Redefining Community Wellness Grants Program - Tribal Cohort

Overview

Redefining Community Wellness Grants Program

Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) have inadequate access to culturally responsive programming that addresses substance use and are disproportionately affected by policies that do not consider their needs. In response to this challenge and the lack of diverse representation, experience, and perspectives among currently funded grantees, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health’s (MDPH) Bureau of Substance Addiction Services (BSAS) has launched the Redefining Community Wellness Grants Program to intentionally center BIPOC voices throughout the grantmaking and capacity building process.

The goals of this program are:

* To support organizations that are BIPOC-led and that primarily serve BIPOC communities including CBOs, FBOs, and TIPSOs to redefine community wellness and address the negative impacts of substance use in their communities through a wide range of programming that help improve health, wellness, and quality of life for community members; and
* To provide capacity building to improve organizations’ ability to apply for future funding, which ultimately helps increase BIPOC representation in receiving grants beyond this program.

In designing this program, HRiA and BSAS collaborated with a Community Advisory Board (CAB) of BIPOC residents and organizations that were geographically diverse with a range of personal and work experiences with substance use and related services, to guide decisions regarding priority populations and scope of work for the Redefining Community Wellness grants.

Tribal Cohort

Goal of the Funding

The goal of this funding is to support tribes and nonprofits that are Native led or primarily serving Native American populations that address substance use directly or indirectly through focusing on social determinants of health (SDOH). Additionally, this funding will help build funded organizations’ capacity for organizational development and sustainability.

Funding

We expect grants to be up to $160,000.

