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Welcome > What We Fund > Community Mental Health > 2008 Evidence-Based Practice Request for Proposals (RFP)

2008 Evidence-Based Practice Request for Proposals (RFP)

*** The 2008 Evidence-Based Request-for-Proposals grant cycle is now closed.  ***

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The Peter and Elizabeth C. Tower Foundation seeks to alleviate or prevent psychological disorders and substance abuse among children and adolescents afflicted by or at risk for developing such conditions.

The 2008 Request for Proposals (RFP) seeks to accomplish this by providing funds for the implementation of evidence-based practices that have been designed to provide prevention and early-intervention services to youth at risk for psychological disorders and substance abuse. For this initiative, evidenced-based practices are defined as those that have been empirically validated as being successful in achieving the predicted outcomes.

The ultimate goal of this RFP is to increase access to optimally-effective interventions that have demonstrated success in preventing or treating psychological disorders and substance abuse in children and adolescents through improved family interactions, enhanced parenting skills, decreased child behavior problems, and improved social functioning. Eligible organizations that wish to incorporate select evidence-based practices into their service delivery systems will be considered for grant awards.

Timeline
February 25 & 27, 2008
April 3, 2008		 Application workshops held
May 14, 2008 Deadline for letter of inquiry
June 13, 2008 Organizations notified if a proposal is desired
August 20, 2008 Deadline for proposals (if requested)
Sept. 1 - Oct. 31, 2008 Proposal review (collaborative)
December 12, 2008 Successful applicants notified
January 2009 Grant funds available

Project Description

The 2000 Surgeon General’s Report on Mental Health identified the gap that exists between empirically-validated treatments and what many individuals receive in actual practice settings as a significant hindrance to the effective treatment of mental illness. According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s 2001 “From Research to Practice” conference survey results, barriers to the implementation and incorporation of evidence-based practices into existing service delivery systems include, among others: access to training and technical assistance; the cost of program implementation; staffing issues; and compromised program fidelity when programmatic changes are made because of high start-up and implementation costs.

The Tower Foundation seeks, through the use of this RFP, to eliminate or reduce the barriers to evidence-based program implementation.

Eligible Programs

  • This RFP provides an opportunity for eligible organizations to seek support for the start-up and implementation of any one of the following evidence-based practices:

    Treatment/Clinical Programs:
    Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Child Sexual Abuse
    Functional Family Therapy
    The Incredible Years – Small Group Treatment Program
    Multidimensional Family Therapy
    Multidimensional Treatment Foster Care
    Multisystemic Therapy
    Parenting with Love and Limits
    Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavior Therapy
    Prevention/Non-Clinical Programs:
    Across Ages
    Al’s Pals: Kids Making Healthy Choices
    Creating Lasting Family Connections
    The Incredible Years – Dina Dinosaur Classroom Program
    The Incredible Years – Parent Training Program
    Reconnecting Youth
    Strengthening Families Program (SFP6-11)
    Strengthening Families Program: For Parents and Youth 10-14

  • The Foundation uses the Institute of Medicine’s (IOM) prevention program classification system to differentiate interventions according to the level of risk associated with the respective population served. The IOM's prevention categories are as follows:

    • Indicated interventions – target individuals who may already display signs of psychological disorders or substance abuse
    • Selective interventions – target those who are at greater-than-average risk for psychological disorders or substance abuse
    • Universal programs – are applied to general population groups without reference to or identification of those at particular risk

    Consideration will be given only to projects designed to use a given evidence-based program with indicated or selective target audiences. Universal applications of programs will not be considered for funding.

Grant Eligibility Requirements

  • Eligible organizations:

    • Tax-exempt organizations with 501(c)(3) classifications from the Internal Revenue Service that are neither private foundations nor described as 509(a)(3) organizations
    • Public and diocesan school districts
    • Nonprofit public benefit corporations

  • Geographic Restrictions – Eligible organizations must be located within and primarily serve residents of the following geographic areas:

    Massachusetts:

    • Barnstable County
    • Dukes County
    • Essex County
    • Nantucket County

    New York:

    • Erie County
    • Niagara County

  • Funds are not available through this initiative for the expansion of an existing evidence-based practice within an organization.

  • Organizations that were awarded grants to implement a particular evidence-based practice through the Foundation’s 2004, 2005, 2006, or 2007 Evidence-Based Practice RFP may submit a letter of inquiry for a different, eligible evidence-based practice.

Grant Awards

A total of $1.5 million is available for this initiative. Multiple awards may be made in each of the geographic areas served by the Foundation. Each grant will be for a three-year time period, with grant payments made on an annual basis. The amount of each award will depend on the evidence-based practice selected and the unique costs associated with its implementation.

Due to the wide range of eligible evidence-based practices and their associated implementation costs, grant awards may differ considerably. Factors used to determine the amount of an individual grant award include, but are not limited to: the evidence-based practice selected; the specific application of the practice within an organization; the makeup of an organization and its service delivery; the number of staff to be trained; and the number of clients to be served.

