Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA NIFA RHSE 003744
Apply for USDA NIFA RHSE 003744
- The National Institute of Food and Agriculture in the agriculture education health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Rural Health and Safety Education" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 10.500 Cooperative Extension Service.
- This funding opportunity was created on May 3, 2012 and posted on Apr 5, 2012.
- Applicants must submit their applications by May 15, 2012. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $1,400,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $200,000.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
- Applications may be submitted by Land grant colleges and universities that are eligible to receive funds under the Act of July 2, 1862 (7 U.S.C. 301 et seq.), and the Act of August 30, 1890 (7 U.S.C. 321 et seq.), including Tuskegee University, West Virginia State University and the University of the District of Columbia. Applications may be submitted by any of the Tribal colleges and universities designated as 1994 Land Grant Institutions under the Educational Land Grant Status Act of 1994, as amended.
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Opportunity Summary:
The Rural Health and Safety Education (RHSE) grant opportunity, offered by the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA), supports education-focused projects designed to improve health outcomes and safety practices in rural communities. The program is built around practical, community-based education and training efforts that help rural residents make informed choices, reduce preventable injuries and illnesses, and strengthen local capacity to plan and manage health-related services. The overall intent is to deliver outreach that translates research and best practices into usable information for individuals, families, workers, and local leaders, often through Cooperative Extension-style programming and partnerships.
A major emphasis of RHSE is Individual and Family Nutrition and Health Education. Under this focus area, funded projects are expected to provide clear information on the value of good health across the lifespan, from youth and working-age adults to older populations. The program also aims to increase personal motivation and confidence so individuals feel better equipped to take responsibility for their own health and day-to-day wellness decisions. In addition to general education, RHSE encourages projects that connect people to nutrition and health promotion resources and activities, such as educational workshops, demonstrations, community events, or referrals to local services. Another key component is workforce and volunteer development: applicants can propose training for volunteers and health service providers so they can deliver or expand nutrition education and health promotion activities in coordination with state, local, and community partners. In practice, this area is about improving both knowledge and access, while also building a local network of people capable of sustaining health education efforts.
The second core area is Farm Safety Education, which targets occupational safety in agricultural and rural work settings. Projects in this category are meant to reduce workplace risks and address common sources of injury and illness in farming and related industries. RHSE highlights training and information that can help prevent occupational injuries and fatalities, including strategies that reduce risk during equipment use, animal handling, and other high-hazard tasks. It also supports education to prevent or reduce exposure to farm chemicals, which can include safe handling, storage, and use practices for pesticides and other agricultural chemicals, as well as awareness of exposure pathways and protective behaviors. In addition, RHSE specifically notes prevention of agricultural respiratory diseases and dermatitis, reflecting the reality that dust, molds, animal dander, chemical irritants, and other farm-related exposures can lead to chronic breathing problems or skin conditions. Overall, this component is geared toward practical prevention, training, and behavior change that can measurably reduce harm in rural workplaces.
The third area is Rural Health Leadership Development Education, which focuses on strengthening local leadership and community decision-making around health services. Rather than only educating individuals, this track supports efforts that help rural communities plan and develop nutrition and health care services and facilities in ways that provide the greatest benefit for the resources invested. That can involve helping communities assess needs, prioritize limited funding, coordinate partners, and understand the tradeoffs involved in service and facility development. It also aims to help community leaders and public officials better understand their roles and responsibilities, which can improve governance, accountability, and long-term sustainability of rural health initiatives. This leadership development element recognizes that rural health improvements often depend on strong local planning and coordination, not just individual behavior change.
From an administrative standpoint, RHSE is a discretionary grant program (Funding Opportunity Number: USDA NIFA RHSE 003744) in the Agriculture, Education, and Health activity areas, listed under CFDA 10.500 (Cooperative Extension Service). The posted date for the opportunity was April 5, 2012, with an application closing date of May 15, 2012, and the announcement was later archived on June 14, 2012. The estimated total funding available was $1,400,000, and the maximum award amount (award ceiling) was $200,000. The opportunity did not require cost sharing or matching funds, which can lower barriers for eligible institutions seeking to run education and outreach projects.
Eligibility was limited to specific categories of land-grant institutions. Applications could be submitted by 1862 land-grant colleges and universities and 1890 land-grant institutions, including Tuskegee University, West Virginia State University, and the University of the District of Columbia, as well as Tribal colleges and universities designated as 1994 Land-Grant Institutions. In other words, RHSE was designed for the land-grant and extension ecosystem that is typically responsible for translating agricultural and public health education into community-level programming.
For support accessing the full announcement, NIFA listed its Help Desk (202-401-5048) during standard business hours (Eastern Time), and provided a general contact pathway for questions related to application preparation.
Rural Health and Safety Education (RHSE) Grant FAQ
What is the Rural Health and Safety Education (RHSE) grant program?
The Rural Health and Safety Education (RHSE) program is a USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) discretionary grant opportunity that supports education-focused projects intended to improve health outcomes and safety practices in rural communities. The emphasis is on practical, community-based education and training that helps rural residents make informed choices, reduce preventable injuries and illnesses, and strengthen local capacity to plan and manage health-related services.
What kinds of projects does RHSE fund?
