Lafayette County Children's Services Fund

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Lafayette County Children's Services Fund Request for Proposal

General Information
Purpose and Goals
Eligibility Criteria
Total Awards and Duration
Selection Criteria
Application Schedule
How to Apply

Our Mission is to provide quality, comprehensive training and services to protect the mental well being and safety of children and youth 19 years of age or less and to strengthen families in Lafayette County.

Our Philosophy is a commitment to excellence by placing the youth and their families first. LCCSF Values are expressed in the Guiding Principles that address quality service; continuous improvement; ethical and professional integrity; and quality educators/providers for proven services and best practices.

General Information

This grant provides funding to Lafayette County public or not-for-profit agencies licensed or certified where appropriate to provide qualified services for children and youth 19 years of age or less and their families who are residents of Lafayette County. The granting body will establish the conditions and focus for the funds. The granting body will be responsible for the audit for expenditure of any and all funds.

Grant funds are made possible through a sales tax of one-eight of a cent collected in Lafayette County under RSMo Chapter 67, Section 67.1775 (Aug. 28, 2003). Additional information defining administration of the funds may be found in RSMo Section 210.861.1-5.

Grants will be awarded for innovations, services, and best practices that will address the following service areas.

1. Up to thirty days of temporary shelter for abused, neglected, run-away, homeless or emotionally disturbed youth; respite care services; and services to unwed mothers;
2. Outpatient chemical dependency and psychiatric treatment programs; counseling and related services as part of transitional living programs; home-based and community-based family intervention programs; unmarried parent services; crisis intervention services, inclusive of telephone hotlines, and prevention programs which promote healthy lifestyles among children and youth and strengthen families.
3. Individual, group, or family professional counseling and therapy services; psychological evaluations; and mental health screenings.

Grants will NOT be expended for inpatient medical, psychiatric, and chemical dependency services, or for transportation services.

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Purpose and Goals

The purpose of the grant is to provide services such as counseling, family support and temporary residential services to persons nineteen years of age or less.

There are increasing numbers of children and youth who do not have private insurance, and who fail to qualify for Medicaid. In the presence of high divorce rates, domestic violence, increasing drug and alcohol abuse by adults and youth, teen pregnancies and unmarried parents, and decreasing insurance resources to cover care, the goal of this grant is to improve services for those children, youth and families who fall through the cracks for lack of resources for services.

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Eligibility Criteria

Who may apply?

• Not-for-profit organizations must be tax-exempt as defined by the IRS code, section 501 (c) (3) and must be incorporated by the Secretary of State, or be established by statute within the state and are therefore not required to be incorporated.
• State or local government agencies or a unit of government provided they provide their Federal Employers Identification Number. This grant must not supplant existing funding for programs the grant supports. The government agency must agree to continue at a minimum the total level of funding provided by the grant when the grant expires.
• An applicant organization that is not exempt under Section 501 (c) (3) may apply for this grant provided an organization that is exempt under Section 501 (d) (3) agrees to serve as fiscal agent, which potentially will allow for multiple co-applicants.
• Applicant organizations must maintain ongoing operations in the County area. All funded services/programs must be designed and carried out for the benefit of the target population living in these areas.
• Applicant organizations must be in compliance with local, state, and federal regulations related to non-discrimination, wage and hour laws, workplace safety, licensure, protection of confidential health care information and all other laws and regulations applicable to staff, patients, consumers and the workplace of the applicant.
• Applicant organization must have the demonstrated capacity to carry out program work funded by the grant, to exercise financial controls, use generally accepted accounting procedures, and have an annual audit performed by an independent CPA.

Ineligible Activities

• Inpatient services (Medical, Psychiatric, and Chemical Dependency)
• Transportation services
• Administrative expenses
• Equipment, brick or mortar expenses

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Total Awards and Duration

The LCCSF anticipates awarding grants on an annual basis. Grant periods can range from one to three years.

Approvals of multi-year funding requests will affect the number of grants that the LCCSF can award for the given funding cycle. Therefore, applications for multi-year grants must explain why success of the proposed project requires the implementation period identified. Applicants who receive multi-year awards will be considered as a non-competing continuation application. The LCCSF Board of Directors (BOD) has the authority to review and reject or approve additional funding.

Applicants who receive multi-year awards will not be eligible during the grant period for additional LCCSF grants in support of the same project. However, applicants with multi-year grants may seek a LCCSF grant for other projects.

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Selection Criteria

The LCCSF BOD shall have responsibility for reviewing requests for grant funding. Reviewers’ critiques shall be considered based on the merits of the proposed activities versus the funds available. The BOD will make final decisions to approve or decline requests for grant funding. The BOD may also suggest further negotiation, modification or technical assistance in place of grant funding.

Collaboration and matching funds are important support through local resources. The BOD will give preference to applicants who include collaboration and matching funds in their plan. Matching funds should be a balance of cash and in-kind resources.

LCCSF BOD reserves the right to reject any or all proposals submitted, to request additional information or clarification from any or all applicants, and/or negotiate modifications with applicants at any time before, during or after the award process. No entitlement to funding for any organization at any level is expressed or implied. Successful applicants enter into a contract that gives LCCSF BOD rights to review and evaluate grant-funded activities.

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Application Schedule

Announcement date: TBA
Proposal Submission Due (postmarked or hand delivered by): The next application deadline is not established. Applications may be considered at the BOD's discretion.
Awards Announcement: TBA
Letter of intent: Anytime prior to submitting the proposal or with the proposal
Press Release: By mutual agreement following the awards announcement

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How to Apply

Proposal Format and Delivery

Proposals should be printed in 12-point font, one-inch margins, double- spaced and following the format and content outline described in the instructions below. Proposals failing to follow the instructions will not be reviewed by the BOD. Proposals may be mailed or hand-delivered to the LCCSF BOD during regular business hours prior to the close of business on the due date. Electronic or faxed proposals will not be considered.

