District Level Prevention Services Application of Interest In July 2016, the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention (MECDC) completed a Request for Proposals (RFP#201602047) for Prevention Services including Substance Abuse, Tobacco, and Youth Engagement at which time the identification of 3 individual vendors occurred. At the same time, the MECDC published a waiver of competitive bid to secure Obesity Prevention services. These vendors are charged with providing funding to the 9 Public Health Districts to implement the services in the four domains identified above. District Coordinating Councils (DCCs) have been charged with providing recommendations of local implementation partners to vendors funded by the Fund for Healthy Maine and Federal Funds to provide state wide prevention for Substance Abuse, Tobacco, Youth Engagement, and Obesity. Vendors are required to consult with the DCCs for recommendations, but are not obligated to accept any or all of these recommendations. Vendors will be conducting their own scoring and selection process from the list of recommendations given by the DCC. The process has been created to be clear, transparent, and fair. The goals of the recommendation process are to 1) ensure fairness and objectivity in the DCC making such recommendations, and 2) to provide vendors with clear information that will allow them to select those local providers that best fit their needs. Formation of a Selection Committee: DCCs will oversee the recommendation process by the identification of a selection committee that is charged with conducting the recommendation process on behalf of the larger DCC. Members of this selection committee may not put forward their organizations for recommendation status and must demonstrate that they have no conflict of interest in conducting the recommendation process. The primary responsibility of the selection committee is to assure that the identified process is followed and the process is conducted free from any conflicts of interest. Dissemination and collection: The selection committee will assure that dissemination of the criteria and other information provided by the vendors takes place across the entire district. The selection committee also needs to assure that all application material is collected and organized for the review process in each programming area and that these materials are provided to appropriate review teams. Review: Selection committee members may conduct the actual review of required materials, or may identify selection teams that gather and review materials from applicants in selected programming areas. Members of selection teams must sign conflict of interest statements. Every member does not need to be knowledgeable in every aspect of the selected programming area. Selection teams will be made up of at least three people with no conflicts of interest. In the event there is a conflict, selection committee members may vote to approve or seek other team members. Application of Interest Page 1 The Application: Below is an application of interest for entities to apply to the DCC for recommendation to the vendors described above. These applications will be scored by a team as identified above with the final result being a list of recommended entities for consideration by the vendors for possible selection of program implementation at the district level. If an applicant is interested in providing local implementation services for more than one domain, they need to complete multiple applications. Any questions about the criteria for domain specific work should be emailed to Christine.Theriault@maine.gov by August 19. Any questions about the process should be sent to the District Liaison for the district. Application of Interest Page 2 PREVENTION SERVICES APPLICATION OF INTEREST Domain:___________________________________ Applicant: Address: Lead Person: Chief Executive: Name: Name: Address: Address: TEL: TEL: FAX: FAX: EMAIL: EMAIL: Geographic Area Served (towns, RSU, SAU, or schools): Interested applicants must provide along with this cover page, a narrative addressing each of the 5 criteria identified below. ***Applicants have a 5 page narrative limit for addressing the 5 criteria below. This page limit does not include attachments*** Application of Interest Page 3 Criteria to be Scored 1. Provide any required documentation identified by the Vendor. This documentation includes: Organizational Charts indicating where your program sits within the organization, Bi-laws (if applicable), and an audited financial statement for the most recent tax year. (Please note: if documents are not provided with this application, the application will not be reviewed and scored.) (Pass/Fail) 2. Provide a summary of your involvement with your district and/or DCC including any successes and challenges. (max 10 points) 3. Provide a narrative and any supporting documentation that the applicant has been a stable organization, and able to retain adequate staffing levels to complete contractual work. Please include organizational strengths and weaknesses including the ability to hire, retain, and supervise staff. (max 20 points ) 4. Please describe your experience and expertise in the specific