health and health care policy. Fellows experience and participate in the policy process at the federal level and use that leadership experience to improve health, health care and health policy.

How To Apply:

* This program accepts paper applications only.

Eligibility & Selection Criteria:

Exceptional candidates from academic faculties and nonprofit health care organizations are encouraged to apply. Applicants may have backgrounds in the following disciplines: allied health professions; biomedical sciences; dentistry; economics or other social sciences; health services organization and administration; medicine; nursing; public health; or social and behavioral health. Beginning in 2008, applicants will be able to select whether to apply from a sponsoring institution or as an individual. Track 1 applicants will maintain their affiliation with their originating academic institution or nonprofit health care organization. Track 2 applicants will have their fellowship stipend administered by the Institute of Medicine (IOM).

RWJF is committed to programs that embrace racial, ethnic and gender diversity, and encourages applications from candidates who come from groups that historically have been underrepresented. Applicants must be citizens or permanent residents of the United States or its territories at the time of application.

Members of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Health Policy Fellows Advisory Board will assess each applicant, based on the following criteria:

* Professional achievements.
* Potential for leadership in health policy.
* Potential for future growth and career advancement.
* Interpersonal and communication skills.
* Individual plans for incorporating the fellowship experience into specific career goals.

The Advisory Board will select semifinalists from the applicants and interview them in Washington, D.C. Applicants will be notified of their status in mid-January 2009. Interviews for the select group will take place in mid-February 2009. Those applicants who are selected for interviews will receive details about the remainder of the process upon invitation.

Key Dates:

*November 14, 2008—Deadline for receipt of applications.
*January 8, 2009—Selection of semifinalists.
*February 18, 2009—Board interviews of semifinalists and announcement of selections.

Total Award:

Up to 10 grants of up to $165,000 each will be made in 2009. Each fellow will receive up to $94,000 for the Washington stay (September 1, 2009 through August 31, 2010) in salary plus fringe benefits or fellowship stipend. Fellows will receive an additional allowance for relocation subject to limitations provided in detail on the program’s Web site.

Contact:

Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Health Policy Fellows
mmichnich@nas.edu
Office: (202) 334-1506
http://www.healthpolicyfellows.org

Anna Lalor Burdick Program
Guidelines
Mission and Purpose

The Anna Lalor Burdick Program seeks to educate young women about human reproduction in order to broaden and enhance their options in life.

The Program focuses particularly on young women who have inadequate access to information regarding reproductive health, including the subjects of contraception and pregnancy termination, and as such may be particularly lacking options in their lives.

Funding Interests

Because limited foundation funding is available in the field of human reproductive education for young women, the trustees are interested in stretching the benefit of its grants as far as possible. Accordingly, the Anna Lalor Burdick Program emphasizes:

# Support for one-time projects, ongoing projects, new projects and initiatives that demonstrate realistic plans to achieve greater financial self-sufficiency.

# Support for new or smaller organizations, including grassroots efforts, where funding will increase public visibility, improve standing with funders, facilitate overall organizational development, or, in the case of the well defined projects of larger organizations, add a new dimension or capability to operations.

# Support for collaborative efforts among nonprofit organizations.

# Support for organizations that can demonstrate a proven ability to reach out to, include and involve young women with inadequate access to information regarding reproductive health.

# Support for new ideas, initiatives and demonstration projects, which, if proven effective, may be successfully replicated or provide multiple benefits.

Geographic Focus

The Program has no geographic limits.

Funding Availability and Limits

The trustees award a small number of grants in the range of $10,000 to $50,000.

Normally grants are awarded for one year only. Under special circumstances, renewals are considered, such as for projects which clearly require more than one year of support for effective implementation, or for projects which demonstrate outstanding results or promise during their first year.

Eligibility

Eligible U.S. applicants must be tax exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the U.S. Internal Revenue Service Code, and defined as "not a private foundation" under section 509(a) of the Code.

If the applicant is not located in the United States and has not already been classified by the U.S. Internal Revenue Service, please contact the Foundation office at the address or phone number listed at the end of this document.

Reproductive education must be the centerpiece of the proposed project, which should include attention to the subjects of contraception and pregnancy termination.

The project must focus on young women, including young mothers and preteens.

The proposal should include a succinct plan for assessing and reporting on the project's results. In this regard, the trustees are interested in learning from projects that have fallen short of expectations as well as those which have succeeded.

Areas Where Grants Are Not Normally Made

To full proposals submitted in advance of a concept paper that has been reviewed and approved by the trustees for further consideration.

To individuals, or for individual research projects and scholarship.

To requests for endowment or major capital support.

To prior grantees which have failed to provide grant reports.

