WITH Foundation Logo: Orange and Yellow Hands inside a Blue square. WITH is written to the right of the square. Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Logo

 

 

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS ANNOUNCEMENT

Request for Proposals (RFP) from WITH Foundation and Robert Wood Johnson Foundation

 

Supporting Healthcare Equity in Communities of Color for
Older Adults with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities

 

Background

Every human being has the right to be treated with dignity. Our current healthcare system provides inadequate consideration for the needs of adults with developmental disabilities, with many experiencing healthcare as a source of harm and mistrust. WITH Foundation (WITH) promotes comprehensive healthcare for adults with developmental disabilities in the United States that is designed to address their unique and fundamental needs. WITH embraces an intersectional approach, centers the expertise and leadership of those most impacted by this injustice, is committed to cultural humility and addressing power imbalances, and values innovation. In alignment, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) is committed to improving health and health equity in the United States. RWJF is working with others to build a Culture of Health that provides everyone in America a fair and just opportunity for health and wellbeing, regardless of who they are, where they live, or how much money they make. This work requires us to identify, understand, confront, and remove the structural barriers to health and wellbeing, including racism, ableism, discrimination, and their consequences. We cannot achieve a Culture of Health until everyone, including those living with disabilities, has a fair and just opportunity to achieve their best health.

 

Funding Opportunity

This is an invitation for collaborative proposals that support projects fostering health and healthcare systems transformation for Older Adults with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities in Communities of Color, centering the goals, perspectives, and needs of this community. This contributes to a health and healthcare system that is fair and just, treats all people with dignity and respect, and rectifies past harms and prevents future ones. Proposals should prioritize one of the following approaches:

  • Implementation: Support implementation of models, i.e., seeding systems solutions of projects that support community-based Primary Care Providers (PCPs) in providing care that meets the needs and goals of Older Adults with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities in Communities of Color;
  • Educational resources: Developing resources with Older Adults with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities and/or creating/leveraging networks supporting resource dissemination and utilization to PCPs, healthcare entities, and larger healthcare and disability justice ecosystems regarding the experiences of Older Adults with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities in Communities of Color;
  • Advocacy: Support regional or national advocacy with entities such as grassroots organizing groups, social movement groups, movement-building organizations, community-based organizations, community organizing groups, and base building groups related to the care that Older Adults with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities in Communities of Color receive from PCPs; and
  • Research: Identify and fill gaps in knowledge and inform efforts to improve health related to the care that Older Adults with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities in Communities of Color receive.

A secondary goal of this RFP is to foster new partnerships or significantly enhance existing partnerships between disability organizations, advocates, community organizations, and healthcare providers. Projects that intentionally address the experiences of Black women with I/DD, women of color with I/DD, and other historically-excluded perspectives within inclusive gender-based and gender-affirming care are also encouraged.

Grants in the range of $50,000-$100,000 (each) for a 1-year period will be awarded.

RFP Suggested Applicants are Section 501(c)(3) public charities – Healthcare, Community, and Disability organizations that are based in the United States.

Important Dates:

  • July 1, 2023: The full RFP will be released on WITH’s website at: withfoundation.org/current-grant-cycle;
  • July 25, 2023: A technical assistance conference call will be held at 1pm PT/4pm ET to answer any questions pertaining to the design of the program and the application. Register in advance for this call at https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZAsdeCqqzMvHNwZWWB5OWQChzP4TSpGf3cs;  
  • August 15, 2023: Proposals will be due by 5pm PT. Proposals must be submitted via online application; and
  • January 25, 2024: The final funding decisions will be announced by this date.