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Public Health Services and Systems Research (PHSSR)
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Program Overview
The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) seeks to expand the evidence base for effective public health policy and practice through investment in Public Health Services and Systems Research (PHSSR). RWJF is supporting this field of research to improve population health and eliminate health disparities through evidence-based enhancements in the public health system.
The National Network of Public Health Institutes (NNPHI) is serving as the Administrative Service Organization (ASO) and will facilitate the call for proposals for this program. Approximately $2.4 million will be awarded to up to 12 applicants through this solicitation. Grantees will receive up to $200,000 each in financial support to be used over a 24-month period.
About PHSSR
Public Health Services and Systems Research (PHSSR) is a multi-disciplinary “field of study that examines the organization, financing, and delivery of public health services within communities and the impact of those services on the health of the public.”[i] PHSSR provides evidence on how to organize and deliver public health services effectively and efficiently and supports the following Robert Wood Johnson Foundation public health strategies:
- Build the evidence for what works to improve the quality and effectiveness of public health practice and policy;
- Improve the performance and impact of the public health system—which includes public health agencies, businesses, health and health care organizations, faith-based groups, and community advocates; and
- Increase the demand for and the use of public health policies and practices that improve health
A primary aim of PHSSR is to provide evidence that informs real world decisions made by practitioners, organizations, policy-makers, funders, and communities at the local, state, and national levels to protect the public’s health and promote healthy communities. As a result, PHSSR findings can inform critical decisions which improve preparedness, community and clinical prevention, and the management of chronic diseases to promote healthier places to live, work, learn and play.
[i] Mays, G. P., Halverson, P. K., & Scutchfield FD. Behind the curve? What we know and need to learn from public health systems research. J Public Health Manag Pract 2003;9:179-82.
How to Apply
Applicant Web Conference
The program hosted a web conference for potential applicants to answer questions about the solicitation, as well as the proposal and selection processes. The web conference was held on September 3, 2009.
Click here to view slides from the web conference.
Click here to listen to a recording of the web conference.
(open with Window's Media Player to view the slides along with the audio)
Before applying for funding, please carefully review the Call for Proposals.
All applications must be submitted online. No paper proposals will be accepted. It is important to go through the online process carefully. When you link to the secure online application site, you will find detailed instructions to begin the process of submitting a brief or full proposal. For additional detail, click on the “QuickStart Guide” on RWJF’s secure online site.
To apply for a grant, you must first submit a six page brief proposal. Selected applicants will then be invited by letter or e-mail to submit a full proposal of no more than eighteen pages.
In the full proposal stage, the online application system will collect information about you and your project. It then will provide a proposal template and additional document templates for you to download. Invited applicants will submit an 18-page narrative proposal, full line-item budget and budget narrative, project timeline, brief resumes and letters of support from collaborating agencies. Please follow template directions carefully! Applicants will need to upload all documents to the Grantmaking Online system to be able to complete their online submission.
To submit a proposal, go to RWJF’s secure Grantmaking Online application site: http://grantmaking.rwjf.org/phs
If you have questions about the application process, please contact a member of the ASO staff at 504-301-9854 or phssr@nnphi.org.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Click here to see a list of frequently asked questions.
Datasets
Applicants interested in using these datasets should request access as soon as possible. Confirmation of release is not required prior to the brief proposal deadline.
Association of State & Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO)
State Public Health Survey 2007, 2010 (available January 2011)
Minority Health Survey 2007, 2010 (available March 2011)
Salary Survey 2005, 2010 (available as part of 2010 State Public Health Survey)
Workforce Survey 2007, 2010 (available as part of 2010 State Public Health Survey)
National Association of City & County Health Officials (NACCHO)
NACCHO Profile 1989-1990, 1992-1993, 1996-1997, 2005
NACCHO survey in the field Spring 2010
Interuniversity Consortium for Political and Social Research (ICPSR)
NACCHO Profile 2008 (available May 2010)
ASTHO State Public Health Survey 2007 (available May 2010)
Key Dates
- September 3, 2009 (1:30 p.m. ET)—Web conference for interested applicants. Registration is required.
- September 22, 2009 (3 p.m. ET)—Deadline for receipt of brief proposals.
- November 17, 2009 —Applicants notified if selected to submit a full proposal.
- December 15, 2009 (3 p.m. ET)—Deadline for receipt of full proposals.
- April 8, 2010 — Finalists notified.
- May 1, 2010 — Start of grants.