Taking Action Against Elder Abuse Coordinated Community Response Grant Program Taking Action Against Elder Abuse Coordinated Community Response Grant Program In 2010, the Government of Alberta released Addressing Elder Abuse in Alberta: A Strategy for Collective Action. The strategy s vision is for a province where seniors are free from abuse and neglect, and it outlines that preventing and addressing elder abuse is a shared responsibility that requires engagement on the part of all sectors of society. It recognizes that communities are in the best position to identify their needs and challenges related to elder abuse and that appropriate responses are ideally created at the community level. The strategy also speaks to the role of the Government of Alberta in supporting and facilitating community-led efforts through provincially coordinated policies, strategies, and resources; and that government has a role in raising awareness, supporting skill development and facilitating coordinated community responses to elder abuse. Elder abuse is complex due to factors such as an older adult s health, disability, or the nature of the relationship with the abuser. Elder abuse can take a variety of forms including financial, emotional, medication, physical, sexual, and neglect; and often more than one form of abuse takes place at the same time. Research and best practices with respect to family violence, and specifically elder abuse, indicate that service providers who work together in coordinated ways are best positioned to meet the complex needs of elder abuse victims. A coordinated community response model involves a group of organizations and/or service providers working together to achieve common goals related to addressing elder abuse. These may include providing effective coordination of services to those impacted by elder abuse, effective prevention strategies, and an increase in the safety and security of older people in Alberta s communities. A successful coordinated community response starts with a strong foundation. The attached Elder Abuse Coordinated Community Response Planning Model illustrates the five steps for building an effective coordinated community response framework. Implementing this type of model will help communities to leverage the knowledge, services and expertise of multiple agencies and individuals in the community. Grant Program The Taking Action Against Elder Abuse Coordinated Community Response Grant Program is a three-year initiative, ending March 31, 2017, aimed at supporting the development or enhancement of coordinated community response models. Objectives To support the development, enhancement and implementation of sustainable coordinated community response models to prevent and address elder abuse in communities/regions throughout Alberta. To support enhanced capacity within communities/regions to prevent and respond to elder abuse, through improved coordination among service providers. Page 1
Eligibility Eligible lead applicant organizations must be a valid Alberta-based legal entity and one of the following: Not-for-profit organization, society or association; or Municipality, First Nation, Tribal Council or Métis Settlement Grant applications must demonstrate collaboration through the formal commitment of a minimum of five community organizations providing services and supports to seniors, including, but not limited to: seniors centres, police and victim services, health service providers, social service organizations, housing providers, Aboriginal organizations, and immigrant serving organizations. Activities must support the development of a new coordinated community response to elder abuse, or enhance or formalize an existing coordinated community response model. Regional cooperation is expected, where appropriate. Activities must be Alberta-based. Funding A maximum of $150,000 in seed funding may be applied for over the term of the grant program, with a maximum of $75,000 per year. Funding will be provided for costs directly associated with the establishment or enhancement of a coordinated community response model. These may include, but are not limited to: Bringing community service providers together to work through planning stages associated with developing a model; Developing strategies to raise awareness, identifying training opportunities for service providers, identifying best practices; Hiring a coordinator or consultant; or Developing an evaluation plan. Funding is limited and not all applications will be funded. Funding decisions made by Alberta Seniors are final. Not Eligible for Funding Examples of activities that are not eligible for funding include, but are not limited to: Expenses incurred prior to application approval; Research or conferences; Training activities and workshops; Development of awareness-raising resources or tools; Direct case management; Capital purchases such as furniture, electronic equipment, office space and vehicles; or Activities or projects that are within another government department s funding mandate (i.e., Victims of Crime) Page 2
Application Process Applicants are required to submit a Application Package, including: Completed Application form; Documentation confirming applicant is a valid and current legal entity; Letter of commitment from a minimum of five community partners; and Copy of lead applicant s most recent audited financial statements. Application Deadline Date: November 30, 2015 All documents related to the application process must be submitted by courier, in person or postmarked on or before the deadline date, to: Taking Action Against Elder Abuse CCR Grant Program Engagement and Community Initiatives Alberta Seniors 10405 Jasper Avenue, 6 th floor Edmonton, Alberta T5J 4R7 Successful applicants will be required to sign a Conditional Grant Agreement. The recipient is responsible for ensuring that the funds are applied to the project as outlined in their proposal. A written Conditional Grant Agreement is used to define the conditions of funding and will include the scope of the project, expected outcomes, a sustainability plan (if applicable) and reporting requirements. Reporting and Deliverables Progress reports will be required, detailing the progress on development of your community s coordinated community response. The schedule for progress reports and the requirement for final reporting will be outlined in the Conditional Grant Agreement. Access to Information The information you provide in this application to assist with the processing of your application may be subject to release under the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act. If you have any questions, please contact elderabuseinfo@gov.ab.ca Page 3
