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Smile Survey participation supports Spokane County children’s oral health!

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The Smile Survey is a public/private partnership that includes the Washington State Department of Health (DOH), the Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction, local health jurisdictions (LHJs), dental providers, and funding and planning support from Arcora Foundation. Usually conducted every five years, dental providers perform screenings on children in pre-k, kindergarten, second and third grade in communities across the state. The data provides a point in time look at rates of treated and untreated decay, including rampant decay, and application of dental sealants, as well as trends over the history of the survey. DOH and a number of LHJs collect and analyze the data and publish the results. For example, here are the 2015-16 Washington State Smile Survey and the 2015-16 King County Smile Survey results. The Smile Survey started during the 2022/23 school year and will conclude in the 2023/2024 school year. This handson data collection activity will provide much-needed insight into the current oral health status of Washington children, including the impacts of the pandemic and access to dental care. If your school is selected to participate in this important survey, the DOH Oral Health Program and Arcora Foundation appreciate your approval and your support.

The 2023 Smile Survey is making significant progress across the state. So far, thanks to the partnership of school districts, the survey has reached 55% of schools randomly selected for the sample. In Spokane County, the Smile Spokane Collaborative is seeking connections to selected schools to support participation in the Smile Survey.

Community Linkages RFP Recipients

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Healthcare is so much more than just clinical care. There are a number of social determinants of health (also called health-related social needs) that make up a person’s overall health.

Our Community Linkages funding aimed to find organizations that demonstrate a strong commitment to caring for the whole person through care coordination and social determinant of health services, such as resources for housing, food, culturally-responsive care, transportation, employment, and support for justice-involved populations. The team had an overwhelming response, with over 40 total applicants and over $17m in requests.   

Thanks to an incredible and hard-working panel, the final recipients have been chosen. We are excited to share our 9 Community Linkages RFP recipients and their project goals with you.  

For more details about the process, scroll below the recipient list.

 

Organizations selected included:  

Compassionate Addiction Treatment 

CAT will invest their Community Linkages dollars in continuing to build their OAN IT! (Outreach, Advocacy, and Navigation Ignites Transformation) program. Through this program, they receive referrals from the jail mental health team and provide peer support and navigation services to individuals who are justice-involved.  

Hispanic Business and Professional Association (HBPA) of Spokane 

HBPA will use their award to expand their Esperanza program, a social service and wellness initiative created by and for Hispanic/Latinx community members. Navigators will provide support and connections to services for Hispanic/Latinx children and youth with disabilities, their families, newly immigrated families, and hospital patients with disabilities or chronic health conditions. This expansion also includes case management and peer support for families of individuals with complex medical needs.  

Latinos en Spokane 

This funding will help expand Latinos en Spokane’s community services and cultural programs by increasing staff capacity to provide wrap-around care that includes housing, health, and access to community systems. They will also use Community Linkages dollars to provide direct enrollment for undocumented workers in health insurance through the 1332 Waiver and fund their feasibility and advocacy work related to expanding their community center space.  

Northeast Community Center 

The Northeast Community Center’s project will increase housing security for families with school-aged children in Northeast Spokane by providing case management and a housing diversion model that incorporates assessments, financial education, and referrals to address social determinant of health needs.  

Northeast Washington Educational Service District 101 

The NEWESD 101’s project, Safe & Health Futures Spokane, will serve gang-impacted and justice-involved youth in the East Central and West Central neighborhoods. With increased staff capacity at the West Spokane Wellness and Safe Communities Partnerships, youth will be connected to community resources and services that address needs related to housing, employment, counseling, transportation, and more.  

Pacific Islander Community Association of Washington (PICA-WA) 

PICA-WA will use Community Linkages funding to provide targeted social supports and culturally responsive programming to Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander communities in Spokane and Eastern Washington. They will expand and systematize their Wellness Navigation (care coordination), Pasifika Food NETworks, and Pasifika Wayfinders (youth) programs while also working to secure office space that will serve as their Spokane-area cultural home.  

 

Peer Spokane 

With Community Linkages dollars, Peer Spokane is partnering with Spokane Public Library to embed Peer Services Specialists in the library system. Based out of library branch locations with the Central branch as their hub, Peer Support Specialists will use trauma-informed, individual-centered, strengths-based approaches to provide emotional support and connect library patrons to health care and other social determinant of health services.  

