REQUEST FOR APPLICATIONS
Support for State Public Health Agencies to
Address Alzheimer’s Disease, Dementia, and Cognitive Health
Overview
Purpose: To fund and support up to five state public health agencies in the implementation of
two or more specific action items in The Healthy Brain Initiative: The Public Health
Road Map for State and National Partnerships, 2013-2018. The grants are offered by
the Alzheimer’s Association in collaboration with the Association of State and
Territorial Health Officials.
Application Due Date and Time: July 12, 2017, at 5:00 PM EDT
Notification Date: August 4, 2017
Financial Support Available to Award Recipients: $35,000
Other Support Available to Award Recipients: Travel reimbursement for the agency’s project
leader to attend a two-day planning workshop on September 28-29, 2017, in
Arlington, Virginia; technical assistance and tools; community of practice calls every
other month; and evaluation support.
Applicants should hold September 28-29 on their calendars.
Performance Period: October 1, 2017, to October 31, 2018
Final Report Date: November 30, 2018
Pre-Application Telephone Consultations: One 30-minute telephone consultation is available
per eligible state or territory
Eligibility: 44 states, including DC, are eligible to apply (see list on page 3)
Contact:
Molly French, Director of Public Health, Alzheimer’s Association, [email protected] or
202.638.8674
Purpose
The Alzheimer’s Association, in collaboration with the Association of State and Territorial
Health Officials (ASTHO) and in partnership with the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention’s (CDC) Alzheimer’s Disease and Healthy Aging Program, will fund and support up to
five state health agencies to implement two or more actions in The Healthy Brain Initiative: The
Public Health Road Map for State and National Partnerships, 2013-2018 (Road Map) over a 12month period.a One implementation partner must be an Alzheimer’s Association chapter, and
additional implementation partners are encouraged. The priority is to stimulate Road Map
implementation by public health agencies in states that have not received prior financial
support.
Background
The Healthy Brain Initiative (HBI) began in 2005 as a collaboration between the Alzheimer’s
Association (Association) and the CDC. Over the years, the Association of State and Territorial
Health Officials (ASTHO) has been an essential HBI partner, including in the development of The
Healthy Brain Initiative: The Public Health Road Map for State and National Partnerships, 20132018. This Road Map focuses on the role that state and local public health agencies and
partners can play in promoting cognitive functioning, addressing cognitive impairment and
Alzheimer’s disease, and helping meet the needs of caregivers. Specifically, it provides a flexible
menu of 35 action items organized in four domains of the Essential Services of Public Health.
 Assure a competent workforce
 Educate and empower the nation
 Monitor and evaluate
 Develop policy and mobilize partnerships
At the national level, the Association, ASTHO, CDC, National Association of Chronic Disease
Directors (NACDD), and others have worked to develop states’ capacity to address cognitive
health as an integral component of public health. Both the Association and NACDD have
provided grants and technical assistance in support of Road Map implementation at the state
level. More recently, the 2015 ASTHO President’s Challenge focused on promoting the health of
older adults (including cognitive health and caregiving) by collaborating across sectors.
Eligibility
Only one application per state health agency will be accepted. If a state health agency submits
more than one application, the agency will be excluded from further consideration. The
following 44 states, including the District of Columbia, are eligible to applyb for a grant.
a
The Alzheimer’s Association’s cooperative agreement with CDC is the only source of support for the financial
assistance and travel reimbursement for employees of state health agencies to be provided to award recipients.
b To be eligible, a state or territory 1) has membership in good standing with ASTHO at the time of award; 2) has
an Alzheimer’s Association chapter; 3) did not receive a Road Map grant from the Alzheimer’s Association in 2016.
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Alabama
Arizona
Arkansas
California
Connecticut
Delaware
District of
Columbia
Florida
Georgia
Hawaii
Idaho
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Maine
Massachusetts
Michigan
Minnesota
Mississippi
Missouri
Montana
Nebraska
Nevada
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New York
North Carolina
North Dakota
Ohio
Oklahoma
Oregon
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas
Utah
Vermont
Virginia
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Wyoming
Project Activities and Expectations
This opportunity will support state health agencies as they implement two or more
specific Public Health Road Map actionsc from this subset. These action items
correspond with public health approaches focused on:
 Reducing risk for cognitive decline, and possibly dementia; and
 Early detection, diagnosis, and care planning for Alzheimer’s and other
dementias.
Educate and Empower the Nation
E-01 Identify and implement (or promote) culturally-appropriate strategies
designed to increase public awareness about dementia, including Alzheimer’s
disease, to reduce conflicting messages, decrease stigma, and promote early
diagnosis.
