Family Impact Initiative

June 18, 2026
Dear Potential Applicant:
You are invited to submit an application to the Pennsylvania Department of Health in accordance
with the enclosed Request for Applications (RFA) #67-207.
A pre-application conference will be held via Microsoft Teams on July 16, 2026, from 10:00 AM
to 12:00 PM ET. Potential applicants can join via Microsoft Teams by clicking on this link:
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-teams/join-a-meeting and entering the following: The
meeting ID is 244 438 829 602 761, and meeting Passcode is Ce2C3d4Z; or by phone at +1 267-332-
8737; Phone Conference ID: 226889544#. If attending by phone, any content shown on Teams call
screen will not be visible. Applicant attendance is optional.
All questions regarding this RFA must be directed by e-mail to danierhode@pa.gov no later than
12:00 p.m. ET on July 9, 2026. All questions must include the specific section of the RFA about
which the potential applicant is requesting clarification. Answers to all questions will be posted at
www.emarketplace.state.pa.us. Click on 'Solicitations' and search for the above RFA number.
Submit one application, (Part 2 of this RFA) by email to: RA-
DHHEALTH_DEPT_DOC@pa.gov. The Department cannot accept secure or encrypted emails. Any
submission via secure or encrypted email will be immediately discarded. Applications must be
received no later than 1:30 p.m. ET on July 23, 2026. Applications can be submitted as soon as they
are ready for submission; to prevent late submissions, applicants are encouraged to not wait until this
closing date and time. The timestamp on the received application email in the RA-
DHHEALTH_DEPT_DOC@pa.gov inbox is the final and only timekeeper to determine if the
application was received by the deadline.
LATE APPLICATIONS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED REGARDLESS OF THE REASON.
Type "APPLICATION ENCLOSED RFA #67-207" as the subject line of your e-mail submission.
We expect that the evaluation of applications and the selection of Grantees will be completed
within eight weeks of the submission due date.
Sincerely,
Office of Procurement
For Agency Head
Enclosure
Health and Human Services Building | 625 Forster Street | Harrisburg, PA 171200701 | www.health.pa.gov

RFA 67-207
Family Impact Initiative
CONTENTS
Part One: General Information ......................................................... 1
A. Information for Applicants ......................................................................................... 2
B. Application Procedures............................................................................5
1. General .............................................................................................................. 5
2. Evaluation of Applications ............................................................................. 6
3. Awards ........................................................................................................... 7
4. Deliverables ................................................................................................... 7
5. Reporting Requirements ............................................................................... 11
C. Application Instructions and Required Format.......................................................... 12
1. Application Instructions ............................................................................... 12
2. Application Format .......................................................................................... 12
3. Definitions ................................................................................................... 16
Part Two: Title of Application ....................................................... 18
Application Forms and Attachments
I. Cover Page
II. BOP-2201 Worker Protection and Investment Certification Form
III. BOP-1307 Lobbying Certification Form
IV. Work Statement
V. Budget Template is downloadable and is attached for completion of
the budget request
Any Grant Agreement resulting from this RFA will include certain standard terms
and conditions that will be attached as appendices and will be part of the
agreement, which may either be found at http://www.health.pa.gov/vendors or are
attachments to this RFA. These terms and conditions are not negotiable and are
listed below:
Payment Provisions (Rev.11/25) and Attachment 1
Commonwealth Standard General Terms and Conditions (Grant) (Rev.
10/1/23)
Department Standard General Terms and Conditions (Grant)
(Rev. 12/24)
Audit Requirements (Rev. 10/24)
Federal Standard Terms and Conditions (Grant) (Rev. 12/24)

PART ONE
Family Impact Initiative
General Information
1

A. Information for Applicants
The Pennsylvania Department of Health (Department) is responsible for administering the Title V
Maternal and Child Health Services Block Grant (MCHSBG) for Pennsylvania. The MCHSBG
was established as part of the 1935 Social Security Act and is administered at the federal level by
the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). The mission of the MCHSBG is to
improve the health and wellbeing of the nation's mothers, infants, children and youth, including
those with special health care needs and their families.
Every five years the Department conducts a comprehensive needs and capacity assessment to
gauge the strengths and needs of the state's Maternal and Child Health population (which includes
pregnant people, infants, and children, as well as children with special health care needs) and
related services. As a result of the most recent needs and capacity assessment, the Department
identified seven priorities on which to focus on for 2026 through 2030. The work of this RFA falls
within the priority: Provider Access, Care Coordination, and Navigation for Children and Youth
with Special Health Care Needs (CYSHCN).
