MDH Request for proposals
MDH Request for Proposals
safe harbor / no wrong door
Regional Navigator Grants:
October 1, 2017 – June 30, 2019
Supportive Service Grants:
October 1, 2017 – June 30, 2019
Published: April 6, 2017
Due: May 26, 2017
Table of Contents
MDH Request for Proposals 1
PROGRAM SUMMARY 4
TIMELINE 7
INTRODUCTION 8
Background Information 8
Goals 9
SCOPE OF WORK 9
Eligibility Requirements 9
Duration of Funding 10
Available Funding 10
Funding Restrictions 10
Program Implementation, Training and Monitoring Requirements 10
ADMINISTRATIVE AND FINANCIAL 11
Financial Reconciliation 12
Disclosure of Contractual Services 12
Questions about Subcontracts 13
LETTER OF INTENT 13
RFP Informational Call 13
SECTION A: REGIONAL NAVIGATORS 14
Background 14
Scope of Work 14
Goals 15
Intended Populations 17
Regions 17
Application Content 18
Application Requirements and Review Process 18
Scoring 19
Review Process Criteria 19
SECTION B: SUPPORTIVE SERVICES GRANTS 21
Background 21
Scope of Work 21
Goals 24
Intended Populations 25
Application Content 26
Application Requirements and Review Process 26
Scoring 27
Review Process Criteria 28
PROGRAM SUMMARY
Program Summary /Eligibility for Grant Funds / Organizations eligible to apply in this competitive process include, but are not limited to, local public health, social service agencies, nonprofit organizations, tribal governments, units of government, schools and/or school districts, health care organizations, and other interested agencies demonstrating experience and/or expertise in working with sexually exploited youth and/or youth at-risk for sexual exploitation.
Total Funds Available / Regional Navigator Funds: Approximately $1.5 million is available for FY 2018-2019
Supportive Service Funds: Approximately $3.3 million is available for FY 2018-2019
Grant Cycle / Regional Navigator Grants: October 1, 2017 – June 30, 2019
Supportive Service Grants: October 1, 2017 – June 30, 2019
Grant Purpose / Applicants can apply for a grant in one or both of these areas.
Regional Navigator: Organizations will be responsible to assist in the creation of new collaborations through community assessments, trainings, referrals, case consultation and resource identification, documentation and sharing (including protocol resources). Navigator organizations will serve as the bridge between identified trafficked and exploited youth and appropriate trauma-informed services through both county and community services.
Supportive Service: Organizations will provide comprehensive supportive services to sexually exploited youth, including trauma-informed and culturally specific services. These services should complement and strengthen the existing infrastructure created by No Wrong Door including collaborating with Regional Navigators, shelter programs, and housing grantees.
Application Requirements / Application Requirements and Review Process
· Applications must be written in 12-point Calibri font with 1.5 spacing and one-inch margins.
· Titles and section headings may be up to 16 pt., tables may be 1.0 spacing.
· Number all pages.
· Submit one signed unbound original and two unbound copies of the complete application.
· Application must meet deadline requirements.
· If applying for both Regional Navigator and Supportive Service, applicants must submit two separated and complete applications.
· Faxed or emailed applications will not be accepted.
Late applications will not be reviewed.
Order of Completed
Application Submission / Regional Navigator Application Materials
▪ Form 1: Cover Letter and Executive Summary
▪ Form 2: Accessibility, Approach and Equity
▪ Form 3: Regional Navigator Questions
▪ Form 4: Regional Navigator Work Plan/Timeline
▪ Form 5: Regional Navigator Assessment and Partners
▪ Form 6: Budget Justification (one for each grant year of funding request)
▪ Form 7: Budget Summary Sheet
▪ Memorandum(s) of Understanding (MOU) or Letter(s) of Intent (LOI)
(Optional)
Supportive Services Application Materials
▪ Form 1: Cover Letter and Executive Summary
▪ Form 2: Accessibility, Approach and Equity
▪ Form 3: Supportive Service Questions
▪ Form 4: Supportive Service Work Plan & Timeline
▪ Form 6: Budget Justification (one for each grant year of funding request)
▪ Form 7: Budget Summary Sheet
▪ Memorandum(s) of Understanding (MOU) or Letter(s) of intent (LOI) (Optional)
▪ Incomplete applications will not be considered for review.
RFP Informational Call / April 28, 2017 From 11:00 A.M. To 1:00 P.M.
Call-In Toll-Free Number: 1-(888) 742-5095 (Us)
Conference Code: 885 803 9818
Letter of Intent / Please email Letter of Intent to by May 12, 2017
Application Deadline / All applications must be received by MDH no later than 4:30 p.m. (CST) on
May 26, 2017. Either hand delivered, or arrived by mail, Fed Ex or courier. Late applications, applications lost in transit by courier, faxed or emailed applications will not be reviewed.
Applications Sent / Mailing Address:
Tasha Scott
Minnesota Department of Health
Injury and Violence Prevention Unit
P.O. Box 64882
Saint Paul, MN 55164-0882
In Person Delivery Address:
Tasha Scott
Minnesota Department of Health
Injury and Violence Prevention Unit
Golden Rule Building
85 East Seventh Place, Suite 220
Saint Paul, MN 55101
In Person delivered proposals must be dropped off at the 2nd floor reception desk of the
Golden Rule Building – Suite 220.
Beginning Grant Agreement Date / Regional Navigator Grants: October 1, 2017. All signatures to the agreement must be obtained by October 1, 2017, or the Beginning Grant Agreement Date may be delayed.
Supportive Service Grants: October 1, 2017. All signatures to the agreement must be obtained by October 1, 2017, or the Beginning Grant Agreement Date may be delayed.
TIMELINE
Application Period Begins...... April 6, 2017
Letter of Intent Due...... May 12, 2017
Applications Due...... May 26, 2017
Notice to Applicants...... July 14, 2017
Work Begins...... October 1, 2017
INTRODUCTION
Background Information
In 2011, Minnesota passed Safe Harbor for Sexually Exploited Youth legislation decriminalizing prostitution offenses for youth under 18. A few years later, Minnesota appropriated funds to conduct statewide trainings to help communities identify and assist at-risk and exploited youth; develop and implement a statewide model protocol; and award grants for Regional Navigators, supportive services and housing/shelter programs as recommended in the “No Wrong Door Report: A Comprehensive Approach to Safe Harbor for Minnesota’s Sexually Exploited Youth.” “Safe Harbor” refers to legislation decriminalizing prostitution for youth. No Wrong Door is the name of Minnesota’s service delivery model for sexually exploited youth. As the name implies, any door a youth enters, whether through child protection/welfare, law enforcement, community organizations, and so on, the youth will be referred to regional, trauma-informed, age appropriate services and housing according to their needs. Certain values and principles are foundational for state and regional planning and implementation of the No Wrong Door model. These include:
1. Sexually exploited youth are victims not offenders
2. Sexual exploitation can be prevented
3. Youth should not feel isolated or trapped while receiving services
4. Youth have a right to privacy and self-determination
5. Services will be based in positive youth development
6. Community members and professionals must be trained to identify sexual exploitation
7. Services must be responsive to the needs of individual youth
8. Services must be victim-centered, trauma-informed, and culturally inclusive
9. No Wrong Door is a statewide program and will be tailored to regions’ needs and resources.[1]
The No Wrong Door model is based on the assumption that no single system or profession is designed or adequate to identify and address the needs of at-risk and exploited youth. Youth deserve a trauma-informed multidisciplinary response from all intersecting community and system partners. Intersecting partners can include but are not limited to law enforcement, child protection/child welfare, prosecutors, juvenile justice professionals, youth serving community agencies, domestic and sexual violence agencies, child advocacy centers, homeless serving organizations, school professionals, mental health and chemical dependency providers, and possibly more depending on the community.
Safe Harbor funds are distributed through three state agencies; the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH); the Department of Health and Human Services (DHS); and the Department of Public Safety (DPS). The Minnesota Department of Health administers funds for Regional Navigators, Supportive Services and protocol implementation. The Department of Human Services administers funds for outreach, emergency shelter, supportive housing, and specialized foster care. Additionally, the Department of Public Safety administers funds to local and county law enforcement entities to aide in the investigation and coordination of sex trafficking cases. All funded Safe Harbor agencies are expected to collaborate as much of the training, evaluation, meetings, and technical assistance are performed and delivered jointly. Safe Harbor agencies must also work in collaboration with funded law enforcement entities in their service area.
Goals
MDH supports a broad range of comprehensive services, in addition to service coordination across the state for all at-risk and sexually exploited youth utilizing a public health approach.
A public health approach seeks a multidisciplinary response ensuring an effective trauma-informed intervention but also encourages prevention: insisting communities examine what environmental factors increase risk factors contributing to the sexual exploitation of Minnesota youth and adults. MDH wants to continue enhancing the Safe Harbor system where Regional Navigators are striving to develop, strengthen, and maintain effective community and system responses for youth, while service providers offer accessible and effective services specialized for each community. MDH prioritizes health equity and seeks to ensure underrepresented or disproportionately affected populations have equitable opportunities to achieve their desired health and wellness outcomes. This Request for Proposals seeks applications for Regional Navigators and Supportive Services grants. Applicants may apply for one or both grants.
Tribal Navigators: Please note, this Request for Proposal does not include funding for Tribal Navigators, those funds will be released at a later date with input and guidance from tribal representation.
SCOPE OF WORK
Eligibility Requirements
Organizations eligible to apply in this competitive process include, but are not limited to, local public health, social service agencies, nonprofit organizations, tribal governments, units of government, schools and/or school districts, health care organizations, and other interested agencies demonstrating experience and/or expertise in working with sexually exploited youth and youth at-risk for sexual exploitation.
Duration of Funding
For both Regional Navigator and Supportive Service grants:
▪ New Applicants (those who have never received Safe Harbor funds from MDH) may apply for a 21-month period from October 1, 2017 to June 30, 2019.
Successful grantees may be eligible for continuation funding beyond June 30, 2019 contingent on the grantee’s satisfactory performance.
▪ Applicants reapplying for funds may apply for a 33-month period from October 1, 2017 to June 30, 2020.
Available Funding
Regional Navigator Funds: Approximately $1.5 million is available for FY 2018-2019.
Supportive Services Funds: Approximately $3.3 million is available for FY 2018-2019.
MDH anticipates funding to continue beyond FY 2019. Amounts available could increase depending on the outcomes of the 2017 legislative session.
Funding Restrictions
Grant funds may be used to cover costs of personnel, supplies, grant-related travel, and other grant-related costs. Grant funds may not be used for building alterations or renovations, construction, fund raising activities, political education or lobbying. Matching funds are not required.
Program Implementation, Training and Monitoring Requirements
The implementation and monitoring of this program is a collaborative effort between MDH and the grantees. Below is an outline of MDH and grantee duties.
MDH will:
▪ Review, revise and approve the program objectives, outcome measures and work plan after notice of grant award and before program funded work begins.
▪ Provide grantees with training, support, resource information and technical assistance on Safe Harbor program implementation, best practices and grant requirements.
▪ Provide access and training on Apricot database for quarterly progress reports and non-identifying data on individual youth served.
▪ Use grantee data to communicate Safe Harbor progress and accomplishments to the legislature, the public and grantees. Additionally, MDH may use data to inform the needs and priorities of Safe Harbor services.
▪ Strongly encourage or mandate training for grantees, with every effort made to keep the cost of registration fees low or free whenever possible. Efforts will also be made to reduce the amount of travel by hosting trainings in central locations or offering regionally trainings. Trainings may be offered on-line or in-person. New grantees will need to participate in additional trainings.
Grantees will:
▪ Report on a quarterly basis to MDH, in a format provided by MDH, on progress and benchmarks – including process and outcome evaluation measures included in the approved work plan.
▪ Budget for MDH trainings in terms of travel, lodging costs and registration. (Estimate of $2500 over a 33-month grant period).
▪ Consistently and accurately enter client information into the provided database.
Basic client information includes non-identifying demographic information, intake, eligibility, check-in forms, and services.
▪ Assist MDH in gathering information on the statewide needs, strengths, and connections in Minnesota.
▪ Produce a final report at the end of the grant cycle as directed by MDH.
ADMINISTRATIVE AND FINANCIAL
Before awarding of a grant, applicants selected after programmatic evaluation will be subject to Due Diligence review per State of Minnesota Policy 240. Reviews will be conducted on non- governmental agencies and require submission of the following documentation:
▪ Non-governmental organization with annual income under $25,000: Submit the most recent board-reviewed financial statement.
▪ Non-governmental organization with annual income between $25,000 and $750,000: Submit the most recent IRS Form 990.
▪ Non-governmental organization with annual income over $750,000: Submit the most recent certified financial audit.
MDH will provide selected applicants with instructions on how to complete the questionnaire and submit appropriate documentation for the Due Diligence review.
If awarded a grant, the grantee will be required to:
▪ Sign and comply with requirements of standard grant agreement.
▪ Provide most recent Certified Financial Audit or IRS 990 if the organization is not legally required to have a financial audit.
▪ Submit monthly financial report (invoice). Payments will be for actual documented expenses on a reimbursement basis. The organization will pay for grant activity expenditures, report the expenditures to MDH, and then be reimbursed.
▪ Keep documentation to support all expenditures including: payroll records, receipts for expenses, and travel logs.