E-04
Disseminate evidence-based messages about reducing risk for cognitive
decline and preserving cognitive health.
Monitor and Evaluate
M-06 Support state and local needs assessments to identify racial/ethnic; lesbian,
gay, bisexual, and transgender; socioeconomic; and geographic disparities
related to cognitive health and impairment and help ensure materials are
culturally appropriate. Such needs assessments would ideally utilize data
from both public health and aging/disability systems.
Develop Policies and Mobilize Community Partnerships
P-01 Collaborate in the implementation of specific recommendations in the state
Alzheimer’s disease plan, or (as applicable) contribute to updating the state
plan. Applications should identify which specific state plan recommendation(s)
c
This RFA modified the wording of some Road Map actions to reflect current priorities or opportunities.
that the agency will do that relate to risk reduction and/or early detection
and diagnosis.
P-02
Integrate cognitive health and impairment into state and local government
plans (e.g., state health improvement plans, coordinated chronic disease,
preparedness, falls, and transportation plans).
P-03
Incorporate cognitive health, cognitive impairment, and dementia caregiving
into state public health burden reports (or promote incorporation at local
level).
P-04
Integrate Healthy People 2020 objectives on “Older Adults” and “Dementias,
including Alzheimer’s disease” topic areas into state-based plans or health
system transformation initiatives (e.g., state innovation models, Medicaid
waiver demonstrations).
Assure a Competent Workforce
W-01 Develop expertise in cognitive health and impairment within the state public
health department to support long-term integration of cognition and
dementia caregiving in existing state public health programs and plans.
W-03 Support continuing education efforts that improve healthcare providers’
ability to recognize early signs of dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease,
and to offer care planning and
counseling to individuals and their
Resources
caregivers.
Alzheimer’s Association
W-06 Educate healthcare providers about
Public Health Alzheimer’s Resource Center
validated cognitive assessment tools
alz.org/publichealth
that could be administered in such
settings as physician offices, clinics,
emergency rooms, and acute care
hospitals’ admission offices.
The state health agency should retain the
prominent role in implementing the Road Map
actions for this grant opportunity.
One project partner must be one or more
Alzheimer’s Association chapters within the
state (directory); however, the Alzheimer’s
Association chapter may not receive any of the
financial support provided under this program.
States may choose to provide some of their
award to a local project partner, such as a city or
county health department, regional health
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Road Map Resources and Examples for
Public Health Officials
http://bit.ly/21HlWwN
ASTHO
Healthy Aging (resource page):
astho.org/healthyaging/EmpoweredPeople
Mental and Emotional Wellbeing
astho.org/healthyaging/Mental-andEmotional-Well-being
CDC
Healthy Aging Program
cdc.gov/aging
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improvement coalition, or a regional faith-based network with health promotion
experience.
Cross-sector partners, especially with the state agency for aging and disability services,
are encouraged. Additional travel reimbursement may be available from the Alzheimer’s
Association to enable a representative from the state aging agency to participate in the
planning workshop.
Expectations
State health agencies selected for awards must meet the following expectations and
complete activities described in its application before October 31, 2018.
 Establish a new or strengthen an existing partnership with an Alzheimer’s
Association chapter.
 Participate in a two-day workshop that the Association and ASTHO will conduct
to help grantees develop detailed workplans. The workshop will be on
September 28-29, 2017, in the ASTHO office in Arlington, Virginia.
 Submit a detailed workplan by October 31, 2017, to the Association.
 Participate in community of practice calls with other awardees every other
month.
 Cooperate with the Association’s evaluation plan for its cooperative agreement
with the CDC.
 Submit a final report no later than November 30, 2018.
Support Available
Award recipients will benefit from a combination of financial and non-financial support.
The Association anticipates up to five awards of $35,000, with the support provided in a
single payment upon execution of a memorandum of understanding.d
Non-financial support provided to award recipients will include:
 Travel reimbursement for one state health agency employee to attend a two-day
planning workshop. The workshop will be on September 28-29, 2017. Applicants
should hold these dates on their calendars.
o Someone from your Alzheimer’s Association chapter partner will also attend
the workshop, supported by another funding source.
 Technical assistance and tools.
 Community of practice calls every other month.
 Evaluation support.
d
There is a small chance that additional funding will be offered to award recipients; nonetheless,
applicants’ budgets should total $35,000.
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Application Submission Instructions
By Monday, July 12, 2017, at 5:00 PM EDT, send a single PDF (with no more than six
pages) that contains both your application narrative and budget via email to Molly
French at [email protected]. Incomplete applications, multiple applications from a single
health agency, and applications received after the deadline will not be considered.