Rural Resources Community Action 

With their Community Linkages award, Rural Resources will strengthen rural care coordination through the following initiatives: an evidence-based hypertension intervention, medication care coordination for clients over 50, and social determinant of health screening that includes a warm hand off to a community health worker.  This funding will support their expanded reach as they establish a service hub in south Stevens County.  

Spectrum Center Spokane 

Spectrum will use their award to create safe peer support spaces for 2SLGBTQIA+ individuals and family members. Groups will be facilitated by licensed professionals and will include opportunities to connect with community health workers for support in accessing affirming care and other community-based resources.  

May 18, 2023 Update: Thank you to all applicant organizations! We have finished the presentation process and panelists have completed deliberation. The application process is below for reference

RFP announcement posted December 12, 2022.

Background

Better Health Together tackles health inequities throughout eastern Washington. We believe everyone deserves a fair shot at being healthy. To make this happen, we work with more than 100 organizations across seven counties to promote practical solutions that meet the needs of the people and communities we serve. BHT was founded on the principle that when we step back and let local community lead, we find the best and most sustainable solutions to some of our most complex problems. 

We advocate for policies centered on accountability, accessibility, and affordability. We disrupt the status quo by facilitating conversations and partnerships that level the playing field for community health throughout our region. 

BHT’s vision is an integrated and anti-racist health system accountable for better health for ALL in eastern Washington.  

BHT’s strategic initiatives are to:  

  • Link health care and social determinant of health services through a community-based workforce 

  • Invest in primary care, behavioral health, and oral health to ensure access and culturally relevant care for all 

  • Organize our power collectively to solve our most urgent and (sometimes) hidden equity needs 

Purpose

BHT is inviting proposals from organizations providing care coordination and services for social determinants of health (also called health-related social needs), to plan and deliver such services to Medicaid enrollees in the region. The primary goals of this funding opportunity are to:  

  1. Strengthen Infrastructure in community-based organizations providing care coordination and health related social needs. 

  2. Encourage Connectivity across sectors in the care system, improving client access to care. 

  3. Shift Power by supporting organizations that represent the communities they serve.  

Intent: Broad vs Focused Support 

Focused. Intent is to provide support to approximately 9 projects up to $400,000.

Intent: Current vs New Partners

Current and new partners are invited to apply. Organizations funded in the first round of BHT Social Determinant of Health funding are eligible to apply. If the applicant organization already has a project agreement with BHT, the proposed project in this application should represent new work or growth/expansion of current work. See eligibility below.

Eligibility

Eligible applicants are organizations that are:

  • Based in BHT’s region (Spokane, Adams, Ferry, Lincoln, Pend Oreille, Stevens counties)

  • Offer services that address health related social needs of the Medicaid population in BHT’s region, or co-apply with an organization that does

  • A 501c nonprofit, a local governmental agency (such as a local health jurisdiction or public hospital), or an unincorporated entity with a 501c fiscal sponsor

  • Clinical organization applicants must have an SDoH/CBO co-applicant, and include a shared savings, reinvestment, value-based contracting, or similar partnership model

Note: For-profit organizations are not eligible to apply for this funding. For-profit entities may partner with an applicant who meets the eligibility above. If awarded, BHT would contract with the eligible applicant and funds would flow through them. The eligible applicant must have a significant and meaningful role in the implementation of the proposed project (i.e. the for-profit partner cannot be the primary implementer of the project while the eligible applicant plays only a nominal role).

Selection Criteria

The award process will be competitive. A panel of reviewers will make award decisions based on this scoring rubric and panel discussion.

Priority will be given to:

  • Community-based organizations (CBO definition) & by/for organizations (organizations led by and for impacted communities, with 50% or higher leadership, Board, and/or staff comprised of individuals from impacted groups)

  • Projects that demonstrate connection to housing, food, transportation, employment 

  • Projects serving youth and/or justice involved populations 

Other organization types, project focus areas, and focus populations will be considered

Award Information

A total of $3,600,000 is available under this funding opportunity for a two-year period (April 2023 – March 2025). BHT anticipates funding approximately 9 projects at $400,000 each but reserves the right to fund a larger number of smaller-budget projects, or a smaller number of larger projects. 

Award funds will be disbursed to successful applicants as follows: 

  • 40% of funds will be released at the beginning of the project period.  

  • 10% of funds will be earned at 10 months, for achieving year one project outcomes proposed by the applicant and approved by BHT. 

  • 40% of funds will be earned at renewal of contract, with identified goals and outcomes for year two based on experience in year one.  