Proposal Submission

Submit an original and ten copies of the letter of intent to:

County Commissioners, Attn: LCCSF BOD Grant Committee
Lafayette County Courthouse, 1001 Main St.
Lexington, MO. 64067
Phone: (660) 259-4315
E-mail: lafcoclerk@earthlink.net

A. Grant Application Cover Letter

B. Project Overview

Describe the proposed project and its intended activities, outcomes, and timeline including:

1. Brief History of Organization: Include current programs and services. Explain the fit between organization’s mission and the proposed project.
2. Target Population/Community(ies): Describe the specific demographic and mental health related characteristics, and the recruitment or access strategy being proposed. Also, include units of service, the total number of children/youth to be served, and the geographic location(s) of services/activities, the specific methods and approaches you will use to provide services within the proposed activity. Please indicate if the proposed project or activity is currently in operation, describe how it is being financially supported and provide a brief assessment of the project’s effectiveness to date.
3. Collaboration – The Roles of other Services/Organizations: Describe the roles of others in developing and/or implementing the proposed program. Include descriptions as to how various sources of support (Financial, in-kind, personnel, facilities, etc.) compliment one another in the proposed program.
4. Staffing and Capacity: Describe the credentials and experience of individual(s) who will perform the work. If applicable, include agency or facility accreditation or licensure. If there are multiple applicants, please describe the qualifications and experience each brings to the proposed project. Identify the relationship of the lead contact for this proposal to the Applicant organization.
5. Outcomes & Evaluation: Describe your proposed project/program in measurable terms, including methods of information gathering and documentation, and the qualifications of personnel involved in the evaluation. Explain in narrative form the role of evaluation in supporting program improvement and determining effectiveness. If the program incorporates additional evaluation activities (instruments, design elements, analysis, etc.), please explain or include specimen copies.
6. Sustainability: Describe the plan for sustaining the proposed project or program after the LCCSF grant ends. Explain the specific mechanisms and/or sources of support to achieve sustainability.
7. Multi-Year Funding Rationale: If you are requesting multi-year funding, please include the following:
• Explain why success of proposed project requires multi-year funding
• A timeline for the proposed years of funding

C. Performance Measures

1. Who will monitor the success of your strategies?
2. How will you determine whether each strategy was successful?
3. Outcome measures:
• How will you monitor the success of your objectives?
• How will you know that the Risk and/or Protective Factor(s) have been affected?
4. Impact: What is the impact of your project? E.g. improved mental wellbeing and safety of children and youth 19 years of are or less and strengthened families in Lafayette County.

D. Budget Summary

1. Please include a Budget Summary of your grant request.
2. Budget Summary Guidelines
3. Staff/parenting wages for respite care should be based on the level of skill required for the needs of the child or children. Professional or consultant hourly reimbursement for the provision of education or treatment is limited to the standard used by Medicaid. A job description or resume must be included for all consultants.
4. Community Resources may include contributions such as meeting space, supplies, facilitation services, advertising, printing, food, incentive items, donation of supplies and fees or actual dollars. Value should be based on fair market rates.
5. Demonstration of in-kind or local funding support helps to describe the level of community support that will strengthen and reinforce the money being put into your organization/agency through this grant.
6. Letters of support of memorandums of agreement from partnering agencies should be included in the following circumstances:
• mplementation of a “program” with or through a partnering agency.
• Use of an organization or agency, other that the coalition, as a fiscal agent. The letter of support must include the agency’s federal tax I.D. number.

E. Other Information

1. Non-fundable items. Based on the statute mandates for the Children’s Services Fund, the following items will not be funded under this grant program:
• Inpatient services (Medical, Psychiatric, Chemical Dependency)
• Transportation services
• Administrative expenses
• Equipment, brick or mortar expenses
2. Funds Distribution
• For funded proposals, a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) will be enclosed in the award notice. The MOA will state the dollar amount awarded and any requirements or stipulations. The MOA must be signed by the contact person listed on the application cover sheet and returned to the LCCSF BOD.
• Upon receipt of the signed MOA, but not before, the LCCSF BOD treasurer will issue a check for the amount of the award.
3. Report Requirements and Unused Funds
• Each funded grant must submit a completed Mid-Year Report (form currently under revision) and a Final Report (form currently under revision).
• Notice: Failure to submit the completed Mid-Year Report and/or Final Report may result in ineligibility to apply for future funding.
• The Mid-Year Report is due six months after notice of your award, or by the date included in your MOA.
• The Final Report is due on the first day of the twelfth month after notice of your award, or by the date included in your MOA.
• Any funds unused by date the Final Report is due, must be returned with the Final Report. The Check should be make payable to the Treasurer of LCCSF BOD.
4. Summary of Information to be provided to the LCCSF BOD
• Grant application cover letter
• Grant application narrative
• Performance measures
• Budget summary
• Job description(s), if applicable
• Memorandum(s) of agreement, if applicable
• Mid-Year Report (Format under revision)
• Final Program Report (Format under revision)

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The next application deadline is not established. Applications may be considered at the BOD's discretion.

You are encouraged to speak with a member of the BOD, if you have questions.

Mail or hand-deliver to:
County Commissioners Office: Attn LCCSF BOD
1001 Main Street
Lexington County Court House
Lexington, MO 64067