* Planning phase: 3 months, $30,000
* Implementation phase: 12 months, $130,000

Eligibility

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Application Details

Redefining
GRANTS PROGRAM
Request for
Proposals (RFP)
MARCH 2025

At-A-Glance
Available
Total of $960,000 available, we expect grants to be up to $160,000
Funding
April 2025 – June 2026
Funding
• Planning phase: April 2025 – June 2025 (3 months, $30,000)
Period
• Implementation phase: July 2025 – June 2026 (12 months, $130,000)
The goal of this funding is to support tribes and nonprofits that are Native led or
primarily serving Native American populations that address substance use directly or
Goal of the
indirectly through focusing on social determinants of health (SDOH). Additionally, this
Funding
funding will help build funded organizations’ capacity for organizational development
and sustainability.
Tribes based in Massachusetts that have a government-to-government relationship
within the Commonwealth (see attachment requirements on page 8),
Eligible
OR
Applicants
Massachusetts-based organizations that are Tribal led and/or serving with 501(c)3
status or a 501(c)3 fiscal sponsorship.
The goal and purpose of this initiative is to fund broad eligible activities that include
a wide range of programming to address substance use and/or social determinants
of health impacting substance use. In general, eligible activities are non-clinical
programming to address the needs of populations (e.g., people who are unhoused, etc.)
disproportionally affected by substance use. Proposed activities can address one or
Eligible more of the areas listed below. See Program Overview below for more details.
Activities
• Overdose prevention, intervention, and postvention
• Addressing barriers to accessing services
• Addressing housing, food insecurity and other basic needs
• Strengthening belonging and relationships in communities through education
and support services
Application Deadline Funding info session Web & Application Form
March 12, 2025 3:00-4:00 PM HRiA.org/RCWgrants
Thursday, April 3, 2025
Register here
at 11:59 PM Contacts
Drop-in office hour session
SUDgrants@hria.org
March 19, 2025 2:00-3:30 PM
Register here
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Redefining
Funding community-led work
and building capacity for
substance use impact
Background
Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) have inadequate access to culturally
responsive programming that addresses substance use and are disproportionately affected
by policies that do not consider their needs. In response to this challenge, the Massachusetts
Department of Public Health’s (MDPH) Bureau of Substance Addiction Services (BSAS) has
launched Redefining Community Wellness Program’s Tribal Cohort, which puts tribal voices
at the center by engaging a Community Advisory Board (CAB) comprised of BIPOC residents
and organizations to inform funding decisions. The goal of this funding are:
1. To support a Tribal Cohort consisting of tribes based in Massachusetts that have a
government-to-government relationship within the Commonwealth and Massachusetts-
based organizations that are tribal led and/or serving with 501(c)3 status or a 501(c)3
fiscal sponsorship to address substance use in tribal communities through a wide range
of programming that help improve health, wellness and quality of life for community
members.
2. To build funded organizations’ capacity to support their organizational development
and sustainability.
In addition to funding, selected tribes and organizations will participate in capacity building
trainings, receive technical assistance and individualized support in working with Tribal
Technical Assistance Leads, and participate in a learning community.
Redefining Community Wellness Program’s Tribal Cohort is administered and managed by
Health Resources in Action (HRiA), a non-profit public health organization working to improve and
reimagine public health, by connecting, consulting and collaborating to solve complex challenges of
access and equity in our health and social systems.
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Program Overview
What will the grants support?
This funding is intended to address the specific needs of tribal communities and the factors
that put them at risk for substance use disorder. The funding will support tribes based in
Massachusetts and Massachusetts based organizations that are Native led and/or primarily
serving to provide programs addressing the impact of substance use. Proposed programs do not
need to directly focus on substance use but can address social determinants of health (SDOH),
which influence substance use. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)’s
Healthy People 2030 initiative organizes SDOH into five domains:
• Economic Stability: The ability to afford health-supporting purchases,
such as food and housing
• Education Access and Quality: The ability to obtain a high-quality education
• Health Care Access and Quality: The ability to obtain high-quality health
care services
• Neighborhood and Built Environment: The ability to live safely and avoid danger
• Social and Community Context: The ability to have positive relationships
with people around us
Proposed programs can be existing or to be developed, and address one or multiple areas
below. Examples are included below for illustrative purposes, and other activities can be
proposed.
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OVERDOSE PREVENTION, INTERVENTION, AND substance use disorder
POSTVENTION — Providing non-clinical services • Community fridges and open pantry
that address overdose prevention, intervention, and • Transportation support for services or care needed
postvention including recovery support. • Leadership development and job readiness training
for people in recovery
Activity examples:
• Training on financial literacy and economic
• Overdose prevention education and training empowerment
including how to use and access Naloxone and
STRENGTHENING BELONGING AND
Fentanyl test strips
RELATIONSHIPS IN COMMUNITIES
• Grief services for families and children who lost
(CULTURE AND COMMUNITY BUILDING)
loved one to substances
– Providing community-led education, support
