Frequently Asked Questions about SAPRP's Funding Guidelines

Below are some answers to Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) about the Substance Abuse Policy Research Program (SAPRP) Funding Guidelines. If your question is not listed here or on one of the below FAQ pages, please e-mail it to us.

• FAQs about the RWJF Grantmaking Online Application System
• FAQs about SAPRP's Application and Review Process

Will RWJF directly fund tobacco-related policy research proposals that fall outside of the priority areas defined by SAPRP?
RWJF is currently funding two policy research initiatives—Bridging the Gap and the Substance Abuse Policy Research Program. The Foundation is currently not considering additional research in tobacco policy beyond these programs. To learn more about Bridging the Gap and RWJF’s priorities, please log on to www.rwjf.org.

Is there a source for additional information on RWJF’s funding in the alcohol, drug, and tobacco areas?
The priority topics in the current SAPRP CFP are developed from RWJF’s strategic objectives for SAPRP. Grant applicants are encouraged to learn more about RWJF alcohol-, drug-, and tobacco-related funding by visiting the Addiction and Tobacco Popular Topics sections of RWJF’s Web site at www.rwjf.org. Applicants should use the current SAPRP Call for Proposals as a framework for developing their SAPRP proposals.

SAPRP has previously funded research on alcohol price and consumption, outlet density, and policies on college campuses. Because most of these are environmental approaches to alcohol prevention, will they be funded in the future?
SAPRP will support a limited number of policy research projects that are outside of the suggested priority list; up to one-third of the total in terms of funds.

The focus in alcohol and drugs is on treatment. What areas of prevention will be funded by SAPRP?
The listed priority areas in alcohol and drugs are derived from RWJF’s current strategic objectives for SAPRP, which focus on improving the quality of addiction treatment by increasing the number of settings using proven practices. Projects, such as prevention, which focus on alcohol and or drugs as a health issue, will also be funded through the estimated one-third of funds for cutting edge projects that fall outside the treatment realm.

What about studies that look at treatment for alcohol and drugs involving the criminal justice system, drug courts, treatment in prisons and other correctional settings?
RWJF is focused on improving health and health care of people in the United States. To the extent that health and/or health care services are provided in correctional or justice system settings, these fall within the Foundation’s scope of interest.

One area of interest to the Foundation is to reduce racial/ethnic disparities and that has been a special topic in previous SAPRP CFPs. Where do studies of racial/ethnic disparities fit into the new RWJF priorities for SAPRP?
Racial and ethnic disparities in health and health care cut across all areas of tobacco and addiction prevention and treatment. For example, high quality treatment for addiction must reach people who reflect diverse demographic characteristics.

SAPRP has always encouraged studies that examine more than one type of addictive substance (e.g., alcohol and drugs). Will the program accept proposals on tobacco/alcohol or tobacco/drugs that do not involve addiction treatment (such as policies to eliminate smoking among individuals in treatment)?
Applications that reflect current SAPRP funding priorities as outlined in the current SAPRP CFP and focus on multiple substances are welcome. Some applications on multi-substance topics could be categorized as cutting edge research. Up to one-third of SAPRP’s research funds are designated for cutting edge topics outside of the priority areas that are outlined in the SAPRP CFP.

An important area in tobacco control is Potentially Reduced Exposure Products (PREPs). Will proposals that involve studying the effects and impacts of PREPs fall within the program’s priorities?
Proposals related to PREPs might be categorized as cutting edge research. Up to one-third of SAPRP’s research funds are designated for cutting edge topics outside of the priority areas that are outlined in the SAPRP CFP.

Previous SAPRP solicitations have emphasized the need to study the intersection of substance abuse and child welfare or welfare. Would studies examining issues related to treatment within the context of substance abuse and child welfare/welfare come under the new guidelines?
Studies focused on treatment within the substance abuse and child welfare/welfare context would be considered.

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