Strengthening environmental health capacity (EHC) to detect, prevent, and control environmental health hazards through data-driven, evidence-based approaches; pilot Environmental Health Records EHR/COVID-19 community mitigation

The Strengthening Environmental Health Capacity (EHC) grant program, administered by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) through its National Center for Environmental Health (NCEH), aims to enhance the nation's environmental health systems. This opportunity, listed under funding number CDC-RFA-EH20-20050101SUPP21, is a competitive supplement to an existing CDC grant (EH20-2005) and targets recipients already funded under the primary opportunity. The supplement supports projects under Component C, which focuses on emerging or priority environmental health hazards and issues. The purpose of this funding opportunity is to strengthen public health departments’ environmental health capabilities by supporting data-driven, evidence-based practices. It focuses on two distinct projects. Project C1 assesses the implementation of COVID-19 mitigation strategies in communities disproportionately affected by the pandemic. Project C2 explores the feasibility and utility of environmental health records to monitor pediatric cancer occurrences and related environmental exposures. Each project addresses key EHC strategies: using informatics and environmental health data, identifying and addressing environmental hazards, and assessing the effectiveness and impact of interventions. The grant provides funding through cooperative agreements, with a total estimated program funding of $2.3 million. Project C1 is allocated approximately $1.8 million and is expected to support 10 awards ranging from $150,000 to $180,000 each. Project C2 has about $500,000 available for up to 2 awards, each ranging from $150,000 to $250,000. No cost-sharing or matching is required. Eligibility is exclusive to existing recipients of the CDC’s EH20-2005 funding. Applications from entities not currently funded under that program will not be considered. Eligible applicants must submit their application packages electronically via Grants.gov by 11:59 p.m. ET on July 23, 2021. Required documents include a project abstract, narrative, itemized budget, work plans, and performance measures that align with the three EHC strategies. Applications will be evaluated based on approach, organizational capacity, and the quality of evaluation and performance measurement plans. Specific performance metrics include the number of data sets used, EH hazards identified, interventions assessed, and partnerships formed. Successful applicants will be notified via a Notice of Award anticipated around August 24, 2021. For questions, programmatic contact is Connie Brooks Thomas at cbthomas@cdc.gov or 770-488-3631. For financial or administrative inquiries, contact Wanda Tucker at wtucker@cdc.gov or 770-488-5056. This opportunity does not recur or offer rolling submissions.

Align work plans to the three EHC strategies; clearly describe evaluation metrics and use the EHC logic model. Ensure your budget aligns with stated activities.