RFA Release Date: September 30, 2026
Informational Webinar: October 9, 2026, And October 26, 2026, at 11am
Questions Due: October 30, 2026, by 4:00 PM ET
Questions, Answers, and Updates Posted:(on or about) November 6, 2026
Applications Due: November 13, 2026, by 11:59pm
Health Research, Inc. (HRI), in partnership with the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH), Office of Public Health (OPH), Division of Public Health Infrastructure (DPHI), and Community Engagement and Outreach (CEO), announces the availability of funding through the Public Health Communications Support initiative.
The Public Health Communications Support initiative pairs communications, marketing, media, and creative professionals with organizations participating in the Credible Public Health Messengers initiative to strengthen community-driven public health communications across New York State.
Organizations participating in the Credible Public Health Messengers initiative will have completed NYSDOH-supported training and developed an approved Community Communications Plan (CCP). Public Health Communications Support awardees will partner with these organizations to implement their approved plans by developing professional, culturally responsive public health communications campaigns tailored to their communities.
Up to eight (8) Public Health Communications Support awardees will be selected through this funding opportunity. The initiative will be implemented in two cohorts. During the contract period, each awardee will support ten (10) organizations, five (5) from Cohort 1 and five (5) from Cohort 2, by providing communications, marketing, and creative services that support implementation of each organization's approved Community Communications Plan.
Background:
Effective public health communication depends on more than accurate information, it requires trusted messengers, meaningful community partnerships, and communications that reflect the experiences, cultures, and priorities of the people they are intended to reach. Across New York State, community-based organizations play a critical role in connecting residents to public health information, services and resources.
Through the Credible Public Health Messengers initiative, selected organizations receive training and develop Community Communications Plans (CCPs) that guide community-driven public health campaigns. While these organizations bring trusted relationships, cultural knowledge, and lived experience, many do not have access to the professional communications, marketing, graphic design, media production, or branding expertise needed to fully implement their campaigns.
The Public Health Communications Support initiative was established to address this need by funding communications professionals to partner with Credible Public Health Messengers awardees in implementing their approved Community Communications Plans. These partnerships combine community expertise with professional communications services to create high-quality, culturally responsible campaigns that strengthen local communications capacity and expand the reach and effectiveness of public health messages across New York State.
Purpose:
The purpose of this funding opportunity is to identify qualified communications, marketing, media, and creative professionals to provide technical assistance to Credible Community Public Health Messengers. Awardees will partner with the assigned community organizations to transform approved CCPs into professional, culturally responsive communications campaigns that increase awareness of public health issues throughout New York State.
Available Funding:
Up to eight (8) organizations will be awarded deliverable-based contracts
Up to $50,000 each to provide communications, marketing, media, and creative services to organizations participating in the Credible Public Health Messengers initiative.
Contracts are anticipated to run from December 1, 2026, through October 31, 2027.
Payment may be considered taxable income. Awardees will be required to complete an Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Form W-9 for Health Research, Inc. (HRI).
This initiative is funded through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Public Health Infrastructure Grant (PHIG) OE22-2203: Strengthening U.S. Public Health Infrastructure, Workforce, and Data Systems. The goal of this funding is to strengthen public health workforce capacity, infrastructure, and systems to improve health outcomes and preparedness
Regional Award Distribution:
To support statewide geographic coverage, NYSDOH anticipates making up to two (2) awards within each of the four (4) regions listed below:
Region | Counties |
Western & Finger Lakes | Allegany, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Erie, Genesse, Niagara, Orleans, Wyoming |
Central New York | Broome, Cayuga, Chenango, Chemung, Cortland, Herkimer, Jefferson, Lewis, Livingston, Madison, Monroe, Oneida, Onondaga, Ontario, Oswego, Schuyler, Seneca, Steuben, St. Lawrence, Tioga, Tompkins, Wayne, Yates |
Hudson Valley | Columbia, Delaware, Dutchess, Greene, Orange, Putnam, Rockland, Sullivan, Ulster, Westchester |
Capital Region & North Country | Albany, Clinton, Essex, Franklin, Fulton, Hamilton, Montgomery, Otsego, Rensselaer, Saratoga, Schenectady, Schoharie, Warren, Washington |
Applicants must select the region in which they provide services to when submitting their application. Applications will be evaluated competitively within each region.
