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About the Community Medicine and Population Health Mini-Grant Program

The Community Medicine and Population Health Mini-Grant program empowers medical students, graduate students, residents, and fellows of UC Riverside to lead projects that make a meaningful impact on Inland Empire communities.

The program's goals include:

  • Engaging the UCR community in service driven projects that serve the underserved.
  • Improving access to medical care and resources for at-risk populations.
  • Provide direct funding to initiatives addressing social and political issues negatively affecting the health of community members.
  • Promoting cross-departmental collaboration and community-partnered research.
  • Increasing community engagement opportunities for the School of Medicine.

The program will award up to two (2) $5,000 grants to support projects focused in service, advocacy, community medicine, population health, and community engagement initiatives.


Program Eligibility

  • The program is open to learners at UCR including medical students, graduate students, residents, and fellows. 
  • Applicants must be in good academic standing (cumulative GPA of 3.0 or better and not on academic probation).
  • Applicants must be available to attend all key events.
  • Projects should focus on community medicine and population health in the Inland Empire. Priority will go to grants that also focus on community engagement, show sustainability beyond the grant funding, and include collaborative work.
  • Special preference will be given to projects that are focused in providing COVID-19 relief, reducing racial/social injustice, and lowering health disparities & inequities within underserved and at-risk populations in the Banning, Hemet, Mt. San Jacinto, and San Bernardino areas.

Application closes October 7th, 2024

Important Dates

Application Opens August 12, 2024
Application Closes October 7, 2024, 11:59pm
Announcement December 2024
Orientation TBA, January 2025
Project Start Date January 13, 2025
Mid Point Check-In April 2 through 4, 2025
Project End Date June 13, 2025
Reports & Deliverables Due June 23, 2025, 5:00pm

Application Checklist

  • All applications must be submitted online via Qualtrics and no paper applications will be accepted.
  • A saved application is not a submitted application.
  • Keep a copy of your submitted email as proof your application was completed.
  • General Information

    For this portion of the application, please complete the questionnaire with the following information:

    • Contact information (Name, Email, phone number)
    • UCR affiliation (SOM, Non-SOM, please state your program name)
    • Have you previously applied to any other funding sources?
      • If so, name the other grants you applied for
  • Project Information

    For this portion of the application, please upload a PDF file that addresses the criteria below using this template.

    1. Title of Project
    2. A brief summary of the community and populations being served. (3000 character limit)
    3. Provide a detailed description of the community need identified. (3000 character limit)
      • The community need should originate from the community itself.
    4. Describe the purpose of the project. (3000 character limit)
      • Include the target population, the anticipated number of people being served, geographic area, and how the funds will be used to address the community need.
    5. Identify Target Population(s)
      • Economically disadvantaged
      • Educationally disadvantaged
      • Underrepresented Individuals
      • Elementary School
      • Middle School
      • High School
      • Other (please specify other target audiences)
    6. Describe how the target population will be engaged throughout the project. (3000 character limit)
    7. How will this project focus on sustainability or long-term growth? (3000 character limit)
    8. Budget (see next section)
      Which of the SOM program goals do you feel your project addresses? Describe all that apply.
      • Engages UCR students, residents, and fellows in service driven projects that serve the underserved
      • Improves access to medical care and resources for at-risk populations
      • Promotes cross-departmental collaboration and community-partnered research
      • Increases community engagement opportunities for the UCR School of Medicine
  • Budget Justification

    For this portion of the application, please upload an Excel spreadsheet using the template provided to address the criteria below:

    • What is the total funding amount being requested?
    • Include the total dollar amount (ex. $1,540.00)
    • Please justify the itemized budget and need for each line item for the project.
      • Preference for items to be purchased through Amazon or Office Depot.
    • Allowable items include office/medical supplies, printing, software, advertising, and equipment.
    • Funds cannot be used for travel, gifts, entertainment, or for salaries of any kind.
    • Please be sure to review the Restrictions and Limitations to Low Value Purchase Authority policy for university guidelines on how funds may be spent.
    Excel sheet for budget template

     

     

     

  • Other Participants

    Please upload a PDF file that includes the information below for any additional participants involved with the project.

    • First and Last Name
    • Title
    • Contact information 
      • Email
      • Phone Number
    • UCR Affiliation (Non-SOM programs please state program name)
    • Year in Program (Example: MS1, MS2, PGY1, PGY2)
    • Specialty (for resident/fellow only)

Process

FAQ

The primary person applying for the mini-grant has to be affiliated with UCR (medical student, graduate student, resident or fellow) and cannot be a undergraduate student or external learner. Additionally, majority of the group should be affiliated with UCR. 

Projects can either be new or add value to existing ones. The target population and region served may remain the same, but the engagement must differ.

One of the past awardees, The San Bernardino Free Clinic, is a good example of how mini-grant support can make a difference. While the free clinic is an established project, the mini-grant support helped them launch a new initiative focused on heart health. This initiative was different from the clinic's day-to-day activities.

Yes, we have a helpful video that explains the application checklist available on our website. The checklist outlines exactly what we are looking for, so make sure to review it thoroughly.

 

For any inquiries, please reach out to us via email at CHC@medsch.ucr.edu or send us a direct message on our social media platforms. 

To provide some clarification, here are a few examples of items that past awardees have purchased for their projects. Equipment items such as wagons, tables, chairs, canopies, and signs. Some of the supplies purchased were first aid kits, cookbooks, weighing scales, blood pressure machines, materials printed in different languages, and items for assembling hygiene kits.

Download our budget template for assistance. 

As an illustration, we have drafted a sample budget. We categorized the items to enhance the clarity and facilitate comprehension of the request. The itemized budget serves the purpose of identifying the allocation of funds and their intended use.

 

Sample budget

Contact

Center for Healthy Communities
Email:  chc@medsch.ucr.edu
Phone: (951) 827-0200