Welcome! We will begin our webinar at the top of the hour As you log on, do not be surprised if you don’t hear anyone else; participants are placed on mute in order to limit background noise

National CASA Association 2016 Local Grants Program Presenters: Sally Erny – Chief Program Officer Denice Hairston – Director of Grants Administration and Accountability Coral Edward – Grants Associate

Objectives for the Webinar: Review the 2016 National CASA local grants program policy Learn about the grant categories and the criteria and eligibility requirements for each Discuss the 2016 grant application materials and timeline Understand the application review process Identify points of contact at National CASA for technical assistance Answer your questions

2016 LOCAL Grants Policy

Guiding Principles Fund our strategy Allocate funding with greater impact Position ourselves for funding increase Manage more effectively and efficiently Increase accountability

Grant funding in alignment with Enabling Focus Areas Alignment to our Strategic Framework Grant funding in alignment with Enabling Focus Areas

2016 Grants Policy Development State Leadership Council (SLC) discussed grant strategy and directed National CASA staff to develop draft annual grants policy Discussion and vetting of draft annual grants policy by SLC SLC reviewed policy and voted unanimously to support National CASA Grants Department reviewed and recommended annual grants policy to full National CASA Board of Trustees Review and approval by Board of Trustees Ongoing engagement of and input from the CASA/GAL network

2016 local program Grants Policy Summary National CASA Association will sub-award $1.2 million in competitive grants in two categories to local CASA/GAL programs and state CASA/GAL organizations that provide direct services. The grant term for the local program categories will begin on January 1, 2017 and end on December 31, 2017.

Questions

Grant Categories, Criteria, and Eligibility

Summary of Categories Capacity-building Growth Select 15 to 20 applications: To fund initiatives that will strengthen the foundational elements of the local program and contribute to long term sustainable change resulting in more volunteers activated and additional children served. Growth Select 8 to 15 applications: To significantly increase the number of abused and neglected children served by CASA/GAL volunteers. Designed to demonstrate effective strategies and practices for growth that are documented and may be developed as model approaches and replicated throughout the CASA/GAL network.

Key Criteria and Considerations Both Grant Categories: Funding Goal Requirements # of New Volunteer Advocates Activated (i.e., assigned to a case) # of Additional Children to be Served (i.e., assigned a CASA/GAL volunteer) $20,000 Request 15 37 $40,000 Request 30 75 $60,000 Request 45 112 $80,000 Request 52 130 $100,000 Request 65 162 The minimum amount that can be requested/will be awarded is $20,000. (Capacity-building) The maximum amount that can be requested/will be awarded is $100,000. (Growth)

Eligibility Requirements Both Grant Categories: CASA/GAL local programs and state organizations that directly serve abused and neglected children with volunteer advocates Full Member in good standing with the National CASA Association Current paid membership for 2017 Completion of the 2015 annual survey & 6-month reports Compliance with National CASA Association Standards Successful past performance on previous National CASA grants Submission of a one-page letter of support from the state director/organization

Questions

Capacity-building Grants

Capacity-building Grants Purpose: Initiatives funded through National CASA Association’s partnership with Jewelers for Children will build program capacity resulting in an increase in the number of abused and neglected children served by CASA/GAL volunteers Applicants: Local programs or state organizations that directly serve abused and neglected children with volunteer advocates Applicants must be in good standing with National CASA Association

Capacity-building Grants Projected Awards:15-20 awards anticipated Amount: Ranging from $20,000 to $40,000 Grant Period: 1/1/2017 through 12/31/2017 Eligibility: Local programs and state organizations that directly serve abused and neglected children with volunteer advocates.

Capacity-building Grants Requirements: Letter of support from state director/organization for all local programs. Capacity-building plan (three page maximum) to increase the number of volunteers activated and children served. Explanation of any gaps between the demographics of volunteers and children served. If a gap exists, the applicant must submit a diversity plan. May be asked to engage in some form of public relations event if selected.

Capacity-building Grants Award decisions will be based upon: Strong project plan with measurable objectives, goals, and timeline Demonstrated ability to expand the number of volunteers and children served during the grant period as written in the capacity-building plan Successful past performance with National CASA Association grant funds and grant goals, if applicable Clearly explained, reasonable, and realistic grant budget based on the projected increase in children served Comprehensive sustainability plan

Questions

growth Grants

growth Grants Purpose: Initiatives funded through National CASA Association’s cooperative agreement with US Department of Justice, Office of Juvenile Justice & Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) will significantly increase the number of abused and neglected children served by CASA/GAL volunteers. Applicants: Local programs or state organizations that directly serve abused and neglected children with volunteer advocates Applicants must be in good standing with National CASA Association

growth Grants Projected Awards: 8-15 awards anticipated Amount: Ranging from $40,000 to $100,000 Grant Period: 1/1/2017 through 12/31/2017 Eligibility: Local programs and state organizations that directly serve abused and neglected children with volunteer advocates.