HRSA has defined five population domains: Women/Maternal Health, Perinatal/Infant Health,
Child Health, CYSHCN, and Adolescent Health. To impact the identified domains, the
Department has identified National Performance Measures and State Performance Measures that
must be reported annually. As a result, the Department has created a State Action Plan that
demonstrates the logical relationships between the chosen priorities, performance measures, and
programming strategies that address identified needs of those included in the acknowledged
domains. The work of this RFA is a strategy within the CYSHCN population domain. Additional
information on the Department's administration of the Title V Block Grant, including annual
reports, can be found at:
https://www.pa.gov/agencies/health/programs/maternal-health-and-infant-care/title-v
HRSA notes that CYSHCN have or are at increased risk for having chronic physical,
developmental, behavioral, or emotional conditions. CYSHCN have conditions, which include,
but are not limited to, diagnoses such as asthma, sickle cell disease, epilepsy, anxiety, autism, and
learning disorders. CYSHCN may require more specialized health and educational services to
thrive, even though each child's needs may vary. According to the 2023-2024 National Survey of
Children's Health, only 15.2 percent of CYSHCN in Pennsylvania received care in a well-
functioning system1.
The Family Impact Initiative (FII) provides a framework for addressing systems of services for
CYSHCN. The FII uses a system change approach rather than a program-based approach to
address community improvements for families of CYSHCN. Systems change is the core of the
1 2023-2024. Data Resource Center for Child and Adolescent Health.
https://www.childhealthdata.org/browse/survey/results?q=12180&r=40
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FII.
"Systems change" is a shift in the way that a community makes decisions about policies, practices,
procedures, and the allocation of resources. To undertake systems changes, a community must
build collaborative bridges among multiple agencies, community members, and other
stakeholders. A system change extends beyond a single program, to multiple programs and
organizations, affecting CYSHCN and families across the community. System changes rely on
building partnerships and cultivating these relationships. It has been said of systems change, "if
you want to change the system, get the system in the room." Bringing the right partners to the
"room" is critical and includes families and youth with CYSHCN.
System changes affecting CYSHCN and their families should always be family and youth driven.
FII focuses on policy, practice, and procedural changes which can be sustained within an
organization or system. System change involves the following aspects:
a. A practice change creates a new way to do things, such as adding a new assessment to
a well-child visit for CYSHCN that addresses transition to adult care.
b. A policy change is a formalized set of practices and guidelines that inform strategic
decisions, day-to-day operations, and decision making. Creating a policy that all
patients beginning at the age of 12 years receive a transition to adult care assessment
during their well-child visit would be an example of a policy change.
c. A procedural change describes what actions to take in specific circumstances. A
transition assessment might also require additional implementation guidelines to create
clarity and consistency, which would be a procedural change.
While some activities, such as material development, training, or connecting to resources, lay the
groundwork for system change, these activities alone are not system changes. System changes are
integrated into an organization's practices, policies, and procedures in such a way that if all current
staff left an organization, the change would be sustained at the institutional level.
The FII provides funding to local communities to improve community systems to better meet the
needs of CYSHCN and their families. The FII is a replication of North Carolina's Innovative
Approaches initiative that has been operating in North Carolina for 15 years and has been deemed
a best practice by the Association of Maternal and Child Health Programs (AMCHP). More
information about Innovative Approaches can be found here:
https://amchp.org/database_entry/innovative-approaches-community-systems-building-grants-
for-children-and-youth-with-special-health-care-needs-cyshcn/
In 2021, Pennsylvania was awarded a one-year replication grant by AMCHP, which allowed the
state to build capacity and pilot Innovative Approaches in Philadelphia County. The Department
has funded the initiative with MCHSBG funds since 2022. Since that time the initiative, now
coined Family Impact Initiative in Pennsylvania, has accomplished many system change goals,
including: created and disseminated a video of important CYSHCN resources and organizations
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available in Philadelphia to support families; held annual resource fairs focusing on transition
supports, early childhood, and parent or caregiver wellbeing and respite; established support
groups in schools for parents of children who have a learning disability or special need; held
Individualized Education Plan and 504 plan trainings with an educational expert for parents;
partnered with the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia to develop and provide training for doctor's
office reception staff and medical professionals to create a more friendly and quality office visit
for children with disabilities; and partnered with Philadelphia Parks & Recreation to identify
outdoor parks and spaces that accommodate and are safe for individuals with disabilities to support
their Rec for All plan developed to create pathways for an inclusive recreation system for
Philadelphians of all abilities.
Parents and caregivers of CYSHCN often experience a complex system of uncoordinated services.
The aim of the FII is to improve community systems to better meet the needs of families of
CYSHCN. A series of strategies is implemented to support the development of community based
and family-focused systems of care for CYSHCN. The FII Coordinator(s) lead local efforts to
identify a committee of stakeholders, which includes a parent advisory committee. The committees
work together to assess community capacity to meet the needs of CYSHCN, identify areas in need
of improvement, and develop strategies for addressing those areas. Implementing these strategies
leads to strengthened county-level system change capacity. This increase in system change
capacity leads to service delivery system improvements, which over the long-term leads to
meaningful improvements in the lives of CYSHCN and their families.
