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The University of Minnesota Clinical and Translational Science Institute (CTSI) Office of Community Engagement for Health (OCEH) and Center for Health Equity (CHE) announce the 2013 Community Health Collaborative Grants Program. These grants are designed to support pilot research and evaluation projects that address important human health issues identified by communities in Minnesota.

This funding opportunity represents a major effort on the part of the University of Minnesota CTSI to build and sustain significant long-term partnerships between University investigators and community representatives. The model of engaged scholarship to be co-developed by these partners gives a high priority to community-based knowledge and expertise, including the most critical health issues that need to be addressed, and links these perspectives with the skills of researchers/evaluators. The goal of such an engaged scholarship model is development of innovative, evidence-based health improvement strategies and more efficient translation of such strategies to improved health outcomes for populations in Minnesota and throughout the nation.

The collaboration must involve at least two Co-Principal Investigators: one from a community health organization (healthcare provider/system or community-based organization) and a researcher affiliated with the University of Minnesota (including campuses in greater Minnesota.) Proposals that generate new partnerships or expand existing ones are strongly encouraged. Junior investigators are encouraged to apply. Projects seeking pilot funding should represent a new line of research or inquiry into issues that affect health or seek to significantly advance prior or current research efforts. It is important that funded projects will lead to publishable results and have promise for external grant support to demonstrate return on investment.

Funded pilot projects should:
1) have the potential to significantly impact individual and population health in a concrete and tangible way within the proposed time frame and/or
2) hold the promise of developing into long-term research and evaluation projects that will leverage additional funds and create a high return on investment, and
3) demonstrate the development of solid and sustainable relationships between the community and university.

The 2013 CTSI Community Health Collaborative Grants Program is soliciting proposals for projects in the following four focus areas:
·        Child Health: Translational collaborative research aimed at addressing unmet needs in child health
·        Systems for Health Improvement: Advancement of health improvement models that align community and health-focused organizations to 1) achieve consumer satisfaction, 2) improve population health, and/or 3) lower costs (the Triple Aim) and result in systemic, operational and policy changes
·        Community Health/Health Equity: Projects addressing significant health disparities in diverse populations in Minnesota, in areas such as diabetes, tobacco use, and mental/behavioral health
·        Rural Health: Projects designed to support community-based collaborative efforts to enhance the capacity to improve community health in rural Minnesota

Applicants to the CTSI Community Health Collaborative grants funding opportunity can request between $25,000 and $75,000 in direct costs for a period of up to 18 months. Funding for selected projects is expected to begin 8/1/13. There is approximately $300,000 in total available funding. The CTSI anticipates funding a total of 4-8 proposals.

LOIs due April 8, and full proposals due May 24

More at http://www.ctsi.umn.edu/prod/groups/ahc/@pub/@ahc/@ctsi/documents/article/ahc_article_435191.pdf

The Minnesota Youth Council (an initiative of the Minnesota Alliance With Youth) is now accepting applications for the 2013-14 year!

The Minnesota Youth Council is a diverse network of 72 eighth through twelfth-graders and adult partners from each congressional district who collaboratively identify and address youth issues. MYC members share their perspectives with policymakers, honing their critical thinking, public speaking, and leadership skills—addressing the dilemma that although young people can’t vote, they often face the consequences of policy decisions.”

We encourage you to share this with your network or identify youth who are passionate about issues affecting youth and promoting youth voice throughout the state of Minnesota.

The MYC uses a youth-adult partnership model, where youth and adults actively collaborate to lead the initiatives of the Council together. Each youth applicant should apply with an adult partner - a youth worker, AmeriCorps Promise Fellow, teacher, family friend, etc.

How To Apply
1. Complete the Online Application
2. Youth and adult pairs should apply together
3. We will contact you for an interview

Applications are due May 24th by 6pm, and interviews will take place the following weeks.

