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3. Regional Project Funding

3.1 Objectives and Priorities

In October 1999, the Hepatitis C Prevention, Support and Research Program began making project funding available to local, regional and national organizations that were committed to addressing hepatitis C collaboratively at the community level. Regional project funding, administered by Health Canada through its offices located in six geographical "regions" across the country ², seeks to:

• support a strong community-based response to the needs of persons infected with, affected by or at risk of hepatitis C;
• increase collaboration among community organizations; and
• secure a voice for such organizations in the national Hepatitis C Program.

In 1999-2000 - the first funding year - there was an emphasis on care and support initiatives directed to persons infected with/affected by hepatitis C, encompassing the following:

• funding and capacity-building support for organizations undertaking initiatives on behalf of persons infected/affected, or at risk of hepatitis C infection;
• funding support for the development and evaluation of community-based programming in response to the needs of such persons.

Up to ten percent of "yea r one" funding was available for prevention projects, in the expectation that community-level experience gained in the first year would help to inform prevention-related initiatives in subsequent years. Year two saw an infusion of more monies for prevention projects, coupled with a continuation of funding for care and support initiatives. As well, regions began community consultations with a view to identifying their most urgent needs and determining how best to address them. The resulting priorities drove each region's solicitation process.

3.2 Guiding Principles

Project applicants were encouraged to work from a community development perspective - i.e., to meaningfully involve the intended populations at every stage possible - and to follow the same principles that guide and inform the Hepatitis C Prevention, Support and Research Program. These principles underline the need to:

• base decisions on the best evidence obtainable;
• use a population health approach (i.e., work from a "determinants of health perspective");
• meet the needs and priorities of people who have hepatitis C, those at risk of becoming infected, and others closely affected (such as family and caregivers);
• find practical, immediate ways of making people's lives better;
• contribute to initiatives that will last;
• treat everyone with hepatitis C equitably, regardless of how or when they contracted the virus;
• keep overhead costs down;
• work closely with community partners, other (i.e., non-health) sectors, and the institutions of society;
• make sure that community efforts are coordinated and complementary;
• track results and performance, in order to continue learning and improving.

3.3 Application Requirements

Against this background, applicant groups/agencies were invited to submit their proposed work plans (spelling out goals, objectives, specific activities and expected results), together with evaluation plans (how they plan to assess whether goals/objectives have been met, and pinpoint factors or conditions that may have helped or hindered the process). Applicants were also asked to identify all project partners and the roles and responsibilities expected of each. Where appropriate, sustainability plans were also requested (how the initiative might continue after the funding period).

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