growth Grants Requirements: Letter of support from state director/organization for all local programs. Growth plan (three page minimum) to increase the number of volunteers activated and children served. Explanation of any gaps between the demographics of volunteers and children served. If a gap exists, the applicant must submit a diversity plan. May be asked to engage in some form of public relations if selected.

growth Grants Award decisions will be based upon: Strong project plan with measurable objectives, goals, and timeline Demonstrated ability to expand the number of volunteers and children served during the grant period as written in the growth plan Successful past performance with National CASA Association grant funds and grant goals Clearly explained, reasonable, and realistic grant budget based on the projected increase in children served Comprehensive sustainability plan

Questions

Application Materials

Applications and Instructions Application materials are available on National CASA website CASAforChildren.org At the home page, click the State and Local Programs at the top of the web page Login with Program ID # and password Click the National CASA Grants to access grants page Click Download Instructions and Application/Submit Completed Application and Attachments The application is provided as a PDF fillable form

Applications and Instructions

Application FORMAT National CASA Grant Application has 12 distinct sections: Summary Sheet Program Information Organizational Information Project Need for each category Project Approach Project Management Evaluation Sustainability Grant Budget Narrative Grant Budget Summary Program Reporting Current Budget

Additional attachments Additional attachments have to be uploaded as one combined PDF file. Letter of support from state director/organization required for all local program applicants Capacity-building plan required for all capacity-building applicants Growth plan required for all growth applicants Organizational chart required for all applicants Diversity plan, if required due to demographics Audit/monitoring corrective action plan, if applicable Additional staff list, if applicable

Summary sheet Page 1 consists of: Grant category applying for Amount requested Project abstract Authorized Representative and Title

Program information Pages 2 – 5 consist of: Applicant information Additional information Staff list Program statistics Court/judicial statistics Financial history Explanation on reserves in excess of $200,000 Explanation on statistical information on pages 3-4

organizational information Pages 6 - 7 consist of: Significant challenges or opportunities Program area and population served Governing body

Project need – capacity-building Pages 8 - 9 consist of: Current capacity and need for capacity-building Governing body and program involvement in assessing need How building capacity will be supported by your strategic plan

Project need – growth Pages 10 - 11 consist of: Need for growth Growth plan details Data and process used to calculate actual growth Three-year average growth chart

Project approach Pages 12 - 14 consist of: Goals, objectives, activities and timeline Grant funded position(s) Hiring of consultant, if applicable Diversity

Project management, evaluation and sustainability Pages 15 - 17 consist of: Project Management Key staff ensuring success of project Oversight and reporting on this project Evaluation Sustainability

Grant budget narrative and summary Pages 19 - 22 consist of: Grant Budget Narrative Personnel Salaries Taxes/benefits Travel Printing/Copying Supplies Equipment Rent/Utilities Other Grant Budget Summary

Program reporting Pages 23 - 24 consist of: National CASA grants received in the last three years Grant reports filed on time Grant goals met Grant project sustained External audit/grant monitoring, any findings

Current budget Page 25 consists of: Revenue/Expenses and Net Change

Application scoring Sections Headings / Application Page References Point Value Summary Sheet & Program Information / Pages 1-5 10 Organizational Information / Pages 6 - 7 Project Need / Pages 8 – 11 20 Project Approach / Pages 12 - 14 Project Management, Evaluation, & Sustainability / Pages 15 - 17 15 Grant Budget Narrative & Summary / Pages 18-22 Program Reporting / Pages 23-24 5 Current Budget / Page 25 TOTAL POINTS 100

Tips to preparing a complete, quality application Completely answer all questions Provide unique answers to each question; do not duplicate responses List staff positions by job title, not personnel names Ensure grant amount requested on pg 1 matches grant budget summary total Show formula/calculation for grant budget amounts Submit all required applicable attachments Be sure to use the latest version of Adobe available 8) Submission of a comprehensive capacity-building or growth plan that addresses program need

Application Review Process Applications will be reviewed by individuals with knowledge of the CASA/GAL network: External Reviewers National CASA Staff Reviews will be conducted based on standardized criteria as outlined in the grant application and instructions Potential reviewers with a conflict of interest for any category will be excluded

Application Review Process Applications that will not make it to the review process (i.e., ineligible for funding): Not uploaded by 5pm PST Missing any required attachments Amount requested below minimum or above maximum Files other than application/attachments uploaded

Key Dates Tuesday, November 15 – Grant materials released Friday, December 16 at 5pm PST – Grant Applications Due Friday, January 20, 2017 – Awards announced (tentative) Tuesday, January 31, 2017 – Terms & Conditions due Sunday, January 1, 2017 – Grant Period begins Sunday, December 31, 2017 – Grant Period ends

Contact Information Grant Application or Process Inquiries: Email: GrantsPolicy@casaforchildren.org Membership Questions: Email: MemberServices@casaforchildren.org Resource: Question and Answer (Q&A) Document

Questions

THANK YOU! Office of Juvenile justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) Disclaimer Points of view or opinions expressed in this webinar are those of the presenter(s) and do not necessarily represent the official position or policies of OJJDP or the U.S. Department of Justice.