  • 10% of funds will be earned at end of contract, for achieving year two project outcomes proposed by the applicant and approved by BHT.  

Use of Funds

Awards may not be used to directly fund Medicaid-billable services, or services covered in contracts between Medicaid managed care organizations and the clinical partner(s) involved in the project. The expectation from CMS for Initiative 1 DSRIP earned incentives is that providers would reinvest those dollars into their system in positive ways and all investments support the goals of Medi
caid Transformation. 

Acceptable uses of these awards include but are not limited to services, staffing, materials, interpretation or translation, staff training, software or IT tools, and travel. 

Expectations of Awardees

Workshops 

Once the panel selects projects to be funded, awardees will meet with BHT staff to move proposals to contract, including identification of goals and outcome measures for year one. Awardees will also complete a capacity needs assessment as part of the workshops.

Renewal 

Contracted partners will meet with BHT again at ten months for reporting and to renew contracts for second year. Awardees will participate in a workshop with BHT staff to identify new goals and outcomes for year two of the project based on year one experience and progress. The workshop is an opportunity for course adjustment and assessment of year one outcomes.  

Reporting  

Awardees will be required to report on project progress and goals at the end of year one and at the end of the contract if renewed for a second year. Awardees will participate in verbal reporting on goals and project outcomes and provide a written report on shared outcome measures (see below).  

Shared Measures   

Awardees will report on a set of shared measures, in addition to their individual project progress and goals.

BHT Staff are currently developing shared measures and will finalize based on the types of proposals we receive. Measures may include:

  • Services screened for  

  • Services provided internally, referred to, or in specific partnership for  

  • Clients served & demographics (Total and receiving specific services that are part of project. Reporting may include specific demographic numbers or which demographics are being collected. Clients may always decline to report demographics.)  

  • Number of CHWs/Peers/care coordinators employed, including changes during project

  • Caseload of CHWs/Peers/care coordinators, including change during project

  • Use of or connection to the Care Connect platform

  • Workforce development: Increase in certifications (CHW training, peer certification, etc.) 

Informational Webinar

BHT will host a webinar on Friday, January 20, 12-1pm. Will include time for questions.

Webinar recording
Webinar slides
FAQ – updated 01.24.23

Application Process

Stage 1: Letters of Intent

Interested organizations must submit letters of intent as the first step of the application process. Content of these letters are non-binding, but will be used to determine eligibility and invitations to the Proposal Presentations (Stage 2).

Letter of Intent Submission:

Letters of intent will be submitted online via a Microsoft Form and are due by 11:59pm February 10th. The form asks for:

  • Applicant organization

  • Contact(s) name and email

  • Self-identify organization as: community-based and/or impacted led

  • Current services offered

  • Names of partner organizations, if required

  • Project title

  • Funding amount requested

  • Brief project narrative description

  • Project outcomes – Building Project Outcomes resource

  • Counties and/or reservations served

  • Target population(s)

  • Capacity to report on shared measures

  • Implementation readiness attestation



letter of intent form

Stage 2: Proposal Presentations

Based on review of the letters of intent, BHT will invite eligible applicants to advance to present their proposal to a panel of community partners. This review panel will determine which projects to fund.* Community partner on the panel will be required to declare any conflicts of interest and recuse themselves from review of specific proposals as needed.

*Note: BHT staff are not voting panel members. This is a community driven and decided process!

Panel Presentation
In lieu of a written RFP application, applicants will give an oral presentation of their proposed project to the review panel. Applicants will receive details about what to include in the presentation when they are invited to move forward to the oral presentation stage. The presentation is a chance to share about the proposed project, answer reviewer’s questions, and make your case for funding.

The panel presentations are scheduled for Monday, March 13 and Tuesday, March 14. Participation is required. Presentations are in-person, but remote & hybrid options will be available.

Proposal Presentation Supporting Documents

Timeline – process updated 03/06/23

On March 6th we adjusted the Community Linkages process to allow for all 44 organizations who submitted a letter of intent to move to the oral presentation stage of the application process if interested. This extends our timeline of sending notification of funding decisions to May 1, 2023. Workshops will follow and an appropriate contract start date will be determined with each partner.

Please see our communication about the process shift here.

The last day to schedule oral presentations is Thursday March 30, 2023.

