Multi-year Grants Program

Introduction

History and Mission

The Idaho Legislature established the Idaho Children’s Trust Fund in 1985 to support efforts designed to prevent child abuse and neglect within the state. The Children’s Trust (ICTF) holds the vision that all Idaho children are valued, and that they grow up in a world where all children have the opportunity to thrive. The ICTF is dedicated to the prevention of child abuse and neglect through funding, educating, supporting and building awareness among community based organizations who share our mission.

Core Considerations

  • Idaho’s children are the state’s greatest asset. Keeping them safe from abuse and neglect is our mission. Too often children suffer abuse and neglect with wide and far-reaching consequences that afflict for a lifetime.
  • Preventing abuse and neglect is critical to protecting Idaho’s children. Prevention efforts begin with shifting the focus from targeting family risks and deficits to building family strengths and resiliency.
  • Nationally, 81% of abused children are abused by a parent (ACF/DHHS, 2012). Research shows that the best way to prevent child abuse is to educate, inform, support and partner with parents to help them build strong, healthy families. Therefore the majority of the funding dollars distributed by the ICTF are allocated to providers who embed effective prevention strategies into their parenting and early care and education programs to strengthen and support parents and families.
  • Child Neglect is a failure to meet children’s basic needs – whether the failure is the responsibility of parents, communities or society – and this void places children in harm’s way. Neglect represented 78% of all reported child abuse and neglect cases in 2012 (ACF/DHHS). Yet understanding it and its complexities pales compared to our understanding of other maltreatment. The ICTF is interested in projects that intentionally address neglect or look at one of the factors most frequently identified with it: history of trauma, poverty, maternal depression, substance abuse, devaluing challenges of child rearing.
  • Underserved populations are at even greater risk. Populations can be underserved for a variety of reasons. Rural communities, homeless families and communities of color are particularly vulnerable to scarce resources and a lack of community support. ICTF is dedicated to targeting these populations to increase community support and to ameliorate the negative effects of social isolation.

Multi-Year Grant Program: Cycle 7

Please be sure to read all application information and the application carefully!

  • The ICTF will award Multi-Year (Cycle 7) Grants beginning October 1, 2022 and running through September 30, 2025 to community-based programs focused on the prevention of child abuse and neglect.
  • Grantee programs should be carefully designed with strategies for preventing or reducing the occurance of child abuse or neglect based within the strengthening families protective factors framework and using, whenever possible, evidence-based curriculum and evaluation tools.
  • Total maximum funding for any program will be $40,000: $14,000 for Year 1, $13,000 for Year 2, and $13,000 for Year 3 which will be dependent upon documented progress toward targeted outcomes, and successful completion of required reports and attendance at grantee meetings.
  • The goals for Multi-Year Grants are:
    • To develop, maintain, and sustain services that are effective in preventing child abuse and neglect by strengthening families.
    • To consider programs that reach to underserved Idaho populations.
    • To promote awareness of child abuse and neglect prevention throughout Idaho.
    • To consider the complexities of neglect and create strategies to build protective factors that decrease its occurrence.
    • To become a leader in the field of prevention with a willingness to collaborate with a variety of community resources and partners in order to provide the best integrated services to strengthen all families.
    • To encourage the development and attainment of measurable results.
    • To involve local communities and stakeholders in sustaining child abuse prevention services in their communities after expiration of the grant cycle.

Eligibility

  • Programs must be located in Idaho or provide services to residents of Idaho.
  • Grants are available to public or private non-profit and faith-based organizations, government agencies, (e.g. schools or health departments) or qualified individuals who provide community based educational or service programs designed to reduce or prevent child abuse and neglect.
  • Organizations must have an Employer Identification Number and an identified fiscal agent.
  • Applicants must provide their Unique Entity ID(UEI) number or a statement affirming that they will provide their UEI number prior to receiving their grant award. No grantee will receive an award without their UEI number. Click here if you do not have a UEI number.
  • Programs must provide certificates of commercial general liability insurance and worker’s compensation insurance with their grant application.
  • Programs must have strong organizational capabilities and experience administering grant funded projects.
  • Programs must be willing to collect, maintain and report various demographic and programmatic data about their services.
  • Program must be willing to partner with participant parents and clients to increase participant involvement and leadership in their organization.
  • Programs must show evidence participant satisfaction with the services provided by their project.
  • Programs must demonstrate community cooperation or collaboration.
  • Program outcomes and outcome accountability must be identified. A logic model presenting program’s strategies, outcomes and measurement must be included. Evidence of progress toward measurable outcomes will be required.
  • Programs must embed protective factors into the strategies they use to strengthen families in order to prevent child abuse and neglect.
  • Organizations may submit only one application for the Multi-Year Grant Program each cycle.

