Coordinating Center for Strategic Approaches to Improving Access to Quality Health Care for Children and Youth with Epilepsy

This announcement solicits applications for a Coordinating Center for Strategic Approaches to Improving Access to Quality Health Care for Children and Youth with Epilepsy (hereafter referred to as the “Coordinating Center”).  The purpose of this award is to provide support and technical assistance to grantees receiving funding from HRSA/MCHB through the Strategic Approaches to Improving Access to Quality Health Care for Children and Youth with Epilepsy announcement (HRSA-16-055) with their quality improvement learning collaboratives[1] focused on efforts to implement telehealth/telemedicine[2]/mobile health (mhealth)[3] and youth transition[4], and to provide outreach and education regarding epilepsy to pertinent stakeholders.  The awardee will implement a quality improvement learning collaborative and protocol for grantees, and ensure the grantees have access to relevant evidence based models, best practices, and strategies regarding the patient/family-centered medical home model,[5] youth transition[6], and the Got Transition Six Core Elements of Health Care Transition Framework.[7]  In addition, the awardee will identify and implement a primary care provider education and training system on pediatric epilepsy. The goal of this initiative is to improve access to coordinated and comprehensive[8] quality care for children and youth with epilepsy (CYE) with an emphasis on populations experiencing health disparities[9] and CYE residing in medically underserved/rural communities.[10]  The awardee will be expected to perform the following activities: Conduct ongoing assessments and evaluations of the grantees’ outcomes and objectives, including data collection analysis, and timely provision of performance improvement data feedback to the grantees.  When appropriate, the Coordinating Center will provide real time data to the grantees regarding their quality improvement efforts. Develop and maintain collaborative partnerships with relevant private and public entities. Provide technical assistance to the grantees via webinars, a shared web-based resource, conferences, and training opportunities. Identify and disseminate effective tools and strategies for outreach, collaborations, communication, and information sharing/dissemination. Provide assistance to the awardees to assist them in identifying evidence-based and innovative promising practices related to: youth and family engagement and activation; outreach to diverse populations; health care system transformation, as it relates to pediatric epilepsy care; use of health information technology to improve access to and quality of pediatric epilepsy care; supporting the medical home approach; education and training of clinicians; partnership building with stakeholders; and project sustainability. Plan, develop, and implement an annual awardee meeting. Develop and support primary care provider learning communities in pediatric epilepsy.[11] Establish a cross-site state learning community for awardees to discuss the project’s progress, challenges, and potential solutions. Develop and disseminate a quarterly newsletter that highlights the awardees’ initiatives, the Coordinating Center’s activities, and provides relevant evidence-based information regarding pediatric epilepsy. Assemble a multidisciplinary advisory committee to advise and guide the activities of the Coordinating Center. The committee must be inclusive of CYE, CYE families, and entities with subject matter expertise and knowledge in: the development of a comprehensive system of services for children and youth with special health needs, cultural competency, rural health, health disparities, health information technology, and pediatric epilepsy. Representatives from state Title V Children with Special Health Care Needs and Medicaid/CHIP agencies should be included. Implement and update an evaluation plan annually.  The plan should address: the extent to which the program-specific objectives have been met; the evaluation of the project’s goals and objectives; the effectiveness of strategies implemented to address barriers/challenges; and the data collection/monitoring/reporting pertaining to all project strategies.

Application Instructions

Please submit:

1. a one-page letter of intent with a description of proposed aims and approach
2. Biosketch or CV of the PI
3. A letter of support from the Dean or Chair. This letter of support signifies that the Dean or Chair have ensured that the nominee and application are likely to be of sufficient quality to be competitive nationally

to research@uw.edu by 5:00 PM Thursday, April 7, 2016. Full proposals are due to the sponsor 5/17/16, so you will need to have your materials in to the Office of Sponsored Programs by 5/9/16 for processing, if given the go ahead by the Proposal Review Committee.