The Grant for Reducing Health Disparities among Minority and Underserved Children listed under the Funding Opportunity Number PA-07-391 is a joint venture between the Department of Education, Department of Health, and Income Security and Social Services. First opened in 2008, this grant is associated with several other government grants to include:
• 93.273 – Alcohol Research Programs
• 93.361 – Nursing Research
• 93.393 – Cancer Cause and Prevention Research
• 93.837 – Heart and Vascular Diseases Research
• 93.846 – Arthritis, Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases Research
• 93.865 – Child Health and Human Development Extramural Research
In today’s society, every person has the same right to proper healthcare, regardless of age, race, income status, gender, lifestyle, etc. Unfortunately, this is not reality for millions of children. The goal is for this government grant to create research opportunities that would identify ways of reducing health disparities for children of minority groups and those being underserved. Primarily, the grant would benefit children in the following scenarios.
• Low literacy
• Hearing and/or Visually Impaired
• Mentally and/or Physically Disabled
• Immigrant and Refugee Families
• Language Minority
• Rural and Low-Income Populations
• Geographically Isolated
Although research approved under this grant would cover a number of areas, the following are those deemed the most critical.
• Perform research that would use a minimum of two factors such as physiological, social, genetic, economic, psychological, environmental, demographic, and cultural to determine which are adding to the problem of healthcare disparity
• Develop behavioral markers that would help identify risks, determine the course of a disease, and show the progression of the illness
• Develop appropriate interventions as a means of promoting more and better physical activity, healthier diets, and improved behaviors in support of a healthier lifestyle
• Conduct studies specific to improved childcare, developmental care, and preventative care
• Use research to determine potential risks when children are not provided expedient and proper treatment
• Identify various interventions that would promote better health in children with known disabilities and/or illnesses
The problem is that many children have little or no access to resources the same as other children. In addition, many of the same privileges that protect certain children from health issues are not available to minority and underserved children. Obviously, this situation needs to change and with the research covered under this grant, it is certainly a step in the right direction for change to happen.
In this case, children would include anyone from age 0 to 21 and instead of looking at the challenges individually it is strongly believed that a multi-tier solution involving the child, along with healthcare professionals, the community, and others in society, is the better solution. The grant would also help in identifying and development tools and mechanisms for the different types of interventions needed.
Numerous studies conducted over the years prove that the number of racial and ethnic children who live with chronic diseases such as diabetes, asthma, and high blood pressure are disproportioned. Then, considering that these children are exposed to a variety of health risks due to the environment in which they live, we can see that something must be done. Even with the new healthcare reform under President Obama, there will still be pockets of children without coverage, which means not being provided with proper healthcare.
In looking at the statistics, it becomes clear the degree of this problem. For instance, the mortality rate for African American babies is 2.5 times greater than for Caucasian babies. Additionally, hospitalization specific to asthma is between 40% and 100% more likely than children living outside of minority groups are, again because of the environment in which the children are forced to live. Even the complex and long-lasting effects associated with obesity are a much greater problem for minority children simply because of lack of education and poor nutrition.
Minority and underserved children should have the same access and quality of care than any other children but in addition, with experts forecasting that by 2050 the majority of the population in the United States will be comprised of minority groups, unless something is done costs for healthcare will skyrocket and affect everyone.
Eligible applicants for the “Reducing Health Disparities among Minority and Underserved Children (R21)” grant include the following:
• Governments
• State
• County
• City/Township
• Special District
• Indian/Native American Tribal (Federally Recognized)
• Indian/Native American (Non-Federally Recognized)
• Education
• Public and State-Controlled Institutions of Higher Education
• Private Institutions of Higher Education
• Hispanic-Serving Institution
• Historically Black Colleges and Universities
• Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities
• Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions
• Organizations and Authorities
• Native American Tribal Organizations (Non-Federally Recognized)
• Indian/Native American Tribally Designated Organization
• Regional Organization
• United States Territory or Possession
• Small Business
• Non-Profit with and without 501(c)(3) IRS Status (Non-Institution of Higher Education)
• For-Profit Organization (Non-Small Business)
• Non-Domestic (Non-US) Entity (Foreign Organization)
• Miscellaneous
• Eligible Agencies of the Federal Government
• Community and Faith-Based Organizations
• Individuals
• Any single person with the appropriate knowledge, skills, and resources to conduct the proposed research for this grant are invited to work with his/her organization in developing a support application
• Any single person who is underrepresented within an ethnic or racial group
• Any single person with a disability
Additional information regarding application or collaborative organization for this government grant can log onto the grants website at http://grants.nih.gov/grants/multi_pl.