Letter of Intent to Apply

  • Applicants must submit a “Letter of Intent” by end of day Monday, May 9th, 2022 in order to apply for an Idaho Children’s Trust Fund Multi-Year Grant, Cycle 7
  • Please thoroughly read the Multi-Year Grant Information and Application found on the website (at bottom of this page) before submitting your Letter of Intent.
  • Please submit a letter (no more than 2 pages) stating your organization’s intention to apply for a Multi-year grant.
  • Include in the letter:
    • Applicant information including contact information
    • Applicant’s mission statement
    • Briefly describe your project considering:
    • The population you will serve and the needs you will address
    • The curriculum, service and/or framework you will be providing and the research that supports its impact
    • How your project strengthens families in order to prevent child abuse and neglect
    • Any other community partners involved in the project
    • General way ICTF will be used to accomplish goals (example, training 2 people in curriculum, travel, supplies, etc)
    • How you anticipate the project will flow from one year to the next (For example, program is established year one, grows in year two, sustainable by year three because of…)
  • For additional information and technical assistance please call ICTF Grant Manager, Kim Hemmert, at 208-386-9317 or email kim.hemmert@ctf.idaho.gov
  • Letters of intent must be emailed to Kim Hemmert(see above) in pdf format by 5pm on May 5, 2022. Naming convention: Please name your document according to this format: Organization name_ICTF LOI MY 7
  • Faxed letters will not be accepted

Project Criteria

  • Proposed projects should be designed in a way that will help to solve challenges that are specific to the targeted population; e.g., services for Latino families should take into consideration the possibility of specific language barriers and cultural issues.
  • Proposed projects must be designed using research based or best practice methods. Research must be cited in the grant application.
  • Proposed projects must offer strategies to strengthen families in order to reduce the occurrence of child abuse and neglect. (http://www.strengtheningfamilies.net/index.php/about)
  • Note: Special consideration will be given to proposals that address neglect. Neglect is the most prevalent form of child maltreatment yet it is the least well understood. Few prevention initiatives are directed towards neglect and so it continues to grow while many other forms of abuse are declining. The decline in physical abuse and sexual abuse mirrors the increase in prevention programs and as such is a reflection of their effectiveness. ICTF is looking for promising approaches to neglect prevention that are based in the protective factors framework and informed by evidence. Approaches may address one or more of the causal factors identified with neglect including the caregiver’s history of trauma, poverty, maternal depression, substance abuse, and devaluing the challenges of child rearing. A grant approved in this area may include reasonable time for development before services are delivered.
  • Each proposed project must have well-defined short, intermediate, and long-term outcomes that are measurable.
  • Proposed projects should be designed with the possibility of replication in other areas of the state.

Funding Available

  • Funding for ICTF grants comes from private donations, income tax check off, and from a Federal Community Based Child Abuse Prevention Grant. Funding for grants from the ICTF is subject to availability.
  • ICTF anticipates being able to fund four organizations total for the Multi-year cohort 7 cycle.
  • Each applicant shall receive written notice the ICTF Board’s determination to grant or deny the application.

Geographic Distribution

  • Multi-Year Grant applications will compete on a statewide basis. While the ICTF would like to be able to fund Multi-Year Grants in all regions of the state, this is not possible at the present time.
  • ICTF assures equal opportunity for community based child abuse and neglect prevention programs in all geographic regions of the state.
  • Programs will be asked to identify where services will be provided; within specific counties, cities, tribal areas, or statewide

Timeline

2022

April 11 Grant Application Live

May 9 Letter of Intent Due

May 12 Responses sent to Accepted Letters

June 9 Multi Year Grant Applications Due

July 28 Board decision on Multi-Year Cohort 7

October 1 Multi-Year Grant terms begins

October 2022 *tbd Multiyear grantee training meeting and orientation in Boise

Closing Date

  • On Thursday, June 9 by 5PM, one electronic application in pdf format is due to the Grants Manager, Kim Hemmert at kim.hemmert@ctf.idaho.gov. This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
  • Use the following naming convention: Organization name_ICTF MY7 grant application
  • One hard copy application is to be sent to the ICTF with a postmark of June 9, 2022. The mailing address is: 304 W State St, Boise Idaho 83702
  • Faxed applications will not be accepted.

