REQUEST FOR APPLICATIONS

EXCITE: Implementation Phase

 

ELIGIBILITY: Competitive phase available to ALL Land-grant universities (1862, 1890, 1994) by completing an online application. Participation in the Design Phase is not a requirement to apply for the Implementation Phase.

AWARD AMOUNT:  $100,000

TIMELINE: 

• Application Open: February 2023
• Application Deadline: March 15, 2023, 11:59PM PT
• Award Notification: May 2023
• Award Period: June 1, 2023 – November 30, 2024 

Extension Collaboration on Immunization Teaching and Engagement (EXCITE) is a nationwide local response by U.S. Cooperative Extension made possible through an interagency agreement between USDA-NIFA and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). It embeds partners and funders to strengthen immunization education with a special focus on adult vaccination confidence around COVID and other adult immunizations. Over 8 million adults in rural and medically underserved populations have been reached.

Cooperative Extension’s partnership with the CDC, initiated by the ECOP Health Innovation Task Force, is happy to release EXCITE Phase 3. The long-term goal of this partnership is to strengthen Immunization Education with a special focus on adult vaccination confidence around adult immunizations. EXCITE will address COVID-19 vaccine confidence in the LGU Extension communities and advance the work of EXCITE 1 and 2 for adult immunization education in local communities.  (https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/adults/index.html)

EXCITE consists of two phases: The Design Phase (6 months October 15, 2023-March 15, 2023) and the Implementation Phase (18 months, through November 2024), which is the subject of this RFA.

The overall objectives of the EXCITE project are to increase COVID-19 and adult immunization through (1) Increasing partnerships with local Departments of Public Health with special emphasis placed on those at the local level. Other potential partners include Federally Qualified Health Centers and Rural Health Clinics, or other types of partners that can provide adult immunization in prioritized communities; (2) Increasing positive perception of public health partners and vaccine providers of the value of collaboration with Extension; (3) Changing attitudes and beliefs within LGUs about adult immunization that will lead the organization to become an asset model focused on building early adoption and innovation leaders in adult immunization education; (4) Assessing best practices for adult immunization in rural communities through National Convening and 3 selected pilot projects.

The competitive Implementation Phase will (1) implement plans for adult immunization education and vaccination at the local level and directed to identified rural and medically-underserved communities and (2) improve confidence in the COVID-19 Vaccine in their LGU.

 

WHERE TO APPLY: The deadline for receipt of your application is March 15, 2023, 11:59PM PT. Applications should be filled out through Extension Foundation here: extension.org/exciteapplication. Applications received after this date will not be considered. For additional information, questions, or clarifications, email EXCITE@extension.org.

 

APPLICATION ACCESS: The deadline for receipt of the application is March 15, 2023, 11:59PM PT. Applications should be completed through Extension Foundation here: extension.org/exciteapplication.  Applications received after this date will NOT be considered. For additional information, questions, or clarifications, please contact EXCITE@extension.org.