RHSE funds outreach and education projects that translate research and best practices into usable information for rural individuals, families, workers, and local leaders. Projects are typically delivered through Cooperative Extension-style programming and partnerships and are designed to support measurable improvements in health and safety knowledge, behaviors, and local capacity.
What are the main focus areas of RHSE?
RHSE is organized around three core areas: (1) Individual and Family Nutrition and Health Education, (2) Farm Safety Education, and (3) Rural Health Leadership Development Education.
What is included under Individual and Family Nutrition and Health Education?
This focus area supports education that explains the value of good health across the lifespan (youth, working-age adults, and older populations). Projects are expected to build personal motivation and confidence so individuals feel better equipped to take responsibility for day-to-day health and wellness decisions. RHSE also encourages projects that connect people to nutrition and health promotion resources and activities through workshops, demonstrations, community events, or referrals to local services.
Does RHSE support training for volunteers or health service providers?
Yes. RHSE encourages workforce and volunteer development proposals that train volunteers and health service providers to deliver or expand nutrition education and health promotion activities in coordination with state, local, and community partners. This is intended to build a local network that can sustain health education efforts.
What is included under Farm Safety Education?
Farm Safety Education supports training and information designed to reduce occupational risks in agricultural and rural work settings. The aim is to reduce workplace injuries, illnesses, and fatalities by promoting safer practices during high-hazard tasks such as equipment use, animal handling, and related activities.
Does Farm Safety Education cover agricultural chemical safety?
Yes. RHSE supports education intended to prevent or reduce exposure to farm chemicals. This can include safe handling, storage, and use practices for pesticides and other agricultural chemicals, as well as awareness of exposure pathways and protective behaviors.
Does RHSE address farm-related respiratory diseases and skin conditions?
Yes. RHSE specifically notes prevention of agricultural respiratory diseases and dermatitis. This reflects common rural and farm exposure concerns such as dust, molds, animal dander, chemical irritants, and other exposures that can contribute to chronic breathing problems or skin conditions.
What is included under Rural Health Leadership Development Education?
This area focuses on building local leadership and improving community decision-making related to health services. Supported efforts may help rural communities plan and develop nutrition and health care services and facilities to achieve the greatest benefit for the resources invested. It can include helping communities assess needs, prioritize limited funding, coordinate partners, and understand tradeoffs involved in service and facility development.
Who is the RHSE grant meant to help in rural communities?
The program is designed to benefit rural individuals and families, rural workers (including those in agricultural settings), and local leaders and public officials who influence community planning and health service decisions.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number for RHSE?
The Funding Opportunity Number listed for RHSE is USDA NIFA RHSE 003744.
Which activity areas are associated with RHSE?
RHSE is listed under the Agriculture, Education, and Health activity areas.
What CFDA program listing is associated with RHSE?
The opportunity is listed under CFDA 10.500, Cooperative Extension Service.
When was this RHSE opportunity posted and when did it close?
The posted date was April 5, 2012, and the application closing date was May 15, 2012.
Is this RHSE announcement still active?
No. The announcement was archived on June 14, 2012.
How much total funding was available through this opportunity?
The estimated total funding available was $1,400,000.
What was the maximum award amount for a single RHSE grant?
The award ceiling (maximum award amount) was $200,000.
Did RHSE require cost sharing or matching funds?
No. The opportunity did not require cost sharing or matching funds.
Who was eligible to apply for RHSE?
Eligibility was limited to specific categories of land-grant institutions. Eligible applicants included 1862 land-grant colleges and universities; 1890 land-grant institutions (including Tuskegee University, West Virginia State University, and the University of the District of Columbia); and Tribal colleges and universities designated as 1994 Land-Grant Institutions.
What types of organizations were not included in the eligibility description?
Based on the provided eligibility statement, RHSE was designed for the land-grant and extension ecosystem and specifically listed certain categories of land-grant institutions. No other organization types were identified as eligible in the provided information.
What kind of program approach does RHSE emphasize?
RHSE emphasizes practical outreach and training that translates research and best practices into information people can use. It often aligns with Cooperative Extension-style programming and partnerships and prioritizes community-based delivery.
Where could applicants get help accessing the full announcement or support for applying?
NIFA listed its Help Desk at 202-401-5048 during standard business hours (Eastern Time) for support accessing the full announcement. The opportunity also noted a general contact pathway for questions related to application preparation.
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| Rural Health and Safety Education Apply for USDA NIFA RHSE 004330 Funding Number: USDA NIFA RHSE 004330 Agency: National Institute of Food and Agriculture Category: Agriculture Education Health Funding Amount: $200,000 |
| RURAL HEALTH AND SAFETY EDUCATION COMPETITIVE GRANTS PROGRAM Apply for USDA NIFA RHSE 003076 Funding Number: USDA NIFA RHSE 003076 Agency: National Institute of Food and Agriculture Category: Agriculture Education Health Funding Amount: $350,000 |
| Rural Health and Safety Education Competitive Grants Program Apply for USDA NIFA RHSE 003441 Funding Number: USDA NIFA RHSE 003441 Agency: National Institute of Food and Agriculture Category: Agriculture Education Health Funding Amount: $300,000 |
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