Application Organization and Format

  • The application format requirements are:
    • Please convert to pdf format before emailing
    • Margins must be at least one inch
    • Use Arial, Calibri, Times New Roman, or easily readable font
    • Use 12 point font size
  • There is no page limit for the grant application, however, be aware that it is to your benefit to keep your application brief and succinct.
  • Please use paper binder clips to secure your application; do not staple, bind, rubber band, or use folders of any kind.
  • Please do not include additional flyers, brochures, or attachments beyond what is requested in the grant application.
  • Please submit your application with all materials in the following order:
    • Application
    • Project Logic Model
    • Two Letters of Commitment
    • Certificate of commercial general liability insurance
    • Certificate or worker’s compensation insurance
    • Completed W-9 Form

Disclaimers Required To Receive Federal Funding

  • A portion of the awarded grants is subgranted from the Community Based Child Abuse Prevention Grants (CBCAP), cfda #93.590.
  • Subgrantees spending $750,000.00 or more in federal funds during the Subgrantee’s fiscal year shall have a Single Audit performed according to 2CFR 200.500-521 (previously OMB A-133) and shall provide proof of spending.
  • Entity shall comply with subaward and executive compensation reporting requirements as required by the federal Funding accountability and Transparency Act (FFATA).
  • Applicant acknowledges the Single Audit requirements according to 2CFR 200.500-521 (previously OMB A-133), FFATA, and any specific grant requirements.

Application Selection and Awards Process

Applications will be reviewed based on their focus of child abuse and neglect prevention; the strength of the applicant’s organizational capabilities and qualifications to implement the proposed project; community need for proposed services; project design, achievable outcomes and related logic model; adequate budget detail; and collaboration with other agencies.

Multi-Year Grant applications are reviewed by staff and submitted to the ICTF Board for reading, rating, discussion and decision for awards.

Applicants may be contacted by staff members during the review period for clarification of items in their application.

Staff may provide information to the Board about an applicant’s prior grant history with the ICTF. In addition, the Board will consider project distribution among and within geographic regions when making final funding decisions.

The Board reserves the right to reject any or all applications and to negotiate the award amount, outcome evaluation process, authorized budget items, and specific programmatic goals prior to entering into a contract.

Contract Requirements for Funded Projects

Requirements for Multi-Year projects funded by the ICTF may be rather stringent. The applicant should seriously consider their ability to meet the requirements outlined below, and throughout this document before deciding to apply.

Grantees must agree to evaluate their project using the “Outcome Measurement” model. This includes the development of a Logic Model, measurement tool(s), the collection and maintenance data and a final written report describing in detail the results of the Outcome Measurement process. (Technical assistance will be provided by the ICTF).

Grantees must agree to attend various trainings provided by the ICTF during the time period of the grant, as well as present the results of their project at a workshop during the ICTF’s annual Strengthening Families Training Institute in the final year of Cycle 7.

Grantees must agree to annual site visits by ICTF staff and Board members.

Grantees are required to collect uniform participant socio-demographic information, administer participant satisfaction surveys and collect anecdotal stories about the impact of project involvement.

Reporting and Payments

Brief quarterly reports are required as well as an annual report (in lieu of the fourth quarterly report) to sum up progress for the entire year.

A final project report will be due to the ICTF within 60 days following the end of the contracted period for the grant. (November 30, 2025 for Grant Cycle 7)

ICTF grant payments are made on a reimbursement basis; within 90 days of dated receipt once services or activities have been completed, as required by the fiscal agent of the Idaho Children’sTrust Fund, the State Department of Health & Welfare.

A funded program may spend less than their yearly allotment however, only a 25 percent carry over of the year’s allotment is allowed from one year to the next, providing that all funds are spent by the ending date of the contract. A funded program may not spend more than their Year 1 allotment in the first year.

Reporting requirements and payment procedures will be specified in more detail in the contract between the successful applicants and the ICTF.

Tips for Responding to This Proposal

We recognize the time and effort required to complete the application. In deciding whether or not to proceed, please make use of the technical assistance provided by the ICTF staff for help in clarifying any questions you may have.

Please read the entire Multi-Year Grant Program document and grant application before proceeding to write your grant application. If you want a copy of the application form in a word document, please email kim.hemmert@ctf.idaho.gov

Clearly show the relationship between the respective components of your application; e.g. exhibit a clear linkage between the community need, the proposed project, and how the proposed outcomes will make progress toward reducing child abuse and neglect.

In the budget proposal and budget narrative, clearly indicate which project resources you are asking the ICTF to fund.

Answer all questions in the proper order on the application, respond with “N/A” if a question does not apply to your program.

Number all pages of your grant application.

Do not include additional flyers, brochures, resumes or attachments beyond what is requested in the grant application.

Logic Model and Protective Factors EXAMPLE

Logic model definitions and several examples of each are given for your use. Protective Factor explanation follows.

