Request for Application for Child Welfare Implementation Projects

Purpose The Child Welfare Implementation Projects are intended to advance state and tribal plans for improving child welfare outcomes by fostering changes in organizational culture, administration, policies and practices with children and families The Child Welfare Implementation Projects will be based on mutually binding agreements between the Implementation Center and the state or tribal agency The Child Welfare Implementation Projects must be a minimum of 24 months in length, with resources designated to selected projects ranging from $100,000 to $700,000 per budget period. The Mountains and Plains Welfare Implementation Center plans to fund up to sixteen projects from The Child Welfare Implementation Centers will provide individualized, intense, long term technical assistance and consultation to state and tribal agencies on selected projects that identify specific problems, needs, or areas of performance to be addressed through systematic and organizational change

Background The Mountains and Plains Child Welfare Implementation Center (MPCWIC) serves state and tribal agencies in Region 06 (Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas) and Region 08 (Colorado, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, Wyoming). The lead institution of MPCWIC is the University of Texas at Arlington, School of Social Work, Center for Child Welfare. UT Arlington has partnered with the Butler Institute for Families at University of Denver and The Native American Training Institute in Bismarck, North Dakota.

Systemic Organization Change Building upon organization change research, MPCWIC will participate as a change agent with state and tribal child welfare agencies to achieve systemic change in policies and practices. MPCWIC will use the systems of care framework to include all levels of state and tribal agency leadership, staff, the court, current and potential service recipients, and key community stakeholders and collaborators in the implementation of selected projects.

Implementation Projects The request for application process is an opportunity for state and tribal child welfare agencies to partner with MPCWIC to develop implementation projects with clear goals and objectives, identified action steps, and measureable outcomes that will contribute to successful systems and organizational change. The goals for implementation projects are to: (1) implement strategies to achieve sustainable systems and organizational change, (2) improve the agency’s culture, policies, structure, and practices, and (3) enhance progress on identified safety, permanence, and well- being indicators for children and families. Consultation for developing applications will be available from MPCWIC team members during and following the Regional Forums.

Approach to Practice MPCWIC holds the philosophy that the driving force for child welfare services should be based on a clearly articulated approach to practice. The approach to practice must be integrated throughout the agency’s mission, vision, values, practice principles, professional practice standards, strategies, tools, and methods to promote safety, permanency, and well-being of children. Applicants are encouraged to address the intersection of their proposed project with their agency approach to practice (this could include the development, enhancement, or integration of a more clearly defined and articulated approach to practice).

Eligible Applicants States, the District of Columbia, Territories, Tribes, and Tribal consortia that are currently receiving formula grant funds administered by the Children’s Bureau are eligible to apply and be considered for MPCWIC services, activities, and projects.

Application Process Eligible applicants attend the Regional Forum; for those applicants that cannot attend the forum, materials presented at the Regional Forum will be made available. MPCWIC will work with applicants not attending a Regional Forum in developing an application. Submit an application for a project. Upon selection of the projects; coordinate with the MPCWIC for technical assistance, consultation, etc.

Application Outline Each Application must contain the following items in the order listed: 1.Cover sheet 2.Project summary/abstract (one page maximum, double spaced) 3.Project Description a.Problem Statement and Need for Assistance b.Approach c.Evaluation d.Logic Model e.Organizational Profile/Capacity f.Assurances g.Past/Current/Future Technical Assistance

Application Contents 1.Cover Sheet 2. Project Summary: Provide a summary statement of the proposed project (one page) 3. Project Description (10-12 pages) a. Problem Statement and Need for Assistance (20 pts.) Provide a description of the problem/issue you plan to address. State how this corresponds with your most recent CFSR and PIP, Strategic Plan, 5 year Child and Family Service Plan, Court Improvement Plan, and Needs or Organizational Assessment as appropriate. Identify the specific child welfare population that will benefit from the project. State your state/tribal agency capacities and strengths to be used in addressing the problem/issue. Include data that will provide useful information for understanding the issue and your child welfare system.

Application Contents Page 2 b.Approach (50 pts.) Describe your plan to address the problem/issue: 1)include specific activities with timelines, including total length of project (2-3 years); 2)clearly state the overall purpose and objectives of the project; 3) identify key staff, stakeholders, and collaborators for the project activities; 4) provide a clear description of the desired change and how it will impact the problem/issue; 5)discuss how the proposed project is integrated with the agency’s CFSR and PIP, Strategic Plan, 5 year Child and Family Service Plan, Court Improvement Plan, and Needs or Organizational Assessment as appropriate; 6)identify the potential challenges and barriers to successfully implementing the project and the strategies to be used to address them; and 7) address the sustainability of the proposed changes following the end of the project.

Application Contents Page 3 c. Evaluation and Monitoring (10 pts.) 1)Provide a preliminary evaluation and monitoring plan for the project that includes: primary project outcomes, data sources, specific benchmarks to measure success, a plan to monitor progress, and suggested measurement tools/instruments. 2)Selected projects will work with the MPCWIC evaluation team to develop a full evaluation and monitoring plan that is responsive to the specific project objectives.

Application Contents Page 4 THE FOLLOWING SECTIONS SHOULD BE PLACED IN THE APPENDIX (these sections will not be counted in the pg. limit) d)Logic Model (5 pts.) A logic model provides a visual presentation of the relationship among the resources available, planned activities, and changes or results you plan to achieve. e)Organizational Profile/Capacity (10 pts.) Identify key project staff and their qualifications, roles, responsibilities; identify any partnering organizations (include letters of support and commitment for involvement in the project); and present the agency’s strengths and capacity to develop, implement, and sustain the project. f)Assurances (5 pts). Provide statements assuring that you will: 1) enter into a mutually binding agreement with the UT Arlington to implement the project; 2) participate in peer to peer networking activities; 3) participate in a cross-site evaluation; 4) agree to allow MPCWIC to share the project application and outcomes with other participants; 5) provide requested documentation and reports on the project; 6) plan for the sustainability of the project; and 7) assure that the agency leadership is committed to the project. g)Past/Current/Future Technical Assistance (information only 0 pts.) Identify the technical assistance and for what issues your agency has received in the past 3-5 years from all sources (NRCs; private agency etc.); you are currently receiving; and have arranged to receive for the future.

Application Formatting and Submission  The application must be typed, double spaced, printed on one side, with one inch margins, using standard 12-pt fonts (such as Times New Roman or Courier). All pages must be numbered.  Page Limit: The application limit is 12 pages (sections a-c) not including the cover sheet, abstract/summary page, and appendices. Pages over the limit will be removed from the application and will not be reviewed.  Due Dates: MPCWIC is funded for five years; new projects will be funded during Yrs 1, 2, 3, 4.  Yr 1: MPCWIC will award a minimum of 2 projects by July 1, 2009; to be considered for this funding cycle, applications must be received by May 25, 2009, 5:00 pm CST. Late applications will not be eligible for funding during the Yr. 1 cycle.  Electronic Submission: Send applications to both Susan Ferrari, Project Coordinator: and Joan Rycraft, Principal Investigator:  Submission by Mail: Mountain and Plains Child Welfare Implementation Center University of Texas at Arlington School of Social Work 211 S. Cooper, Box Arlington, TX Attention: Susan Ferrari