A Cultural Approach to Good Health and Wellness in Indian Country (GHWIC) | CDC RFA DP 24 0025

Opportunity Information: Apply for CDC RFA DP 24 0025

A Cultural Approach to Good Health and Wellness in Indian Country (GHWIC) is a CDC cooperative agreement opportunity designed to prevent and better manage chronic diseases in American Indian and Alaska Native communities by putting culture at the center of public health work. The program blends three connected approaches: first, community-selected cultural practices that are family-centered and strengthen resilience, identity, and ties to community and wellness; second, policy, systems, and environmental (PSE) changes that build clinical-community linkages (CCLs) so people can be screened and assessed for chronic diseases and key risk factors and then connected to the right services; and third, PSE strategies and programs that improve the conditions shaping health day to day, such as the built environment, access to healthy foods, tobacco-free policies, and social connectedness, with activities carried out in culturally appropriate ways. Across the opportunity, the chronic disease focus includes commercial tobacco use, diabetes and pre-diabetes, hypertension, obesity, and oral disease, along with referrals into evidence-based or evidence-informed prevention and management supports like self-management and self-monitoring programs.

The opportunity is structured into three separate competitive components, and applicants must submit a separate application for each component they want to pursue. Component 1 is aimed at direct implementation at the local community level. Component 1 applicants are expected to propose at least one activity under each of the three core strategies: culturally grounded, family-centered practices; PSE work that creates or strengthens clinical-community linkages for screening, assessment, and referral; and PSE work that improves community wellness conditions and addresses nonmedical drivers of health. Applicants also need to explain how their activities will reduce barriers that keep people from participating in clinical care, prevention services, and wellness programs. Eligible recipients for Component 1 include federally recognized American Indian Tribes, Alaska Native Villages, and Urban Indian Organizations (UIOs).

Component 2 is designed to expand reach across an entire Indian Health Service (IHS) Administrative Area (or the defined Urban Area for UIOs) by using a hub-and-spoke model. Component 2 applicants must commit to passing through at least 50 percent of their annual award as subawards to at least four Tribes, Villages, UIOs, or other tribal entities within their Area so those subawardees can implement the full set of Component 1 strategies. With the remaining funds, Component 2 recipients must provide technical assistance, training, and resources to all tribal entities in their Area to support planning, implementation, and evaluation of the Component 1 strategies, not only those receiving subawards. They also must help build partnerships and develop tailored communication messages. A key requirement is explaining the subaward approach and rationale, including how subawardees will be selected, to ensure all strategies and activities are addressed over the five-year period of performance. Applicants do not need to name specific subawardees at the application stage. Eligibility for Component 2 is limited to tribal organizations (or qualifying UIO structures for the defined Urban Area) that support all Tribes/Villages in one of the 12 IHS Administrative Areas (or the defined Urban Area) and that have at least four Tribes/Villages or UIOs in their Area.

Component 3 funds the creation of a Tribal Coordinating Center (TCC) with national-level responsibilities that connect the full GHWIC portfolio. Component 3 applicants must propose a TCC that will develop a national communication plan, coordinate with CDC on a national evaluation plan, and build and sustain a Community of Practice (CoP) made up of representatives from each GHWIC recipient. The TCC is expected to facilitate regular CoP meetings to promote shared learning, peer support, and coordination so that lessons and effective practices spread across sites. Component 3 eligibility mirrors Component 2 eligibility (Area-wide tribal organizations or the defined Urban Area structure with at least four Tribes/Villages or UIOs). Component 3 applicants may also apply for Component 2 funding, allowing an organization to both coordinate nationally and support Area-wide subawards and technical assistance.

GHWIC reflects a coordinated CDC effort across multiple parts of the National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, specifically the Division of Diabetes Translation, the Division for Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention, the Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Obesity, the Division of Oral Health, the Division of Population Health, and the Office on Smoking and Health. Eligibility overall is limited to federally recognized American Indian Tribes/Alaska Native Villages, Urban Indian Organizations with current Title V Indian Health Care Improvement Act contracts with IHS, and American Indian or Alaska Native tribal organizations. In this notice of funding opportunity, “Area” generally refers to the 12 IHS Administrative Areas, plus an Urban Area defined by the set of UIOs listed by IHS.

From a funding and administrative standpoint, the opportunity is listed as CDC RFA DP 24 0025 under CFDA 93.479, with awards made as cooperative agreements through CDC’s NCCDPHP. The application closing date was June 28, 2024. The award ceiling is $1,450,000, and CDC anticipated making about 30 awards. The program also sits within a multi-year congressional emphasis on expanding GHWIC and building a more comprehensive public health infrastructure in tribal communities, with continued or increased appropriations support in recent fiscal years.

• The Centers for Disease Control - NCCDPHP in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "A Cultural Approach to Good Health and Wellness in Indian Country (GHWIC)" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.479.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2024-04-29.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2024-06-28. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $1,450,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 30 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments), Others.

Apply for CDC RFA DP 24 0025

[Watch] Creating a grant proposal using the step-by-step wizard inside the applicant portal: