What’s new this week?:

1. The pre–decisional applications are available for both Activity 1 Vaccinate with Confidence and Activity 2 Immunization Education Pilot Projects. Find them here.

2. The Immunization Education Liaison List is now posted here. This list is being shared with CDC regional folks and AIM (Association of Immunization Managers) and other partner organizations so they can quickly get connected with a key contact at Cooperative Extension to discuss partnership opportunities. You can also use this list to help coordinate efforts across institutions. Almost all of our 111 Land Grant Universities have provided a single point of contact for EXCITE activities. If you still need to designate a liaison, please do so at this link.

3. NEW! Workshop For LGUs Hesitant to apply for Activity 1 Vaccinate with Confidence Funding. EXCITE Project Leaders are aware that some LGU’s are struggling with personnel and potentially other resources to be able to take advantage of the non-competitive pre-decisional Activity 1 Vaccinate with Confidence Funding.  If your institution is in that situation, let’s come together to discuss your interests, needs, and those of other institutions to see if we can support each other in this effort.

Register for this zoom session on April 28th from 4-5 PM ET for our EXCITE program team to hear your concerns and interests and explore possibilities and solutions among those in similar situations. If you or a team member cannot make this session but would be interested in discussing possibilities, please send a note to Assistant Project Director, Katie Stofer (katiestofer@extension.org).

We are committed to making this national effort work for as many institutions as possible, with interest in building the system for future national efforts. Your feedback and participation are vital to informing that process. Please reach out with any questions.

4. We are starting to see some great success stories in the National Registry of Cooperative Extension Programs and Assets available through the EXCITE Portal. A reminder when you are entering your project – please add your actual assets as attachments so we can have examples for people to work from. So far, we have 16 projects but very few have attachments! If you have questions about adding your work to the registry, please contact our team at excite@extension.org.

My best,

Michelle Rodgers

Associate Dean and Director

University of Delaware

EXCITE Project Director
michellerodgers@extension.org

Kathryn “Katie” Stofer, PhD

Assistant Project Director for Immunization Education, EXCITE

Research Assistant Professor and Extension Specialist

University of Florida

katiestofer@extension.org

Action Items

• Submit Activity 1 Vaccinate with Confidence at any time but no later than May 7, 2021
• Enter existing immunization education efforts into the National Registry.

Upcoming Events

Pre-Decisional Activity 1 AND Activity 2 Application Consulting Workshops

April 27, 2021

4 PM – 5 PM ET

These consulting workshops will run on Tuesdays from 4 PM – 5 PM ET throughout April, 2021, and anyone that is needing assistance with the Pre-Decisional Applications. Join at anytime. Register Here

LGU Hesitancy: Vaccinate with Confidence

April 28, 2021

4 PM – 5 PM ET

EXCITE Project Leaders are aware that some LGU’s are struggling with personnel and potentially other resources to be able to take advantage of the non-competitive pre-decisional Activity 1 Vaccinate with Confidence Funding.  If your institution is in that situation, let’s come together to discuss your interests, needs, and those of other institutions to see if we can support each other in this effort. Register Here. 

EXCITE Huddle

First Thursday of Each Month

Beginning May 6th, 2021

3 PM – 4 PM ET

This will be the first of monthly organizational and professional development experiences for those involved in Activity 1 and Activity 2.  EXCITE huddles will be held the first Thursday of each month from 3-4 Eastern throughout the coming year so please hold the dates on your calendar. The May meeting will include two foci:  1) introduction by CDC to  potential partner organizations  including Association of Immunization Managers (AIM)  and 2) Your success stories selected from the national registry. Register Here

Update on RFA from NIFA

As of this writing, we are still awaiting the letter of agreement from USDA NIFA for the EXCITE project. We continue to be hopeful that it will be here very soon. WE are unable to release any funds until we have the signed agreement.