Rapides Foundation announces Healthy Behaviors Program – United States

Deadline: 19-Dec-22

The Rapides Foundation is pleased to anoounce the Healthy Behaviors Program to support implementation of evidence-based, community-driven solutions for preventing and reducing obesity, preventing and controlling tobacco use, and preventing substance and alcohol abuse.

This Healthy Behaviors Program Grant funding opportunity is to support implementation of evidencebased, community-driven solutions for preventing and reducing obesity, preventing and controlling tobacco use, and preventing substance and alcohol abuse. Applicants are expected to use local needs and data to drive all strategy and intervention decisions. Applicants should focus on strategies with a broad reach and high probability of sustained behavior change. Proposals should consider community assets that enable healthy eating, active living and prevent substance and alcohol abuse and tobacco use, as well as any barriers to being successful. Effective interventions should include a mix of strategies

Applicants are expected to use local needs and data to drive all strategy and intervention decisions. Applicants should focus on strategies with a broad reach and high probability of sustained behavior change. Proposals should consider community assets that enable healthy eating, active living and prevent substance and alcohol abuse and tobacco use, as well as any barriers to being successful. Effective interventions should include a mix of strategies.

The grant offering does not accept proposals involving disease management or treatment as the primary emphasis.

Funding Information

• The Healthy Behaviors Initiative Program Grant awards up to $300,000. The grant term will be up to 36 months, beginning July 3, 2023, and ending June 30, 2026. The Foundation will consider only one application per organization; however, it is permissible for an organization to be listed as a partner organization in multiple applications.
• If your organization has received a Healthy Behaviors Program Grant or a Healthy Behaviors Substance and Alcohol Abuse Prevention Program Grant and you are solely proposing to continue an existing program(s) at the same level, a maximum of up to $50,000 per year for up to a three-year period is available with a maximum request of $150,000. Please note, the funding opportunity is competitive and continuation funds are not guaranteed.
• All funded projects must be offered in The Rapides Foundation’s nine-parish service area.

Type of Projects

• Types of projects they are interested in funding. Please note that proposed projects should address the needs of the community and choosing a strategy below does not guarantee funding.
  • Healthy Eating & Active Living (HEAL)
    • Increase access, availability and consumption of healthy foods: farmers market that target food deserts, food hubs, community kitchens, community supported agriculture, prescription food box programs, community gardens, mobile markets/food delivery, offering SNAP and WIC at markets, evidence-based nutrition education, making healthy food affordable (discounts/coupons/incentives) and worksite interventions such as healthy vending machines and water availability.
    • Increase physical activity participation through programming and environments: extracurricular physical activities for youth and adults, family-based physical activity programs, community fitness programs, community weight loss challenges, physical activity environments such as safe and complete streets, building connections to schools, parks, and other destinations, walking signage, infrastructure supporting active transportation and bike and pedestrian master plans. Please note, applications that propose only capital upgrades will not be considered, programming must be included.
  • Tobacco Prevention & Control
    • Reduce tobacco use and prevent initiation:creating tobacco-free environments, involving youth in tobacco-free strategies, evidence-based prevention curriculum, tobacco-free policies, reducing the access and availability of tobacco/vaping products, promotion of cessation resources
  • Substance & Alcohol Abuse Prevention
    • Reduce substance and alcohol abuse and prevent under-age use: evidence-based youth prevention education and mentoring programs, social norms campaigns on alcohol misuse among college students, alcohol advertising restrictions, alcohol density restrictions, alcohol access restrictions in public places, social host laws, promotion of cessation services, community work that encourages a sense of neighborliness and installation of pill drop boxes for prescription drugs.

Eligibility Criteria

• Eligible organizations for this funding opportunity may include, but are not limited to:
  • Community-based organizations; faith-based organizations; not-for-profit postsecondary institutions; and governmental organizations.
  • Primary applicants must meet all of the following requirements:
  • Classified as a Section 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization under the Internal Revenue Code or a governmental entity.
  • Cannot be a private foundation under Section 509(a).
  • Must be an organization within The Rapides Foundation Service Area or seeking funding support for projects restricted to the Foundation’s nine parishes.

For more information, visit Rapides Foundation.