Creating Community Clinical Linkages to Heart Health FAQ

All questions regarding this RFP must be submitted by email to health.heart@state.mn.us. All questions and answers will be posted on this page within seven business days.

Please submit questions no later than 4:30 p.m. Central Time on May 29, 2024.

Information session 

MDH hosted a virtual webinar on May 9, 2024. Watch the recording: Creating Community Clinical Linkages to Heart Health Information Session.

Questions and answers

Q: Can you clarify that for-profit organizations are eligible to apply with a non-profit (501C3) fiscal sponsor?

A: For-profit organizations are not listed as an eligible applicant. A fiscal agent is not the applicant, but an entity that helps the programmatic grantee ensure compliance with the fiscal responsibilities of the grant.

Q: Can blood pressure cuffs be purchased with grant funds?

A: Any proposal to purchase blood pressure monitors on a limited basis will require a very strong justification of how this will be part of a systematic, sustainable approach. Funds may not be used to purchase monitors for individuals. Rather, approaches such as lending programs may be appropriate if they include clear protocols and assurance of follow-up and accountable use and maintenance of monitors. For information on loaner programs and protocols visit American Medical Association: How to start a home blood pressure monitoring program. MDH also provides information about home blood pressure monitoring, including links to validated blood pressure monitors: About High Blood Pressure. Determination of appropriateness of such proposals will be made on an individual basis. As much as possible, leveraging other resources will be important to support this type of work. 

Q: We have staff that are working in a role similar to CHW, but do not have that title. Would that still count for full points?

A: Yes. Community health workers (CHW) are frontline public health workers who are trusted members of and/or have a close understanding of the community served. CHWs includes patient navigators, promotores de salud, community representatives, community health advisors, and others. Please explain in your application how the role is similar.

Q: Does establishing a referral system mean for medical purposes and or education? Screening purposes (medical, diagnostic) or to see a health educator.

A: Yes. Referrals can be established or enhanced from clinic services to community sources, community sources to clinic services, or both.

Q: Can the referral go from a clinic to an agency to see a CHW or the other way around?

A: Yes. Community Health Workers could be part of the community sector or serve as community liaisons by offering, referring, and linking patients to community supports or clinic services. The referral can be established or enhanced from a clinic to a community health worker or a community health worker to a clinic, or both.

Q: Would providing resource referrals for medical or other resources to one of the grantees involved be a conflict of interest? 

A: No, it would not be a conflict of interest if it fits the purpose of the RFP. The purpose of this grant program is to enhance, expand, and/or create new referrals between clinical and community settings.

Q: If 3 organizations are funded by this grant, is the max award $20,000 per year? If 1 organization is funded, the max award would be $60,000 per year...is this correct?

A: $60,000 annually is budgeted to support this program. We aim to fund two-three grantees. Funded organizations will be awarded between $20,000-$60,000. Scope and budget will be negotiated with selected grantees prior to award.

Q: Can we request our full indirect rate?

A: Yes, you can request your full indirect rate, but it will be included as part of your total budget request. If requesting indirect costs in the budget, a copy of the indirect cost-rate agreement is required. If the indirect costs are requested, include a copy of the current negotiated federal indirect cost rate agreement or a cost allocation plan approval letter for those Recipients under such a plan. If indirect costs are requested, but there is no federal indirect cost rate agreement, you can choose to apply a 10% indirect cost rate. Again, this amount will be included within your total budget request.

Q: Where can I find data about heart health in Minnesota?

A: The CVH Unit at MDH has published some data which may be helpful. Dashboards and reports can be found on the Cardiovascular Health Data page. 

Q: For the budget, you ask for a budget for the first fiscal year. Does that run from October 1, 2024 – September 30, 2025?

A: The budget should match the work plan for year 1 which follows the timeline below. With year 1 being shorter than years 2 and 3, some funds can be carried over into the next budget year. 

• Year 1: Oct. 1, 2024 – June 30, 2025 
• Year 2: July 1, 2025-June 30, 2026 
• Year 3: July 1, 2026-June 30, 2027

Q: Is it acceptable to apply to both the "Addressing Diabetes Through Community Solutions for Healthy Food Access" RFP and the "Creating Community Clinical Linkages to Heart Health" RFP simultaneously or would we need to select one or the other for which to apply?

A: Yes, it is acceptable to apply to both "Addressing Diabetes Through Community Solutions for Healthy Food Access" RFP and the "Creating Community Clinical Linkages to Heart Health" RFP simultaneously.

Q: You mention a future grant opportunity focused on St. Paul’s Rondo Community. If I receive this grant, can I apply for that grant when it is released?