Funding Levels

Grant awards will be for a three-year period beginning in 2008. Funding levels represent the maximum dollar amount that can be requested for the entire three-year grant period. Funding levels are as follows:

Program Name Maximum Award (3-year total)
Across Ages $120,000
Al's Pals: Kids Making Healthy Choices $50,000
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Child Sexual Abuse $80,000
Creating Lasting Family Connections $80,000
Functional Family Therapy $140,000
Incredible Years – Dina Dinosaur Classroom Program $75,000
Incredible Years – Parent Training Program $110,000
Incredible Years – Small Group Treatment Program $75,000
Multidimensional Family Therapy $140,000
Multidimensional Treatment Foster Care $140,000
Multisystemic Therapy $140,000
Parenting With Love and Limits $120,000
Reconnecting Youth $65,000
Strengthening Families Program (SFP6-11) $95,000
Strengthening Families Program: For Parents and Youth 10-14 $90,000
Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavior Therapy $80,000

Use of Grant Funds

  • In general, the Foundation will provide funds for the incremental costs that are associated with the implementation of the identified evidence-based practice. Incremental costs are defined as costs that are new to the organization as a result of this project. For the most part, grant funds are intended to be used for:

    • the cost of training and technical assistance from program developers or their assignees, including travel expense
    • direct program expense including but not limited to materials, client transportation, childcare, and required equipment
    • community outreach to publicize the program and to identify and recruit program participants
    • lost revenue or substitute teacher expense, if applicable, incurred while staff are in engaged in authorized training activities

  • In recognition of the critical importance of maintaining program fidelity, the Foundation requires organizations to commit to the highest level of staff training available. However, only those costs associated with the specific training and technical assistance recommended and provided by program developers or their assignees will be permitted.

  • Since the ultimate goal of the RFP is to increase access to empirically-validated treatments, sustainability of funded projects after the grant period terminates is of paramount importance to the Foundation. In order to help ensure program sustainability, the Foundation requires that a sufficient number of people be trained in the evidence-based practice for which funding is requested.

  • Please note that grants through this RFP do not provide funds for existing personnel expense or the hiring of new staff.

  • Grant money may not be used:

    • for the private benefit of any grant recipient or affiliated person
    • to subsidize individuals for the cost of care
    • for research
    • to attempt to influence legislation
    • to attempt to influence or intervene in any political campaign
    • for endowment or capital campaigns

Application Procedure

This RFP has a two-step application process:

  1. Submission of a brief letter of inquiry.
  2. Submission of a full proposal, if requested.

The Foundation accepts only one letter of inquiry from each eligible organization. Organizations are limited to one request for one evidence-based practice. While there is no minimum or maximum length for the letter of inquiry, most are three to five pages. The letter of inquiry must be signed by the applicant’s executive director, superintendent, or headmaster. To be considered for a grant for this RFP, your letter must be received by 5:00 p.m. on May 14, 2008. E-mailed or faxed copies are not accepted.

Letters of inquiry should include the following:

  • a brief statement of the history, mission, and services of your organization
  • the geographic area and population served
  • a brief description of the evidence-based practice for which you are requesting grant funds, including the intervention to be provided, the specific target audience, the approximate length of the intervention, and how and where the program will be used within your organization
  • the reasons why you wish to implement the evidence-based practice at this time and how the proposed project will enhance or improve your service delivery
  • the anticipated number of staff to be trained to deliver the evidence-based practice
  • the specific target audience for this project and the approximate number of individuals or families to be served annually by the proposed project
  • a description of other evidence-based practices already in use in your organization

Send Letter of Inquiry to:

Glenda M. Cadwallader
Executive Director
The Peter and Elizabeth C. Tower Foundation
2351 North Forest Road
Getzville, NY 14068-1225

All letters of inquiry are reviewed to determine if the Foundation wishes to pursue a full proposal. Applicants will be notified by June 13, 2008 of the result of this review. A request for a full proposal should not be interpreted as an indication of likely support. The deadline for a full proposal, if requested, is August 20, 2008. Requests for full proposals are made at the sole discretion of the Foundation.

The Foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals.

Proposal Evaluation Criteria

The following criteria will be used to evaluate proposals:

  • organizational capacity and readiness to implement and oversee the project
  • degree of connection between the proposed use of the evidence-based practice and the Foundation’s goals and objectives for this initiative
  • clarity of project goals and anticipated impact
  • strength of project design and implementation plan
  • evidence of commitment by the organization’s leadership and management
  • likelihood that the project will be sustained after grant funding terminates

Final decisions on grant awards are made by the Foundation’s Board of Trustees. You will be informed of the Board’s decision by December 12, 2008. Funding decisions are made at the sole discretion of the Foundation.

Project Monitoring

  • Grantees are expected to meet the Foundation’s requirements for the submission of narrative and financial reports and will be required to submit periodic information regarding overall project performance, monitoring and management.

  • Since program fidelity is of critical importance to achieving treatment outcomes, applicants are expected to be able to monitor their adherence to the implementation protocol.

Resources

Application Workshops

The Foundation will host three workshops about the RFP application process. These workshops are highly recommended for organizations that anticipate requesting a grant. Space is limited to two persons per organization. Prior registration is required.

Monday, February 25, 2008
9:00 a.m. – Noon (registration begins at 8:30 a.m.)
Cape Codder Resort & Spa
1225 Iyanough Road
Hyannis, MA 02601
RSVP by February 11, 2008
(716) 689-0370 x207
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
9:00 a.m. – Noon (registration begins at 8:30 a.m.)
Marriott Boston Peabody
8A Centennial Drive
Peabody, MA 01960
RSVP by February 13, 2008
(716) 689-0370 x207
Thursday, April 3, 2008
9:00 a.m. – Noon (registration begins at 8:30 a.m.)
Ramada Hotel & Conference Center
2402 North Forest Road
Getzville, NY 14068
RSVP by March 20, 2008
(716) 689-0370 x207

RFP Contact Information

For more information about this RFP, please contact:

Glenda Cadwallader
Executive Director
(716) 689-0370 x204
gmc@thetowerfoundation.org

Donald Matteson
Program Officer
(716) 689-0370 x207
dwm@thetowerfoundation.org

Please note: The Peter and Elizabeth C. Tower Foundation is not affiliated in any way with the developers or sponsors of any of the evidence-based practices referred to in this RFP, and the Foundation makes no representation or warranty of any kind concerning their effectiveness.