Request for Information (RFI) for Services to Remediate ACEs

Request for Information (RFI) for Services to Remediate ACEs Family League of Baltimore (Family League), in partnership with the Baltimore City Department of Social Services (BCDSS), will provide programming designed to remediate the impact of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) in the Penn North neighborhood of Baltimore City. Studies have shown that early intervention in the management of the stressors that can result in ACEs can lead to more stable homes for children and better health and overall well-being in childhood and into adulthood. It should be noted that, over the past two years, the average age of a child who has been abused has dropped from 8 years old to 4 years old. Family League is seeking to partner with small, grassroots organizations that have a strong community presence and ability to provide services and resources to reduce the impact of ACEs. These services will be provided to groups of individuals, and not one-to-one. These may include workshops or educational sessions, activities conducted in cohorts or small groups, or other delivery formats that reach a number of individuals at the same time. Submission Deadline Monday, January 15, 2018 Applicants are required to submit proposals via email to rfps@familyleague.org. Email submissions must be completed by the date specified in this RFI. The deadlines will be strictly enforced. It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure that the application process is completed by the deadline. Hard copies and late submissions will not be accepted. Furthermore, Family League reserves the right, in its sole and absolute discretion, to amend or modify any provision of this RFI, or to withdraw this RFI at any time prior to contract award. Family League shall not be bound by or liable under this RFI and/or any response thereto until a final written contract has been executed by Family League and the grantee incorporating the terms and conditions of the award. Request for Information (RFI) The ACES Project Page 1

INTRODUCTION Family League seeks to increase equity and access to opportunities for all of Baltimore s children and youth, particularly those who are most vulnerable and living in historically under-served communities. One population that is particularly vulnerable is youth at risk of entering foster care. These young people are at risk of experiencing poor academic outcomes, trauma, unemployment, and even homelessness. In Baltimore City, over 40% of the child protection calls come from one neighborhood, Penn North in West Baltimore (zip code 21217). Moreover, Penn North is in the bottom third of Baltimore City neighborhoods on indicators of child, family, and community health, including reading proficiency at 3rd and 8th grades, school absence rates, homicide rate, exposure to toxic lead paint, hunger, rates of infectious diseases such as Hepatitis C and HIV, cardiovascular disease, teenage pregnancy rate, and preterm births. These community challenges can place children at risk of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs). ACEs are potentially traumatic events that can have both immediate consequences as well as negative, lasting effects on health and well-being. These experiences range from exposure to domestic violence, the incarceration of a parent, untreated chronic health conditions, food insecurity, and community violence. The greater the number of ACEs and the longer the extent of exposure to ACEs can lead to abuse, neglect, household challenges, including caregiver mental illness or substance abuse, and/or a higher risk of maladaptive behaviors and poor health outcomes in adulthood. ABOUT FAMILY LEAGUE Family League was founded in 1991 as a quasi-public, non-profit organization to fulfill the Maryland legislative mandate for the establishment of Local Management Boards (LMBs) in all jurisdictions in the State of Maryland to reform the process by which services are delivered to children, youth and families. Since 1991, Family League has mobilized resources, empowered communities, and built the capacity of organizations to provide children and families with high quality programs and services that help them reach their full potential. We use our deep experience in resource management to collaborate with stakeholders to improve opportunities across our city. Our goal is that by 2030, all children in Baltimore will be born healthy, succeed academically, graduate high school and transition into higher education and the workforce. Family League funds over 90 community-based organizations to do this work, and utilizes data to effectively measure these outcomes. In 2018, Family League has granted $13,834,000 to organizations to help fulfill its mission of creating lasting outcomes for children and youth. ACES PROJECT GOALS This program will focus on children in Penn North (zip code 21217) and attending Dorothy I. Height, Samuel Coleridge Taylor, Harlem Park, and Matthew A. Henson elementary schools. As indicated earlier, this neighborhood has one of the highest rates of familial stress as evidenced by the fact that it is the source of 40% of the calls made to the Baltimore City Department of Social Services regarding abuse and neglect. The approach of the program is to meet children, with their families, where they spend the majority of their days, in school, and to take an in-depth look into their lives, their strengths, their needs, and their vulnerabilities. The program s focus will be on children in first and second grades as the initial point of intervention, with the ability to extend to the entire school. Request for Information (RFI) The ACES Project Page 2