• Culturally responsive harm reduction services
services, or programming in various ways to
• Holistic intervention care for people who use
improve health, wellness, and quality of life to
substance use (e.g., yoga, massage therapy,
promote community building and connection.
acupuncture, etc.)
Activity examples:
ADDRESSING BARRIERS TO ACCESSING
SERVICES (LANGUAGE ACCESS) – Providing • Indigenous language preservation program
non-clinical services in languages other than English • Cultural programming provided by tribal
addressing substance use and/or SDOH. organizations
• Support services to help individuals with re-
Activity examples:
entry into culture and community
• Workforce development services in multiple • Training barbers and hair stylists on substance
languages use and available resources
• Tribal-based recovery support services in native • Youth enrichment and mentorship program
languages offering athletic and recreational activities
• Substance use services for deaf and hard-of- • Art program to focus on harm reduction and
hearing communities activism
• Classes for English for Speakers of Other • Gender-specific/affirming support providing
Languages (ESOL)/English as a Second self-care, domestic violence prevention
Language (ESL) accessible for immigrant/refugee • Peer support groups or drop-in services to
communities including a curriculum on substance provide a safe space for LGBTQ+ people to
use education address substance use
• Program to provide self-care and respite for
ADDRESSING HOUSING AND FOOD parents
INSECURITY, AND OTHER BASIC NEEDS – • Support to families of loved ones who are
Support to secure housing including emergency incarcerated
housing, attain vital document, access food, utility, or
other basic needs assistance. The funds can support hiring of new staff for the
proposed program including recruitment, job
Activity examples:
posting, sign-on bonus, and job training.
• Community-based resource navigation including
housing and other basic needs Funded organizations will also receive
• Programs to support people who are leaving the assistance from HRiA to support the proposed
substance use treatment or re-entering (leaving services/activities. This will include training,
incarceration) communications, and other technical assistance
• Support for new lodges for women and men and support throughout the funding period.
• Programs for people experiencing homelessness
in basic needs (e.g., hair, nail, and other hygiene
needs), including mobile shower unit
• Services supporting sex workers
• Community garden for families living with
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Redefining
Program Overview (cont.)
Who is eligible to apply?
Massachusetts-based tribes with a government-to-government relationship with the Commonwealth,
non-profit 501(c)3 organizations or groups with a 501(c)3 fiscal sponsor that are Native-led and/or are
primarily serving Native American populations. Organizations should serve the following population(s)
disproportionately experiencing negative impacts of substance use:
• Black, Indigenous, Latinx, Asian American, and other people of color
• People who do not speak English, or who prefer to speak in another language
• People with disabilities
• People experiencing homelessness
• People who identify as LGBTQ
• People experiencing re-entry (formerly incarcerated)
What activities are not eligible?
Clinical services for substance use treatment, research, or pass-through funding (i.e., an organization
proposes to distribute funds to other groups) are ineligible for this grant. While we recognize the need
for additional funding for treatment services, this grant focuses on other areas that address substance
use but haven’t been widely funded through BSAS.
What is the funding period?
The funding period will be 15 months from April 2025 to June 2026 with two phases:
1. Planning phase from April 2025 to June 2025 (3 months). Tribes and nonprofits primarily serving
Tribal populations will receive training and support to build their capacity in order to implement
proposed activities. During this phase, grantees are expected to develop a work plan from July
2025 - June 2026, with support from HRiA.
2. Implementation phase from July 2025 to June 2026 (12 months). Grantees will implement
proposed activities based on the implementation workplan they developed. Training, individualized
assistance and support will continue to be provided by HRiA. Grantees will also have opportunities
to connect with other funded organizations in the cohort to discuss their learnings.
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How will this proposal be reviewed?
Your application will be reviewed by a committee who will make recommendations to BSAS. The
following criteria will be considered during the review process:
• Alignment with funding priorities
• Organizations directly reach priority populations most impacted by substance use through
the areas of work specified in this request for proposal (RFP).
• Community engagement
• Organizations have history of and ability to authentically engage community members,
including the priority population(s) mentioned above.
• Readiness
• Organizations demonstrate a readiness to begin planning for engagement with the
community within 15 days of award. That will include their readiness to participate in
capacity building training and support based on their need and apply the learning in order
to successfully create and implement their plan.
• Commitment
• Organizations demonstrate their commitment to addressing substance use challenges
in the communities. The organizations do not necessarily have to provide substance use
services directly but have to show their commitment to be part of this program and have
the shared goal of addressing substance use and social determinants of health.
What are we expected to do if we receive this grant?
If your tribe or organization is awarded funding, HRiA will work with you and your staff/volunteers/
board to complete:
• Reporting – Grantees will remain in communication with HRiA throughout the funding period
to provide feedback, success stories, lessons learned, and status updates. Grantees will submit
