Pennsylvania Department of Health (PA DOH) Funding Opportunity Available

Community to Home (C2H) Program

Goal: Community to Home (C2H) is a home visiting program, focused on rural areas of PA.  C2H improves the health of Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs (CYSHCN) by assisting them, with their families, to access the services and supports required to thrive in the community and develop to their full potential.  This program utilizes evidence based, home visiting services through the Community Health Worker (CHW) model to provide care coordination and education allowing CYSHCN and their families to learn the skills they need to succeed in living with their special health care needs. There are six service regions for this program.  The Bureau is seeking qualified Pennsylvania organizations to provide direct, individualized services to families who qualify for C2H. The organization is required to employ CHWs to work with individuals and their families to create a plan of continuous care. CHWs are trusted members of the communities in which they serve and specialize in health literacy, health education, and care coordination to facilitate access to services.

Background: Data from the 2020-2021 National Survey of Children’s Health measures who has a medical home, quality health care, school success, positive home environment and neighborhood safety and support. According to the survey, CYSHCN have more difficulty getting referrals than non-CYSHCN.  They are less likely to receive adequate health insurance and care coordination when needed.  CYSHCN meet the Data Resource Center for Child & Adolescent Health’s quality health care index of having a medical home, adequate insurance and at least one preventive medical visit in the prior 12 months less often than their non-CYSHCN counterparts. Data shows that less than half (42%) received care in a medical home. CYSHCN residing in rural areas in Pennsylvania experience similar unmet needs as those in non-rural areas. However, addressing unmet needs in rural areas becomes a greater challenge due to barriers including lack of transportation and lack of available health care providers, including primary care as well as specialists.

Funding Information: Using Title V Maternal and Child Health Services Block Grant funding, the Bureau has released an RFA for the C2H Program on October 17, 2023, with an anticipated grant start of July 1, 2024.  The Bureau anticipates awarding up to six grants to provide services in each of the C2H regions.

Questions & Further Details: The C2H RFA can be found on the Pennsylvania eMarketplace (www.emarketplace.state.pa.us) by searching for RFA 67-167. Questions regarding the RFA can be submitted through the Pennsylvania eMarketplace process until October 31, 2023, and during the pre-Application Conference, which is schedule for November 15, 2023. Responses will be posted as an addendum to the RFA. Questions can be directed to Danielle Rhodes ([email protected]).  Applications will not be accepted after December 19, 2023.