Interdisciplinary Health Policy Research Fellowship - 2007

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Program Goals:

The overall goal of the Interdisciplinary Health Policy Research Fellowship Program, offered by the Central Valley Health Policy Institute (CVHPI), California State University, Fresno, is to encourage cutting-edge policy research and analysis focusedSeptember 23, 2008program also seeks to continue development of individual researcher and institutional capacity to participate in externally funded health policy research. To meet these objectives, up to six (6) Interdisciplinary Health Policy Research Fellows will be selected for 2007. Fellowships will also be offered in subsequent years.

Interdisciplinary Health Policy Research Fellows will receive up to $15,000 for their participation in the program. Fellows selected for 2007 will utilize their program participation to work with CVHPI staff to conduct literature reviews, pilot studies and other activities that culminate in the development and submission of proposals for externally funded, community-collaborative research or demonstration and evaluation projects focused on the priority areas for the Institute. For 2007, we are particularly interested in supporting Fellows who have access to pilot study or secondary data sets available for analysis or who can link their proposed project to ongoing CVHPI studies. For 2007, we seek applications focused in three broad areas:

San Joaquin Valley Public Health and Healthcare Infrastructure: Opportunities to Improve Access and Quality: The San Joaquin Valley faces a healthcare and public health infrastructure that is under-funded and overwhelmed today and expecting rapid increase in demand for services as the region’s population skyrockets. Studies are needed that address healthcare infrastructure (such as health professional shortages, primary care efficiency, hospital financial well-being, enhancing volunteer management/advisory capacity, telemedicine and e-health opportunities) and public health infrastructure (shared services models, coordination of funding streams and requirement, or intersections of public health and other county/regional functions). The California Partnership for the San Joaquin Valley, Health and Human Service Working Group recommendations include calls for new primary research, demonstration/evaluation, and policy analysis efforts related to several infrastructure enhancement efforts. Projects responding to these priorities are encouraged.
Immigrant Economic Well-being and Health: Because of our cultural diversity and high economic reliance on immigrant labor for key industries, the San Joaquin Valley is a prime location for understanding the factors that shape the health and healthcare system use of immigrants. While research emphasizing cultural factors in immigrant physical and social well-being have been conducted in the region, there is little specific attention to how economic and health policy factors shape immigrant health and healthcare use. Many immigrants, particularly those in agriculture and construction linked employment, may face relatively low salaries, seasonal employment, long travel to work sites, and little or no health insurance coverage. How these and related factors influence health status and participation in health promoting activities has not been examined in depth in our region. Studies are also needed that begin to sort out the influences of age, cohort, and period on health and healthcare use among immigrant older adults.
Linking Health Concerns to Environmental Policy Development/Air Quality-Sensitive Health Conditions: An extensive national and local literature documents the extent of air and water pollution in our region and the impacts on population health. Despite the implicit public health goals of environmental quality, debates about these policies are not closely enough linked to science about the public health and healthcare impacts associated with poor air quality or the complexities of developing and implementing efficacious community-oriented services programs that address air-quality sensitive health conditions (asthma, other respiratory conditions). Studies that evaluate local programs to address air-quality sensitive health conditions or use local experiences to develop new services are needed. Studies that explore environment policy attitudes in relation to health conditions or how health-related data can be more effectively brought into environmental policy making are also encouraged.

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Anticipated Outcomes of Interdisciplinary Health Policy Research Fellowship:

The Interdisciplinary Health Policy Research Fellowship will enable faculty members at California State University, Fresno, other regional colleges or universities, and researchers and analysts engaged in health policy and program studies in governmental agencies and non-profit agencies in the San Joaquin Valley region to engage in supported pilot investigations and preliminary research leading to long-term external funding in affiliation with the Central Valley Health Policy Institute.
Systematic literature reviews, analyses of secondary data, and pilot studies conducted by Fellows will highlight research challenges and opportunities specific to priority health policy issues and population in the Central Valley.
The region will benefit in increased access to research-based information to address high priority Central Valley issues related to health policy.
Faculty researchers will develop relationships and skills that will enhance their potential to continue funded scholarly work in this area.

Interdisciplinary Health Policy Research Fellowship Award:

A $15,000 Interdisciplinary Health Policy Research Fellowship will be awarded to six (6) individuals with earned doctorates who are faculty members at California State University, Fresno, faculty members at other regional colleges or universities, or health policy and program analysts at governmental agencies or non-profit agencies in the San Joaquin Valley. The award will provide one of the following options:

25% release time (3 units) for Fall, 2007 or Spring, 2008 semester, and a maximum of $10,000 that can be divided between summer employment through the California State University, Fresno Foundation and direct project costs such as supplies, participant incentives, research-related travel and/or student assistants; or
A maximum of $15,000 that can be divided between summer employment through the California State University, Fresno Foundation and direct project costs such as supplies, participant incentives, research-related travel and/or student assistants. This option does not include release time.

