Newton-Wellesley Hospital Releases Request for Proposals

Newton-Wellesley Hospital’s Collaborative for Healthy Families and Communities (CHF&C) is inviting local nonprofit organizations to submit proposals to address disparities in high school graduation and dropout rates among Waltham students.

The focus on high school graduation rates was identified through a comprehensive review of critical needs in Waltham. The study was conducted by Newton-Wellesley Hospital (NWH) in collaboration with a Waltham-based advisory committee comprised of representatives from local businesses, public health, and social service agencies.

Data gathered as part of this review demonstrated that the high school graduation rate among Waltham students is lower compared to other high schools regionally and across the state, and the dropout rate is higher based on the same comparisons. Additionally, these issues are even more pronounced relative to the immigrant and refugee student population.

NWH is seeking proposals from community organizations to address these disparities specifically for recent immigrants and refugees primarily from Central America and South America who are English Language Learners. Proposals should include one lead agency and enough collaborating organizations to achieve key objectives.

NWH will award one grant in late summer 2019 in the amount of up to $300,000 per year for four years. An additional award of $78,000 per year will be given to Waltham Public Schools over four years to support their work with the selected organization. The total award is more than $1.5 million.

A bidder’s conference will be held Wednesday, May 29, 2019 from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. at Waltham High School to explain the criteria for proposals and answer questions. Conference registration is required by visiting www.nwh.org/grants. Questions can be emailed to NWHgrants@partners.org by June 18.

The deadline for submitting proposals is Tuesday, July 2. The complete Request for Proposals with grant requirements is available at www.nwh.org/grants.

This initiative is made possible by the approval of a Determination of Need Community Health Initiative process for Massachusetts General Waltham and another for Massachusetts General Physician’s Organization Waltham. NWH is facilitating this initiative on behalf of Massachusetts General.

Newton-Wellesley Hospital’s CHF&C was formed to enhance the services and resources that address unmet patient and community wellness needs. The CHF&C encompasses Newton-Wellesley Hospital’s community benefit initiatives; a free speaker’s bureau; and community programs focused on post-partum depression, elder care, domestic violence, palliative care, and more.