Explanation of Requirements

The following information further explains the requirements of this funding opportunity and corresponds to the required information in the accompanying grant applications.

Option 1: Planning Grants up to $3,000

1. Identify a school leader or champion.  This individual, who may be a school or local community representative, is responsible for helping to establish the health team or council, guiding completion of the school assessment, and development of the health improvement plan.
2. Establish a health team or council.   A representative health team/council involves parents, students, representatives of the school food authority, the school board, school administrators, and members of the public. Additional guidance on this requirement can be found in Section II of the report titled Effective School Health Advisory Councils: Moving from Policy to Action.  http://www.nchealthyschools.org/docs/schoolhealthadvisorycouncil/advisorycouncilsmanual.pdf
3. Conduct a school health assessment using an approved tool.  The assessmentrequires the use of an assessment tool that helps identify strengths and weaknesses of school health policies and programs, and provides direction for school health improvement efforts.  It is a systematic collection, review, and analysis of information about school-health related policies and programs for the purpose of improving students’ health and educational outcomes. School health assessments give schools a snapshot in time of programs and policies that address student and staff health. Schools must agree to use one of the following assessment tools: The School Health Index (SHI) or the Healthy Schools Inventory.  The SHI, developed by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), addresses nutrition and physical activity, tobacco, asthma, and safety in the school environment. For the purposes of this grant program, schools are only required to complete the physical activity and nutrition modules (http://www.cdc.gov/HealthyYouth/SHI/).  The Healthy Schools Inventory, developed by the Alliance for a Healthier Generation, specifically focuses on improving the nutrition and physical activity environment in a school. (https://schools.healthiergeneration.org/6_step_process/)  Both of these assessment tools are free and are available in online and paper versions.
4. Develop a school health improvement plan. Based on the results of the school health assessment, schools must develop a school health improvement plan. The plan should include, at a minimum, the top three priority areas for improvement. The health improvement plan should include objectives, actions, strategies, responsible individuals, and a timeline for implementation of proposed strategies/actions that address each of the top three priority areas (For an example of a plan, visit http://www.cdc.gov/healthyyouth/shi/training/07-Improvement/docs/PracticeImprovementPlan.pdf). Actions and strategies must be selected so that, when completed, they will advance the school’s progress toward creating a sustainable health promotion program, achieving higher physical activity and/or nutrition standards, and adopting evidence-based physical activity and/or nutrition policies.
5. Participate in training, technical assistance, and other program support provided by this grant program.  Grantees may allocate up to $1,000 of their budget to pay for costs associated with participation in required trainings.  These funds may also be used to pay for approved state or local expertise related to the development or execution of the plan, as well as, travel and/or substitute teachers so that the school leader or a designee can attend regional or statewide trainings and/or conferences related to this grant.
6. Attend a “best practices” grantee meeting.  Applicants must agree to attend a regional/statewide meeting to learn about successes and best practices. 
7. Complete the attached budget (Rate Schedule) indicating amount of grant funds being requested and how funds will be used.
8. Complete the attached letter of support indicating full support from your school’s Principal.
9. Submit a final report of activities and outcomes to the Georgia Department of Public Health.  Requirements of the report will be determined by the Department and disseminated to awardees.

Option 2: Implementation Grants up to $5000

1. Provide documentation of an existing health team/council and leader.  Applicants must provide a description of the established health team that includes members of the team, how long it has been in existence, accomplishments to date, and the name of the leader.
2. Submit results of the school health assessment.  Applicants must provide a copy of the school health assessment and a summary of its findings.  Indicate whether the tool used was the School Health Index, or the Healthy Schools Inventory. A summary of your school’s findings must be provided.
3. Submit a copy of the schools existing physical activity and/or nutrition improvement plan.  This plan should be based on results of the completed school health assessment. Actions, strategies, responsible individuals, and a timeline for implementation must be included. Actions and strategies when completed should advance the school’s progress toward creating a sustainable health promotion program, achieving higher physical activity and nutrition standards, and adopting evidence-based physical activity and nutrition policies.
4. Identify up to three priority actions/activities to be completed during the 2013-2014 school year for which funding is being requested. Submit an action plan for accomplishment of activities during the 2013-2014 school year. For each activity include specific strategies and actions, responsible person, and timeline. (For an example, see http://www.cdc.gov/healthyyouth/shi/training/#improvement)
5. Participate in training provided by this grant program.  Grantees may allocate up to $1,000 of their budget to pay for cost associated with participation in technical assistance trainings.  These funds may also be used to pay for approved state or local expertise related to the development or execution of funded activities, as well as, travel and/or substitute teachers so that the school leader or a designee can attend regional or statewide trainings or conferences related to this grant.
6. Attend a “best practices” grantee meeting.  Applicants must agree to attend a regional/statewide meeting to learn about successes and best practices.  Option 2 grantees may be asked to present information about the activities implemented during this grant period.
7. Develop and implement an evaluation plan.  For each selected activity, indicate how the success will be measured and what data/information will be collected. Grantees will be required to submit a final evaluation of grant funded activities. Training and guidance will be provided, as needed, on conducting and completing the evaluation
8. Complete the attached budget (Rate Schedule) indicating amount of funds being requested and how funds will be used.
9. Complete the attached letter of support indicating full support from your school’s Principal.
10. Submit a final report of activities and outcomes/successes to Georgia Department of Public Health. Requirements of report will be determined by the Department and disseminated to awardees.

Please submit any questions regarding this funding opportunity and/or completed applications to Reginald Tooley at [email protected] by the application due date.