Grants Available Through Lifecourse Initiative for Healthy Families

The Wisconsin Partnership Program (WPP) — Oversight and Advisory Committee (OAC) is pleased to announce the availability of Community Action Planning Grants though the Lifecourse Initiative for Healthy Families (LIHF).

The WPP will award up to four Community Action Planning Grants to targeted Wisconsin communities to create plans for improving healthy birth outcomes and reduce African American infant health disparities. These communities are Milwaukee, Racine, Kenosha and Beloit. The LIHF reflects the WPP's long-term commitment to reducing racial and ethnic disparities in birth outcomes. The LIHF will work to identify the needs of African American women and their families and to pursue new opportunities to address those needs across their lifespan.

This planning process includes the following:

• Formation of an Maternal and Child Health Lifecourse Collaborative
• Collaboration among traditional and non-traditional partners in the community
• Community-wide, community-involved visioning involving residents and key stakeholders
• An assessment of the strengths, assets, needs, and resources of the community
• Identification and selection of priority areas by developing a Community Action Plan to address the health needs of African American women in a more comprehensive and coordinated way
• Participation with the UW School of Medicine and Public Health and the WPP in a public education campaign to raise awareness

To review the LIHF Community Action Planning Grant Request for Proposals and the application requirements, go to the Wisconsin Partnership Program Web site.

A Notice of Intent is required, due no later than October 15, 2009, as part of a technical review for eligibility and to identify potential applicants within each of the four targeted Wisconsin communities. Applicants filing a Notice of Intent will be notified of their eligibility and may then complete and submit the Community Action Planning Full proposal. Only one Community Action Planning proposal will be accepted — between November 1, 2009 and January 31, 2010 — from each of the four targeted Wisconsin communities.

Questions should be directed to the LIHF Program Leader:

Lorraine Lathen, President
Jump at the Sun Consultants, LLC
LIHF Project Consultant
P.O. Box 241101
Milwaukee, WI 53224
(414) 365-5572
llathen@Jumpatthesunllc.com