Deadline:

Sep 22, 2009 - Closed

Program Area:

Public Health

Purpose:

The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) seeks to expand the evidence base for effective public health policy and practice through investment in Public Health Services and Systems Research (PHSSR). PHSSR examines the structure, operation and outcomes of the public health system and the impact of the services it provides on the health of the public.

Program Information:

• Call for Proposals


• Overview (PDF)

Eligibility & Selection Criteria:

Governmental public health agencies, nonprofit organizations and academic institutions that are tax-exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code are eligible to apply. Private foundations as defined under Section 509(a) of the Internal Revenue Code are also eligible to apply. Preference will be given to proposals submitted by governmental public health agencies, nonprofit organizations that work in concert with such agencies, and proposals that involve multidisciplinary teams. Applicant organizations must be based in the United States or its territories at the time of application. Practitioners, researchers and policy-makers may serve as principal investigators. This solicitation seeks to engage new researchers in the field of public health services and systems research. Researchers who are new to the field of PHSSR are encouraged to apply, and first-time applicants will be strongly considered.

All proposals will be assessed by a committee composed of RWJF staff, administrative support office staff and a team of multidisciplinary expert reviewers. The following criteria will be used to assess proposals, with emphasis on the first six criteria at the brief proposal stage:

1. The degree to which the findings from the project will improve the performance of the health agency/system.
2. Extent to which the research draws its questions from practice, and the potential for results to inform decisions addressing the most critical issues relating to public health systems.
3. Uniqueness of the project and its potential to improve both the public health system and population health.
4. The appropriateness and feasibility of the methodology (including access to and use of relevant data).
5. Potential for research findings to impact minorities and disparate populations.
6. Project team experience and qualifications (including multidisciplinary partnerships) for conducting the proposed project and the time commitment of the project team participants in relation to the proposed tasks.
7. Plans for translating and disseminating research findings to inform public health practice and policy.
8. Demonstrated track record in public health systems research, health services research, organizational behavior, financing, public health law or economics.

Key Dates:

• September 3, 2009 (1:30 p.m. ET)—Web conference for interested applicants. Registration is required. Details and registration information are posted at www.nnphi.org/phssr.
• September 22, 2009 (3 p.m. ET)—Deadline for receipt of brief proposals.
• November 17, 2009—Applicants notified if selected to submit a full proposal.
• December 15, 2009 (3 p.m. ET)—Deadline for receipt of full proposals.
• April 8, 2010—Finalists notified.
• May 1, 2010—Start of grants.

Total Award:

• Approximately $2.4 million is available.
• Up to 12 grants will be awarded through this solicitation.
• Grantees will receive up to $200,000 each in financial support to be used over a 24-month period.

Contact:

Erica P. Johnson, program coordinator
National Network of Public Health Institutes
phssr@nnphi.org
Office: (504) 301-9854
http://www.nnphi.org/phssr

Related Materials:

• View Program FAQs