Use of Mini-Grant to Disseminate Evidence-Based Interventions for Cancer Prevention and Control

Abstract

Mini-grants are an increasingly common tool for engaging communities in evidence-based interventions (EBI) for promoting public health. This paper describes efforts by four Centers for Disease Control and Prevention/National Cancer Institute-funded Cancer Prevention and Control Research Networks to design and implement mini-grant programs to disseminate EBIs for cancer prevention and control. This paper describes source of EBI, funding levels, selection criteria, timeframe, number and size of grants, types of organizations funded, selected accomplishments, training and technical assistance (TA), and evaluation topics/methods. Grant size ranged from $1,000–10,000 (median=$6,250). This mini-grant opportunity was characterized by its emphasis on training and TA for evidence-based programming and dissemination of interventions from NCI’s Research Tested Intervention Programs and CDC’s Community Guide. All projects had an evaluation component although they varied in scope. Mini-grant processes described can serve as a model for organizations such as state health departments working to bridge the gap between research and practice.

Impact of the Cancer Prevention and Control Research Network: Accelerating the Translation of Research Into Practice

“…Multiple centers have built on the workgroup’s curriculum to deliver and test local capacity-building interventions. 12–14 Workgroup members collaborated a literature review to guide the design of capacity-building interventions 15,16 and collaborated on an NCI grant (4R01CA163526-05) to develop and test an online tool (IM Adapt) based on Intervention Mapping framework 17 that guides practitioners through a systematic process of selecting and adapting evidence-based interventions (EBIs) to fit their local community and context. 18 This project formed an advisory group with representatives from multiple CPCRN sites and is being beta tested.…”

Use of Small Grants to Support and Enable Innovation in Teen Pregnancy Prevention

“…The use of small or mini grants has been utilized in other public health efforts to aid in training and dissemination (McNeal, 2012;Kegler et al, 2015). Small grants to support and enable innovation in teen pregnancy prevention programs provide an opportunity to explore the real challenges of program development in teen pregnancy prevention.…”

Rise Up, Get Tested, and Live: an Arts-Based Colorectal Cancer Educational Program in a Faith-Based Setting

“…The South Carolina Cancer Prevention and Control Research Network (SC-CPCRN), funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and National Cancer Institute, has the goal of improving public health and reducing the burden of cancer by advancing the dissemination and implementation of evidence-based programs in underserved communities [11, 12]. Through the implementation of the 2016–2017 Community Health Intervention Program (CHIP), SC-CPCRN awarded a $5000 mini-grant to Trinity Baptist Church (TBC) to develop, implement, and evaluate the effectiveness of an arts-based education program in increasing CRC awareness, knowledge, and screening intention in an underserved African-American community.…”

“…Through the implementation of the 2016–2017 Community Health Intervention Program (CHIP), SC-CPCRN awarded a $5000 mini-grant to Trinity Baptist Church (TBC) to develop, implement, and evaluate the effectiveness of an arts-based education program in increasing CRC awareness, knowledge, and screening intention in an underserved African-American community. TBC had 12 months to complete their project working closely with SC-CPCRN investigators and staff to capture vital evaluation information [11, 12].…”

“…Mini-grants are an increasingly common tool for engaging high-risk communities in evidence-based interventions that promote capacity and sustainability [12, 13]. Mini-grants can provide training, enhance communication, and promote outreach in an attempt to bridge the gap between research and practice [12, 13]. Together, with technical assistance from SC-CPCRN, TBC developed a play that promoted evidence-based CRC information to increase screenings and positive health outcomes among African-American communities in South Carolina.…”