Community-Based Research Workshop Series

CBR 206

Writing Effective Letters of Intent

Funds community-based research on the relationships between health and housing, poverty and income distribution, social exclusion and other social and

economic inequalities

Provides workshops, training and other capacity building support to non-profit community groups

Works to identify and advance policy alternatives and solutions to pressing issues of urban health

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Works in diverse collaborations and partnerships for progressive social change

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All of this is geared to addressing the pervasive impact of the Social Determinants of Health

(SDoH)

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Agenda

• Welcome, Introductions• You get to be the reviewers• Lunch• LOI Basics Presentation• Q & A

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Objective

• To enhance skills and capacities for developing CBR Letters of Intent

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Grants Initiative – Overview

Two types of grants:

• Advanced

• Enabling

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Principles of CBR

community relevance

actionoutcomes

collaboration

varied methods

capacity building

community initiation

CBR

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Intros

• How many people have written LOI’s before?– For programs?– For traditional research?– For CBR?

What is an L.O.I.?

Group Discussion

You get to be the reviewers!

Please take 20 minutes to review proposals on your own.

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Get Ready

Choose your funder(s) wisely:

Wellesley CIHR SSHRC City Health Canada Laidlaw United Way Trillium Who else?

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Get Ready

Is your idea in support of the goals of the funder? Do you meet the eligibility requirements? Do you have a clear idea of what you want to do? Which funding program are you applying for?

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Get Set

Letters of Intent should:

be well-informed have clearly defined objectives demonstrate strong community ties be relevant to community needs demonstrate innovation demonstrate collaborative approaches have policy, social change, programming benefits

Putting Together Your Own LOI

‘How to’

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Eligibility Requirements

1. Who is eligible for funding

2. Who is not eligible for funding

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Abstract

• Background• Goals and Objectives• Methods & Approaches• Outcomes

• Be clear and succinct

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SDOH & Policy

• What do we mean by Social Determinants of Health?• What do we mean by Policy Change?

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Policy Levels for Tackling Health Inequities

Margaret Whitehead, Liverpool, April 2005

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Community?

• Describe your community of interest?• Who represents it?

* Note: There are no “right answers” but we are looking for thoughtful answers….

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Need & Input

• How was the need for this project identified?• How was the community involved?

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Assessing Needs

• Walking/windshield tours• Interviews with formal and informal leaders• Community dialogues/guided discussions • Delphi process• Voting with your feet• Visioning processes• Literature review• Client data

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Process

How will the community continue to be involved in:

• planning

• implementation, analysis and interpretation• dissemination/action

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Outcomes

Why is the research important?

• some initial reflections on the implications for the health of communities:

• social change• enhanced quality of life• innovative programming• public policy

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Outcomes

• Should be specific, actionable, doable and clear!

• Note: We do not expect $50,000 research projects for $10,000.

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Team

• Who is your team?• Why are they great?

• Include ONLY relevant experience to the grant at hand…

• How will they function as a partnership?

• Have you thought about decision making, etc

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Budget/Timelines

• Amount and duration of grant:

• budget summary » personnel

» research-specific costs (tapes, software, honoraria)

» office space

• Timelines

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Final General Tips

• PROOF READ• PROOF READ• PROOF READ

• Be succinct• Answer the questions asked

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Common Problems

• A poor fit with grant program• Unclear community involvement• Low investment in capacity building (hire consultants)• Insular focus• Lack of partnerships• Inadequate budget justifications• Unrealistic timelines or deliverables

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Go!

Prepare Letter of Intent

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Workshop Evaluation

Your feedback is extremely important!

Please complete the workshop evaluation….

Thank you!