Original Timeline

  • January 16 RFP application opens

  • February 10 letter of intent forms due

  • February 20 Invitation to oral presentation round sent

  • March 8 Deadline to submit oral presentation materials

  • March 13-14 Oral presentation of proposals

  • March 20 Notification of funding decisions

  • April Awardee workshops

  • May 1 Anticipated contract start date

Contact us

Staff are available to answer questions and talk through project ideas. Please contact:

Sarah Bollig Dorn at sarah@betterhealthtogether.org
Hannah Klaassen at hannah@betterhealthtogether.org

Community Resilience Fund RFP Recipients

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Our Community Resiliency Fund aims to remove barriers for impacted community led organizations and create more opportunities to fuel systemic change. We are excited to share that recipients for the $2 million in funding from the Community Resiliency Fund have been confirmed.  

At the recommendation and based on the scoring of our panel of community partners BHT has awarded twenty (20) community-based organizations having leadership, Board, and/or staff comprised of at least 50% impacted persons*. All the organizations serve and/or advocate for persons with intersecting identities that have been negatively impacted by systemic and institutionalized racism.

  • Thirteen (13) community-based organizations funded are focused on, but not solely, serving our Black, Indigenous, and Communities of Color in Spokane to prevent, mitigate, and repair the impacts of systematic racism.  

  • Four (4) community-based organizations funded are focused, but not solely, on serving persons justice-involved.  

  • Two (2) community-based organizations funded are focused on, but not solely, serving members of the LGBTQIA2S+ community.  

  • One (1) community-based organization funded is an activist building and supporting organization, working against systemic and intrinsically racist policies.  

 For more details about the process, scroll below the recipient list.

Organizations selected included:  

4GE:  

4GE works to provide equal opportunity to holistic health and housing by creating the infrastructure to relief through community development, advocacy and access. This funding will support operating the Housing Advocacy Program as a solution for low-income, justice-involved, vulnerable persons and refugees to high eviction and incarceration rates and low access to pre-eviction and post-conviction relief in Spokane County. 

 

Feast Collective 

Feast Collective elevates and empowers immigrants and former refugees as leaders. We use international cuisine as a platform for economic resilience, holistic growth, and culture-sharing. This funding will support continued operational components of the Immigrant and Refugee-led commercial restaurant as well as Table Time-a community resource program for chefs and their families.

 

Health and Justice Recovery Alliance:  

The Health and Justice Recovery Alliance provides a Peer service delivery model that centers the experience of the participant and community in crisis by supporting navigation from crisis to well-being. These funds will help prevent, disrupt and support restoration for individuals experiencing destabilization/crisis by examining the complicity of systems of oppression and exclusion that exist at all touchpoints across multiple systems.

 

Hispanic Business and Professional Association (HBPA) of Spokane:  

The Hispanic Business/ Professional Association’s mission is to promote and serve business growth, professional development, education opportunities, cultural preservation and social justice for the Hispanic community in the Inland Northwest. This funding will support an expansion of Esperanza’s staffing, a pilot that is culturally and linguistically attuned mental health therapy and continue to infuse services with activities that bolster community well-being and center Hispanic/Latinx culture.

 

Latinos En Spokane 

Latinos En Spokane is an organization that supports citizen participation, integration, community development, and empowerment of the Latino population in Spokane. These funds will support the building of a commercial kitchen to support the healthy cooking class for elderly community members, cultural events, and cooking instruction.  Also funding a Spanish language driver education course.

 

Manzanita House:  

Manzanita House is a local nonprofit created with a commitment to the development of our community and collaborative solutions that view all stakeholders as equals. The name was inspired by the resilience of the Manzanita plant that withstands and thrives in the wake of wildfires, as we see this resiliency in the immigrant community. This funding will support the work with and for the immigrant community in Spokane to build stability and strength by providing low-cost, accessible legal aid, and focusing on family-based and humanitarian immigration.

 

MiA – Mujeres in Action 

MiA is committed to advocating for survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault, helping them to reach their full potential, and educating our community from a Latinx perspective to eradicate family violence. These funds will support the organizations ability to provide culturally-responsive healing and survivor-centered support to Latinx and Hispanic survivors of domestic violence (DV) and/or sexual assault (SA) in Spokane County and the surrounding region.

 

NAACP Spokane Branch 1137 

The NAACP works to disrupt inequality, dismantle racism, and accelerate change in key areas including criminal justice, health care, education, climate, and the economy. This funding will support the ‘Challenging the Narrative’ project, which is a monthly series in which the NAACP connect anti-racist work and its key players to the Spokane Community at large. 