A: No, applicants awarded funding for the “Creating Community Clinical Linkages to Heart Health” RFP will not be eligible for the Rondo Community Grant RFP. That grant opportunity will be released in Summer 2024. 

Q: What is considered a clinical and community sector? 

A: Clinical Sector: Composed of organizations that provide services, programs, or resources directly related to medical diagnoses or treatment of community members by health care workers in health care settings.  

Community Sector: Composed of organizations that provide services, programs, or resources to community members in non-health care settings.  

Q: Can you provide examples on community-clinical links? 

A: Community-clinical links are connections between community and clinical sectors to improve population health.  Examples can be found in CDC’s Community-Clinical Linkages for the Prevention and Control of Chronic Diseases: A Practitioner’s Guide (PDF).   

Q: Why is the grant period 33 months? 

A: This RFP follows the Minnesota Department of Health state fiscal year. The next state fiscal year starts on July 1, 2024 - June 30, 2025. With an October 1, 2024, grant execution, the grant period runs for 33 months.  

Q: Is ‘social services and support needs’ the same as ‘social determinants of health risk factors’?

A: The World Health Organization (WHO) defines Social Determinants of Health as, “the conditions in which people are born, grow, work, live, and age, and the wider set of forces and systems shaping the conditions of daily life.” A social need on the other hand, is better described as the need of an individual as a result of social determinants of health.

Q:  What social determinants focus areas can we address?  

A: Social Determinants of Health: The National Center for Disease Prevention and Health Promotion aims to address the five social determinants of health that are strongly tied to chronic disease conditions and communities that are most affected.  This RFP is designed to address social determinants of health through community-clinical linkages, with the exception of tobacco free policy implementation.

• Neighborhood & Built Environment: Human-made surroundings that influence overall community health and people’s behaviors that drive health.  Example areas of focus include crime and safety, pedestrian safety and walkability, parks and green space, all-weather opportunities for physical activity, or access to broadband. 
• Food and Nutrition Security: Having reliable access to enough high-quality food to avoid hunger and stay healthy. Examples include availability and/or access to healthy food options, household hunger, food deserts, or availability and access to culturally appropriate foods.  
• Social Connectedness: When people or groups have relationships that create a sense of belonging and being cared for, valued and supported. Examples areas of focus include engagement of communities experiencing social isolation, culturally responsive emotional wellbeing and resilience, or social support (intergenerational connections and support, support for caregivers, workplace wellness, peer support, etc.)  
• Community-Clinical Linkages: Required. See RFP, 2.4 Mandatory Project Requirements for specific details.  
• Tobacco Free Policy: Tobacco Free Policy work is not fundable.  
• Other: Grantee will describe in application. Examples include health literacy, culturally responsive and linguistically appropriate care, healthcare access –incarceration, mental health integration, peri pregnant, pregnant, and postpartum people.  

Q: What evidence-based lifestyle change programs are included? 

A: The evidence-based lifestyle change programs must address heart health.  

Q: What is the MN 2035 Plan? 

A: Created with the support and input of the communities and organizations most impacted by these diseases, Minnesota’s Action Plan to Address Cardiovascular Disease, Stroke, and Diabetes 2035 is a road map and call to action for communities, health care organizations, community and organizational leaders, and individuals to collaborate to prevent, treat, and manage cardiovascular disease, stroke, and diabetes through 2035.  

Q: Is it acceptable to apply to both the "Addressing Diabetes Through Community Solutions for Healthy Food Access" RFP and the "Creating Community Clinical Linkages to Heart Health" RFP simultaneously or would we need to select one or the other for which to apply?

A: Yes, it is acceptable to apply to both "Addressing Diabetes Through Community Solutions for Healthy Food Access" RFP and the "Creating Community Clinical Linkages to Heart Health" RFP simultaneously. 

Q: Are there ineligible expenses that cannot be included as part of the budget?

A: Yes, there are a number of ineligible expenses that cannot be covered by this grant. These include, but are not limited to:

• Food  
• Direct patient care  
• Medical equipment
• Construction
• Non-grant-related costs or expenses not contributing to project activities/deliverables
• Cash assistance for personal/family needs paid directly to individuals
• Costs incurred outside grant award period (Unless otherwise indicated)
• Staff gifts/bonuses, personal use goods/services, or meals (except during approved travel)
• Grant writing or research
• Sponsorships of events, trainings or advertisements that are not directly related to the grant
• Fundraising
• Taxes, except sales tax on goods and services
• Lobbyists, political contributions
• Bad debts, late payment fees, finance charges, or contingency funds 

Q: If education includes cooking classes, is food for class eligible or does ineligible mean food for participants to take home? 

A: Food is not an allowable expense, even for demonstration/teaching purposes.