New York State Department of Health

Request for Applications: Health, Wealth, and Well-Being Communities of Practice

Date of Issue :  August 11, 2025

Question-and-Answer Period Closing Date : October 14, 2025 at 11 :59pm

Due Date/Time : October 24, 2025 at 11 :59pm

Counties Served : Rest of State (all counties outside of New York, Bronx, Kings, Queens and Richmond) and/or the other Nations

Overview:

Health Research, Inc. (HRI) and the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH), Office of Public Health, Health, Wealth, and Well-Being Unit announce the availability of funding for up to twenty (20) organizations/individuals, totaling up to $134,460, to serve as Health, Wealth, and Well-Being Consultants in the Community of Practice. Awarded consultants will inform the strategies and initiatives of the Health, Wealth and Wellbeing Unit which will foster a collaborative approach to addressing community needs related to community wealth building. Up to twenty (20) consultants will be awarded a maximum of $6,723 each, for a contract period of November 1, 2025 – November 30, 2027.

The New York State Department of Health, through the Office of Public Health and the Health, Wealth and Wellbeing unit is committed to ensuring all communities have the opportunity for optimal health across the state. Communities experiencing economic disadvantages8 are often most affected by health challenges. These differences in health outcomes9 are especially evident in distressed communities10 throughout New York State. To close these gaps, community-led initiatives are essential for improving health outcomes. As part of planning for upcoming initiatives, a Community of Practice (CoP) will be developed, comprised of individuals and/or organizations with an understanding of the unique needs and dynamics of the distressed communities across New York State.
*Distressed communities are geographic areas experiencing significant economic hardship, often characterized by high poverty rates, unemployment, and a decline in business activity. These communities face challenges like limited access to resources, economic instability, and social issues, impacting residents' quality of life.

This initiative is funded by a CDC Public Health Infrastructure Grant (PHIG) OE22-2203: Strengthening U.S. Public Health Infrastructure, Workforce, and Data Systems. The goal is to create a stronger, more resilient public health system ready to face future health threats. 

Funding: 

A total of up to $134,460 will support up to twenty (20) Health, Wealth, and Well-Being consultants over a deliverable-based contract period between June 2025 and December 2026. Each consultant will receive up to $6,723 upon successful completion of the outlined deliverables. 

Description: 

The Health, Wealth, and Well-Being Unit will fund up to twenty (20) organizations/individuals who will be designated as Health, Wealth, and Well-Being Consultants. These Consultants will attend Community of Practice meetings to share subject matter expertise and knowledge, insights, and best practices on behalf of the communities they serve to inform the strategies and initiatives of the Unit and the Office of Public Health, fostering a collaborative approach to addressing community needs related to community wealth building. The goal of the Community of Practice is to share community perspectives to assist in the Unit’s approach to informing, supporting, developing, and implementing community development activities that will ultimately support the Health, Wealth, and Well-Being Unit’s mission to build wealth, improve community health outcomes, and eliminate health disparities.  The information and feedback provided by Consultants through the Community of Practice will support the Unit to develop a Community Wealth Building Institute1 and other community development activities.  

Scope of Work: 
Deliverable 1: Prepare for and participate in sixteen (16) Community of Practice (COP) workgroup sessions facilitated by NYSDOH.

Deliverable 2: Complete and upload final evaluation survey.

Deliverable 3: Participate in final Best Practices session.

A deliverable-based contract is a contract that describes the deliverables to be completed during the contract period. Each deliverable has different activities that upon completion, will be paid. 

Reporting Expectations:
The following information must be reported for program evaluation purposes:

How many people did your project serve?

In which settings did your project take place (e.g., community-based organization, faith-based organization, etc.)?

How well did you reach the focus population(s) that you selected for this project?

What are the preferred languages of the people your project served?

What are the races and ethnicities of the people your project served?

Which counties and zip codes did your project serve?

How many partner organizations helped you implement your project? How many of these were new or expanded partnerships?

What successes and challenges emerged while carrying out your project?

What are your plans, if any, to continue your project after this grant ends?