 

Northeast Youth & Family Services (NEYFS food pantry)  

Northeast Youth & Family Services (NEYFS) is a resource center committed to empowering generations by providing access and support to youth and families in Northeast Spokane. “Creativity Project” will apply CRF funding toward final kitchen supplies needed, such as appliances/cookware/tableware, stocking the food pantry, costs for curriculum/classes, and largely toward hiring one staff member to oversee the kitchen, pantry, food-truck rotation, gardening, scheduling, classes, and all other needs pertaining to the serving our community.

 

Operation Healthy Family (OHF):  

Operation Healthy Family and its programs use a culturally relevant approach to reach diverse families in poverty. Our work focuses on creating equity for families’ who don’t have the opportunities that accompany economic and social advantages. This funding will support a youth internship program with the goal of increasing BIPOC representation in underrepresented career fields.

 

Pacific Islander Community Association of Washington  

The Pacific Islander Community Association of WA (PICA-WA) serves as a cultural home, centers community power and advocates to further the wellness of Pacific Islander communities in Washington State. This Funding is for the continued operation of the Oceania Leadership Institute-an anti-racist community-led training series. This promotes centering of community power and advocates to further the wellness of Pacific Islander communities.

Peace & Justice Action League of Spokane:  

PJALS builds a cross-racial, intergenerational, all-gender, rural-urban, bottom-up movement centered on the leadership of impacted people. This funding will support the building of the Leadership Development (BOLD) Project, Young Activist Leaders Program, and the Peace & Justice Action Conference.

 

Raze Development Inc. 

Raze Early Learning and Development Center demolishes the divisive and traumatic current narrative of the black student in education.  Raze Early Learning and Development Center prioritizes family engagement and partnership by first acknowledging the parent as the cornerstone teacher. These funds will support in continuing to provide culturally immersive, individualized curriculum for Black students in early learning education, and instruction that validates and affirms Black Culture while creating standards to ensure kindergarten readiness.

 

Revive Center for Returning Citizens  

The mission of the Revive Center for Returning Citizens is to empower those impacted by the criminal justice system, advance multi-dimensional solutions to the effects of incarceration and achieve racial justice. We serve and support individuals and families to heal from trauma and reenter society with opportunities and community connections. This funding will support 3 sessions of training for their justice-involved population.

 

Salish School of Spokane:  

Salish School of Spokane is a Salish immersion school offering childcare and elementary school for families in the City of Spokane and surrounding areas. Funding will support the Pre-K through adult Salish language education programs to improve the lives of Native American people in Spokane beginning with the preservation and revitalization of traditional language and culture.

 

Shades of Motherhood Network:  

The Shades of Motherhood Network’s mission is to center Black mothers and birthing people through education, empowerment, and community so that we can use our voices, art activism, cultural care and awareness, advocacy, and data collection to eradicate health inequities. These funds will support in strengthening Shades of Motherhood to more powerfully address, mitigate, and prevent impacts of systemic racism on Black birthing people, other people of color, and infants of color through education, art activism, advocacy, data collection, and community.

 

Spectrum:  

Spectrum Center Spokane is an intersectional and intergenerational organization that uplifts the 2SLGBTQ+ Community. This funding will be used to continue to build on creating Queer Indigenous programs and spaces, Queer Black programs and spaces, and Queer POC (non-Black and non-Indigenous POC) programs and spaces.

 

Spokane Pride:  

Spokane Pride is committed to developing Pride experiences that are welcoming, engaging, and accessible for ALL people of all identities and experiences. As an organization, Spokane Pride is committed to developing Pride experiences that are welcoming, engaging, and accessible for ALL people of all identities and experiences. The funding will be used to hire their first Executive Director.

 

Way to Justice:  

The Way to Justice is a community law firm led and created by women of color. Through direct representation, impact litigation, policy reform, and advocacy work, they address the barriers facing individuals who have been negatively impacted by our justice system. Funding will support in providing direct legal representation and advocating for policy changes, as well as empowering justice-involved people and their families through advocacy and access; decreasing the inequitable results of our current justice system on BIPOC and low-income people; and helping to dismantle structural racism.

 

Yoyot Sp’q’n’I  

Yoyot Sp’q’n’I works to support and teach advocacy by uplifting and empowering indigenous peoples. These funds will support a location (2 years of housing costs for a 5-bedroom home, rent/utilities/deposit) to be a reliable, planted resource for those needing Domestic Violence Support.

