LANSING - The Michigan Department of Community Health (MDCH), Division of Health, Wellness and Disease Control, Health Disparities Reduction and Minority Health Section (HDRMHS) is issuing a Request for Proposals (RFP) in recognition of National Minority Health Month.

The theme for this year’s events is “Exploring Solutions to Violence, Obesity, and HIV/AID/STDs Among Minority Youth.” Activities will focus on creating youth and community-driven media projects to highlight community level solutions to violence, obesity and HIV/AIDS/STDs among minority youth.

The MDCH expects to award up to 10 mini-grants, which will range from $7,500 to $10,000 each. Youth Serving Organizations, community and faith-based organizations, tribal councils, local health departments, community health centers, hospitals, schools and other entities that serve one or more of the five racial and ethnic minority populations are encouraged to apply. Those five populations are African-Americans, Arab/Chaldean Americans, American Indians/Native Americans, Hispanic/Latinos and Asian Americans.

Responses to the RFP are due no later than 5 p.m. Feb. 21, 2012.

Visit www.michigan.gov/minorityhealth for a copy of the RFP and the calendar of statewide Minority Health Month events.