The Department is seeking to award one entity that is positioned to affect change in the Northeast
region of Pennsylvania and shall meet the needs of CYSHCN through implementation of FII across
the following counties: Carbon, Columbia, Lackawanna, Luzerne, Monroe, Pike, Schuylkill,
Susquehanna, Wayne, and Wyoming. The awarded applicant shall focus system change efforts
throughout all counties identified in this region which include but are not limited to (1) health care
transition from pediatric to adult care, (2) screening and identification of CYSCHN, (3)
accessibility of services, (4) adequate health insurance and financing, (5) coordinated, ongoing,
comprehensive care, (6) education, information and resources, (7) health and wellbeing of
CYSHCN, and (8) emergency preparedness. Applicants shall develop and implement substantive,
sustainable, and family driven system change activities based on needs identified within the
identified region to improve community systems across multiple counties. Applicants shall
develop and implement no less than five system change goals per fiscal year.
Through this RFA process, the Department is soliciting grant applications on Family Impact
Initiative. The Department is interested in funding applications addressing and improving the
percentage of children who receive care in a well-functioning system through implementing the
system change initiative described above. The overall goal of this funding is to promote and
support the development of community-based and family-focused systems of care for families of
CYSHCN. The anticipated grant agreement term is January 1, 2027, to June 30, 2031, subject to
the availability of funding. If the anticipated effective date is changed by the Department for the
4

resulting grant agreement, the term is expected to remain a total of 54 months, subject to the
availability of funding. The Department expects to award one grant agreement.
At the Department's discretion and by letter notice, the Department may extend the resulting grant
agreement as follows:
Extension. Upon notice to the Grantee, without the need for a formal amendment, the Department
may, for any reason, exercise a 3-month extension.
Applications are welcomed from Pennsylvania based community-based organizations or health
care providers that are currently providing or have the capacity to provide services to the CYSCHN
community in Pennsylvania which includes, but is not limited to, local health departments,
including county and municipal health departments, Federally Qualified Health Centers, and non-
profit organizations are eligible to apply for funding. Applicants must be able to provide services
throughout the identified service region in the following counties: Carbon, Columbia,
Lackawanna, Luzerne, Monroe, Pike, Schuylkill, Susquehanna, Wayne, and Wyoming. The
Department is seeking applicants with a history of commitment to serving CYSCHN and a
sufficient track record to indicate a good chance of success. The awarded applicant shall provide
these services to residents of Pennsylvania only. Additional information about how to apply,
relevant and specific restrictions, and stated preferences regarding applicants are noted and
outlined in Section B. Applicants are encouraged to be innovative and creative in their approach.
This RFA provides interested and eligible parties with information to prepare and submit
applications to the Department. Questions about this RFA can be directed to the contact listed on
the potential applicant letter (which is the first page of this RFA) by the date and time listed therein.
All questions must include the specific section of the RFA about which the potential applicant is
requesting clarification. Answers to all questions will be posted under the RFA Solicitation at
www.emarketplace.state.pa.us. Each applicant shall be responsible for monitoring the website for
new or revised RFA information. The Department shall not be bound by any information that is
not either contained within the RFA or formally issued as an addendum by the Department.
In order to do business with the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania providers are required to enroll
in the SAP system. Applicants may enroll by selecting "Non-Procurement" at:
https://www.budget.pa.gov/Services/ForVendors/Pages/Vendor-Registration.aspx or by calling
toll free at 1-877-435-7363. The PDF and MP4 embedded links next to "Non-Procurement"
provide guidance on enrolling.
B. Application Procedures
1. General
a) Applications must be received by the Department by the time and date stated in the
5

cover letter. The Department will reject any late applications. The decision of the
Department with regard to timeliness of submission is final.
b) If it becomes necessary to revise any part of the application guidelines, an amendment
will be posted under the RFA Solicitation at www.emarketplace.state.pa.us.
c) The decision of the Department with regard to selection of applicants is final. The
Department reserves the right, in its sole and complete discretion, to reject any and all
applications received as a result of this request and to negotiate separately with
competing applicants.
d) The Department is not liable for any costs the applicant incurs in preparation and
submission of its application, in participating in the RFA process or in anticipation of
award of the resulting grant agreement.
e) The Department reserves the right to cancel the RFA at any time up until the full
execution of the resulting grant agreement.
f) Awarded applicants and non-selected applicants shall not be permitted to issue news
releases pertaining to this project prior to official written notification of award by the
Department review committee. Any subsequent publication or media release issued by
the Grantee throughout the life of the grant using funding from this grant agreement
must acknowledge the Department as the granting agency and be approved in writing
by the Department.