 

May 18, 2023 Update: Thank you to all applicant organizations! We have finished the presentation process and panelists have completed deliberation. The application process is below for reference

Background

Better Health Together (BHT) was founded on the principle that when we step back and let the local community lead, we find the best and most sustainable solutions to some of our most complex problems. We recognize the history of systemic and institutional racism and its impact historically and currently on underrepresented and oppressed populations. We acknowledge we are living in a culture of white privilege and dominance. We continue to see white voices prioritized in leadership positions that far out balances the voices of people of color and impacted* communities. We know this presence of white-supremacy culture is apparent in patterns of funding and philanthropy towards nonprofit and community-based organizations.  

In 2020, BHT adopted a Board policy acknowledging racism as a public health crisis and deepening our commitment to equity and anti-racist work. With this statement we released and funded 1.5 million dollars from our Community Resiliency Fund to address and prevent the impacts of racism as a public health crisis. To play a part in closing the gap between inequitable funding patterns, the BHT board voted to prioritize awarding dollars to organizations led by and serving Black, Indigenous, people of color, and LGBTQIA2S+ people.  

BHT received 34 letters of interest. BHT staff facilitated a team of community evaluators consisting of 50% BIPOC panelists that reviewed each project and made final funding recommendations. At the recommendation of the community evaluators, we capped funding to any given applicant at $100,000 and prioritized projects with the most immediate readiness to make an impact in a -1-year period. We did our best to support all projects through free coaching and technical assistance in project development and organizational capacity.  

In early 2021, we funded 23 organizations. We received clear feedback from the funded partners that this kind of dedicated and flexible funding evaluated through a community process based in trust was highly needed and valued. 

Opportunity

To further support our commitment, BHT is releasing an additional $2,000,000 of our Community Resiliency Fund in a Request for Proposal process to address Racism as a Public Health crisis and prioritize awarding dollars to organizations led by and serving impacted populations.*  

BHT is expecting to fund up to 20 organizations, at a maximum of $100,000 per proposal for up to two years.  

Purpose

To support community organizations that are led by and for BIPOC and impacted populations. The purpose of this funding is to: 

  • Address, mitigate, and/or prevent impacts of systemic racism   

  • Strengthen organizations led by and serving communities impacted by systems of oppression, specifically prioritizing those organizations supporting impacted populations.  

  • Ensure diverse and meaningful participation from community voice to shift power, guide decision making, support self-governance and direct funding   

  • Leverage our privileged position to draw more funding and resources to the region in sustainable and equitable ways  

  • Increase investment and technical assistance as identified by BIPOC and impacted community organizations to meet critical community needs  

  • Invest in BIPOC and impacted community organization to support health 

Intent: Broad vs Focused Support

Broad. Intent is to provide some support to as many partners as interested, within the limits of the funding amount.  

Intent: Current vs New Partners

Both current and new partners are eligible. See eligibility below.

Eligibility

Initial review of eligibility will include:

  • Organization is “by & for” impacted communities*, with 50% or higher leadership, Board, and/or staff comprised of individuals from impacted groups   

  • Organization is located in the Better Health Together region (Spokane, Adams, Ferry, Lincoln, Pend Oreille, Stevens counties)

  • Organization is a 501c3 or has a fiscal sponsor

What should proposals address?  

This funding can be used for either new or existing programs or ideas. These programs or services could be be, but not limited to, focused on reparative justice, prevention, and mitigation. 

The following criteria will be used to determine how funds are distributed: 

  • Anti-Racism & Equity: Organization and project goals are in alignment with promoting anti-racism 

  • Target population: Project serves impacted communities 

  • By and for: Project addresses identified needs in the community they serve 

  • Project clarity: Shows alignment between requested funds and intended goals and outcomes 

  • Impact: Funding increases community and/or organizational capacity 

  • Proximity: Organization/group has a direct role in meeting needs of impacted communities 

Timeline

November/December 

The RFP is released & panelists selected. BHT will recruit 2-3 community leaders to participate in selection panels with a staff member. It is not expected that the same panels will evaluate all proposals, however, all panels must consist of at least half BIPOC individuals. 

January 13

Application cl
oses.

February 

The panels review proposals. Initial review of eligibility will include “By & For” organizational prioritization; with 50% or higher leadership and/or staff comprised of individuals from impacted groups.   