program area for which you are applying for (See Appendix A). (max 20 points ) 5. Please describe your capacity to fulfill the needs of the vendor as given in their criteria (See Appendix A). (max 50 points ) Application of Interest Page 4 Appendix A: Criteria for Domain Specific Work Domain 1 – Opioid and Other Substance Abuse Prevention Criteria Vendor: University of New England Description of Intended Work The primary audiences for the Opioid and Other Substance Abuse Prevention (Domain 1) activities are youth and young adults. The activities will focus on the prevention of opioid use (including heroin), alcohol use and binge drinking, marijuana use, and prescription drug abuse. The University of New England (UNE) is interested in subcontracting with one or more sub-recipient per Public Health District. Sub-recipients will follow the Strategic Prevention Framework to identify and select priority activities to meet the needs of their communities. Specifically, sub-recipients will: 1. Collaborate to complete a district-wide assessment to identify the locations and population at risk and to identify available resources and community readiness to address the problem. 2. Work to build capacity in the community targeted through partnerships and collaborations and ensuring adequately trained and credentialed staff. 3. Complete a planning process that includes prioritizing risk and protective factors, development of a logic model, and selecting appropriate and approved prevention strategies, in collaboration with UNE and Maine CDC. 4. Create an action plan and implement evidence-based activities with specific measurable milestones and targets and working collaboratively and in coordination with other substance abuse prevention programs. Evidence-informed activities may include training programs, educational efforts, support state-wide media/social marketing programs, and policy and environmental changes. 5. Report monthly on programmatic and financial activities as required by UNE and/or state using templates provided by UNE. In addition, sub-recipient entities and their prevention staff will participate in monthly webinars, attend regional and statewide trainings, and follow financial reporting and invoicing guidelines. All staff engaging in prevention activities must hold a Certified (or Provisional) Prevention Specialist credential through the Maine Prevention Certification Board. (www.mainepreventioncertification.org) (Note: State funds may not be used to pay for certification.) Funding available will depend on geographic and population reach and will range from $135,000 - $290,000 per District. Additional funds for innovative programs will be available at a later time to address identified disparities. (Note: This could change based on final contract amount.) Criteria for consideration in selecting a recipient for Domain 1: 1. Ability to provide required services within the District including clear and adequate financial controls, experience administering grant funds, adequate capacity to hire, house, equip, and supervise staff. 2. Demonstrated success in meeting contract deliverables and deadlines. 3. Demonstrated success in implementing substance abuse prevention programs and policies in the community. 4. Ability to hire credentialed prevention staff. 5. Demonstrated competency convening and engaging complex community partnerships (involving multiple sectors) on shared community health improvement efforts. Application of Interest Page 5 6. Experience providing services in a specific geographic region or for a population at risk for substance abuse as demonstrated by objective data. 7. Experience and ability to carry out the Strategic Prevention Framework (assessment, capacity, planning, implementation, evaluation.) Application of Interest Page 6 Domain 2- Tobacco Prevention Criteria Vendor: Maine Health Description of intended work: Focus Area 1: Prevention of any source of tobacco initiation Objective 1: Determine baseline and increase by 20% the number of schools and youth-serving entities that adopt and implement policies that prohibit the use of all tobacco products.  Determine baseline policy adoption and implementation  Increase adoption and implementation of policies Objective 2: Determine baseline and increase by 20% the number of tobacco-related municipal ordinances (including tobacco or smoke-free spaces, increasing legal age to purchase tobacco products to 21, advertising restrictions, etc.  Determine baseline municipal ordinances  Increase adoption and implementation of ordinances Objective 3: Twenty percent of statewide income eligible programs will participate in an initiative to increase the number of pregnant women who currently smoke that utilize the Maine Tobacco HelpLine for pregnant women.  Partner with appropriate organizations  Develop and implement referral workflows Focus Area 2: Prevention of involuntary second hand smoke exposure Objective 1: Determine baseline and reduce the number of youth exposed to second hand smoke in Maine while at home by 20%.  Determine baseline second hand smoke exposure  Increase smokefree policies in multi-unit housing properties  Increase number of families that implement the EPA’s Smokefree Pledge program Objective 2: Determine baseline and reduce young adult exposure to second hand smoke at home and the workplace by 20%.  