1. Mississippi Primary Health Care Association
CHC Growth and Capacity Building Symposium
July 22, 2010

2. 330 Grant Writing: Needs Assessment and Narrative
Most critical sections of application, especially competing application
Must be thorough but concise
Use accurate tables, and also refer to data in other sections
Present case for funding: sell the needs

3. Needs Assessment Most critical section in application ←
Actually guides all other sections of application, including health care plan and budget
Must include strong and verifiable data
Must present solid evidence of needs
Must identify all data sources

4. Service Area
Be specific, using county names and census tract numbers if full county is not included
Mention Public Health District location since some data is available only by Public Health District
Include full demographic data, including estimated population, with race and ethnicity shown

5. Service Area, Continued
Charts are most concise method of showing lots of demographic information
Include income indicators as well as population, race and ethnicity
Median income and percentage below poverty are strong indicators of need
Compare the service area data to Mississippi data and to national data

6. More on Service Area Deficiencies show greatest need
Include infant mortality rate, broken down by race and ethnicity
Include teen pregnancy rate, broken down by race and ethnicity
Include educational achievement levels and literacy rates, broken down by race and ethnicity

7. Target Population Give details about the population most in need
Specify the race, ethnicity and income and poverty data of the potential center patients
Age can also be specified. Good examples: children, the elderly on fixed incomes, women of child bearing age
Mention disparities in target population

8. Target Population, continued
Include specific areas of crisis, such as unemployment rate, increase in unemployment rate over past year, recently closed plants and industries
Mention natural disasters such as hurricane or tornado damage, or oil spills that have impacted population

9. More on Target Population
Mississippi unfortunately had serious problems with health status indicators, placing most of CHC target populations in critical need
Diabetes, hypertension, immunizations, low birth weight babies : data shows serious need
Also include smoking and obesity

10. Data Collection
Use Census Data when possible for demographic and income data for service area and target population
Census Data also includes percentages of population with and without health insurance, a major indicator of need for each Mississippi county
Disease specific data shows severe need and documents health disparities

11. Data Collection, Continued
Be careful with health status indicators / disease data; compare rates to rates and prevalence to prevalence
State source and year on each health status indicator and item of disease data
Mississippi State Department of Health web site has major data;
Compare patient data to county and state data

12. Summary of Needs and Priority Setting
Restate the serious needs that a community health center can address
Refer to goals and objectives and health care plan to provide further information on each need and how the CHC can make an impact
Add any barriers that have not been mentioned previously, such as transportation

13. Response
Discuss Strategic Planning Process and how it has assisted the community health center
Discuss UDS data and trends, explaining any unusual trends
Refer to attachments, such as services provided, sliding fee scale
Answer every question, and use the outline and numbers or letters from the guidance for each question

14. Evaluation Measures
Include health care goals and objectives, but refer to attached Health Care Plan for more specific information about each of the indicators
Include business goals and objectives, but refer to attached Business Plan for specifics
Contributing and Restricting factors will be important

15. Impact
BRAG. And Brag some more. This can be your section to show how good you have been and will continue to be; only you can tell your story!
Use key words from guidance and throw in Sustainability and Green as many times as possible and practical
Mention all cooperating and coordinating organizations within the community and state

16. Resources and Capabilities
BRAG, BRAG, BRAG! This is your chance and your story!
Full compliance with all regulations
Point out achievements and awards and staff recognition
Refer to required attachments, even if they do not apply. State which are not applicable

17. Support Requested
Refer to the Budget forms and Budget Narrative and justification of each line item request
Compare the business plan indicators such as cost per patient and federal cost per patient over several year period
Refer to Increased Demand for Services funds and other ARRA awards

18. Support Requested, continued
Point out changes that have occurred in past few years
Discuss anticipated changes in reimbursement and coverage in county, state, and country
Refer to Income Analysis Forms, included later in application

19. Governance Basic information about Board of Directors
Refer to the grant forms and attachments that include information on the Board of Directors
Include information about Key Management Staff and refer to Bio Sketches included later

20. Wrapping Up the Narrative
Stop writing when you think you have answered all of the questions that are asked in the guidance
Have another person read the needs assessment and narrative along with the guidance
Remove yourself and your ego from process; accept criticism gladly; this is not a novel

21. Thanks for listening!
Everyone can have a part in the grant writing process
Don’t worry too much about large teams. Sometimes small teams are all that is possible.
One additional team member is most critical, someone who knows enough to catch errors in fact or errors in type

22. Good Luck Last advice: Start early enough to finish without panic
Or at least without much panic!
Thanks,
Ella Tardy