To organizations with no track record or no personnel known to the trustees or to the staff at Grants Management Associates.
Application Procedures
Organizations are asked to begin the application process by submitting a concept paper in accordance with the foundation's concept paper application format. The concept paper application form is available on the Foundation's web site or through the Foundation office at the address and phone number listed at the end of this document. Concept papers should be submitted by mail.

Full Proposals - Applicants whose concept papers have been approved by the trustees will be invited to submit full proposals. If you are invited by the trustees to submit a full proposal, please download the proposal application and instructions from the Application Forms page of the website.

Deadlines
The trustees meet twice a year, in June and December. Proposals are not normally considered out of cycle. The respective deadlines for the receipt of concept papers are May 15 and November 1, or in the case of holidays or weekends, on the next business day.

Applicants will be informed of the foundation's decision regarding the concept paper by July 15 and January 15 respectively.

Please submit your concept papers no earlier than 8 weeks prior to a deadline. For the November deadline, concept papers may be submitted between September 1 and November 1. For the May deadline, concept papers may be submitted between March 15 and May 15.

Applicants who are invited to submit a full proposal will have 60 days from the date of notification to submit their proposal and will be notified of the foundation's decision 30 days after receipt of the proposal.

The Lalor Foundation, Inc.
c/o Susan Haff
Grants Management Associates
77 Summer Street, 8th Floor
Boston, Massachusetts 02110-1006
Phone: 617-426-7080 x 323
FAX: 617-426-7087
E-mail: shaff@grantsmanagement.com

The $1.5 million (U.S.) Conrad N. Hilton Humanitarian Prize is awarded annually to an organization making extraordinary contributions toward alleviating human suffering anywhere in the world.

Nominations for the 2008 Hilton Humanitarian Prize are closed and the Recipient will be announced in the Fall of 2008.

We are accepting nominations for the 2009 Prize from August 1, 2008 to November 3, 2008 from throughout the international community. An independent international panel of jurors will make the final selection; the recipient of the 2009 Prize will be announced in the fall of 2009.

Nominee Eligibility

Nominees must be organizations, not individuals.
Nominees must be established, non-governmental, publicly supported charitable organizations. U.S. Internal Revenue Service tax-exempt status—or the equivalent for international organizations—will determine eligibility. (International nominees will be contacted by the Foundation for appropriate documentation.)
Nominees must be legally established for at least five years (established prior to 2004) in order to be considered.
Nominees must have an operating budget (expenditure) greater than U.S. $500,000.
An organization that has received a single grant of $1.5 million or more from the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation must wait 3 years before being eligible for nomination.

Nominator Qualifications

The Nominator should have direct knowledge of the nominated organization’s work.
The Nominator may not be an officer or employee—or any other individual receiving remuneration for their services from the nominated organization. Board members may nominate providing they receive no payment for their service.
The Nominator may not be a family member of an officer or employee of the nominated organization.

Evaluation Criteria

Since the Prize is not a grant, nomination material should emphasize the organization’s accomplishments rather than future goals. Both historic and recent performance should be addressed. Following are suggested criteria to consider in describing your Nominee’s work:

Extraordinary contributions toward alleviating human suffering
Established record of achievement
Innovation in program design
Organizational capacity and administrative efficiency
Demonstration of long-term impact

Nomination Process

The Identification Sheet must be completed, signed by the nominator, and returned. If the identification sheet is submitted without a signature via e-mail, a copy must also be sent via facsimile or mail, as the signature of the nominator must be on file. If you would like to receive a hard copy of the 2009 Identification Sheet and updated nomination guidelines by mail, please email nominations@hiltonfoundation.org with your request and with your contact information.
A personal Nominating Letter in English, not to exceed five typed pages, should cite the reasons the Nominee deserves to be awarded the Hilton Humanitarian Prize. Please include or ask your nominating organization to send an annual report or brochure and the latest financial statement (in U.S. dollars). Please do not submit any additional materials such as videos, original photographs, or books, as they cannot be returned. All materials submitted must be in English.

Multiple nominations are not encouraged, although more than one person can sign a nomination letter. If more than one nomination is received for an organization, the first one received will be the nomination of record. All other nominations will be registered as letters of support; however, no more than three letters of support will be recorded.

Once the nomination has been received, the Hilton Foundation may require additional support material from the Nominee. The Foundation will contact the Nominee directly for this information.

Please note that any attempted contact with the Hilton Prize jurors about the nomination may disqualify a Nominee.

If you have any questions, please e-mail us at: nominations@hiltonfoundation.org

Within Our Reach Rheumatoid Arthritis Grants

Application Deadline
The application deadline is December 1, 2008. Applicants are responsible for submitting all required documents prior to this deadline. If you have questions or need assistance, please contact the REF office by e-mail or by phone at (404) 633-3777.

For more information about this award, please contact the REF office by e-mail or by phone at (404) 633-3777.