The goal of this work is to identify patterns of early stress in children s lives for the purposes of: Avoiding instances of abuse and neglect; Avoiding their placement into foster care; Connecting families with available social services in the hopes of preventing a trajectory of repeated stress; and Improving educational, social, and health attainment. Family League will be working directly with school teams to engage with families of the first and second graders and assess their strengths and needs. Family League will play a gatekeeping role, linking families to the resources and support services identified to meet family needs. To ensure that families have access to such services within their immediate community, we are seeking to identify a number of local providers who are: connected to and embedded within the community and can provide the services linked to reducing and minimizing ACEs, preventing Child Protective Services (CPS) involvement, and improving educational outcomes. Priority will be given to small, grassroots organizations. This is defined as having a small complement of staff and overall budgets of less than $50,000. Organizations with less than two (2) years experience are strongly encouraged to apply. As a part of this application process, organizations will be asked to demonstrate how they align with this prioritization. The areas of interest described below are examples of services and activities that have been identified as ACEs prevention efforts. We are open to consider other services that relate to a particular ACE if being proposed, applicants must make the connection to how they align with ACEs prevention. Some Potential Areas of Interest include but are not limited to: Therapy and Wellness for mothers and families impacted by incarceration and substance abuse Family Literacy/Reading Arts/Cultural Arts Enrichment Restorative Practices/Cultural Competency/Family Engagement Mentoring/Youth Advocacy/Violence Prevention Fatherhood Engagement/Family Stability/ Parent and Community Empowerment Mental Health/Trauma Informed Care/PRP Services Family/Community Health and Wellness, Sports, Fitness, and Nutrition Mindfulness Practices We expect these services to be provided to groups of individuals, and not one to one. These may include workshops or educational sessions, activities conducted in cohorts or small groups, or other delivery formats that reach a number of individuals at the same time. Request for Information (RFI) The ACES Project Page 3

Specific expectations and deliverables are detailed further in this RFI. All applicants are encouraged to review these as they prepare their responses. RFI SUBMISSION AND REQUESTED INFORMATION Applicants should submit a proposal that outlines their approach to fulfilling the scope described in this RFI. The proposal must clearly articulate how the proposed activities will reduce risk factors for ACEs. The proposal must include at least one intervention targeted to enhance parent/child bond and family and community engagement at the school level in support of academic success. Proposals must include the following: A. Cover Letter: on the applicant s official letterhead, provide a brief cover letter summarizing your organization and fit for this work. Applicants are asked to provide all contact information for key staff, business address, and the organization s annual budget. The letter should also detail the topic areas that you are seeking to facilitate. B. Experience: provide a concise profile of previous or existing work that demonstrates the applicant s experience as it relates to identified topic areas, as well as other relevant information including certifications and evaluations if applicable. C. Personnel: list key personnel, describe their qualifications and experience, and provide resumes and certifications (if applicable) for individuals who will lead, advise, or directly provide services. D. Proposed Service Template: for each service, complete the template detailing the service type, brief description, expected outcomes to be achieved by participants, schedule, including length of the activity, structure, materials, etc. Applicants must submit one template for each service being proposed. E. Proposed Fees and Costs: provide a listing of fees and costs associated with the proposed service in accordance with the cost structure detailed in this RFI. Services and Activities Cost Structure: Activity/Modality Education or group session Planning Materials Rate $175.00/hr / per person or facilitator $50.00/hr Detail as applicable KEY DATES AND SELECTION PROCESS Key Dates: January 2 nd Last day for written questions submitted to rfps@familyleague.org January 4 th - Pre-Proposal Conference, 6:00 PM at the EUBIE BLAKE NATIONAL JAZZ and CULTURAL CENTER, 847 N. HOWARD STREET, BALTIMORE, MD 21201 Request for Information (RFI) The ACES Project Page 4