Minimum Eligibility Requirements:

To be eligible for this opportunity, applicants must be able to document the following in an essay and or a resume:

1. Live in New York State

2. At least one year of experience providing services (paid, volunteer, or lived) in distressed communities

3. At least one year of experience (paid, volunteer, or lived) in community wealth building, public health, finance, economics, community organizing and/or related fields. Acceptable experience includes but not limited to:

     a. Helping people in your community get access to food, housing, health care, transportation or any other public health need

     b. Teaching or supporting others with money skills like saving, budgeting, or credit building

     c. Organizing community events, food drives, or support groups

     d. Helping people start small businesses, grow community gardens, support homeownership and or build wealth in their community

     e. Supporting efforts to improve communities, like working on safer streets, affordable housing, get a job

     f. Working with and or volunteering for local nonprofits, churches and or community programs that address a public health need

4. Applicant must have a New York State Employer Identification Number (EIN)

Examples of organizations eligible to apply for this funding opportunity include Non-Profit Organizations, Faith Based Organizations, Neighborhood Block Associations, Professional Associations, Community Coalitions, Grassroots Organizations, Community Health Worker Networks, and other community-based organizations serving New York State.

Self-employed, volunteers and or community activist are encouraged to apply.

Examples of organizations that are not eligible for this funding opportunity include hospitals, banking institutions, county health departments, lenders, and for-profit organizations.

Preferred Qualifications: 

1. Demonstrate a strong understanding of local community dynamics and challenges. This includes personal experience, past projects, or roles that involved working closely with community members responding to local issues.
2. Experience communicating and collaborating with various stakeholders, including but not limited to community members, government agencies, nonprofit organizations, and/or academic institutions.
3. Leadership experience, including but not limited to, taking initiative, motivating others, and driving projects forward while working collaboratively within a team-based environment.
4. Established partnerships with nontraditional partners, such as but not limited to community-based and grassroots organizations serving distressed communities, as defined in this document.
5. Experience being creative and adaptable in exploring innovative solutions, experimenting with new approaches, and leveraging emerging trends and technologies to advance the group’s objectives.
6. Experience with community development and/or community organizing.
7. Demonstrated understanding of local government policies and how they impact the community.
8. Proven understanding of the unique needs and dynamics of all communities across New York State, with experience in developing and implementing initiatives to address those needs.
9. Experience with community economic development principles, including community assets, community investment, fair finance, democratic ownership models, and how to use these principles to contribute to wealth building initiatives.
10. Understanding of public health concepts and practices, particularly as they relate to the social diversity of health and how they impact wealth and wellbeing.

Payment Schedule: 

Each consultant will be paid up to $6,723 over the contract period of this deliverable based contract. Consultants will submit invoices based on the completion of deliverables specified in the consultant’s contract. Deliverables are identified in the Scope of Work.  

Note:If applying as an individual, please note that consultant payments will be considered taxable income. Consultants will need to complete a W-9 form for HRI.  The W-9 form is a commonly used form from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) that provides HRI with information needed to pay the consultant, such as the consultant’s name, address, and Social Security Number (SSN). Information from the form is used by the IRS to estimate how much taxes consultants (or independent contractors) will need to pay. 

Application Process:

Application Process:
Applications must be submitted online in SurveyMonkey Apply© (SM Apply©). To respond to this solicitation, please first create a login and then complete the application questions in the SM Apply© form. Click here to access the application. Applications are due by October 24, 2025.
Step 1: Create a login in SM Apply©. A verification link will be sent to your email—follow the link to complete your registration.
Step 2: Log into SM Apply© and respond to all application questions directly in the platform.
Step 3: Upload the following required documents in SM Apply©:
1. One Letter of Support:
a. If applying as an individual, submit at least one letter of support from a community-based or grassroots organization.
b. If applying on behalf of an organization, the letter must come from the Executive Director.
2. Documentation of Relevant Experience: Submit at least one of the following to demonstrate your relevant paid, volunteer, or lived experience:
a. A resume,
b. OR a personal statement that outlines your qualifications, including dates, roles, and responsibilities relevant to the deliverables in this application.