If fewer than two (2) qualified applicants are available within a region, or if applications within a region do not demonstrate sufficient technical merit, NYSDOH reserves the right to adjust based on final score, organizational capacity, programmatic need, and availability of funding.
Cohort Structure:
The Public Health Communications Support Program will be implemented in two (2) cohorts to align with the phased implementation of the Credible Public Health Messengers initiative.
Cohort 1: December 2026 – March 2027
Cohort 2: May 2027 – July 2027
During cohort 1, each awardee will be assigned to five (5) community partner organizations. During cohort 2, each awardee will be assigned to five (5) additional community partner organizations, for a total of ten (10) organizations over the contract period. Awardees will collaborate with assigned organizations and NYSDOH to review approved Community Communications Plans, develop professional communications and marketing materials, and support implementation of community-driven public health communications campaigns.
This phased approach enables awardees to dedicate sufficient time and resources to each organization, foster meaningful collaboration, and produce high-quality communications products.
Eligibility:
Applicants must meet all the following Minimum Eligibility Requirements to be considered eligible for this funding opportunity. Failure to meet any requirement will result in the application being deemed ineligible and removed from further consideration.
To be eligible, applicants must:
Be a legally authorized entity to conduct business in New York State
Provide services in New York State, outside of New York City
Have a valid Employer Identification Number (EIN)
Have a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) within accordance with the Conditional Award Requirements detailed below
Have 30 or fewer employees at the time of application
Demonstrate a minimum of five (5) years of experience providing:
communications, marketing, media, branding, graphic design, content creation, public relations, or related communications services.
Conducted at least two (2) communications and/or marketing campaigns completed within the past five (5) years.
Selected applicants must contract directly with HRI and may not use a fiscal sponsor, umbrella organization, or fiscal agent.
Scope of Work:
Each Public Health Communications Support awardee will be assigned up to five (5) organizations during each cohort, for a total of up to ten (10) organizations over the contract period.
The final number of assignments may vary based on enrollment, community partner readiness, contract timing, and programmatic needs. If an awardee is assigned to fewer than ten (10) organizations, NYSDOH and HRI reserve the right to adjust contract activities, deliverables, and payments accordingly.
Awardees will partner with assigned community organizations and NYSDOH to implement approved Community Communications Plans by developing customized communications products that support each organization's public health campaign. Community partner organizations will remain responsible for identifying campaign priorities, establishing communication goals, engaging their communities, and leading implementation of their approved CCPs.
Each communications package will be tailored to the assigned organization's approved CCP, target audience, communication strategies, and available resources. Packages will generally include at least two (2) communications products, or a comparable level of effort. Final project scope will be determined collaboratively during project planning and must remain within the awardee's approved budget and contract deliverables.
Communications products may include, but are not limited to:
Social media graphics
Social media toolkits
Flyers
Brochures
Rack cards
Posters
Fact sheets
Digital advertisements
Videos
Photography
Infographics
Outreach materials
Applicants are not expected to provide every type of communications product listed above. The examples illustrate the types of materials that may be developed based on each organization’s approved CCP and communications needs.
Awardees are responsible for developing professional communications products, incorporating feedback from NYSDOH and assigned community partner organizations, preparing final production-ready files, and providing technical support during campaign implementation. Technical support may include preparing platform-ready materials, recommending dissemination strategies, coordinating campaign launches, making approved revisions, and troubleshooting communications-related issues.
Awardees will not be responsible for leading direct community outreach, routinely managing community partner social media accounts, staffing events, printing or mailing materials, purchasing paid media, or other activities outside the approved Scope of Work.
All communications products must be clear, culturally responsive, audience-appropriate, and consistent with the approved CCP. Products must use plain language and comply with all applicable NYSDOH branding and accessibility requirements.
Unless otherwise specified in the final contract, communications products developed under this initiative will be available for use by NYSDOH, and the assigned community partner organization. Awardees must provide final production-ready files and editable source files, when applicable, and are responsible for obtaining all required licenses, permissions, and releases for third-party materials before final approval.