quarterly evaluation reports that measure their progress and accomplishments, and quarterly
financial expenditure reports.
• Capacity Building – Throughout the funding period, HRiA will provide opportunities to build
capacity of grantees, including training, technical support and assistance. Grantees are required
to participate in trainings and convenings as part of this funding program. Training dates will be
shared with grantees after funding decisions are made.
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How do we submit a proposal?
Submit your proposal through the online application portal which you can access on RCW’s website
at HRiA.org/RCWgrants by Thursday April 3, 2025 11:59 PM. The website leads to an online portal
which will ask you to complete:
• Basic organization and contact information
• Application questions
• Attachments:
• If applying as a tribe in Massachusetts with a government-to-government relationship, please
upload 1) your federal final determination letter for acknowledgement cover page or executive
order from commonwealth, 2) Tax Exemption form, 3) a budget using our template provided, 4)
W-9 form.
• If applying as a Native-led and serving primarily Native American populations non-profit or
fiscally-sponsored organization, please upload 1) your 501(c)3 Tax Exemption form, 2) a
budget using the template provided, 3) W-9 form.
Please create your account in order to submit your proposal. To return to an already started
application, visit your Account Page. For technical and logistical questions related to accessing
the online grantmaking portal, or if your organization encounters any barriers to submitting your
proposal through the portal, please contact SUDgrants@hria.org.
What happens after we submit a proposal?
You will be notified of the status of your submission by mid-late April.
How can we learn more?
If you have questions about the application process, please contact SUDgrants@hria.org.
HRiA will also host online sessions that applicants can join to learn about this opportunity, ask
questions, and gain skills to apply.
Funding info session + Drop-in office hour session
Redefining
Questions & Answers (Q&A) to answer questions
March 12, 2025 March 19, 2025
3:00-4:00 PM 2:00-3:30 PM
Register here Register here
Substance use/SDOH 101 Grant writing workshop
workshop
Watch video Watch video
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Redefining Community
Wellness Grants Program
Request for Proposals (RFP)
April 2025 – June 2026
Due: Thursday, April 3, 2025, at 11:59 PM
These questions are provided as reference, please submit your responses in the application form
linked above.
Applicant Info:
• Applicant Tribe or Organization Name
• Tax ID or Employer Identification Number (EIN) of lead organization
• Organization’s Contact Person (project lead – name, job title, address, phone, email)
• Organization’s Highest Ranking Official (name, title, address, phone, email)
Fiscal Sponsor Info: (if different from applicant)
• Organization Name
• Tax ID or Employer Identification Number (EIN)
• Organization Contact Person (name, job title, address, phone, email)
• Organization’s Highest Ranking Official (name, title, address, phone, email)
Project Title:
Amount Requested $
Up to $160,000 per tribe/organization: $30,000 for the planning phase; $130,000 for the implementation
phase.
Populations Served – What priority population(s) are you proposing to directly serve with this funding
in addition to BIPOC? (Select all that apply)
People who are in recovery or currently use substances
People who do not speak English, or who prefer to speak in another language
People with disabilities
People who identify as LGBTQ+
People who are unhoused
People who are formerly incarcerated
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Areas of Work Proposed – What area(s) of work are you proposing with this funding?
(Select all that apply)
Addressing overdose prevention, intervention, postvention
Addressing barriers to accessing services
Addressing housing and food security, and other basic needs through resource navigation
Strengthening belonging and relationships in communities
Geography – What cities/towns are you proposing to directly serve with this funding?
Have you applied for a funding opportunity from the Bureau of Substance Addition Services
(BSAS) at the MA Department of Public Health before? Please note: This will not disqualify you from
this funding opportunity. (Yes/No)
Organizational Profile – In 2-3 sentences, how do the staff and leadership of your organization
reflect the communities you propose to serve with this funding?
Demographics – In 1 paragraph or a list, tell us about the population you will be directly serving
with these funds (e.g., LGBTQ tribal youth). Please tell us if this is a new population you plan to
reach.
• How are the population(s) you are proposing to serve affected by substance use?
Proposed Approach/Work – In 1-2 paragraphs, tell us about your current work and your general
vision for how you will use these funds to do work in the areas described in the Program
Overview section.
• Please tell us what specific issues/gaps you are trying to address for the populations you
described in the Demographics section.
• Please tell us how your proposed work willwill serve the populations you described in the
Demographics section.
Organizational/Program Readiness – In 1 paragraph or a list, please describe how you plan
to reach and engage your proposed population(s) effectively. Your description may include
relationships currently established and plan to build on and/or organizations you plan to engage.
Capacity Building Needs – In 2-3 sentences or bullet points, describe the types of capacity
building trainings and support that would help you implement your proposed activities. It may
include building organization or staff capacity. (This information will inform the capacity building
services we will provide.)
If 100% of your funding request cannot be met, will you be able to provide the proposed work with
necessary adjustment? Please note: The response to this question will not influence whether you get
funded.
Yes
No
Other – please explain briefly
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