March/April

Decision and announcement of decision. One- or two-year contracts start.  

To Apply

Click the “Apply for Funding Opportunity” button below to complete the application.

The application will close January 13th at 11:59 PM PST. 

The application includes the following: 

  • Organization/Group Name 

  • Contact Name 

  • Contact Phone 

  • Leadership Identity 

  • Funding amount requested 

  • 1- or 2-year contract 

  • Preferred payout plan 

  • 501(c)(3) or Fiscal Sponsor  

  • W9 

  • Letters of support(optional) 

  • Background of intent to apply/Project Description 

  • Population you serve/Project Reach 

  • Equity Lens 

  • Technical Assistance 



Apply for funding opportunity

 The application will close January 13th at 11:59 PM PST. 

Thank you for your time and all that you do to serve the community!
Questions? Reach out to bhtequityteam@betterhealthtogether.org

Also, stay tuned for another RFP announcement coming soon! 

*BHT uses the term impacted communities to refer broadly to all groups that have been impacted by systems of oppression, such as  Black, Indigenous, people of color, LGBTQA2S+, currently or formerly houseless, disabled, justice-involved, low-income, refugee/immigrant people, and more groups that face systemic inequity. 

Recognizing how our intersecting identities connect, it is important to call out that while white people may experience some of these forms of oppression, this experience is not the same as racism and cannot be racialized for them. A white person experiencing discrimination because of their disability does not have to consider how their race might have influenced their treatment (although if they are doing their anti-racist work, they should). In contrast, a black person with a disability in this example does not get the privilege of separating their experience of racism and the experience of ableism.  

From the HCA: Be aware of Medicaid renewal scams

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During the COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE) the Health Care Authority (HCA) extended coverage for all Apple Health (Medicaid) clients. This extension has now ended due to the Consolidated Appropriation Act of 2023, and the HCA resumed normal operations on April 1, 2023.

Reports of fake texts and phone calls to Medicaid clients have been reported over the past couple of weeks in other states. We’re asking Apple Health (Medicaid) clients to be aware of suspicious contact seeking money to maintain their health coverage.

The HCA will never ask for money to enroll or re-enroll in Apple Health (Medicaid) coverage.

Clients should not share banking or credit card information with anyone claiming to be from HCA or Apple Health. If they receive a phone call or text message they think is a scam, they should hang up and report this to Apple Health customer service at 1-800-562-3022.



Read the Full Statement from the HCA

2022 Equity Assessment

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Below you will find information and resources for the 2022 iteration of the BHT Equity Assessment.

If you have any questions, please reach out to EQA@betterhealthtogether.org.

About the Equity Assessment

Better Health Together is offering the Equity Assessment to partner organizations throughout Eastern Washington as a way to continue our shared work of advancing equity in our region. Better Health Together first administered the survey at the end of 2019, and shared regional and organizational-level results in early 2020. The 2022 assessment will go live Sept 12, 2022, with results shared in early 2023.

The assessment delves into many aspects of equity, including gender, race, disability, sexuality, language, and lived experience. In this assessment, respondents will be asked to share their observations about equity-related activities and perspectives. Your participation is an opportunity to demonstrate and grow your organization’s commitments to equity. Assessment results can be used as you apply for funding, engage in internal and external equity work, and promote a culture of learning and growth.

We encourage partner organizations to have as many staff as possible to complete the Equity Assessment when it is released. The assessment will be available in English, Spanish, and Russian. A translation of the introductory language will also be available in Marshallese (we are not able to offer a translation of the assessment at this time).

With BHT’s commitment to advancing equity and a strong emphasis on equity in Washington’s Medicaid Waiver renewal, we expect the Equity Assessment will inform future Waiver funding through BHT.

2022 REGIONAL REPORT

2022 BHT Equity Assessment Regional Report

Released February 2023

Organization-level reports will be sent to participant organizations in late February/early March.

RESOURCES

BHT Equity Workbook

Equity Assessment survey link – opened Sept 12, closed Oct 28.

  • You should receive survey link via email from someone at your organization after the assessment opens on Sept 12.

  • The assessment will be available in English, Spanish, and Russian. Participants will select their preference at the beginning of the survey.

  • A Marshallese translation of the introductory text and definition of terms will be available. The assessment tool itself is not available in Marshallese at this time.

Equity Assessment Overview

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) & Definitions

Overview Webinar – Sept 9, 12:00-1:00 pm

Communications