REQUEST FOR APPLICATIONS 3.0

BACKGROUND

All Children Thrive – California (ACT) is a statewide, community-driven program that helps local communities pass public policies and create systems change to reduce adverse childhood experiences (ACEs).  The program currently works with 18 nonprofit organizations and several public officials on issues such as:

• Promoting Healthy Child Development
• Creating Protective Environments
• Youth Development and Civic Engagement
• Strengthening Economic Supports for Children and Families
• Access to Safe and Stable Housing

Of course, changing public policy is not a quick or easy process.  It requires a thorough understanding of local political dynamics, significant knowledge of the relevant policies, and the capacity to achieve change.   This is why ACT provides:

• Financial support – up to $200,000, for up to 3 years
• Technical assistance for capacity building
• Ongoing support from trained coaches

ACT is currently accepting Request for Applications (RFA) to support ACT Design Teams in the ACT Transformation Process. The ACT RFA will support ACT Design Teams for up to a three-year grant period for a total award amount of up to $200,000.

FUNDING AVAILABILITY

As many as thirteen project proposals will receive up to $200,000 each to support eligible activities and allowable expenditures for up to a three-year participation in ACT.  These funds are a one-time allocation to support ACT activities in 2024 through 2026. Applicants are to remain cognizant that the use of ACT appropriations from the California General Fund and the activities proposed in response to this RFA must be consistent with the authority provided under SB115.  Funding is contingent upon available revenues and appropriations by the Legislature and the California Department of Public Health.

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

1. Organizational Status

Applicants must currently be a 501 (c)(3) or tribal sovereign nation.

2. Geographic Diversity

ACT is funded by the California Department of Public Health.  To ensure that funds are equitably distributed to support the state’s geographic diversity, jurisdictions will be prioritized for funding in the following order:

• Jurisdictions within the Mental Health Regions
• Jurisdictions that increase the geographic diversity of the counties represented from their Mental Health Region
• Jurisdictions collaborating within a Mental Health Regions

3. Readiness

Readiness is determined by the applicant’s ability to engage in policies, systems, and environmental change projects in one of ACT’s focus areas (please see below).  In addition, your project must demonstrate that this focus area is a priority for your local community, that your community has existing coalitions and/or efforts underway within this focus area, that there are other entities working on this focus area, and that there is commitment from local government or other funders.

ACT focus areas:

• Promoting Healthy Child Development
• Creating Protective Environments
• Youth Development and Civic Engagement
• Strengthening Economic Supports for Children and Families
• Access to Safe and Stable Housing

4. Demonstrated Need

Community need is demonstrated by the evidence or data that supports your choice of focus area and by providing data or evidence that this focus area is a high need in your community.

APPLICATION DEADLINE, AWARD ANNOUNCEMENT DATE

RFAs must be submitted between October 16 2023, through November 10, 2023. Grant awards will be announced on November 30, 2023.  An RFA webinar will be hosted on October 27th from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. via Zoom.  Please register for this webinar at the following HERE.

ACTIVITY DESCRIPTION & EXAMPLES

Data Activities

• Needs Assessment (required)
• Introduction to research training (required)
• ArcGIS training and account setup (required)
• Co-develop data visualizations with ACT data team (required)
• Primary data collection (optional)
• Digital Story Maps (optional)
• City Maps (optional)
• Data dashboards (optional)

Communications Activities

• Communications Plan (required)
• Educational presentation (required)
• Educational materials/leave-behind packets (required)
• Consumer testing (required)
• Newsworthy event (required)
• Communications trainings (required)
• Paid media (optional)
• Logo design (optional)

Policy Activities 

• Core and Design Team recruitment and retention (required)
• Coalition building (required)
• Policy trainings and evaluation (six modules) (required)
• Completing a policy scan and policy selection process (required)
• Educating policymakers during one-on-one educational meetings (required)
• Presenting to the City Council/Board of Supervisors/Tribal Council Meetings (required)
• Submit any adopted legislated policies to the ACT (required)
• Community educational presentations (optional)

Youth Development Activities

• Youth Design Team recruitment and retention (required)
• Youth Leaders Forums (six sessions) (required)
• Youth Champions (optional)
• Co-create youth policy curriculum (optional)

Sustainability Activities

• Sustainability planning training (required)
• Complete a Sustainability Plan (required)
• Grant writing workshop (required)
• Grant writing consultation (optional)

Incentives and Stipends that are used to support grant activities

• Non-consumable Incentives
• Stipends 

Other Activities (Include a description of add-on activities):

BUDGET

Provide a budget as an Excel document including the following:

• Funding activities (from among above)
• Personnel (up to 1.0 FTE)
• Supplies
• Travel 
• Meeting costs (e.g., Zoom, venue)
• Incentives (e.g., food, gift cards – commensurate to the activity)
• Stipends to offset volunteerism.
• Trainings
• Occupancy

INELIGIBLE USE OF FUNDS

Funds may not be used for the following:

• Supplanting or duplicating existing programs
• Fundraising activities
• Lobbying or electioneering
• Reimbursements for costs currently covered by another contract
• Maintaining professional licensure or malpractice insurance
• Religious activities
• Delivery of healthcare services

EVALUATION AND REPORTING ACTIVITIES

During the grant period, the ACT staff and evaluator will help awardees to complete surveys, participate in interviews, and complete program monitoring documentation.  A reporting template will be provided to awardees.  

At 12 months and 24 months, awardees are required to submit a Progress Report which includes:

• A narrative report detailing activities and work completed in the reporting period, successes and challenges, key findings, and links to deliverables.
• An expenditure report.
• An invoice for the second installment at 12 months and an invoice for the third installment at 24 months.

Final report at the close of the funding period, awardees must submit:

• A final narrative report detailing activities and work completed in the reporting period, successes and challenges, key findings, and links to deliverables.
• An expenditure report. 
• An invoice for final payment  

MAPPING

RFA EXAMPLE HERE