Resources For additional information and resources related to elder abuse awareness and prevention, please visit: Alberta Government, Elder Abuse Website http://www.seniors.alberta.ca/seniors/elder-abuse.html Alberta Government, Coordinated Community Response Grant Program Website http://www.seniors.alberta.ca/seniors/elder-abuse-grant-program.html Addressing Elder Abuse in Alberta: A Strategy for Collective Action http://www.seniors.alberta.ca/documents/elderabuse-strategy.pdf Or email: elderabuseinfo@gov.ab.ca Page 4
Pre-Application A. Applicant Information Lead Applicant/Organization: Legal Status (i.e., registered society/association): Name and Title of Executive Director/CEO: Email: Mailing Address: City/Town: Telephone: Province: Fax: Postal Code: B. Project Development 1. How does your community/region currently address elder abuse? Are there efforts underway to collaborate with other partners/organizations, or to develop a coordinated community response model? Page 5
2. Please identify the challenges and gaps your organization(s) face related to addressing and preventing elder abuse in your community/region. How have these been identified? 3. The attached Coordinated Community Response Planning Model shows the stages that groups would typically go through in developing and implementing their own coordinated community response model. Please identify which stage you feel your community/region is currently at in this process? Stage: Explanation: Page 6
4. For the 2015/2016 grant application, what are the objectives of your coordinated community response initiative? What outcomes do you hope to achieve (what will success look like)? Stage Actions/Activities Outcome Page 7
5. Explain how you and your community partners will use grant funding (outlined in your budget) to develop or enhance your coordinated community response to elder abuse. (250 words or less) C. Operational Capacity 1. Who are the community partners collaborating on the development of the coordinated community response model? How will their involvement contribute to the success of your proposed coordinated community response? Letters of commitment from a minimum of five partners must be submitted with this application. 2. Has your organization (or partnering organizations) applied for other grants or funding to address elder abuse and/or development of a coordinated community response? If yes, please describe. Page 8
D. Financial Information Use the template below to create a budget for your community s coordinated community response approach. Funding will be provided for costs directly associated with the establishment or enhancement of a coordinated community response model. A maximum of $150,000 in seed funding may be applied for over the term of the program, with a maximum of $75,000 per year. Funding is not available beyond March 31, 2017. A copy of the lead applicant s audited financial statements must be submitted with the Application Package. Coordinated Community Response Grant Portion (up to $150,000 over three years, maximum $75,000 per year) Other Funders Portion Budget Estimates Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 (if applicable) (exclude in-kind donations) Total Staffing and/or Consultant Costs Office Supplies Hosting Fees (e.g., facility rentals, refreshments, etc.) Telephone Costs (e.g., long distance, conference calls, etc.) Evaluation Costs Other (Add Details) Totals Page 9
E. Signature of Authorized Representative I,, hereby certify that the information presented in this Application is, to the best of my knowledge, true, accurate and complete. If selected as a successful applicant, I commit that (name of organization), will enter into a grant agreement with Alberta Seniors and will work to ensure the proposed coordinated community response achieves the objectives outlined above. Signature: Date: (yyyy-mm-dd) F. Contact Information If you have any questions, or for more information on the Taking Action Against Elder Abuse Coordinated Community Response Grant Program, please contact: elderabuseinfo@gov.ab.ca. Page 10
Elder Abuse Coordinated Community Response Planning Model The Coordinated Community Response Planning Model1 was developed based on best practices. It reflects how each stage is connected and represents the cycle that your community/ region may experience during the development or enhancement of your coordinated community response. Grant funding will be allocated depending on each community/region s current level of readiness and plans to further develop their coordinated community response. Starting the process 1 evaluating the process 5 Identify how success will be measured Celebrate your success Maintain the momentum Re-evaluate and enhance model Begin the conversation Acknowledge elder abuse happening in your community/region Engage and educate the community on elder abuse Identify why now? Identify key stakeholders Gather stakeholders Compile community services inventory 2 Building the team Communicate the plan Implement the coordinated community response 4 implementing the coordinated community response Identify gaps and challenges Build a strong foundation by: Identifying goals Identifying actions Create Logic Model Develop protocols 3 planning the coordinated community response Page 11