Health and Human Services Grants

Application Process and Due Date:

• HHS Grants require a two-phase application process:

  Applicants initially submit a Letter Of Intent which summarizes their proposed project. Applicants should call Robert Judd at 579-4073 x 15 to discuss their project before submitting a Letter Of intent.

• Instructions for Letters Of Intent are available here.
• Letters are reviewed by staff and a committee of the board. Those letters which best meet the priorities for a HHS Grant are invited to submit a compete application.
• Letters of intent are due at the Community Foundation by July 14, 2008.

Health/Human Services Grant Criteria:

We give preference to health programs that have a prevention orientation and to human service programs that take an asset building approach. In both fields, the Community Foundation is interested in programs that, where appropriate, use research-based practices and that focus on clearly defined outcomes.

Although homelessness is an issue that may be addressed in the context of either health or human service programs, we strongly encourage projects dealing with homelessness to apply through either the Grants to End Family Homelessness or the Basic Human Needs Grant programs.

For applicants addressing human service issues affecting youth, the Community Foundation has developed detailed guidelines, as follows:

• Youth as stage of development: Youth, as a stage of life, begins in childhood and carries through into early adulthood, lasting until one's early to mid twenties. It is a period marked by a series of key transitions and transformations^I involving physical and cognitive development, as well as development in social, emotional, spiritual, cultural and other domains that give life structure, values and direction. Although there is no universally accepted way of dividing these years into discreet developmental periods, it is vital that providers of services to youth both understand the critical developmental changes that occur during this time and understand that development takes place across a spectrum of interrelated domains^II. These developmental phases provide a framework on which service providers can base their program's resources, activities and outcomes.
• An asset-based approach: In assessing proposals for youth services^III, the Community Foundation will consider the degree to which the design of the program supports the acquisition of personal and social assets, rather than the repairing of deficits. Proposed youth programs should promote both current well-being and a future successful transition to adulthood.
• Preference will be given to programs that appeal to and meet the needs of diverse youth, especially those who are disadvantaged, underserved and/or experiencing intimidation, abuse or harassment.
• Coordination with other relevant community assets: Programs that are able to successfully address multiple, interrelated developmental issues through coordinating with or integrating other relevant community assets (including families, neighborhoods, schools, faith communities, community service opportunities and other programs serving area families) will also be preferred over programs that focus on a single developmental issue or that do not take advantage of available community assets to broaden their effectiveness.
• Qualities of effective programs: We recognize that there is a wide diversity of effective approaches to working with young people. However, regardless of one's approach, the Community Foundation has identified^IV certain qualities of effective programs that we believe constitute an essential core. These qualities include:
  • providing for the safety and security of young people, both physically and psychologically;
  • a program structure that is developmentally appropriate, articulating clear expectations for behavior as well as opportunities to make decisions, to participate in governance and rule-making, and to take on a leadership role as one matures and gains more expertise;
  • opportunities for youth to learn how to form close, enduring relationships with peers and adults that support and reinforce healthy behaviors;
  • opportunities for skill building and mastery and to develop self-confidence and a sense of personal efficacy; and
  • opportunities to make a contribution to one's community and to develop a sense of mattering, belonging and being valued^V.
• One-time event/brief interventions: Achieving the above outcomes suggests an ongoing process, or set of interrelated processes, that are sustained over a sufficient period of time for personal development and relationships of trust to occur. Consequently, we do not encourage the submission of proposals involving one-time events or brief, intensive interventions.

Health/Human Services Grant awards will be announced in November. The grant period will be from January 1, 2009 through December 31, 2009