Determine baseline policy adoption in career and technical schools.  Increase number of college campuses with smokefree policies Objective 3: Determine baseline and reduce adult exposure to second hand smoke at home and in the workplace by 20% and reduce adult tobacco use rates by 10%.  Determine baseline rates of smokefree policies in hospitals, behavioral health facilities and lodging options  Increase number of smokefree policies in all three settings. Focus Area 3: Promotion of tobacco treatment available through the Maine Tobacco HelpLine Objective 1: Determine baseline and increase by 20% the percent of non-clinical settings that provide tobacco education and a path to treatment.  Determine baseline and develop a map of nonclinical settings in each District that could partner  Develop resources and training for specific populations  Create multiple access points  Training outreach to veterinary offices Intended outcomes:  Increased number and % of schools and youth serving entities with tobacco-free policies Application of Interest Page 7        Increased number and % of municipal ordinances that restrict or prevent exposure to tobacco Increased number and % of referrals of pregnant women to the Maine Tobacco HelpLine Increased number and % of smoke free policies in multi-unit housing Increased number and % of families who adopt the EPA smoke free pledge Increased number and % of colleges, career and technical schools that implement tobacco free policies Increased number and % of hospitals, behavioral health facilities and lodging options that implement tobacco free policies Increased number and % of nonclinical settings that promote tobacco treatment Reporting requirements:  Monthly narrative and financial reports that detail implementation and performance against outcomes as established in subcontracts with local level providers (designated as District Tobacco Prevention Partners – one partner organization in each Public Health District) Expected measures:  In addition to outcomes described above, data from the Behavioral Risk Factors Survey and the Maine Integrated Youth Health Survey will be utilized to monitor changes at the county and district levels. Available funding:  The range of funding per district will be $90,000 to $145,000. Description of desirable criteria necessary for a local level provider to demonstrate funding, but not limited to: Programming expertise: The local level provider (District Tobacco Prevention Partner) should have demonstrated capacity with the following within the Public Health District: - Knowledge and experience with tobacco prevention and control-related evidence-based interventions and best practices, including the Maine Tobacco HelpLine - Positive working relationships with municipal and county level governments - Demonstrated experience working with school districts, schools, and youth-serving organizations - Demonstrated experience in implementing tobacco prevention policies in areas such as hospitals, municipalities, school districts, colleges and universities, and trade schools - Experience in convening and facilitating multi-stakeholder groups - Experience in communicating effectively with a variety of stakeholders - Demonstrated ability to implement evaluation activities - Established positive working relationships with healthcare providers, behavioral health providers, hospitals and health systems - Demonstrated ability to develop workplans, administer funding, and carry out all administrative tasks that are required of the local level provider Staffing levels: The team from MaineHealth’s Center for Tobacco Independence will work with the selected organization in each District to identify the most appropriate staffing complement for the region dependent upon the following factors: Application of Interest Page 8      Population density Number of youth and young adults ages 10-24 years % population enrolled in MaineCare, children and adults % of any form of tobacco use among high school students % of tobacco use among adults Geographic coverage: The local level provider must be able to implement the work outlined above in the Public Health District for which they are applying. It is highly recommended they have a physical presence within the District. Administrative oversight: The local level provider must have:  Experience in receiving and administering grant funds  Adequate capacity to hire, house, equip and supervise staff  Experience in fiscal management and clear and adequate financial controls and reporting mechanisms Application of Interest Page 9 Domain 3- Youth Engagement & Empowerment Criteria Vendor: The Opportunity Alliance Project overview: The Maine Youth Action Network has proposed to create a statewide network of prevention-focused youth-adult partnerships and youth groups with the overall goals of increasing resilience among youth and reducing youth substance use. Youth groups will include youth policy boards at the district and state level designed to research and implement public health policy change projects, as well as youth groups working more