Reducing Barriers to Title V Family Engagement Grant Program

The Reducing Barriers to Title V Family Engagement funding opportunity is issued by the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Child and Family Well-being, through its Whole Child Health Section. This initiative is rooted in federal Title V Maternal and Child Health Block Grant priorities, which emphasize the importance of family partnership in health care systems. The agency seeks to strengthen engagement among parents, caregivers, youth, and self-advocates, particularly those connected to children and youth with special health care needs. By addressing financial barriers to participation, the program aims to ensure that individuals with lived experience can meaningfully contribute to policy, program design, and service delivery. The primary purpose of this funding is to identify a qualified statewide nonprofit organization that can serve as a fiscal intermediary to administer reimbursements. These reimbursements are intended to compensate eligible participants for their time, travel, and related expenses associated with participation in Whole Child Health Section activities. The program recognizes that lack of compensation is a key barrier preventing equitable participation and seeks to address this by enabling timely and accurate payments. Through this structure, the program supports broader system-level improvements in maternal and child health outcomes. Funding supports a defined scope of work focused on reimbursement processing. The selected contractor will manage approximately 300 reimbursement claims annually, covering expenses such as stipends, mileage, lodging, meals, training costs, and materials. Reimbursement amounts historically range from 20 to 1500 dollars per claim. The contractor must process payments within 14 days of receiving approved documentation and maintain detailed financial records for auditing and reporting purposes. Monthly financial reporting and compliance with state and federal requirements are mandatory, including adherence to cost principles and allowable expense categories. Eligibility is limited to public or private nonprofit organizations with demonstrated administrative and fiduciary capacity. Applicants must show experience working with families, particularly those supporting children and youth with special health care needs, and must have the ability to manage reimbursement systems at scale. Priority is given to organizations with prior experience administering stipends or reimbursements in partnership with state agencies. The selected entity must operate statewide, serving all 100 counties in North Carolina, and maintain the infrastructure necessary to process payments and reporting efficiently. The application process is structured as a competitive Request for Applications. Applicants must submit a complete proposal including organizational background, needs assessment, project approach, action plan, implementation plan, and a detailed line-item budget with narrative justification. Applications must be submitted electronically via email to the designated program contact. Required components include signed certifications, assurances, and supporting documentation. Applications are evaluated based on completeness, organizational capacity, experience, cost effectiveness, and alignment with program goals. Key dates for this funding opportunity include the RFA posting on October 15, 2024, a deadline for questions on October 22, 2024, and an application submission deadline of November 14, 2024. Award notifications are anticipated on January 6, 2025. The initial performance period runs from June 1, 2025 through May 31, 2026, with the possibility of renewal for up to two additional one-year terms contingent on funding availability and performance. This recurring structure aligns with annual federal funding cycles. Evaluation criteria include organizational qualifications, assessment of need, project approach, action plan, implementation plan, and budget justification, totaling 100 possible points. The program emphasizes measurable outcomes, timely reimbursement processing, and strong administrative controls. Contact for this opportunity is Holly Shoun at the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, who serves as the primary point of communication for application submission and inquiries.

Ensure detailed budget justification, demonstrate reimbursement processing capacity, align proposal with evaluation criteria, and provide measurable outcomes