Qualifications
1. Be a youth and adult pair
2. Live in Minnesota
3. Youth must be entering 8th-12th grade

Expectations

4 hour per month time commitment (please note this does not include monthly meetings, retreats, or special events)
Must be able to travel to Twin Cities approximately 5 times per year
Must be excited about expanding youth voice in Minnesota
Must be passionate about issues that affect youth

For more information, please visit our website or contact Ashley Barnes at promisefellow@mnyouth.net, 651-528-8584

Capitol Notes:

End of session update

SF 1589 – Omnibus State Government – CLAC has a proposed increase in funding to $400,000 in the Senate version, House version includes only $2,000 increase for employee wages, both surpass Governor’s recommended even funding level.
SF 453 – Omnibus K-12 – dedicates funding for all-day kindergarten and pre-K scholarships, integration revenue expanded, variations in expanding Reading and Math Corps, House funds Regional Centers of Excellence, new safe schools/climate center, career/college prep to replace GRAD tests, and teacher licensure task force created to replace high-stakes testing for teachers with more appropriate assessments.
SF 1236 – Omnibus Higher Education – Expected to incorporate Dream/Prosperity Act into revisions, proposed tuition freezes, and severely cuts budget targets in House.
SF 1057 – Omnibus Jobs – MN Investment Fund, Job Creation Fund, Job Skills Partnership, SMIF/SWIF and other business development grants.
SF 1034 – Omnibus Health – MNSure exchange, MinnesotaCare expanded, child care assistance, mental health services in schools, internal changes with removal of Diversity Council.
Minimum Wage proposed incremental bumps to $7.75 in Senate, to $9.50 in House with additional benefits.
“Ban the Box” signed into law
Housing and Job Growth Initiative, Housing Trust Fund
Driver’s Licenses has not been moved, lacking support from Governor.

Legislation to return to next session: Driver’s Licenses, Cesar Chavez Day (further develop below proposals)

Legislation to prepare in interim: ELL, Biliteracy, ParentAware, OSHA, DHR-MDE advisory board (data practices across agencies, expulsion, special education), agency reform, etc.

By: Sarah Goodspeed, Legislative and Community Relations Manager, CLAC

In-state tuition, even for young immigrants lacking lawful status?

By Session Daily

Thalia Estrada was five years old when she left her native Peru. Fearful that terrorism in Lima could kill them, her parents arranged for Thalia and her brother to fly to the United States. Thalia started school within a few days. She learned a new language, got used to a new culture. Over time, Minnesota became home.

But Thalia didn’t immigrate legally, and as she nears graduation from high school, her worries about the future are mounting. Despite a 3.5 GPA at St. Paul Central High School and several college acceptance letters, “I still face the fear of how I’m going to pay my tuition,” the 17-year-old told members of the House Higher Education Finance and Policy Committee Wednesday. Though she said she has deferred action status as an immigrant, which temporarily shields her from deportation, she’s not eligible for in-state tuition rates and many kinds of financial aid.

A bill heard by the committee would help students like Thalia. The proposed Minnesota Dream Act would change the standards for determining whether a student can pay a resident tuition rate and receive certain grants and scholarships for public colleges and universities in Minnesota. HF875, the latest incarnation of a legislative proposal that supporters have pushed for years, would extend resident tuition rates to students without lawful immigration status, if they met certain conditions.(Read more)

Starting Line: Special Education scholarship program created

Personal experiences have helped give Rep. Glenn Gruenhagen (R-Glencoe) insight into the challenges parents face when searching for the right educational fit for their children with special need. Gruenhagen, a former school board member, has a nephew with special needs. The representative says he has seen firsthand the frustration that parents experience when they are not satisfied with the services schools provide for those children.

That’s why Rep. Gruenhagen is sponsoring a bill that would allow parents to apply for a scholarship if they feel that services outside the realm of what their school currently provides would benefit their child. This week’s Starting Line examines the process parents would go through to obtain a scholarship for their child if the bill passes.

Capitol Notes:

In-state tuition, even for young immigrants lacking lawful status?

Starting Line: Special Education scholarship program created

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