Application Outline (maximum 5 pages)
Application narratives should not exceed five pages and should follow this outline.
1. Statement of Purpose
 Need for public health action on Alzheimer’s and cognitive health in [State]
 Goals for implementing Road Map actions (i.e., the project)
2. Road Map Actions
 List of two or more actions that the state health agency is most interested in
implementing
 Rationale for selection of each action
 Commitment to assure health agency website has links to local, state, and
national dementia resources, including those specific to Alzheimer’s disease
and dementia caregiving, such as www.alzheimers.gov. (Road Map E-03)
 Possible linkages to existing initiatives within public health or other sectors
NOTE: Applicants are not expected to provide details about how they will
undertake the selected Road Map actions because the September workshop will
help grantees develop workplans.
3. Agency Capacity
 Overview of healthy aging efforts in state health agency’s public health unit
 Lead office in state health agency responsible for implementation
 Description of partners (current or potential) for Road Map implementation
and their roles in the proposed project
 Existing supportive data sources/systems
 In-kind or financial support for the project by the agency or partners (if
applicable)
 Explanation of how agency will sustain Road Map implementation after
October 2018
4. Contact for the Application
 Name, title, agency division/unit, telephone, and e-mail
Budget (maximum 1 page)
Please provide a simple budget using the template in the Addendum (page 8).
Application Review and Notification
The Alzheimer’s Association, ASTHO, and CDC will review all applications from eligible
state health agencies using the following scoring rubric.
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Section
1. Statement of
Purpose
2. Road Map
Action Items
3. Agency
Capacity
4. Contact
Budget
Criteria
Applicant demonstrates understanding of cognitive health,
cognitive impairment including Alzheimer’s disease and
other dementias, and dementia caregiving in its state from
a public health perspective
Statement articulates a clear goal(s) for project, and goal(s)
relates to implementation of the Road Map
List has two or more specific Road Map actions
Rationale is provided for each Road Map action
Rationales correspond with needs and goal(s) identified in
Statement of Purpose
Applicant commits to add links to information about dementia
to its website if none currently exist
One or more action(s) relate to an existing initiative in the
state health agency
State health agency has existing effort(s) that promote healthy
aging
Applicant specifies a suitable lead office in state health agency
that is responsible for implementation
Alzheimer’s Association chapter is identified as a project
partner, and potential roles seem feasible and appropriate
for proposed project
Other partner(s) are identified, and potential roles seem
feasible and appropriate for proposed project
Applicant identifies data sources or systems that can support
proposed project
In-kind support for the project is described, as appropriate
Applicant demonstrates evidence of capacity to sustain Road
Map work beyond the project period
Application has an innovative aspect
Single point of contact is provided
Applicant’s project leader will attend the September workshop
Grant budget totals $35,000 and makes sound use of funding
TOTAL POTENTIAL POINTS FOR ALL DOMAINS:
Points
3
2
2
2
3
1
3
6
3
3
3
2
2
4
3
2
3
3
50
These ratings will be used in an advisory nature to assemble a portfolio of funded
projects with diverse issues, geographies, and populations. Priority will be given to
applications that have a strong potential to:
 Lead to ongoing efforts by the agency to implement the Road Map.
 Generate promising practices for other states.
 Prioritize populations that bear a disproportionate burden related to
Alzheimer’s and other dementias.
 Involve a partnership with the state agency on aging and disability.
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Notwithstanding the scoring of the reviewers, final decisions on award recipients rest
with the Alzheimer’s Association. The Association reserves the right to reject any or all
applications, to award support to those other than the highest scorers, and to withdraw
this call for applications in its entirety.
Notification
All health agencies that submit an application will receive notification of their status by
August 4, 2017.
Contact
Molly French, Director of Public Health, Alzheimer’s Association, [email protected] or
202.638.8674
Addendum
Applicants should use this budget template to produce a budget of one page.
Budget Template
Category
Salary and Wages
Fringe Benefits
Other Costs
[list each item;
add rows as
needed]
Indirect Costs
TOTAL
Amount
Description
Requested
$
$ Fringe benefits are calculated as a percentage of
the budgeted salary expense in accordance with
[Agency Name] fringe rate of ___%. Fringe costs
cover [list….such as, social security (FICA), workers’
compensation, retirement, hospitalization
insurance, unemployment insurance, and total
disability insurance].
$
$
$ The current approved indirect cost rate for [Agency
Name] is ____%.
$35,000
NOTE: Alzheimer’s Association chapters may not receive any of the financial support
provided under this program. Also, the state health agency must be the primary
implementer.
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