generally on health- and prevention-related efforts. MYAN will also provide technical assistance to bolster and develop youth-adult partnerships across the state through education and training grounded in positive youth development and social-emotional learning principles. Each sub recipient will receive $53,646.60 to hire one District Youth Coordinator full-time with benefits. This amount also includes modest allocations for staff development and youth stipends. Additional details:  Types of work: policy change, youth engagement, education/training, community organizing  Intended outcomes: youth and adults have increased knowledge/skills/abilities for creating policy and environmental change in their communities; overall reduction in rates of youth substance use through partnerships with work of Domains 1 & 2 (substance use & tobacco prevention)  Reporting requirements: ongoing Year to Date metrics detailing both process and outcome data  Expected measures: unique youth and adults engaged, trainings completed, pre- and post-surveys about knowledge/skills/ability development, concepts of risk & protective factors learned, and also reductions in MIYHS data points related to youth substance use and tobacco use  Available funding: TBA Criteria for subcontractors:  Demonstrated collaborative relationships with target populations, including low-income Mainers, LGBTQ communities, youth, tribal communities, and people of color communities  Sufficient infrastructure to support subcontracted staff with space, technology, and on-site supervision  Willingness to have some staff participate in professional development about youth engagement best practices  Demonstrated ability to manage fiscal and programmatic elements of a contract efficiently and responsibly Application of Interest Page 10 ObesityCriteria Vendor: LetsGo! The Barbara Bush Children’s Hospital at Maine Medical Center 1. Description of intended work: SCHOOLS A. Increase the number of schools that are enrolled in Let’s Go! and that meets or exceeds the Let’s Go! Bronze level of recognition. a. Assist schools in enrollment in program and assessment of current environment. b. Assist schools in the creation of action plan that identifies steps and goals that will result in meeting or exceeding the LG Bronze level of recognition. c. Provide professional development and technical assistance that aligns and supports the implementation of the school’s action plans. d. Assist schools in completion of post assessment for completion of evidenced based process. B. Increase the number of School District Local Wellness Policies that meet or exceed HHFKA 2010 standards, and assist SAUs in developing SMART goals for nutrition promotion, nutrition education, physical activity, and other wellness activities. a. Assist SAU in creating a SAU District Health Advisory Committee (DHAC) that includes representation from all schools in the SAU, community, families, and students (use checklist); b. Assist SAU District Health Advisory Committee in reviewing current Local Wellness Policy using the WellSAT 2.0 Assessment Tool; c. Assist the SAU DHAC in creating / improving SMART goals in the areas of nutrition promotion, nutrition education, physical activity, and other wellness activities; d. Support SAU DHAC in formal adoption of revised Local Wellness Policy; e. Assist SAU DHAC in the creation of building-level Wellness Policy implementation plans. C. Decrease school building-level access to unhealthy foods and beverages outside of the school meals program (such as classroom celebrations, food rewards, and food-based fundraisers). a. Assess current building-level practices and environments regarding access to unhealthy foods and beverages using a standardized tool (pre- and post- school assessment); b. Assist schools in creating an action plan that identifies specific targets for decreasing access to unhealthy foods/beverages; c. Provide Professional Development/training to school staff on strategies to limit unhealthy foods in the classroom (eliminating food rewards and food-based classroom celebrations) and other action plan strategies; d. Provide Technical Assistance to school staff on implementation of the action plan D. Increase the number of food service programs within a SAU that meetings a minimum of Bronze Standard on the Smarter Lunchrooms Scorecard, and actively working to increase the consumption of healthier foods. a. Partner with food service program to complete Smarter Lunchrooms Scorecard for all school buildings; b. Assist school building in implementing practice changes to bring all lunchrooms to meet or exceed Bronze standard; c. Provide Professional Development/training to school staff on strategies to implement Smarter Lunchrooms strategies. Application of Interest Page 11 d. Provide Technical Assistance to school food service to achieve higher Smarter Lunchrooms standard. E. Increase opportunities for student to participate in physical activity before, during, and after the school day. a. Assess current building-level practices and environments regarding access to physical activity using a standardized tool (pre- and post- assessment); b. Assist building-level schools in creating an action plan that