# County Health Council Collaborative Action for Rural Engagement (CARE) Grants

The Tennessee Department of Health will award approximately 8–12 reimbursement grants totaling $2,000,000 to support County Health Councils in implementing collaborative, sustainable, community-driven strategies identified through County Health Assessments and Community Health Improvement Plans. Projects should address rural health priorities, reduce disparities, improve access to health resources, and create lasting Policy, Systems, and Environmental change. Funding tiers include Tier 1 up to $75,000, Tier 2 up to $250,000, and Tier 3 up to $500,000.

## Key facts

- Status: Closing soon
- Type: RFA
- Issued by: Tennessee Department of Health (Tennessee)
- Posted: 2026-09-25
- Questions due: 2026-10-30
- Application due: 2026-11-20
- Funding: $2.0M – $500,000
- Eligible applicants: County Health Council, Non-profit, Fiscal agent
- How to apply: Submit through the TDH Partner Portal according to the RFA instructions. RFA documents, amendment materials, sample grant contracts, and the updated Attachment 3 Grant Budget are available from the Rural Health Transformation Program tab on the TDH Procurement Opportunities website: https://www.tn.…
- Funding source: Rural Health Transformation Program (CMS)
- Official source: https://www.tn.gov/health/procurement.html#rhtp-34320-19727

## Eligibility

Eligible applicants include rural County Health Councils with 501(c)(3) status or rural County Health Councils applying in partnership with an eligible fiscal agent/sponsor. Amendment #1 Q&A clarifies that a fiscal sponsor may be a nonprofit organization, governmental agency, or other partner willing to accept and manage grant funds on behalf of the County Health Council; the amended eligibility text also states that a fiscal agent must have 501(c)(3) status, so applicants should confirm requirements in the Competitive Requirements/RFA materials. The fiscal sponsor serves as the applicant and contracting entity and is responsible for grant administration, financial management, reporting, and compliance. Individuals are not eligible. Each rural County Health Council may participate in only one CARE Grant application, and each fiscal sponsor may serve as fiscal sponsor for only one CARE Grant application. Applications must demonstrate alignment with the Council’s CHA/CHIP priorities. Proposed services must be provided within one of Tennessee’s 89 eligible rural counties, excluding Shelby, Madison, Davidson, Hamilton, Knox, and Sullivan; entities located in excluded counties may apply if proposed services are provided within an eligible rural county.

## Requirements

Applicants must complete the Application and Competitive Requirements and submit a detailed Grant Budget with line-item details. Required submissions include the Application, Competitive Requirements, Tearless Logic Model/Work Plan/Evaluation Plan, CHIP or Action Plan, and Grant Budget. Applications should describe the health need identified through the CHA/CHIP process, project methodology, upstream Policy, Systems, and Environmental change approach, how the project addresses disparities and access to health opportunities, collaboration with community partners, and an evaluation plan. A detailed budget is required; open-ended pilot budgets are not sufficient. Matching funds are not required, and awards are reimbursement grants. Administrative and indirect costs combined may not exceed 10% of the total award amount per budget period, and all indirect costs count toward this limit. Food is generally unallowable; major renovations, construction, and new facilities are not allowable under the RHT Program; vehicle purchases require prior CMS approval. Subrecipients will participate in monitoring activities including monthly check-in calls, quarterly performance reports via REDCap, quarterly financial reports, annual site visits, and final program meetings and reports.

## Required attachments

- Application (Attachment 1)
- Competitive Requirements
- Tearless Logic Model, Work Plan and Evaluation Plan (Exhibit 1)
- Community Health Improvement Plan or Action Plan
- Grant Budget (Attachment #3) and Line-Item Details form

## Application package and source documents

- [TN - 2026 - Request for Application County Health Council Collaborative Action for Rural Engagement (CARE) Grants Procurement Opportunity](https://www.ruralcarejourney.com/api/documents/76bf70b9-74de-43c1-bcca-134610322032/file) (primary)
- [TN - 2026 - Procurement Opportunities with Tennessee Department of Health (Official TDH RHTP opportunity listing)](https://www.ruralcarejourney.com/api/documents/b7b901be-2b25-4897-bdaf-6a9479505e40/file) — official: https://www.tn.gov/health/procurement.html#rhtp-34320-19727
- [TN - 2026 - Amendment 1 for Request for Applications (RFA) #34320-19727 County Health Council Collaborative Action for Rural Engagement (CARE) Grants Procurement Opportunity](https://www.ruralcarejourney.com/api/documents/cf6409ef-9679-4cb9-a7b1-b6092082f8fa/file)
- [TN - 2026 - Request for Application for County Health Council Collaborative Action for Rural Engagement (CARE) Grants RFA #34320-19727](https://www.ruralcarejourney.com/api/documents/91998fc6-18f9-4bca-84df-3072133c84fa/file)
- [TN - 2026 - REQUEST FOR APPLICATION #34320-19727 Amendment #1 for CARE Grants](https://www.ruralcarejourney.com/api/documents/7e994361-2ea1-4579-bfef-2bc3204d10cd/file)
- [TN - 2024 - You're subscribed to RHTP Funding Opportunity Notifications](https://www.ruralcarejourney.com/api/documents/f764af1e-629d-40d4-b72b-6e799f5ae3e8/file)
- [TN - 2026 - Request For Information For Rural Mother-Infant Welcome Home Initiative Support Services](https://www.ruralcarejourney.com/api/documents/94b0cb43-541e-4137-9b68-4d60d3618ad6/file) — official: https://www.tn.gov/content/dam/tn/generalservices/documents/cpo/rfi-updates/34320-21126/RFI_34320-21126_Welcome_Home_Initiative.docx
- [Amendment #1 RFA #34320-19727 CARE Grants — ATT3_CARE Grants_34320-19727FinalPostingUpdated.xlsx](https://www.ruralcarejourney.com/api/documents/2b06da63-e5f6-4d46-b310-395f260ba6b9/file)

More Tennessee RHTP activity: https://www.ruralcarejourney.com/states/tn (markdown: https://www.ruralcarejourney.com/states/tn.md)

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Source: Rural Care Journey (RCJ), https://www.ruralcarejourney.com/opportunities/county-health-council-collaborative-action-for-rural-engagement-care-grants--03eb463b30 — data as of 2026-11-11.
Cite the RCJ page for the summary and the linked official source for authoritative terms, deadlines, and amounts.