Public Health Communications Support
RFA Release Date: September 30, 2026
Informational Webinar: October 9, 2026, And October 26, 2026, at 11am
Questions Due: October 30, 2026, by 4:00 PM ET
Questions, Answers, and Updates Posted:(on or about) November 6, 2026
Applications Due: November 13, 2026, by 11:59pm
Health Research, Inc. (HRI), in partnership with the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH), Office of Public Health (OPH), Division of Public Health Infrastructure (DPHI), and Community Engagement and Outreach (CEO), announces the availability of funding through the Public Health Communications Support initiative.
The Public Health Communications Support initiative pairs communications, marketing, media, and creative professionals with organizations participating in the Credible Public Health Messengers initiative to strengthen community-driven public health communications across New York State.
Organizations participating in the Credible Public Health Messengers initiative will have completed NYSDOH-supported training and developed an approved Community Communications Plan (CCP). Public Health Communications Support awardees will partner with these organizations to implement their approved plans by developing professional, culturally responsive public health communications campaigns tailored to their communities.
Up to eight (8) Public Health Communications Support awardees will be selected through this funding opportunity. The initiative will be implemented in two cohorts. During the contract period, each awardee will support ten (10) organizations, five (5) from Cohort 1 and five (5) from Cohort 2, by providing communications, marketing, and creative services that support implementation of each organization's approved Community Communications Plan.
Background:
Effective public health communication depends on more than accurate information, it requires trusted messengers, meaningful community partnerships, and communications that reflect the experiences, cultures, and priorities of the people they are intended to reach. Across New York State, community-based organizations play a critical role in connecting residents to public health information, services and resources.
Through the Credible Public Health Messengers initiative, selected organizations receive training and develop Community Communications Plans (CCPs) that guide community-driven public health campaigns. While these organizations bring trusted relationships, cultural knowledge, and lived experience, many do not have access to the professional communications, marketing, graphic design, media production, or branding expertise needed to fully implement their campaigns.
The Public Health Communications Support initiative was established to address this need by funding communications professionals to partner with Credible Public Health Messengers awardees in implementing their approved Community Communications Plans. These partnerships combine community expertise with professional communications services to create high-quality, culturally responsible campaigns that strengthen local communications capacity and expand the reach and effectiveness of public health messages across New York State.
Purpose:
The purpose of this funding opportunity is to identify qualified communications, marketing, media, and creative professionals to provide technical assistance to Credible Community Public Health Messengers. Awardees will partner with the assigned community organizations to transform approved CCPs into professional, culturally responsive communications campaigns that increase awareness of public health issues throughout New York State.
Available Funding:
Up to eight (8) organizations will be awarded deliverable-based contracts
Up to $50,000 each to provide communications, marketing, media, and creative services to organizations participating in the Credible Public Health Messengers initiative.
Contracts are anticipated to run from December 1, 2026, through October 31, 2027.
Payment may be considered taxable income. Awardees will be required to complete an Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Form W-9 for Health Research, Inc. (HRI).
This initiative is funded through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Public Health Infrastructure Grant (PHIG) OE22-2203: Strengthening U.S. Public Health Infrastructure, Workforce, and Data Systems. The goal of this funding is to strengthen public health workforce capacity, infrastructure, and systems to improve health outcomes and preparedness
Regional Award Distribution:
To support statewide geographic coverage, NYSDOH anticipates making up to two (2) awards within each of the four (4) regions listed below:
Region | Counties |
Western & Finger Lakes | Allegany, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Erie, Genesse, Niagara, Orleans, Wyoming |
Central New York | Broome, Cayuga, Chenango, Chemung, Cortland, Herkimer, Jefferson, Lewis, Livingston, Madison, Monroe, Oneida, Onondaga, Ontario, Oswego, Schuyler, Seneca, Steuben, St. Lawrence, Tioga, Tompkins, Wayne, Yates |
Hudson Valley | Columbia, Delaware, Dutchess, Greene, Orange, Putnam, Rockland, Sullivan, Ulster, Westchester |
Capital Region & North Country | Albany, Clinton, Essex, Franklin, Fulton, Hamilton, Montgomery, Otsego, Rensselaer, Saratoga, Schenectady, Schoharie, Warren, Washington |
Applicants must select the region in which they provide services to when submitting their application. Applications will be evaluated competitively within each region.
