Opportunity

• Maximum grant amount available: up to $10,000 (for up to five communities).
• Access to resources and supports from BC Healthy Communities staff (see application guide for more details)

Eligibility

The following organizations are eligible to apply:

• First Nations Bands
• First Nations Tribal Councils
• Métis Chartered Communities
• Regional Districts
• Municipalities

  The following organizations are not eligible to apply:

• Individuals
• For-profit groups
• School Districts
• Hospital Foundations
• Community Groups
• Non-profit organizations
• Health Authorities

This opportunity could be for you if you:

• Represent a local government and/or Indigenous community;
• Have community partners who share your interest in developing a broad policy framework; and,
• You have a relationship with either your regional health authority (Northern Health, Interior Health, Island Health, Vancouver Coastal Health, or Fraser Health) or First Nations Health Authority. If you don’t have an existing relationship with FNHA or the health authority in your region, let us know, and we can help connect you.

This funding encourages multi-sectoral partnerships. We suggest that ineligible organizations contact eligible organizations to discuss collaborating on a project.

Eligible local governments who are working in partnership with their health authority and other sectors and who are interested in applying should read the application guidelines thoroughly.

Objectives

1. LEARN: Deepen learning and understanding of how policy and planning can have an impact on health and wellbeing, understand the current state of health in their community, review existing policies and plans and apply a health and equity lens to identify gaps and areas for improvement, and understand how to better promote health through policy and planning.
2. ENGAGE & COLLABORATE: Convene, engage and develop shared leadership and action between local governments, health authorities and other sectors that can influence healthy public policy and the development of healthy community policy frameworks. 
3. TAKE ACTION: develop and implement healthy community policies or plans, or review official community plans or other strategic plans, using health and equity lenses to promote positive health outcomes for all. Share these strategies (and the lessons learned) with other communities around BC.

Criteria

The Community Wellness Strategy grant stream supports projects that:

1. Build multi-sectoral action and leadership by local government, Indigenous communities, health authorities and other partners to promote health and equity through policy or planning in one community or region;
2. Research and analyze the links between policy and health, understand what policies better support positive health outcomes, identify existing gaps in community policies, and identify/adapt policies for promoting health and well-being in a local context;
3. Through research, planning, and action, build shared understanding and action on healthy public policy and planning among stakeholders and partners. 
4. Develop and implement healthy community strategies, action plans, or updated official community plans or other strategic plans with a health lens. These broad policy frameworks will help to foster the conditions for positive health outcomes for all community members to thrive.

Timelines

1. May 16, 2018: Grant applications open
2. July 15, 2018: Application deadline
3. August 30, 2018: Notification of successful applicants
4. September 2018–September 2019: Project takes place
5. No later than October 31, 2019: Final report is required within 30 days of completing activities.

Links and Partnerships in Place

Identification of key partners and stakeholders is required and collaborative relationships must be in place with multiple organizations. Additional partners and collaborations may be further developed as part of the project.

Application

1. Read full application guide
2. Complete the online application located here.
3. Download the Budget Template here.