Circle Health Announces Request for Proposals for Community Health Initiatives Grants

Contact: Angela Strunk

Lowell General Hospital

978-937-6425/angela.strunk@lowellgeneral.org

CIRCLE HEALTH ANNOUNCES REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS FOR COMMUNITY HEALTH INITIATIVES GRANTS

LOWELL, MA – Circle Health, the parent organization of Lowell General Hospital, announced today that it has released a request for proposals (RFP) for its 2014 community health initiatives grants. The grants will be awarded at the upcoming Circle Health Ball for Community Health Initiatives, an annual black-tie gala developed to raise awareness and funds for community outreach and education.

“We are pleased to continue this great tradition established by Lowell General Hospital’s medical staff to support the diverse needs of our community,” said Norm Deschene, President and CEO of Circle Health and CEO of Lowell General Hospital. “The purpose of the RFP is to provide grant funding to increase services and programs to better meet the needs of the communities in the Greater Lowell Area.”

Circle Health will award grants around the following priority areas identified in a recent community health needs assessment conducted by UMass Lowell on behalf of Lowell General Hospital and the Greater Lowell Health Alliance: mental health, substance abuse (e.g., alcohol, opiates, tobacco) diabetes and obesity prevention and intervention programs. Applicants must complete an application and may apply for up to $20,000 per project.

A grant review committee will review and score all applications based upon the following award criteria.

• Well-designed project that fits into the priority areas
• Clear explanation of the project and demonstration of what effect this project will have on increasing services provided to target population
• Clear, demonstrated health need supported by available data
• Clear, measurable goals and objectives
• Realistic timeline for implementation of project
• Demonstrated plan for evaluation to measure program success
• Explanation of expected outcomes
• Demonstrated collaborative efforts with other community organizations that are part of the system of care for the stated target population
• Plan for sustainability of funded program in future years (if applicable)
• Appropriate budget

All grant applications must be received no later than 9:00 am on Monday January 13, 2014. Applications can be sent by email to Pamela.Huntley@lowellgeneral.org or by mailing a hard copy to:

Pamela Huntley

Director of Community Relations
Lowell General Hospital

295 Varnum Avenue

Lowell, MA 01854

Grants will be announced at the Circle Health Ball for Community Health Initiatives scheduled for March 1, 2014. To learn more about Circle Health’s 2014 Community Health Initiatives Grants and the application process, please visit www.circle-health.org/ball.