Funds must be expended by May 15, 2008 and in compliance with all policies and procedures of the California State University, Fresno Foundation. Fellowship funds may only be used for employment through the California State University, Fresno Foundation or project-related expenses.

Application Process:

A. Applications must be received by May 16, 2007, 5 PM

Applicants will be notified by May 23 2007 and will be expected to begin the fellowship by June 2, 2007 to attend a writing workshop.

Applications should be forwarded to:

John Capitman, PhD
Central Valley Health Policy Institute
1625 East Shaw, Suite 146
Fresno CA 93771
559 228 2150
Email John Capitman

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B. Applications should include the following:

Cover Sheet (attached) including:
- Title of Project
- Position and Organization Affiliation
- Mailing address, email address
- Date
- Award Option Selection
- Signatures of Applicant and Organizational Supervisor/Department Chair
Abstract (not to exceed 250 words) addressing health policy priority area and purpose of research, external funding sources to be targeted by proposal, and summary of proposal development topics.
Biographical sketch using National Institutes of Health format (PHS 398) http://grants2.nih.gov/grants/funding/phs398/biosketch.pdf or similar
Brief proposal narrative, not to exceed 3-pages, single-spaced, 12-point font, one-inch margins) addressing the following:
- Statement of health policy priority area and overall purpose/objectives of the research proposal to be developed.
- Preliminary literature review, demonstrating applicant familiarity with research topic and a body of funded research addressing the overall purpose/objectives of the research proposal to be developed.
- Potential sources of external support for the research, identifying National Institutes of Health or other agency requests for proposals and/or other public or philanthropic agencies with current requests for proposals or a history of relevant funding;
- Proposal Development Methodology (such as, plan for systematic literature review, plan for preliminary analyses of extant data sets, plan for pilot study that includes subjects, inclusion and exclusion criteria; instruments/measures; procedures; and data analysis);
- Timeline for completion of all proposal development and dissemination tasks.
Detailed budget proposal
- Personnel (include Release time Option 1 or Option 2 Summer Employment)
- Summer Employment includes salary and fringe benefits @30% for faculty
- Other Direct Expenses, such as:
  - Student assistant salary and fringe benefits @12%
  - Participant Incentives
  - Equipment and Supplies
  - Research-related travel (indicate purpose and itemize expenses)
- Total Costs
Writing samples (at least 2 documents, such as reports, published papers or book chapters)

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C. For questions please contact Dr. John Capitman

Criteria for Selection:

The proposal will be evaluated by the following criteria:

Relevance of project to the priority health policy areas of the Central Valley Health Policy Institute
Potential for long-term external funding
Methodological rigor of development plan (plan includes all activities needed to fully develop a fundable proposal)
Feasibility of completion of project with available resources within timeline
Projects must be completed by May 15, 2008

Requirements of Interdisciplinary Health Policy Research Fellows:

In accepting the Interdisciplinary Health Policy Research Fellowship, fellows will agree to the following terms:

Interdisciplinary Health Policy Research Fellows will prepare a “Research in Progress” summary of the project which will be posted on the Central California Center for Health and Human Services web site by June 30, 2007 and an updated summary by November 30, 2007.
Progress reports will be submitted by June 30, 2007, September 30, 2007 and a completed proposal for external funding by December 30, 2007. The June 30 progress report will include identification of potential funding sources, an outline for the systematic literature review, and first draft of proposed project aims. The September 30 progress report will include a detailed report on the systematic literature review, second draft of proposed project aims, first draft of the proposed project methodology, and first draft of proposed project budget and timeline. The final progress report, December 30, will include the fully developed proposal, evidence of proposal submission, and plans for continued development of research in the proposal area.
Interdisciplinary Health Policy Research Fellows will attend regular research meetings during 2007/2008 with Center and Institute administrators, staff and invited guests to review progress and network among related stakeholders.
Interdisciplinary Health Policy Research Fellows will present results of pilot studies or systematic literature reviews completed in preparation for the proposal for externally funded research at related local and regional conferences and roundtables during 2007/2008 as requested by the Executive Director of the Central Valley Health Policy Institute.
Faculty will submit a proposal for external funding in collaboration with a community partner by November, 30 2007.

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