Wyoming was awarded the COVID-19 health disparities grant on June 1, 2021 and the work plan was approved October 1, 2021. This office is working diligently to implement the approved work plan.
Grant Purpose and Intended Outcomes
The purpose of this new funding initiative is to address COVID-19 related health disparities and advance health equity by expanding state, local, US territorial, and freely associated state health department capacity and services.
- Reduce COVID-19-related health disparities
- Improve and increase testing and contact tracing among populations at higher risk and that are underserved, including racial and ethnic minority groups and people living in rural communities,
- Improve state, local, US territorial and freely associated state health department capacity and services to prevent and control COVID-19 infection (or transmission) among populations at higher risk and that are underserved, including racial and ethnic minority groups and people living in rural communities
Visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC’s) website to learn more about the grant and the recipients.
Overarching Grant Strategies
- Expand existing and/or develop new mitigation and prevention resources and services to reduce COVID-19 related disparities among populations at higher risk and that are underserved.
- Increase/improve data collection and reporting for populations experiencing a disproportionate burden of COVID-19 infection, severe illness, and death to guide the response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Build, leverage, and expand infrastructure support for COVID-19 prevention and control among populations that are at higher risk and underserved.
- Mobilize partners and collaborators to advance health equity and address social determinants of health as they relate to COVID-19 health disparities among populations at higher risk and that are underserved.
Wyoming’s Approach
Wyoming’s work plan includes activities in all four strategies; however, most of the activities are housed within strategies three and four, emphasizing infrastructure, cross-sector partnerships, and addressing social and community needs. Wyoming’s approach focuses on the following:
- Supporting or enhancing healthcare systems infrastructure
- Improving language access
- Addressing social and community needs related to COVID-19
- Mobilizing and expanding partnerships and planning and future preparedness
Funding Opportunities
Request for Applications for Subrecipient and Fiscal Management Services
The Wyoming Department of Health, Public Health Division, Office of Performance Improvement and Health Equity (OPIHE), seeks applications from organizations capable of acting as a subrecipient and fiscal manager on a range of activities in the approved work plan under the Wyoming Initiative to Address COVID-19 Health Disparities Among Populations at High-Risk and Underserved, Including Racial and Ethnic Minority Populations and Rural Communities (COVID-19 health disparities grant).
Request for Applications – view this document to learn more about the requested services, expectations, and programs to be administered.
Download the Application Template
Informational/Q&A Webinar: January 12, 2022 from 1 – 2:30 PM MST
You may submit questions ahead of time to wdh.phd-opi@wyo.gov.
Google Meet info below:
Video call link: https://meet.google.com/asr-vybu-qbs
Or dial: (US) +1 402-356-1106 PIN: 665 026 271#
Requests for Proposals are officially administered through the Public Purchase system. A listing of RFPs issued under this grant will be maintained below.
| Number | Title | Available Funding | Issue Date | Submission Deadline |
| 0116-G | Technical Advisory Group Consultation and Capacity Building | $150,000.00 | 12/13/2021 | 2/1/2022 |
| 0134-G | Language Access Needs Assessment | $100,000.00 | 1/10/2022 | 2/15/2022 |
| 0141-G | Interpreter Training | $75,000.00 | 1/11/2022 | 2/15/2022 |
Staff Contacts
Feliciana Turner
Project Director
feliciana.turner@wyo.gov
307-777-8946
Vanessa Hernandez Marquez
Language Access Coordinator
vanessa.hernandez-marquez@wyo.gov
307-214-7578
Eric Whitfield
Healthcare Systems Initiatives Coordinator
eric.whitfield@wyo.gov
307-214-5123
We are hiring!
The Public Health Division is seeking enthusiastic, systems-minded individuals to join the team that will administer the Wyoming Initiative to Address COVID-19 Health Disparities. This initiative is dedicated to serving populations at higher risk and that are underserved, including racial and ethnic minority groups and people living in rural communities, and improving infrastructure, partnerships, and social determinants of health. We are committed to increasing the diversity of our staff and providing culturally responsive programs and services. Therefore, we encourage responses from people of diverse backgrounds and abilities.