If fewer than two (2) qualified applicants are available within a region, or if applications within a region do not demonstrate sufficient technical merit, NYSDOH reserves the right to adjust based on final score, organizational capacity, programmatic need, and availability of funding.
Cohort Structure:
The Public Health Communications Support Program will be implemented in two (2) cohorts to align with the phased implementation of the Credible Public Health Messengers initiative.
Cohort 1: December 2026 – March 2027
Cohort 2: May 2027 – July 2027
During cohort 1, each awardee will be assigned to five (5) community partner organizations. During cohort 2, each awardee will be assigned to five (5) additional community partner organizations, for a total of ten (10) organizations over the contract period. Awardees will collaborate with assigned organizations and NYSDOH to review approved Community Communications Plans, develop professional communications and marketing materials, and support implementation of community-driven public health communications campaigns.
This phased approach enables awardees to dedicate sufficient time and resources to each organization, foster meaningful collaboration, and produce high-quality communications products.
Eligibility:
Applicants must meet all the following Minimum Eligibility Requirements to be considered eligible for this funding opportunity. Failure to meet any requirement will result in the application being deemed ineligible and removed from further consideration.
To be eligible, applicants must:
Be a legally authorized entity to conduct business in New York State
Provide services in New York State, outside of New York City
Have a valid Employer Identification Number (EIN)
Have a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) within accordance with the Conditional Award Requirements detailed below
Have 30 or fewer employees at the time of application
Demonstrate a minimum of five (5) years of experience providing:
communications, marketing, media, branding, graphic design, content creation, public relations, or related communications services.
Conducted at least two (2) communications and/or marketing campaigns completed within the past five (5) years.
Selected applicants must contract directly with HRI and may not use a fiscal sponsor, umbrella organization, or fiscal agent.
Scope of Work:
Each Public Health Communications Support awardee will be assigned up to five (5) organizations during each cohort, for a total of up to ten (10) organizations over the contract period.
The final number of assignments may vary based on enrollment, community partner readiness, contract timing, and programmatic needs. If an awardee is assigned to fewer than ten (10) organizations, NYSDOH and HRI reserve the right to adjust contract activities, deliverables, and payments accordingly.
Awardees will partner with assigned community organizations and NYSDOH to implement approved Community Communications Plans by developing customized communications products that support each organization's public health campaign. Community partner organizations will remain responsible for identifying campaign priorities, establishing communication goals, engaging their communities, and leading implementation of their approved CCPs.
Each communications package will be tailored to the assigned organization's approved CCP, target audience, communication strategies, and available resources. Packages will generally include at least two (2) communications products, or a comparable level of effort. Final project scope will be determined collaboratively during project planning and must remain within the awardee's approved budget and contract deliverables.
Communications products may include, but are not limited to:
Social media graphics
Social media toolkits
Flyers
Brochures
Rack cards
Posters
Fact sheets
Digital advertisements
Videos
Photography
Infographics
Outreach materials
Applicants are not expected to provide every type of communications product listed above. The examples illustrate the types of materials that may be developed based on each organization’s approved CCP and communications needs.
Awardees are responsible for developing professional communications products, incorporating feedback from NYSDOH and assigned community partner organizations, preparing final production-ready files, and providing technical support during campaign implementation. Technical support may include preparing platform-ready materials, recommending dissemination strategies, coordinating campaign launches, making approved revisions, and troubleshooting communications-related issues.
Awardees will not be responsible for leading direct community outreach, routinely managing community partner social media accounts, staffing events, printing or mailing materials, purchasing paid media, or other activities outside the approved Scope of Work.
All communications products must be clear, culturally responsive, audience-appropriate, and consistent with the approved CCP. Products must use plain language and comply with all applicable NYSDOH branding and accessibility requirements.
Unless otherwise specified in the final contract, communications products developed under this initiative will be available for use by NYSDOH, and the assigned community partner organization. Awardees must provide final production-ready files and editable source files, when applicable, and are responsible for obtaining all required licenses, permissions, and releases for third-party materials before final approval.