School Nurse Grant Program

Funding Opportunity Webinar

Request for Applications #35566407

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May 2025

Digital accessibility statement

Agenda

OVERVIEW:

Colorado School Nurse Grant Program

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• Authority

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• History of the School Nurse Grant Program

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• Purpose of the SNGP

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May 2025

Agenda

FUNDING APPLICATION PROCESS: RFA #35566407

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• Typical award range, project periods
• Required Application Components
• How and when to apply
• Proposal selection process and criteria
• Timeline for review, selection, and contracting
• Future application cycles
• How to ask questions about the application process
• Where questions will be posted

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May 2025

Program Overview

AUTHORITY

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The School Nurse Grant Program is administered by the Primary Care Office in the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment under the authority of §§ 25-1.5-406 C.R.S. and is funded through annual state appropriations.

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May 2025

Program Overview

HISTORY OF THE SCHOOL NURSE GRANT PROGRAM

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• The Colorado School Nurse Grant Program was created in 2020 to increase K-12 school nursing services in Colorado through the recruitment and retention of qualified school nurses.
• Eleven school districts were awarded funding under the original Request for Applications #30109
• In 2022, the Colorado General Assembly passed Senate Bill 22-226, expanding the original School Nurse Grant Program.

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May 2025

Program Overview

PURPOSE OF THE SCHOOL NURSE GRANT PROGRAM

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• In addition to almost $4 million in ARPA funding, Senate Bill 22-226 also created an annual appropriation for the school nurse grant program.
• This program expansion provides funding to increase access to school nursing professions through the recruitment and retention of qualified school nurses by providing annual grants to eligible applicants.

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May 2025

PROGRAM APPLICATION PROCESS

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May 2025

Application Process

ELIGIBILITY

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May 2025

Local school districts, boards of cooperative services, and charter schools are eligible to apply for up to five years of funding in order to increase and maintain school nursing services.

Preference will be given to an applicant that is a small rural school district or rural school district, or local education providers eligible to receive money under Title I, Part A of the Federal Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965.

Application Process

OVERVIEW

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Grant funding awarded through this RFA may supplement (but not supplant) funding for existing school nurse positions.

Grant funds must be used for the purpose of hiring and/or retaining qualified school nurses. Funding may be applied to job candidate recruitment costs, reasonable signing bonuses, reasonable relocation expenses for new hires, nursing salary and benefits for new and existing school nurses, and training expenses directly associated with the school nursing certification. We will not be paying for furniture or equipment.

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May 2025

Application Process

OVERVIEW

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Grant funds may also be used to subcontract with a local public health agency, federally qualified health center, or other similar community health care provider if the applicant can demonstrate that it is unable to find a qualified school nurse to fill the school nurse position.

For purposes of this grant application, the use of a fiscal agent to administer project funds on behalf of the local education provider is not permitted.

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Digital accessibility statement

Application Process

GRANT PERIODS

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• This is not an open RFA, which means applications are not accepted after the initial cycle closes.
• Anticipated grant years will typically run from July 1 through June 30, annually, but is dependent on the cycle in which a successful applicant is awarded funding and contingent upon funding by the Colorado General Assembly.

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May 2025

Application Process

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May 2025

APPLICATION REVIEW

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• This RFA uses a competitive selection process and will conduct multiphase reviews:
• -Application intake and technical review for application completeness
• -Individual review and initial scoring of applications
• -Team review and final scoring of applications
• -Team funding recommendations made

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Application Process

APPLICATION REVIEW

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• -Applications will be assessed on soundness of approach and understanding of the RFA requirements.
• -Applications that fail to follow all requirements may not be considered.

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Application Process

SCORING CRITERIA

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How and When to Apply

• The RFA, attachments, and guidance documents are available on the School Nurse Grant Program website.
• Applications for the initial funding cohort must be received via email no later than May 23, 2025 at 5:00 PM MST.
• Hard-copy nor faxed submissions will be accepted.
• Applications will be submitted using the Alchemer application system.

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Required Application Components

-Main application in Alchemer application system

-Attachment A: CDPHE RFA Cover Sheet and Signature Page

Wet ink or digital signature required (template provided)

-Attachment B: Statement of Work (provided)

-Attachment C: Project Budget and Budget Narrative (template provided)

-Attachment D: Financial Risk Assessment (template provided)

All attachments will be uploaded to the Alchemer application system.

Applicants will receive email confirming the receipt of the submitted applications.

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Timeline and Schedule of Activities

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How to Ask Questions

• Applicants can submit written questions via email at cdphe_pcogrants@dphe.state.co.us
• Questions should include the following:
• Section
• Page Number
• Paragraph Number
• The SNGP website will be updated at the date and time indicated on the Schedule of Activities
• Applicants are responsible for monitoring the SNGP website for updates or modifications to the RFA and are not to reply on any other statement that alters any specifications or other terms or conditions of the RFA.

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THANK YOU!

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