Rural Health Network Development Grant Program (RHND)

The ultimate goal of the program is to build continually self-perpetuating sustainable networks with business (network partner return) and social (community return) competencies that increase access and quality of rural health care and ultimately, the health status of rural residents. Networks must consist of at least three separately owned entities. Each member of the network must sign a memorandum of agreement or similar formal collaborative agreement.

To be eligible for an RHND Grant, the applicant organization must meet the following requirements:

1. The applicant organization must be a public or non-profit health care provider located in a rural area. To ascertain rural eligibility, please refer to http://ruralhealth.hrsa.gov/funding/eligibilitytestv2.asp and enter the applicant organization's State and County, or see the list enclosed in the application kit. Networks serving rural communities but whose applicant organization is not in a designated rural area will not be reviewed.

2. In addition to the 50 States, applicants can be located in the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, the Territories of the Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, the Compact Free Association Jurisdictions of the Republic of the Marshall Islands, the Republic of Palau and the Federated States of Micronesia.

3. The network is composed of at least three separate, existing organizations; organizations that are jointly owned are not considered separate. If the Network is not a formally established entity itself that is 501(c)(3) incorporated, as is sometimes the case with newer networks, one of the Network members may apply on behalf of the Network. If the Network is incorporated as a 501(c)(3), the Network entity should be the applicant and must consist of at least three participating network members in order to be eligible.

Faith-based and community-based organizations, as well as Federally recognized Tribes and Tribal organizations, are eligible to apply for these grants.

Please see the program web site for more details about eligibility for this grant program.

The ORHP does not anticipate holding a competitive funding cycle for the RHND program in FY 2009 and FY 2010. It is anticipated that the next competitive cycle for this program will be in FY 2011.

All applicants are required to notify their State Office of Rural Health (SORH) or other appropriate State government entity early in the application process to advise them of their intent to apply.

The Office of Rural Health Policy will hold a Technical Assistance call for the Rural Health Network Development grant program. The call will be held on Thursday, September 19, 2007 at 2:00pm Eastern Time. However, anyone who is interested must pre-register for the call. To register for the call and receive the call-in number, contact Mary Collier at mcollier@hrsa.gov Mary will then email you all the information on how to join the call.

For more information contact:

Applicants may obtain additional information regarding business, administrative, or fiscal issues related to this grant announcement by contacting:

Stephannie Young, Grants Management Specialist
HRSA/OFAM/Division of Grants Management Operations
5600 Fishers Lane
Room 11A-16
Rockville, MD 20857
(301) 594-1246
syoung1@hrsa.gov

Technical assistance regarding this funding announcement may be obtained by contacting:

Sherilyn Pruitt, RHND Program Coordinator
Office of Rural Health Policy
5600 Fishers Lane
Room 9A-55
Rockville, MD 20857
Telephone: 301-594-0819
Fax: 301-443-2803
spruitt@hrsa.gov

Summaries of funding programs are provided by RAC for your convenience. Please contact the funder directly for the most complete and current information.