Call for Proposals January 2018

Call for Proposals January 2018

Consumer Initiative Fund (CIF) projects are proposed managed and led by people with lived experience of mental health issues and/or substance use. Not only as leaders of the project, but as attendees in the project’s activities.

These projects:

Support recovery as a “Process of change through which individuals improve their health and wellness, live a self-directed life and strive to reach their full potential.” (SAMHSA).
Projects are proposed, managed and facilitated by people with lived experience with mental health issues and/or substance use.
Empower individuals rather than organizations.
Address an identified need in Vancouver but do not duplicate an existing CIF project (please note that support groups or websites are not eligible for this call – also projects cannot offer therapy).
Promote development of accessible and diverse peer group projects on a term basis.
Encourage physical activity, creativity, learning and/or social interaction for people who have lived experience with mental health and/or substance use.
Build skills, capacity and opportunities for personal, professional and/or community growth.
No referral is required for people who have lived experience with mental health or substance use issueswho wish to participate in CIF project activities.

Projects funded by CIF are open to participants in recovery who have (or have in the past) accessed mental health and/orsubstance use services and self-identify as having a mental health and/orsubstance use issue.
Applicants must declare any organizational affiliation (i.e. in kind support). Projects requiring paid staff running your project will not be considered.
VCH retains the copyright to use material developed as a part of CIF projects (i.e. art, course materials) in perpetuity or similar or other identified purposes (i.e. a group could be run again in another area). The project manager who develops the material would be free to re-use, and or repurpose the material as well with the stipulation that the CIF and VCH are cited as funding source for the development.
Project managers and assistants may receive “fees for service”, but projects must not be profit making endeavoursin nature either directly or indirectly. Receipts for expenses must be the original cash register receipt with the GST number on them. Receipts that are hand written, are debit/credit receipts or are tickets will not be covered.
Should your project be accepted, a copy of your poster and promotional materials must be sent in to the CIF office by then end of the first month of operation.
Within that first month Project Managers must be in contact with CIF’s Liaison Contractor.
Finally at some time during the project the Liaison Contractor must attend an activity of the project.

This application form is available in PDF and Word format – visit:

SpotlightOnMentalHealth.com/projects

To be a project manager or assistant you must have a Criminal Record Check completed (we cover the cost). Also you will receive a T4A slip for taxes for the tax years affected. Your SIN number will be required for this purpose.

Please use the following headings andaddress each categoryseparatelyin the written proposal:

Applicant Information

Name:

Phone:

Email:

Mailing Address:

Please introduce yourself and explain why you are passionate about this project. What are your relevant qualifications (work/volunteer experience, group facilitation, website design, etc.)?Please include your contact information – phone number, email address and mailing address.

Name of Project

A short descriptive name for the project, no more than 5 words.

Description of the Project

Why is this project a good fit for the CIF? Who do you hope will participate in the project? How many people do you thinkwill attend? How will people grow by being involved in the project?

Summary of Project

Write a brief one or two paragraph based on the Description – do not include names in this description – just project details – it will be used on our website.

Objectives/Goals

What is your goal or objective? What is the need or demand that this project will try to meet? What do you hope to achieve with the project?

Strategies/Activities

What work is involved and is this manageable and achievable? Are there different sections to the project(i.e. start up and development, running project, project ending)? Will you be partnering with other agencies and how will this work?

Back-up Plan

How would the project continue should you become unable to fulfill a part,or perhaps all ofyour entire contract? E.g. you become sick, hospitalized, or called away on family business.

Tactics

Getting People Interested

How will you get the word out about your project? Are there specific ways that you can appeal to people?

Resources

What space will you use to run the project? What materials do you need for the project (i.e. workbooks, art supplies, exercise equipment, etc.)?Will the project be using more than the Project Manager (i.e. co-manager, assistant, resource specialist, etc.).

Timeframe

Circle or underline one:

6 month project12 month project

Please identify specific markers within your project timeframe (how you will know you are on track to finish the project on time). Please include a section on how you will measure outcomes of the project. Projects are either 6 month or for 12 months.

Dates / Activity
Month 1 / Project start
Month 2
Month 3
Month 4
Month 5
Month 6 / 6 Month Project End & Final Report Due: by the end of Month 6
Month 7
Month 8
Month 9
Month 10
Month 11
Month 12 / 12 Month Project End & Final Report Due: by the end of Month 12

Budget

How much are you asking for? How will the funds be spent (fees for service, rent, expenses, supplies)? What is the number of hours per month that will be devoted to the project? Please allow 10% of full budget for unexpected expenses.

Budget may be up to $4,000 for a 6 month project, and up to $8,000 for a 12 month project.

The amount budgeted for “TOTAL FEES FOR SERVICE” must not exceed 65% of the total budget. If you use the budget pdf form this will be calculated for you. If you are filling the form in by hand – take the “TOTAL FEES FOR SERVICE” divide by “TOTAL BUDGET REQUESTED” (which is the total FEES and EXPENSES) and multiply by 100 to get the percentage – this percentage must be 65% or less.

The project budget form is available as a separate PDF which will calculate the totals and percentage for you.

Visit to download the budget PDF.

Sample hourly rates and hours are filled in in the budget form as defaults; these may be changed.

Additional Requirements

Please provide two letters of character reference in support of you as project manager (attach copies to theproposal).

Please add or attach any additional information that you would like considered to the proposal.

Proposal Rating Criteria

The following criteria will be used to rate proposals:

Applicant Information and Description of Project30 points

Objectives/Goals and Strategies/Activities/Backup Plan25 points

Tactics – Advertising, Resources, Timeframe, Budget and References40points

Overall Organization and Presentation of Proposal 5 points

------

Total possible score100 points

All proposals will be reviewed and acknowledged. Project Managers of projects that will be funded will be notified byMarch 31, 2018.

Project Managers and Assistants will be required to come in to the office and fill out a Criminal Record Check form – two pieces of ID are required (one a government issued picture ID). The project may not start until CIF receives the results of the record check and contracts have been signed. For taxation purposes your SIN number is also required.

For more information please contact:

Consumer Initiative Fund (CIF) office

Ian Sadler, Coordinator

Phone: 604-730-7675

E-mail:

Proposals must be received by

4 pm on Tuesday, February 27, 2018

By Mail: Ian Sadler, Coordinator By Fax: 604-874-7661

Consumer Initiative Fund Attn: Ian Sadler

#200- 520 West 6th Ave

Vancouver, BC, V5Z 4H5 By Email:

Or may be dropped off in person at reception:

Attn: Ian Sadler, CIF Coordinator
2nd floor, 520 W 6th Avenue, Vancouver, BC

The office is near Cambie Street, and right across from Olympic Station on the Canada Line.