C.R.S. § 25-4-2203: Health disparities and community grant program - human-animal bond - rules - evaluation - definitions.

(1) There is hereby created in the department the health disparities and community grant program, referred to in this section as the "grant program", to provide financial support for statewide initiatives that address prevention, early detection, and treatment of cancer and cardiovascular and pulmonary diseases in underrepresented populations; and to positively affect social determinants of health to reduce the risk of future disease and exacerbating health disparities in underrepresented populations. The office shall administer the grant program. The state board shall award grants to selected entities from money transferred to the health disparities grant program fund created in section 24-22-117 (2)(f).

(2) The state board shall adopt rules that specify the following:

(a) The procedures and timelines by which an entity may apply for program grants;

(b) Grant application contents, including:

(I) For money allocated to the health disparities grant program fund pursuant to section 24-22-117 (2)(d)(III), how the program meets at least one of the program criteria specified in section 25-20.5-302 (1), which may include population-based prevention work focused on influencing social determinants of health to advance health equity for underrepresented populations; and

(II) For any additional money appropriated by the general assembly to the health disparities grant program fund created in section 24-22-117 (2)(f) that is not allocated from the prevention, early detection, and treatment fund pursuant to section 24-22-117 (2)(d)(III), the criteria that must be met for a community organization applicant to receive grant money to reduce health disparities in underrepresented communities through policy and systems changes regarding the social determinants of health. The criteria may include specifications concerning how community organizations plan to achieve health equity through strategic planning, building the capacity of staff and volunteers, technical training and assistance within the community organizations, and the evaluation of the community organization's impact on the community.

(c) Criteria for selecting the entities that shall receive grants and determining the amount and duration of the grants;

(d) Reporting requirements for entities that receive grants pursuant to this section;

(e) Criteria for the office and the state board to determine the effectiveness of the programs that receive grants pursuant to this section.

(3) The commission shall appoint a review committee to review the applications received pursuant to this section and make recommendations to the commission regarding the entities that may receive grants and the amounts of the grants. The commission shall finalize the recommendations for funding and provide them to the state board. Within thirty days after receiving the commission's recommendations, the state board shall award grants to the selected entities, specifying the amount and duration of each award.

(4) (a) Subject to additional appropriations made by the general assembly to the grant program for the purpose of supporting the human-animal bond, the grant program may award grants to entities that support the human-animal bond as a social determinant of health.

(b) As used in this section, unless the context otherwise requires:

(I) "Human-animal bond" means the mutually beneficial relationship between an individual and a pet animal within the individual's care and custody.

(II) "Pet animal" has the meaning set forth in section 35-80-102 (10).

(5) The department shall evaluate the grant program's effectiveness each grant cycle, which must be a separate evaluation from the evaluation of the cancer, cardiovascular disease, and chronic pulmonary disease prevention, early detection, and treatment program. The department shall prepare a report after each evaluation and make the report publicly available.