identifies specific targets for increasing daily physical activity among students; c. Provide Professional Development/training to school staff on strategies to increase physical activity in the classroom, and other strategies to increase implementation of the action plan; d. Provide Technical Assistance to school staff on implementation of the action plan. F. Increase communication among staff, families, and communities around the importance of healthy eating and daily physical activity. EARLY CARE AND EDUCATION A. Increase the number of ECE programs that are enrolled in Let’s Go! and that meet or exceed the Let’s Go! Bronze level of recognition. a. Assist ECE sites in enrollment in program and assessment of current environment. b. Assist sites in creation of action plan that identifies steps and goals that will result in meeting or exceeding the LG Bronze level of recognition. c. Provide professional development and technical assistance that aligns and supports the implementation of the site’s action plans. d. Assist ECE sites in completion of post assessment for completion of evidenced based process. B. Increase the number of ECE’s with policies that meet or exceed best practices for physical activity and nutrition standards. a. Assist ECE’s in assessing current status of policies and practices using evidenced based assessments and tools. b. Assist sites in creating an action plan that identifies specific targets that support the implementation of best practice based on assessment. c. Provide Professional Development/training to ECE staff on development of best practice policy for PAN standards. d. Assist ECE sites in completion of post assessment for completion of evidenced based process and meeting program requirements. e. Increase the number of ECE programs that are meeting Let’s Go! Gold Level of recognition. C. Increase ECE participation in State and National programs (such as Maine Roads to Quality) that support increased physical activity and enhance the nutritional offerings at their sites. a. Assist sites in assessment of need and determine programs/initiatives that align with sites action plans. b. Coordinate with partners to disseminate and promote trainings and technical assistance to Let’s Go! registered sites that support identified goals in action plans. c. Provide a minimum of one training or Professional Development opportunity per site that supports the implementation of the action plan. Application of Interest Page 12 D. Increase communication with staff, families, and communities around the importance of healthy eating and daily physical activity. Reporting requirements:  Quarterly narrative and financial reports that detail implementation and performance against outcomes as established in subcontracts with local level providers Available funding:  A total of up to $800,000 is expected to be available to support work at the District level. Varying levels of funding support is anticipated based on existing capacity or efforts within a District. 2. Description of desirable criteria necessary for a local level provider to demonstrate funding, but not limited to: Programming expertise: The local level provider, the District Let’s Go! Provider, should have demonstrated capacity with the following within the Public Health District: - Collaboration between the local health care system and public health partners - Knowledge and experience with healthy eating and active living and obesity prevention interventions and best practices - Positive working relationships with municipal and county level governments - Demonstrated experience working with school districts, schools, and early care and education programs - Experience in convening and facilitating multi-stakeholder groups - Experience in communicating effectively with a variety of stakeholders - Demonstrated ability to implement evaluation activities - Established positive working relationships with school districts, schools and early care and education programs - Demonstrated ability to develop work plans, administer funding, and carry out all administrative tasks that are required of the local level provider Staffing levels: The team at Let’s Go! from The Barbara Bush Children’s Hospital at Maine Medical Center will work with the selected organization in each District to identify the most appropriate staffing complement for the region dependent upon the following factors:  Population density  Current Let’s Go! capacity  Number of schools and early care and education programs in the district Geographic coverage: The local level provider must be able to implement the work outlined above in the Public Health District for which they are applying. It is highly recommended they have a physical presence within the District. Administrative oversight: The local level provider must have: Application of Interest Page 13     Experience in receiving and administering grant funds Adequate capacity to hire, house, equip and supervise staff Supervisor staff must participate in quarterly check-in with Let’s Go! Staff and actively engage in sustainability conversations Experience in fiscal management and clear and adequate financial controls and reporting mechanisms Application of Interest Page 14