Population Served: Description of the participants
Spanish speaking parents with children birth to six in Idaho, Region 3

Early Care and Education providers in Idaho, Region 7

Families lacking safe, affordable housing

Population Needs to be Addressed by Services: Needs that this program intends to address

Parents need to know stages of child development

Fathers need positive discipline tools

Parents report being unable to navigate systems such as schools, Head Start, WIC, TANF etc.

Services: What services will you provide?

Parenting classes offered weekly for six weeks

Strengthening Families materials and Modules 1-3 training

Weekly parent-child labs in a developmentally appropriate classroom

Protective Factors: Protective factors are the strengths and resources that families can draw on when life gets difficult. Taking those good characteristics and building on them is a proven way to strengthen the entire family and thus decrease the likelihood of maltreatment. Each of the protective factors is essential, but most important is what they do together to create stability in families. The five protective factors identified in the Strengthening Families framework are as follows:

  • Parental resilience: The ability to cope, bounce back and learn from all types of challenges
  • Social connections: Friends, family members, neighbors, and other members of a community who provide emotional support and concrete assistance to parents
  • Knowledge of parenting and child development: Accurate information about raising young children and appropriate expectations for their behavior.
  • Concrete support in times of need: Financial security to cover day-to-day expenses and unexpected costs that come up from time to time, access to formal supports like TANF and Medicaid, and informal support from social networks
  • Children’s social and emotional development: A child’s ability to interact positively with others and communicate his or her emotions effectively.

Your program DOES NOT need a strategy to connect to all of the protective factors.

Outcomes: What one or two changes do you believe will occur in the lives of your program’s participants as a result of your services? Outcome statements are written by determining: WHO will do WHAT in the short, intermediate and potentially long term timeframes; for example:

Short Term Outcomes (First level of change that can be achieved in a short period of time, 6 months, primarily changes in knowledge, attitudes, beliefs or values) – For example:

Parents identify at least 3 effective alternatives to corporal punishment

Facilitator plan 3 Stewards of Children, Child Sexual Abuse Awareness and Prevention community trainings

Early Care providers partner with parents in discussion about child development

Intermediate Outcomes (The link between the short-term outcomes and long-term outcomes; primarily changes in behavior, skills and conditions):

Parents will use their knowledge of child development to set appropriate boundaries and apply appropriate positive discipline for their children 0 – 36 months.

Facilitator gives Stewards of Children training to 3 faith based community centers and provides follow-up support over the next 6 months.

Long Term Outcomes (The overarching, broad statement of the project’s intended goals):

Parents who apply their knowledge of child development will be more likely to use age appropriate positive discipline for their children resulting in healthier family dynamics and reduced chances of child abuse.

Communities who are trained in the prevention of child abuse and neglect take a proactive role to protect children and educate other youth serving organizations about child sexual abuse and prevention.

Indicators: What would I see, hear or read that would tell me the outcome was being achieved? For example:

Parents clearly express their expectations

Parents use positive discipline techniques when their rules are broken

80% of participants describe appropriate methods of educating inappropriate behaviors

Measurement Tools: What form of measurement will you use to measure your indicators? (A scale, survey, check list, questionnaire, or other measurement tool.)

Protective Factor Survey

AAPI (Adult-Adolescent Parenting Inventory) from Nurturing Parenting

Attendance rosters and case notes

Research and/or Assumptions: Logic or research that support your project’s intentions.

Parenting classes have been shown to increase knowledge of child development and positive discipline strategies (http://www.nurturingparenting.com/research_validation/index.php)

Evaluations indicate that children who receive this service have significantly higher scores on the Early Childhood Social Skills Inventory than children in a comparison group.

Strengthening Families research indicates that each of the protective factors is essential, but most important is what they do together to create stability in families. (http://www.strengtheningfamilies.net/)

Resources – based on the services you identify: What resources do you need to carry out these services?

Money, space, staff, materials, office support, etc

Strengthening Families Trainer’s box

Bus fares or tokens, snacks for the children, diapers and wipes

Program Strategies (include activities, training, and curricula that specifically and intentionally build protective factors in order to strengthen families): What strategies will you use to connect the protective factors to your program?

Teach parenting skills (Nurturing Parenting)

Provide Parent/Community Cafes (Tuesday night meetings for 6 weeks)

Provide Child Care for toddlers and babies during evening parenting classes

Two-hour, twice-weekly home visits with a peer mentor

 

 

For technical support and other questions, please email ICTF Grant Manager, Kim Hemmert at kim.hemmert@ctf.idaho.gov. This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Multi-Year App Cycle 7 2022-2025

Logic Model

Thank you! We look forward to reading your application.