The Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky http://healthy-ky.org along with the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) www.rwjf.org and the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC)www.arc.gov recently released a Request for Proposal (RFP) seeking qualified research teams and consultants to document and examine health conditions in the counties in the Appalachian Region.
The Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky is a nonprofit, philanthropic organization focused on addressing the unmet healthcare needs of Kentuckians. ARC invests in the health of the region via grantmaking, strategic partnerships, research, and advocacy, with RWJF working with others to build a Culture of Health.
The Appalachian Region is a 205,000 square mile region that follows the Appalachian Mountains from southern New York to northern Mississippi. It includes all of West Virginia and parts of twelve other states. Forty two percent of the Region’s population is rural, as compared to 20 percent of the national population.
The region has been transformed from one of widespread poverty to one of economic contrasts. Some communities have successfully diversified their economies, while other communities still are still struggling with poverty.
The research teams are going to:
- Document disparities in health outcomes in the Appalachian Region, investigate the causes, and compile standardized baseline information
- Identify “Bright Spots” or communities that have better than expected health outcomes given their economic status and examine policy implications
- Profile “Bright Spots” using social/anthropological approaches to identify community-based models make recommendations to RWJF, ARC, and other key stakeholders
- Propose a strategy and a communications plan to identify key messages, determine target audiences, and propose strategies on how to convey information
The research team will include professionals with expertise in a number of areas, including but not limited to:
- Economists and data analysts with expertise in health research
- Sociologists, anthropologists, or other social science professionals with experience in conducting in-depth qualitative analyses, including community profiles and case studies
- Professional writers and editors, including local journalists with experience in making technical information accessible to a broad audience
- Geographers or others with GIS and mapping expertise
- Professional communications teams to work with RWJF, the Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky, and ARC
Although developing and producing a web site is not a deliverable, part of the communications plan will include planning for a web site which should include mock-ups or examples using current web sites.
Web professionals including an information architect and a graphic designer will need to be part of the communications team to ensure deliverables can be seamlessly integrated into either an existing web platform or one that will be designed.
Go to http://healthy–ky.org/sites/default/files/Bright%20Spots%20RFP%20Final%204-10-2015.pdf for the RFP. The RFP is due June 8, 2015 with a webinar to be held at 10 am on May 7th. The RFP and questions can be sent to Galcalde@healthy-ky.org with a copy to go to AKerley@healthy-ky.org. The telephone number is 502-326-2583.