2. Evaluation of Applications
All applications meeting the stated requirements in this RFA and received by the designated date
and time, will be reviewed by a committee of qualified personnel selected by the Department. The
Review Committee will recommend applications that most closely meet the evaluation criteria
developed by the Department. If the Review Committee determines that additional clarification
of an application is needed, Division of Community Systems Development and Outreach staff and
staff from the Office of Procurement will schedule an oral presentation, either in person or via a
conference call, or assign a due date for the submission of a written clarification, or both.
Evaluation criteria used by the Review Committee, include:
1. Organizational Capability and Competency
2. Statement of the Problem
3. Approach to the Problem, Feasibility and Sustainability
4. Program Goals and Objectives
5. Performance Measures
6. Budget Detail and Budget Narrative
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3. Awards
Grants will be administered through the Department.
All applicants will receive official written notification of the status of their application from the
Department. Unsuccessful applicants may request a debriefing. This request must be in writing
and must be received by the Division of Community Systems Development and Outreach within
30 calendar days of the written official notification of the status of the application. The Division
of Community Systems Development and Outreach will determine the time and place for the
debriefing. If the debriefing is held via Microsoft Teams, a link, phone number, and conference
ID number will be provided. The debriefing will be conducted individually by the Division of
Community Systems Development and Outreach staff. Comparison of applications will not be
provided. Applicants will not be given any information regarding the evaluation other than the
position of their application in relation to all other applications and the strengths and weaknesses
in their individual application.
4. Deliverables
a) Family Impact Initiative (FII) Administration
The awarded applicant shall:
1. Collaborate with the Department to carry out all necessary activities of the FII
throughout the term of the resulting grant agreement.
2. Partner with the subject matter experts and entities of system change initiatives for
CYSCHN populations who shall serve as coaches and support the awarded
applicant throughout the implementation of FII for up to first year of the resulting
grant agreement.
3. Utilize North Carolina's Innovative Approaches Implementation Manual, provided
by the Department, to replicate the program in the service region identified. The
awarded applicant shall provide FII services throughout the following counties:
Carbon, Columbia, Lackawanna, Luzerne, Monroe, Pike, Schuylkill, Susquehanna,
Wayne, and Wyoming.
4. Engage community partners to serve on a Steering Committee for FII in year one
of the resulting grant agreement.
a. The awarded applicant shall identified and maintain a minimum of 25
stakeholders to serve on the FII Steering Committee.
b. Members serving must be from various health and human services agencies
and disciplines. The committee must include representation throughout the
service region and be familiar with the families and service system of this
region.
c. The awarded applicant shall maintain the steering committee throughout the
term of the resulting grant agreement.
5. Engage family members and caregivers to serve on the FII Parent Advisory
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Committee (PAC) in year one of the resulting grant agreement.
a. The awarded applicant shall identified and maintain a minimum of 15
family members to serve on the PAC with an emphasis on recruiting family
members that is congruent to the racial diversity of CYSHCN in the service
region identified. The PAC must include parents and caregivers with
representation throughout the geographical location of the service region
and be parents and caregivers of children with various special health care
needs who serve as subject matter experts with lived experience.
b. The awarded applicant shall compensate subject matter experts who are
supporting the PAC as it relates to CYSCHN and system change.
Compensation shall be tracked and documented according to the policy as
established by the Department.
c. The awarded applicant shall maintain the PAC throughout the term of the
resulting grant agreement.
6. Identify and provide a system change training to all program staff and individuals
identified to serve on the identified committees in year one of the resulting grant
agreement. This training must be available to individuals throughout the term of the
resulting grant agreement if individuals were not able to attend the training
provided in year one.
7. Conduct a needs assessment of local CYSHCN service systems within the service
region identified (Carbon, Columbia, Lackawanna, Luzerne, Monroe, Pike,
Schuylkill, Susquehanna, Wayne, and Wyoming counties) through focus groups,
surveys, or interviews to gather information and data on the current services
available in the community for CYSHCN in year one of the resulting grant
agreement. Additional needs assessments after year one may be conducted as
needed and as agreed upon by the Department.
a. Complete data collection process with families of CYSHCN and
community providers.
b. Analyze data to identify gaps/barriers and priority themes from data
collection process.
c. Identify and analyze root cause issues using appropriate quality
improvement tools.
d. Involve Steering Committee and PAC members in reviewing and
prioritizing identified system problems to address.
e. Provide training and support for FII parent representatives and steering
committee to facilitate their participation and input in the planning process
via presentations, webinars, system change exercises, graphics and printed
materials.
f. Determine the need to develop targeted subcommittees to address action
areas.
8. Develop and implement system change objectives (SCO) based on the identified
system problems or gaps in the needs assessment throughout the resulting grant
8