CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF REHABILITATION

Independent Living and Assistive Technology Section

REQUEST FOR APPLICATIONS (RFA)

IL-11-01

Title VII B – CFDA # 84.169A

COMMUNITY ORGANIZING GRANT

I.INTRODUCTION

II.AUTHORITY

III.BACKGROUND

IV.PURPOSE OF THIS RFA

V.ELIGIBILITY

VI.GRANT AWARD AND IMPLEMENTATION SCHEDULE

VII.DESCRIPTION OF SERVICES – PROGRAM PLAN NARRATIVE

VIII.FUNDING PARAMETERS AND REIMBURSEMENT REQUIREMENTS

IX.GENERAL REQUIREMENTS

X. SUBMISSION OF APPLICATION REQUIRED ELEMENTS

XI. SUBMISSION OF APPLICATION

XII.ADDITIONAL SUBMISSION INFORMATION

XIII.REVIEW PROCESS AND REVIEW CRITERIA

XIV. APPEAL RIGHTS

CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF REHABILITATION

Independent Living and Assistive Technology Section (ILATS)

REQUEST FOR APPLICATION (RFA) IL-11-01

Federal Title VII B

CommunityOrganizing Grant

I.INTRODUCTION

The California Department of Rehabilitation (DOR) and the State Independent Living Council (SILC) are pleased to announce the availability of Federal funds under Title VII B of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, for award to eligible organizations in California, to develop and conduct newcommunity organizing projects that involve and support persons with disabilities. Up to five (5) community organizing grants of $75,000 each will be awarded. Funding for each grant award is for one year, renewable for up to two additional years upon satisfactory performance as determined by the DOR and the availability of federal funds for this purpose.

II.AUTHORITY

The goals and objectives set forth in the 2011-2013 State Plan for Independent Living (SPIL) for the development of independent living services in Californiareflect commitment of the SILC and the DORto fund community organizing grants for education/advocacy projects aimed at increasing the participation of persons with disabilities in public policy education activities. Section 713 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, authorizes use of these funds for this purpose.
The SPIL includes "Advancing Olmstead" by educating key stakeholders and policymakers as one of its primary goals.The SPILis available on the Internet at

III.BACKGROUND

WHAT IS COMMUNITY ORGANIZING?

This community organizing award is designed to develop leaders and organize persons with disabilities within the community to work as a cohesive group with a common vision and the desire to pursue a common purpose. Community organizing is a process through which people affected by an issue join to act in their shared self-interest. It is a long-term approach where those affected are supported to identify problems and take action to achieve solutions. The organizer challenges people affected by an issue to achieve social change through collective action. The tactics and strategies employed by the organizer are similar to leadership processes that include timing, planning, getting the attention of the populace, framing the issue in terms of the desired solution, and shaping the terms of the decision-making process.

Community organizing efforts do not begin with preconceived goals for the group, but encourage and support the group in setting its own goals, which may take the group in directions not anticipated by the organizers.

In order to build a powerful, effective, and ongoing force for future change, the organization receiving funds must include planning for future efforts and activities after this grant has ended. Future planning should include the continued recruitment of new members, motivation of new and existing members, exploration and expansion of the organization’s goals and, as appropriate, development of new funding sources.

Carefully consider whether the project proposed in your application is community organizing.

ADVANCING OLMSTEAD

Currently states operating Medicaid programs with federal funding are required to include institutional based long-term care services to individuals meeting that level of care. States may provide long-term care services in community based settings through optional State Plan benefits and approved Medicaid waivers. A report prepared for the California Health and Human Services Agency states that,"Despite consumer preferences to receive services in their homes, institutional care is easier to access because of restrictions in the Social Security Act, Medicaid regulations and the options states choose. Institutional bias can be found in financial eligibility categories, service coverage and the delivery systems through which services are accessed."[1]Whether or not personswith disabilitiesare institutionalized is often influenced by federal, state, and local policies and practices, as well as whether a comprehensive range of localservices is available to support living independently in their communities.

The 1999 Supreme Court Olmstead decision affirmed the right of individuals with disabilities to live in their community and recognized the integration mandate of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), as amended, that requires public agencies to provide services "in the most integrated setting appropriate to the needs of qualified individuals with disabilities." The US Department of Justice has made enforcement of the Olmstead decision a priority "recognizing that the unjustified isolation of individuals in institutional settings is a form of discrimination under the ADA."[2]

The federal government acknowledges that coordination and incentives need to occur to assist individuals to transition from institutions to community living and support systems. Some progress has been made to support community living options. For example, the California Community Transitions project is a federally funded Money Follows the Person Rebalancing Demonstration designed to transition individuals residing in institutional settings to community living.[3] As well, the federally-mandated Minimum Data Set 3.0 Section Q for Medicare and Medicaid certified freestanding and hospital-based nursing homeshas recently been updated to require that nursing facilities assess residents for their interest in living in the community. These nursing facilities are now required to refer its residents who are interested in living in the community to designated organizations, who can assist the individual with exploring the possibility of transitioning into the community. These initiatives are needed to ensure coordination and collaboration between nursing facilities and community based organizations so that individuals have choices of where and how they access long-term care services.

