Dorchester PREP Grant

The Dorchester PREP Application is a community contracting opportunity administered by the Dorchester County Health Department (DCHD) with funding provided through the National Personal Responsibility Education Program (PREP) and the Maryland Department of Health. The initiative supports implementation of comprehensive teen pregnancy and sexually transmitted infection prevention programming for Dorchester County youth. DCHD will select youth-serving organizations to deliver the evidence-based Making Proud Choices! program to middle and high school age youth. DCHD will monitor implementation, conduct site visits, assist participating organizations with planning and evaluation, and facilitate the training and materials required to deliver the curriculum with fidelity. Making Proud Choices! is intended to provide youth with information and skills that support safer sexual decision-making and reduce risks associated with pregnancy, HIV, and other sexually transmitted infections. The curriculum addresses self-efficacy, intrapersonal and interpersonal skills, understanding and management of feelings and thoughts, examination of beliefs concerning personal risks and consequences, and analysis of behaviors or situations that may increase risk. Organizations must serve at least ten youth ages 10 through 19 and obtain written parental permission for all participating youth. All parental consents are due by the application submission deadline. If applicable, organizations must also be in good standing to do business within the State of Maryland. Selected organizations must provide appropriate space and trained personnel to facilitate the program. Facilitators are required to attend all three sessions of one of the scheduled Fall 2026 virtual training courses. The first training option is October 6, 13, and 20 from 4 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., and the second option is November 5, 12, and 19 from 1 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Organizations must implement and document required lessons, topics, and relevant activities with fidelity between November 2026 and April 2027. The curriculum contains eight hours of content divided into eight one-hour modules and may be implemented in a two-day, four-day, or eight-day format. Organizations must fully complete the program by April 30, 2027. Community contracts are available for up to $3,000. Applicants must submit a detailed budget describing the amount requested and how the funds will be used. The application states that the estimated cost per participant can range from $200 to $300, with the total request not to exceed $3,000. Funding may be used to fulfill Dorchester PREP requirements, including additional program materials, supplies, staff coverage, facility expenses, refreshments, and participant incentives or stipends. Equipment purchases are not allowed. Funded organizations must provide itemized receipts and proof of expenses to DCHD. They must also allow site visits, meet regularly with the Program Coordinator for implementation assistance and progress checks, administer entry and exit surveys, provide narratives and attendance summaries, and comply with reporting requirements in a timely manner. Organizations must also engage parents or caregivers by providing a program overview and encouraging involvement in homework assignments. The application requests organizational and contact information, Tax ID Number, the expected number of participating middle school and high school females and males, and applicable participant categories. Applicants must provide a brief overview of their youth program; identify staff and volunteers who will implement the program and those attending facilitator training; describe relevant experience and training; identify the program location; provide a planned lesson schedule, including break times and a make-up plan for absences; explain how parents and caregivers will be involved or educated; and address whether the organization hopes to implement the program again and, if so, its sustainability strategies. Required uploads include a detailed budget narrative and signed permission slips for participants. Accepted upload types are PDF, DOC, and DOCX, with a maximum file size of 20 MB. Applications may be submitted by email or through the online application. For email submission, applicants are instructed to download the Application with Instructions and Parent Consent Form Template, complete the application, add the organization's name or logo to the consent template, obtain signed parental consent forms, and send the completed files to Asiha Blake at asiha.blake@maryland.gov using the subject line "RFA Submission - Teen Health Grant." For online submission, applicants download and customize the Parent Consent Form Template, obtain signatures, complete the online application, and upload the signed consent forms and detailed budget. Questions and technical assistance may be directed to Asiha Blake at 410-901-8158 or asiha.blake@maryland.gov. The completed application is due by 5 p.m. on Friday, September 11, 2026. Because no time zone is stated, the deadline is treated as Eastern Time under the data-entry rules, while the stored deadline is September 11, 2026. Award notifications are scheduled to be provided by Wednesday, September 16, 2026. Required facilitator training follows in October or November 2026, implementation is to occur between November 2026 and April 2027, and all programming must be completed by April 30, 2027. The source does not state that this opportunity recurs annually or on another regular schedule, does not specify a matching or cost-share requirement, and does not provide a list of previous recipients.

Obtain all parental consents by the application deadline; ensure facilitators can attend all three sessions of one Fall 2026 training course; provide a detailed budget tied to program requirements and do not include equipment purchases; plan delivery of all eight curriculum modules with appropriate breaks and a make-up plan for absences; demonstrate capacity to implement and document the curriculum with fidelity and satisfy survey, monitoring, receipt, and reporting requirements