Supporting Psychological Health in First Responders (SPHIFR) 2024-2025

Eligibility

The Supporting Psychological Health in First Responders (SPHIFR) grant program has 2 separate funding streams:

• Stream 1 (Services) provides project-based grants to not-for-profit or public sector organizations. These projects must provide services to Alberta first responders or emergency health care workers living with, or who are at risk of, post-traumatic stress injuries (PTSI).
• Stream 2 (Applied Research) provides grants for applied research to develop and evaluate effective programs and services to support Alberta first responders or emergency health care workers living with, or who are at risk of, PTSI. Examples of such programs and services include early intervention or resilience-building. Stream 2 projects must generate evidence on prevention or intervention for PTSI in first responders and emergency health care workers.

Stream 2 Eligibility Criteria:

Principal Applicant must:

• Be affiliated with a Canadian-based organization.
• Have the qualifications and appropriate expertise to conduct the proposed research.
• Agree to provide data and reports outlined in the grant agreement.

Co-Applicant (if applicable) must:

• Make a significant contribution to the intellectual direction of the research or research-related activity.
• Play a significant role in the conduct of the research or research-related activity.

Proposed Project must:

• Generate evidence on prevention or intervention for PTSI in first responders.
• Be completed within 12 months.

Summary

The Supporting Psychological Health in First Responders (SPHIFR) grant program is a competitive grant funding program. It supplies funding to provide or improve services for first responders or emergency health care workers living with or at risk for post-traumatic stress injuries (PTSI).

Submission Process

This competition will be part of the Research Management System (RMS), and approvals will be obtained electronically. Research Funding Application Approvals (RFAA) forms are not required as approvals are collected electronically in RMS.

Full Application

The Full Application, plus approval in the Research Management System (RMS) using a Pre-Award/Application record, must be submitted to RSO by May 22, 2024 at 12:00 pm. Please be sure to select 'Submitted for approval' (under Save & Progress) in RMS in good time to allow for approvals from your Department Head and/or ADR prior to the RSO internal deadline. Consult your department and faculty for more information on their approval processes and timelines.

Do not submit to the agency until RSO's approval has been granted in RMS. Once this institutional approval has been obtained, the Principal Investigator will receive an automated message from RMS to their @ucalgary email address. You can then proceed with submitting your application via email to SPHIFR@gov.ab.ca by May 27, 2024.

This application also requires a signed signature page from the RSO prior to submission (this document will be available for download in RMS).

Program Resources

• SPHIFR Stream 2 Application Instructions
• SPHIFR Application Form
• SPHIFR grant program contact: SPHIFR@gov.ab.ca

Overhead

Not applicable. The SPHIFR program does not allow overhead and/or indirect costs.

Application deadlines

RSO detailed review deadline

RSO final internal review deadline

Program application deadline

NOTE: Consult your Faculty Associate Dean (Research) (ADR) regarding Faculty-specific deadlines and submission processes.

Principal Investigators: Complete a Research Management System (RMS) record, including a copy of your complete application, and submit this for approvals in RMS.

Postdocs, students, and trainees: For fellowships and externally-sponsored research training awards or opportunities, you must complete the Research Funding Application Approval (RFAA) Trainee PDF form, and submit it, along with a complete copy of the application, to Research Services at rsotrainee@ucalgary.ca. Trainees should not use RMS at this time.

Approvals: The University of Calgary requires that all funding applications be approved prior to submission. Approval requires signatures via either RMS or the RFAA Trainee form, in the following order:

• Principal Investigator
• Department Head
• Faculty ADR/Dean
• Research Services (on behalf of the Vice-President Research)

Read the Meaning of Grant Signatures policy to understand what your approval means. Please see the agency guidelines for details about which signatures are required on your application, as it may differ from internal requirements.

Late submissions: Late submissions will only be accepted in cases of medical or family emergencies, or other exceptional circumstances. If you submit your RMS record to Research Services after the internal deadline has passed, you must secure additional approvals. Please read: Late Applications Process.

RESOURCES

Support for projects involving Indigenous Research:

Support with the development of your grant application is available through the Indigenous Research Support Team (IRST). Applicants can reach out by email to IRST at IRST@ucalgary.ca in advance of the RSO internal deadline. For more information about IRST, please visit the IRST webpage.

Support for Knowledge Engagement:

Support for knowledge mobilization/engagement/translation is available through the Knowledge Engagement Team. Applicants can reach out by email to the KE team at knowledge.engagement@ucalgary.ca. For more information, please visit the KE team webpage.

Support for Research Data Management:

For information on research data management plans, processes, or best practices for your research program, please contact research.data@ucalgary.ca OR research.data@ucalgary.libanswers.com.

Support for EDI in Research:

RSO can provide resources and support to research teams on the integration of equitable and inclusive practices in research design and research practice. Contact Erin.OToole@ucalgary.ca for more information.

Support for Research Security:

The new Research Security Division is available to offer guidance and support on safeguarding research and ensuring that principles of research security are upheld while conducting leading edge research. Learn more on their webpage or contact researchsecurity@ucalgary.ca.

RMS: Creating a Pre-Award Application