Support for community living involves consideration of a range of issues that must includedeveloping strategies to maintain or increaseaccess to community based services. The relationship between federal, state, and local long term care service systems, industries and associations throughout the long-term care continuum, organized labor, and the system of Medicare/MediCal financingwill significantly affect these strategies. Removing barriers to the availability of personal assistance and accessible and affordable housing and transportationisanother critical step necessary to develop an effective continuum of community based services. A shift in emphasis from institutional to community based independent living depends on addressing factors such as these, and educating those who can support these efforts.

IV.PURPOSE OF THIS RFA

DOR and SILC have designated this RFA to fund up to five community organizing projects designed to:

  • Recruit, organize, and support an empowered constituency of people with disabilities to identify issues and seek solutions to support access to services and options for community based living and reduce unnecessary institutionalization;
  • Develop strategies for local, regional, state, or federal systemic changes that promote community based living options and maintain or expand access to community based services that support the mandate of the U. S. Supreme Court’s Olmstead decision.

Community living options may include but are not limited to availability and coordination of affordable and accessible transportation, housing, and personal assistance necessary for persons with disabilities to live independently in their communities. Applicants must consider as part of their proposal barriers to maintaining or increasing the availability of community based options and coordination of existing services that would lead to expanded access.Issues related to influencing public policy, program design, and program practice that directly affect people with disabilities should be considered.

Community organizing projects mayfocus on these issues or others not listed, and may target a single issue or more than one.

The geographic distribution of awards for this RFA will be:

  • At least two grants will be awarded to organizations based in Northern California.
  • At least two grants will be awarded to organizations based in Southern California.

Northern California is defined as including San Mateo, Santa Clara, Stanislaus, Mariposa, Tuolumne, and Alpine Counties and all counties located further north. Southern California is defined as Santa Cruz, San Benito, Merced, Madera and MonoCounties and all counties located further south.The geographic scope of the project proposed may be local, regional or statewide.

All products, materials, or other information created through this funding will be the property of the State of California and must be packaged in such a way that others can use them past the end of the grant period.

  1. This RFA Community Organizing Model must:
  • Recruit and support a constituency of people with disabilities with shared self interests to build power;
  • Organize people with disabilities within the community to identify and develop leaders and to work together as a cohesive group, with a common vision and the desire to pursue a common purpose;
  • Identify common issues, problems, and the solutions they want;
  • Recruit new members and individual and organizational allies;
  • Identify the people and systems that can make solutions possible;
  • Engage its targets through education, negotiation, and collective action;
  • Plan and strategize continuing action in response to barriers, incremental changes, and successes;
  • And build a democratic, constituency controlled organization that can develop the capacity to grow and sustain itself to address continuing issues.

B. This RFA Community Organizing Model is intended to promote the achievement of measurable goals to maintain or expand community living options or access to community based services by supporting systemic changes brought about by an organized consumer based constituency.

V.ELIGIBILITY

Any application that does not meet all of these eligibility criteria will be deemed non-responsive and not considered for competitive review.

  1. Abstract. The proposal abstract will be used to determine eligibility as part of the administrative screening for the competitive review process Applicants must meet all of the following eligibility criteria and must address these elements in theproposal abstract as required under Section X.
  1. Only applicants that are private, not-for-profit organizations are eligible to apply for this grant award. Indicate whether the applicant meets this requirement. (See Section X. Submission of Application Required Elements - I.Tax-Exempt Documents.)
  1. Briefly describe the applicant’s commitment to the Independent Living (IL) movement and its philosophy, involvement in supporting systemic changes that maintain or increase access to community based long term care services, and history of engaging people with disabilities in planning and conducting these efforts. (See Section VII. Description of Services - Program Plan Narrative – 1. Organization Description and 2. Organization Experience.)
  1. Describe the applicant’s commitment to have a majority of personnel funded under this grant be persons with disabilities. (See Section VII. Description of Services - Program Plan Narrative – 1. Organization Description.)

Activities proposed for funding under this RFA must support and benefit a broad range of persons with various disabilities without focus on specific issues that primarily apply to persons from a single disability group.

  1. Describe how the proposed activities meet the identified community organizing model definition elements. (See Section VII. Description of Services - Program Plan Narrative – 4. Community Organizing Model Description)
  1. Provide a brief summary of the Proposed Work Plan and Projected Outcomes and Objectives. (See Section VII. Description of Services - Program Plan Narrative – 5. Proposed Work Plan and 6. Projected Outcomes and Objectives)
  1. Required Elements. Applicants must meet all of the submission criteria identified in Section X. Attachment A has been provided to facilitate applicants’ submission of complete proposals.