To contract with HRI and receive funds under this funding opportunity, organizations are required to have a SAM.gov Unique Entity ID (UEI) number. If you do not already have a UEI, please visit SAM.gov | Home to get a Unique Entity ID number. Obtaining a UEI number may take several weeks, so it is best to begin the process now. This will ensure that if you are selected for this funding opportunity, there will not be a delay in the contracting process.

Question-and-Answer Period:
The Question-and-Answer period allows applicants to ask for clarifications about the application process or funding opportunity. Submit questions to dphi@health.ny.gov by September 29, 2025, by 11:59 PM EST. Answers to all questions will be posted on the HRI Funding Opportunities page on or before October 6, 2025. (Note: During this Question-and-Answer Period, questions submitted by applicants cannot be answered individually.)

Review Process:

Applications meeting the minimum eligibility requirements will be reviewed and evaluated competitively by a panel convened by the Health, Wealth, and Well-Being Unit using an objective rating system reflective of the required items specified for each component. Up to 20 applicants with the highest acceptable score will be selected. 

The total maximum score any application can receive is 105 points. 

An email will be sent from the Health, Wealth, and Well-Being unit to let applicants know if they have been selected or not selected for this opportunity. Once award notices have been sent, applicants may request a debriefing of their application (whether their application was selected or not selected). Please note the debriefing will be limited only to the organization’s application and will not include any discussion of other applications. Requests must be received no later than fifteen (15) business days from the date of award or non-award announcement via email.

To request a debriefing, please send an email to dphi@health.ny.gov . In the subject line, please write: Debriefing Request

Application Questions:

These are the questions you will see in SM Apply® when you complete an online application.

1. Tell us about yourself or your organization. What kind of work do you do, and what community need(s) are you focused on (like housing, food access, economic opportunity, etc.)? Be sure to include where your services are provided (counties, neighborhoods, or Nations). (Not scored)

*Deliverable-based Contract: An agreement where payment is tied to the successful completion and delivery of specific, pre-defined outcomes.

2. Tell us about your experience working and talking to varied audiences, like community members, government, nonprofits, and schools. How long have you done this, and can you give one example of your time working with these audiences? (10 points)

3. Tell us about your experience as a leader. How do you start projects, motivate others, and work in a team? How long have you done this, and can you give one example? (10 points)

4. What connections do you or your organization have with various groups in New York State, like community-based organizations, faith-based communities, community advocacy organizations, and other important groups? How do you use these connections to help others? (10 points)

5. Tell us about a time you or your organization tried new ideas or used new technology to solve problems. Give us an example of overcoming obstacles during implementation or adoption. What worked or didn’t work? How did you manage this change? (10 points)

6. Tell us about your experience supporting community members to work together to improve their community’s quality of life, making it strong, healthy, and accessible? How did you encourage active participation and collaboration? How long have you done this, and can you give one example that demonstrates your work to advance communities? (10 points)

7. Tell us about your experience working to ensure that community members have access to opportunities and resources to improve their quality of life. What steps do you take to learn about and meet the needs of community members? How long have you done this, and can you give one example that demonstrates your ability to engage your community members? (10 points)

8. Tell us about your understanding of and experience with local government policies and/or laws and how they affect communities. How long have you done this, and can you give one example of work you have done in this area? (10 points)

9. Tell us about your understanding of the needs of different communities throughout New York State, and your experience in creating programs to address them. Can you give one example of a program you created to address a need? (10 points)

10. What do you know about helping communities grow economically, using community assets, investments, and fair finance? How can these ideas help build wealth? (10 points)

11. Explain your understanding of public health. How does access to money, effect well-being and impact public health outcomes? ex. access to services, stable housing, nutrition etc. (10 points)

Application Submission:
Submit your answers to the application questions in SM Apply©, along with documentation of relevant paid, volunteer, and/or lived experience. This includes (1) a letter of support and (2) documentation that demonstrates your qualifications, such as a resume or a personal statement outlining your experience, roles, and responsibilities. All materials must be uploaded to SM Apply© by October 24, 2025.

All applications (including letter of support and proof of experience) must be received in SM Apply© by October 24, 2025, 11:59 PM. Late applications will not be able to be submitted. Applications will not be accepted via mail, fax, or e-mail.