January 5 th - Questions and Answers posted at www.familyleague.org January 15 th - Proposals Due to rfps@familyleague.org February 2 nd Selections Announced Applicants are required to submit proposals via email to rfps@familyleague.org. Email submissions must be completed by the date detailed in this RFI. The deadline will be strictly enforced. Faxed, mailed, or hand-delivered proposals will not be accepted. Pre-Proposal Conference Family League will host a pre-proposal conference on January 4 th at 6:00 PM at the EUBIE BLAKE NATIONAL JAZZ and CULTURAL CENTER, 847 N. HOWARD STREET, BALTIMORE, MD 21201. The purpose of the conference is to review the RFI and address questions from potential applicants. Applicants are strongly encouraged to attend. Questions may be submitted in writing via email to rfps@familyleague.org in advance of the conference. The last day to submit questions is January 2, 2018. All responses to submitted questions and those addressed will be compiled and published on the website. All questions must be in writing; telephone questions will not be answered. Please visit our website for updates. Review and Selection Process A qualified review panel will evaluate the responses based on the qualifications, background, experience, and apparent reasonableness of the applicant s fee structure. Family League of Baltimore retains the right to negotiate the final proposed fee schedule prior to selecting any respondent for an award. Family League s Commitment to Equity and Inclusion As Baltimore City s appointed local management board, Family League is committed to strengthening Baltimore City-based businesses and providing equity and inclusion in its procurement process. It is the policy of the organization that all Baltimore City-based small, minority and/or woman owned or led business and other historically under-represented and under-utilized business enterprises will be given the maximum practicable opportunity to compete and be awarded contracts to provide goods, services and activities administered by the organization. You can learn more about the organization by visiting http://familyleague.org/. GENERAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS Contract Award The submission of a proposal does not, in any way, guarantee an award. Family League is not responsible for any costs incurred related to the preparation of a proposal in response to this RFI. Family League reserves the right to withdraw an award prior to execution of a contract with a grantee at Family League s sole and absolute discretion. Request for Information (RFI) The ACES Project Page 5

Contract Performance Period The start date of the contract term will vary based on the activities schedule. Contract Terms & Conditions The successful applicant must comply with all terms and conditions applicable to consultant contracts executed by Family League. These terms and conditions can be found on the Family League website at www.familyleague.org. By submitting a proposal to this RFI, applicants attest that they have read and accept these conditions fully. A Scope of Work with details about specific requirements and measurable outcomes will be a requirement of the grant recipient as an addition to the contract. Criminal Background Checks All successful applicants must conduct criminal background checks for employees. These practices must comply with the terms and conditions applicable to contracts executed by Family League. All grantees must have established standard operating policies and procedures for conducting, reviewing, and if necessary, responding to the results of the record checks. SPECIFIC DELIVERABLES AND EXPECTATIONS All awardees funded through this RFI will be required to participate in the activities outlined below: A. Participation in capacity building activities awardees will be asked to participate in events that will provide an orientation to ACEs, and focus on professional development; B. Participation in additional monitoring and technical assistance activities to ensure program supports are aligned; C. Completion of monthly reports documenting services rendered, how many youth/families were served, and how they were better off. D. Submission of invoices detailing fees and services rendered, and back-up documentation supporting costs as applicable. E. Use a Restorative Practice approach to rendering services. Restorative Practices are a transformational tool for fostering healthy relationships in schools and shows how they can be useful processes for students, educators, and learning communities. Restorative Practices can help create safe learning environments through community building and redressing damage. Educators across the nation recognize the importance of fostering positive, healthy school climates and helping students learn from their mistakes. Increasingly, they are partnering with parents, students, district officials, community based organizations, and policymakers to move away from harmful and counter-productive zero-tolerance discipline policies and toward proven restorative approaches to addressing conflict in schools and addressing ACES. Request for Information (RFI) The ACES Project Page 6

Figure 1: Overview on Adverse Childhood Experiences Request for Information (RFI) The ACES Project Page 7