VI.GRANT AWARD AND IMPLEMENTATION SCHEDULE

Grant(s) will be awarded according to the following schedule:

RFA Posted March 25, 2011

Deadline for Hard-Copy Applications April 26, 2011 (4:00 p.m.)
Deadline for Electronic Elements April 27, 2011 (4:00 p.m.)
Intent to Award Notice May 19, 2011
Intent to Award Appeals May 23-27, 2011
Formal Grant Packages Due June 7, 2011
Grant Effective Dates June 30, 2011 through
(with up to two year renewal) June 29, 2012

Program commencement dates may be negotiated with the DOR but shall be no later than June 30, 2011.

VII.DESCRIPTION OF SERVICES – PROGRAM PLAN NARRATIVE

Outcome Oriented: A critical element of the program plan is its projection of measurable outcomes. Without pre-supposing the results of stakeholders’ prioritization of efforts for community organizing, applicants can identify outcomes such as: participation of people with disabilities who are organized and educating others; increased community awareness of issues relating to community living options, availability of community based services, existing long term care service delivery systems and financing,and the availability of affordable and accessible housing, transportation, and personal assistant services; improved access to services for people requiring long-term services and supports. The applicant must identify activities and specific, measurable outcomes that will result from supported activities.

The application narrative must set forth the goals and a work plan for accomplishing outcomes. The work plan must be presented in a manner that identifies anticipated tasks and outcomes utilizing the funds available for this grant. Include plans for years two and three of the grant, should funding be available. The narrative should be as thorough as possible, within the limitation of fourteen (14) pages, 8 1/2" x 11", 14 pt. Arial font, single-spaced. The narrative must contain the elements listed below in the application narrative outline:

1.Organization Description: Present a description of the applicant organization, its commitment to the independent living movement and practice of independent living philosophy, and its history of engaging people with disabilities in planning and conducting efforts to influence public policy, program design, and/or program practicethat directly affect them. Demonstrate the applicant’s required commitment to staff the proposed project with persons with disabilities.

2.Organization Experience: Describe the applicant organization’s experience with community organizing, systems change, and activities related to maintaining or increasing access to community based services for people with disabilities. Present relevant activities and outcomes to demonstrate that experience.

3.Assessment of Needs: Present an assessment of the current system of long term care in California. Identify barriers to implementation and expansion of community living options and access to community based services, particularly those most related to the proposed community organizing project.

4.Community Organizing Model Description: Describe in detail the proposed model for community organizing that specifically addresses how the applicant will:

  • Recruit and support a constituency of people with disabilities with shared self interests to build power;
  • Organize people with disabilities within the community to identify and develop leaders and to work together as a cohesive group, with a common vision and the desire to pursue a common purpose;
  • Identify common issues, problems, and the solutions they want;
  • Recruit new members and individual and organizational allies;
  • Identify the people and systems that can make solutions possible;
  • Engage its targets through education, negotiation, and collective action;
  • Plan and strategize continuing action in response to barriers, incremental changes, and successes;
  • And build a democratic, constituency controlled organization that can develop the capacity to grow and sustain itself to address continuing issues.

5.Proposed Work Plan: Present a detailed work plan of the proposed community organizing activities, strategies, responsible parties, and time frames that will result in an organizedconstituency that is prepared and able to function in accordance with the required community organizing model elements. Project the work plan to continue the organizing campaign in the second and third years of the project, and for the organized constituency to sustain itself after the grant has ended.

6.Projected Outcomes and Objectives: Present a summary of clear, specific, measureable outcomes for the community organizing project that will recruit and support an organized constituency of persons with disabilities whose efforts will prompt maintenance or expansion of community living options and access tocommunity based services that support Olmstead implementation in California in a local, regional, or statewide manner. Identify specific measures of success for each component of the program.

Measures of success can include, but are not limited to:

  • The number of persons with disabilities, disability oriented organizations and others who have been organized to participate.
  • The development of identified new leaders among persons with disabilities.
  • Evidence of the sustainability of the community organizing group.
  • Evidence of positive changes achieved in the ability of individuals to access services and supports.
  • Prevention of outcomes that limit access to community-based services and supports.

Applicants must consider that community organizing entails constituency, not organizer, identified issues and solutions; specific systemic change outcomes projected in this application will be subject to constituent consideration.

7.Evaluation: Clearly define the methods the applicant will use to monitor, evaluate, and respond to emerging program needs, and to measure the outcomes of the work plan against the goals and objectives outlined in the applicant’s narrative.

8.Budget: Describe the fiscal, staffing and other resources to be devoted to this application. Describe the estimated cost of the work plan and the way in which resources will be used to achieve the outcomes and goals of the work plan.