COVID-19 Community Engagement and Diverse Media Review Process

The Center for Health Equity is seeking approximately 40 volunteers to participate in the COVID-19 Community Engagement and Diverse Media grant review process in January-February 2023.  

The Department of Health is committed to transparency in its process. We seek a diverse review committee – made up of community leaders, State staff, and agency partners who reflect the content areas and communities served by the grant – to take part in a community review process to evaluate all eligible and complete applications received by the deadline. MDH will review all committee recommendations and is responsible for award decisions. 

Background

The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) released a Request for Proposals (RFP) on Thursday, December 15, 2022 and plans to make available approximately $7.3 million for multiple grant awards from approximately April 1, 2023 – June 30, 2024. The proposal submission deadline is January 18, 2023. 

The goal of this funding is to increase community understanding of and engagement around COVID-19 and community recovery among residents of Minnesota and the 11 Tribal Nations that share its geography. The primary audience(s) for community engagement and media messaging must include one or more of the following populations: African American, African immigrant, American Indian, Asian Pacific Islander, Hispanic and Latino/Latine, LGBTQ individuals, and individuals with disabilities.  

Applicants will propose a plan to aid the State in this effort through the use of diverse media strategies, community engagement and outreach strategies, or a combination of both.  

• Media messaging includes communications that reach large audiences such as social media, online news, radio, television, and print. 

• Community engagement and outreach includes activities that enable the applicant to listen authentically to communities to learn about their questions and needs related to COVID-19 and community recovery; work with the State and its partners to address those community needs; and connect communities to vaccines and to trusted information and resources related to COVID-19 and pandemic recovery. 

Roles and responsibilities

Reviewers will:

• Participate in a 1.5-hour virtual training on Wednesday, Jan. 11, 2023 from 1-2:30 p.m. (Training will be recorded.) 

• Complete and sign a Conflict of Interest Disclosure Form. 

• Review and score approximately 8-12 grant applications using a predetermined score sheet from approximately Tue, Jan. 24 - Friday, Feb. 3. 

• Participate in two virtual review team meetings to discuss each proposal with fellow reviewers and make final recommendations for funding to MDH on Tuesday, Feb. 7 from 1-4 p.m. (Part 1) and Wednesday, Feb. 8 from 1-4 p.m. (Part 2). 

• Receive $200 as a stipend for completing the review process (including participating in the training, application review and two review team meetings). Please note that stipends are for community reviewers only and are not available for government employees or other reviewers who are receiving support from their employers to participate.

Preferred qualifications/candidates

We are especially seeking volunteers who: 

• Identify as people of color, American Indians, LGTBQ and/or people with disabilities 

• Come from across Minnesota’s urban and rural communities 

• Have lived experience with and/or knowledge of health inequities, community engagement and diverse media messaging 

Why participate?

The community review process is an opportunity for participants to: 

• Help select the best applicants for funding to increase community understanding of and engagement around COVID-19 and community recovery across the state. 

• Meet and network with other people who have lived experience with and/or knowledge of health inequities, community engagement and diverse media messaging. 

• Learn about some of the many initiatives and projects happening across the state around COVID-19 understanding, engagement, and outreach. 

• Learn more about state grants and how review processes work (especially if you are considering applying for a state grant in the future!). 

• Practice using an equity lens. 

How to apply?

Application link:  COVID-19 Community Engagement and Diverse Media Grants Reviewer Application 

Application due date: Monday, Jan. 9, 2023