Training Center of Expertise: Promoting Health Equity to Improve Community Health Outcomes Grant Program

The Training Center of Expertise: Promoting Health Equity to Improve Community Health Outcomes is a funding opportunity issued by the New York State Department of Health AIDS Institute in partnership with Health Research, Inc. The initiative is designed to advance health equity across New York State by supporting a single statewide training center that will deliver professional development and capacity-building services. This effort aligns with the state’s broader public health priorities, including addressing disparities in HIV, sexually transmitted infections, chronic disease, maternal health, COVID-19, and overdose outcomes. The program reflects New York State’s long-standing commitment to reducing inequities and improving outcomes for disproportionately impacted populations, including communities of color, LGBTQ+ individuals, and people who use drugs. The primary purpose of the grant is to establish a Training Center of Expertise that will provide structured, evidence-based training programs for health and human services providers. These trainings are intended to increase awareness of implicit bias, improve culturally responsive care, and promote the adoption of health equity frameworks across organizations. The funded center will develop and deliver a wide range of training formats, including in-person sessions, virtual learning, technical assistance, and educational materials such as curricula, videos, and toolkits. The program is expected to reach diverse audiences including executive leadership, clinicians, and frontline service providers, tailoring content to meet the needs of each group. Funding for this opportunity is set at up to 200000 dollars annually for a five-year period, supporting one awardee statewide. Funds may be used to design and implement training programs, develop materials, provide technical assistance, and support staffing and operational costs associated with delivering services. The award is cost-reimbursable, meaning grantees will be reimbursed for allowable expenses incurred under the approved budget and work plan. Advance payments of up to 25 percent may be available for state-funded portions, though federal funds administered through Health Research, Inc. do not allow advances. Applicants may subcontract up to 50 percent of the work but retain full responsibility for contract performance. Eligibility is limited to prequalified organizations within the New York State Statewide Financial System. Applicants must be registered nonprofit 501(c)(3) entities or tribal organizations and must demonstrate at least three years of experience in health equity-related work. Eligible organizations may include community-based organizations, academic institutions, training organizations, or government entities. Applicants must demonstrate experience in delivering training or direct services related to health equity, or in producing scholarly or professional outputs such as conference presentations or publications. Only one application per organization is permitted. The application process requires submission through the Statewide Financial System portal as a single complete PDF document including all required attachments. Applicants must complete narrative responses addressing program design, organizational capacity, health equity strategies, and budget justification. Required attachments include assurances, staffing information, MWBE documentation, and vendor responsibility forms. Applications are evaluated on a 100-point scale across categories including program design, health equity impact, organizational capacity, and budget. One award will be made to the highest scoring applicant, with a minimum threshold score required for consideration. Key dates for the opportunity include a release date of March 19, 2026, a question submission deadline of April 2, 2026, and an application deadline of May 7, 2026 at 4:00 PM Eastern Time. Questions must be submitted via email and responses are published publicly to ensure transparency. The anticipated contract period spans January 1, 2027 through December 31, 2031, contingent on funding availability and satisfactory performance. This opportunity does not include a letter of intent or applicant conference, and late applications will not be accepted under any circumstances.

Ensure strong demonstration of health equity experience; align program design with stated training outcomes; clearly justify budget and staffing; submit early to avoid technical issues