Prevention Funding Region 7

Request for Letters of Intent: Community Based Child Abuse and Prevention Services

The Department of Child Services Regional Service Council and Children’s Bureau will be selecting local prevention services providers based on prevention plans. Child Abuse Prevention Services are defined as primary and secondary prevention services. Community Partners will fund both.

Prevention is defined as those services and programs that positively influence families, parents, caretakers, and children in the general population before abuse or neglect occurs.  Primary prevention services:

  • Are accessible to everyone in the community;
  • Are received voluntarily;
  • Seek to promote positive family functioning rather than preventing problems;
  • Attempt to influence social forces which impact parents and children;
  • Are culturally responsive to the program participants, building on the cultural strengths of the family and community; and
  • Utilize methods which are educational and supportive, rather than clinical or treatment-oriented.

Secondary prevention services are offered to populations considered “at risk”. Although child abuse or neglect may not have occurred within these families, there is a higher probability that it may occur (or it may have occurred without clear recognition).  Secondary prevention services:

  • Are offered to a predefined group of vulnerable or “at risk” individuals;
  • Are received voluntarily;
  • Focus on particular stressors or parenting issues for identified parents and caretakers;
  • Seek to promote positive family functioning rather than just preventing problems;
  • Build upon participants’ strengths and are not based on a deficit approach; and
  • Offer solutions oriented to specific program participants, building on the cultural strengths of the family and community.

The goals or objectives of prevention services:

  • To promote the safety of children
  • To reduce the number of children being removed from their parents, guardians, or custodians
  • To promote the efficiency of programs and services by coordinating available resources
  • To prevent or reduce the number of children who are victims of child abuse, neglect, exploitation, or delinquency

Letters of intent will be accepted through April 16, 2021 at 5pm. Funding decisions will be announced at RSC on June 11, 2021. Letters of intent are for those agencies or individuals applying for prevention grants in Region 7 for the 2021-2022 grant year beginning July 1, 2021. All letters of intent should be no longer than 3 pages and submitted electronically to all three of the following:

Additional electronic communication will be held when funds have been allocated. This communication will include receiving MOU’s, invoices, and a more detailed discussion of billing, fingerprints, etc.

Requirements to be eligible for brokered dollars:

  • Must provide proof of liability insurance
  • Must comply with state requirements regarding criminal checks, cps checks, fingerprinting, and local law enforcement checks
  • Must provide services to children and families not involved with the Indiana Department of Child Services or Juvenile Probation

Letters of Intent will be accepted for the following prevention categories:

  • Services for victims of domestic violence
  • Services providing early education to children and families
  • Services aimed at teaching children body safety
  • Services aimed at increasing the knowledge of internet and social media safety, knowledge of safe relationships, awareness of potential safety issues with regards to friends
  • Services for families affected by substance abuse
  • Services that directly prevent children and families from becoming involved in the child welfare system and promote child safety
  • Services that focus on helping children and families affected by COVID

Guidelines for completing a letter of intent

All letters of intent should include each section below.

Description of the Agency:

This section should include agency background information including a brief description, the agency’s mission, services offered, geographic area served, number of individuals served, and the number of full-time and part-time staff. An organizational chart should also be attached.

 Description of Program Services:

Please describe the services being provided with requested funding including any information regarding evidence based services, a description of the target population, how many clients will be served in each county, and how to make referrals to the proposed services.

Definition of how the services help prevent child abuse and neglect:

Please describe the goals of the program and how these goals prevent child abuse and neglect.

Budget and Budget Narrative:

Provide a summary project budget addressing the type and amount of funds requested, a line item description including staff costs, supplies, space/marketing, or any other costs associated with the project. Please include a rate per services.

Below is a sample Budget:

Staff costs                                  $10,000.00

Curriculum/Materials              $   5,000.00

Presentation per school          $      300.00

Please be aware that payment for brokered dollars is dependent upon funding by the state. Payments are made to you, after funding is received at the Children’s Bureau and it often is paid in approximately 60 days. All agencies being funded through brokered dollars must be an established not for profit agency, must be capable of obtaining appropriate liability insurance before a contract can be completed, and must comply with state regulations regarding background checks, fingerprinting, etc.

Outcomes expected from the program and how they are measured:

Please include expected outcomes and the tracking method for these outcomes. Please list a Contact person for the program