American College of Rheumatology
Research and Education Foundation
1800 Century Place
Suite 250
Atlanta, GA 30345

Research Proposals Directed at Poor and Underserved Populations
Program Director: Ronit Elk, PhD
American Cancer Society
250 Williams Street, NW
Atlanta, GA 30303-1002
Telephone: (404) 417-5957
Fax: (404) 321-4669
Email: ronit.elk@cancer.org

Despite the steady overall decline in cancer incidence and mortality rates, the incidence of many cancers in poor and underserved populations is higher, and morbidity and mortality are often greater. The American Cancer Society is committed to reducing disparities and alleviating the disproportionate cancer burden borne by many underserved populations, and has designated this a high-priority area. The Extramural Grants Department of the Research Department has launched a special initiative to decrease disparities. Funds have been set aside (up to 10% of the research budget) to support research that addresses the disparity in cancer morbidity and mortality in poor and underserved populations. This initiative includes research that addresses a variety of clinical, cancer control, behavioral, epidemiologic, health policy, health services and basic science questions.

Application Mechanisms: Applications will be accepted via one of the following three mechanisms: (1) Postdoctoral Fellowships; (2) Mentored Research Scholar Grants and (3) Research Scholar Grants, as described below:

Postdoctoral Fellowships
This mechanism provides support for the training of researchers who have received a doctorate, providing initial funding leading to an independent career in cancer research. Awards are made for up to three years with progressive stipends of $40,000, $42,000 and $44,000 per year, plus a $4,000 per year institutional allowance. Please refer to Postdoctoral Fellowships Policies and Instructions(PDF). Please Note: Eligibility criteria, budget and number of years of the award in this special initiative are the same as for those of the regular Postdoctoral Fellowship, as are instructions for submitting the application.

Mentored Research Scholar Grants in Applied and Clinical Research
This mechanism provides support for mentored research and training by full-time faculty to junior faculty, typically within the first four years of their first independent appointment. The goal is for these beginning investigators to become independent researchers in clinical research and in cancer control and prevention research. Awards are made for up to five years, with a budget of $135,000 per year (direct costs), plus 8% allowable indirect costs. Up to $10,000 per year for the mentor is included in the $135,000. Please refer to Instructions and Policies for Mentored Research Scholar Grants in Applied and Clinical Research. Please Note: Eligibility criteria, budget and number of years of the award in this special initiative are the same as for those of the regular Mentored Research Scholar Grants in Applied and Clinical Research, as are instructions for submitting the application.

Research Scholar Grants A. In Basic, Preclinical and Epidemiology Research (includes Senior Investigators for this Special Initiative.):
This mechanism supports investigator-initiated basic, preclinical, clinical, and epidemiologic research projects. Independent investigators at any stage of their academic career may apply, although senior investigators are strongly encouraged to include junior investigators on the grant. Awards are made for up to four years with a budget of up to $200,000 (direct costs), plus 20% allowable indirect costs. Once awarded these grants may be renewed once via competitive renewal. Please refer to Instructions and Policies for Research Scholar Grants in Basic, Preclinical and Epidemiology Research. Please Note: Eligibility criteria, budget and renewal status in this special initiative differ from those of the regular Research Scholar Grants in Basic, Preclinical and Epidemiology. However, instructions for submitting the application remain the same.

Research Scholar Grants B. In Health Policy and Health Services Research:
This mechanism supports investigator-initiated research projects centered on health services and health policy research. Independent investigators at any stage of their academic career may apply, although senior investigators are strongly encouraged to include junior investigators on the grant. Awards are made for up to four years with a budget of $200,000 per year (direct costs), plus 20% allowable indirect costs. Once awarded, these grants may be renewed once via competitive renewal. Please refer to Instructions and Policies for Research Scholar Grants in Cancer Control: Health Services and Health Policy Research. Please Note: Eligibility criteria, budget and renewal status in this special initiative differ from those of the regular Research Scholar Grants in Cancer Control: Health Services and Health Policy Research. However, instructions for submitting the application are the same.

Research Scholar Grants C. In Psychosocial and Behavioral Research:
This mechanism supports investigator-initiated research projects centered on health policy research. For this initiative, independent investigators at any stage of their academic career may apply, although senior investigators are strongly encouraged to include junior investigators on the grant. For this initiative and for research focusing on psychosocial and behavioral research only, awards are made for up to five years with a budget of $400,000 per year (direct costs), plus 20% allowable indirect costs. Once awarded, these grants may be renewed once via competitive renewal. Please refer to Instructions and Policies for Research Scholar Grants in Psychosocial and Behavioral Research. Please Note: Eligibility criteria, budget and renewal status in this special initiative differ from those of the regular Research Scholar Grants in Psychosocial and Behavioral Research. However, instructions for submitting the application are the same.

Application deadline: April 1 and October 15.

Questions? Please email Ronit Elk, PhD at ronit.elk@cancer.org