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Delta States Rural Development Network Grant Program (Delta Program) FAQs

What is the Delta States Rural Development Network Grant Program (the Delta Program)?

The Delta States Rural Development Network Grant Program is a discretionary grant opportunity from HHS HRSA, administered through the Federal Office of Rural Health Policy. It is designed to strengthen rural health care across the eight Delta States by funding organizations that can convene multiple local partners into an integrated rural health care network.

Which federal agency administers this opportunity?

The opportunity is from HHS HRSA (Health Resources and Services Administration) and is administered through HRSA's Federal Office of Rural Health Policy.

What is the CFDA number and funding opportunity number for this grant?

The CFDA number is 93.912 and the Funding Opportunity Number is HRSA-16-020.

What is the main purpose of the program?

The program funds planning and implementation work that helps separate rural entities coordinate services, share functions, reduce duplication, and expand access and improve quality across a region. The underlying premise is that rural health challenges often require coordinated solutions across multiple organizations rather than isolated efforts.

What kind of approach does the program expect from applicants?

The program expects applicants to build or enhance integrated, multi-partner networks that coordinate chronic disease prevention and management services across a defined rural region, with a clear focus on measurable outcomes and practical system-level improvement.

Does the program require a network, or can a single organization apply alone?

The central emphasis is on bringing multiple local partners together into an integrated health care network. The opportunity highlights coordination across separate entities as a core design feature, rather than a single provider acting independently.

What geographic structure is expected for the network?

Funded projects are expected to build or enhance multi-county or multi-parish networks in rural areas, with a focus on the rural counties or parishes with the highest unmet needs, including hard-to-reach and underserved communities.

What health focus areas are prioritized?

The program expects a primary focus on chronic disease prevention and management, with an explicit FY 2016 emphasis on diabetes, cardiovascular disease, obesity, and acute ischemic stroke.

Is behavioral health included in this program?

Yes. The opportunity emphasizes integrating physical health care with behavioral health needs. Because depression and other behavioral health conditions commonly co-occur with chronic disease and can worsen outcomes, applicants are encouraged to incorporate mental and behavioral health screening and services as part of effective chronic disease care. Mental/behavioral health is also described as an allowable focus area alongside the chronic disease priorities.

What does the program mean by "population health"?

Population health in this opportunity means designing interventions that measurably improve outcomes for a clearly defined group, not only individual patients. Examples of a defined population include residents of a set of counties, a specific high-risk demographic group, school-aged children, or another clearly described population segment.

What kinds of results does the program want to see?

The program looks for outcomes-oriented projects that produce changes that can be tracked and reported, demonstrating a clear linkage between activities and measurable improvements in health and system performance.

What are examples of outcomes that applicants might measure?

Examples highlighted include improved knowledge (for example, understanding of risk factors and self-management), improved attitudes (such as stronger self-efficacy), healthier behaviors (such as increased physical activity or improved nutrition), improved clinical measures (such as BMI, weight, A1C, or blood pressure), and stronger policies/procedures/systems (such as improved referral workflows, better coordination between health and social service agencies, or improved care delivery models).

Does the program emphasize reducing avoidable health care utilization?

Yes. Applicants are encouraged to coordinate chronic disease services in ways that reduce avoidable utilization, including unnecessary emergency department visits, preventable hospital admissions, and 30-day readmissions, through improved disease management and care coordination.

Is general outreach sufficient for this program?

The opportunity emphasizes measurable impact rather than general outreach without trackable results. Projects are expected to show clear linkage between what they do and improvements that can be measured and reported.

Do applicants have to use an evidence-based model?

Yes. A major requirement is that applicants use an evidence-based practice or a promising practice model.

What is the difference between an evidence-based practice and a promising practice in this opportunity?

Evidence-based practices are supported by scientific evidence or rigorous evaluation showing effectiveness. Promising practices are models with preliminary evidence (often from smaller pilots) that justify expansion and can generate useful data for scale-up.

What does the program expect applicants to explain about their chosen model?

Applicants are expected to describe the model they will use, why it fits local needs, and how it will be implemented and evaluated across the network, with an emphasis on approaches that improve outcomes and can be replicated in other rural communities.

Can grant funds be used for issues beyond the primary chronic disease focus?

Yes. While the grant requires a primary focus aligned to the stated health priorities, grantees may use a portion of funds on an additional locally important issue area that strengthens the network through better coordination and improved quality.

What are examples of allowed additional issue areas?

Examples mentioned include pharmacy assistance, enhancements to existing electronic health record systems (not brand-new EHR implementation), oral health, cancer screening, women's health, and issues tied to social determinants such as child poverty.

Are applicants allowed to implement a brand-new electronic health record (EHR) system with these funds?

The opportunity mentions enhancements to existing electronic health record systems as an example of an allowable additional area, while explicitly noting that brand-new EHR implementation is not included in that example.

How should applicants justify adding a secondary topic area?

Applicants are expected to justify any added topic by showing local need and explaining how addressing it will improve the main project and benefit the target population.

Does the opportunity mention rural child poverty?

Yes. The opportunity references the White House rural child poverty report and encourages applicants to incorporate rural child poverty work as one aspect of a broader strategy where appropriate.

What populations should projects prioritize?

Projects are expected to target rural counties or parishes with the highest unmet needs, including hard-to-reach and underserved communities, and to define a population for which measurable improvements will be pursued.

Is sustainability required, or is it optional?

Sustainability is treated as a priority. Applicants are expected to include a sustainability plan explaining how key activities, partnerships, and coordinated services will continue beyond the grant period.

What should be included in a sustainability plan according to the opportunity description?

The sustainability plan should describe how the network will maintain operations, financing, and collaboration after federal funding ends, and how it will position itself to secure non-federal support over time.

How many awards were anticipated?

The competition anticipated about 12 awards.

What was the application due date listed for this opportunity?

The application due date listed was April 12, 2016.

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is described broadly as "Others," with additional eligibility details referenced in the full announcement.

What is the core idea behind supporting integrated networks in rural communities?

The opportunity is built on the idea that rural communities often face health challenges that no single clinic, hospital, or community organization can solve alone. Funding supports coordinated planning and implementation so partners can align services, share functions, reduce duplication, and improve access and quality across a region.