Prevent Child Abuse America: Thriving Families, Safer Children – Youth, Family, and Community Partnership Grants (Round 2)
The Thriving Families, Safer Children movement is supported by the U.S. Children’s Bureau, Casey Family Programs, the Annie E. Casey Foundation, and Prevent Child Abuse America (PCA America) and communities, as an opportunity to create a more just and equitable child and family well-being system. The effort aims to help jurisdictions move from traditional, reactive child protection systems to systems designed to proactively support child and family well-being and prevent child maltreatment and unnecessary family separation. In Round 2 of this initiative, the movement has expanded its reach to include 18 additional jurisdictions:
- Arizona
- District of Columbia
- Florida
- Idaho
- Indiana
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Maryland
- Minnesota
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York City
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Texas
- Virginia
- White Earth Nation
The goals of the grant are as follows:
- Expand the capacity of the Thriving Families movement to develop and maintain more equitable working relationships and authentic partnerships between the child protection and family serving systems and communities.
- Strengthen, support, and connect youth, parents, and community members with real life experience as they emerge in leadership roles within the Thriving Families movement.
- Increase opportunities for Black, Latino, and Indigenous children, youth, and families to experience wellbeing and avoid unnecessary involvement with child protective services.
- Implement race equity strategies in communities disproportionately impacted by racial disparities.
Building on existing assets and local innovation is encouraged. Examples of activities that could be supported through grant funding are listed below. This list is not exhaustive and other ideas are welcome and encouraged:
- Implementing training and technical assistance focused on equipping youth, parents, and community members to engage with child protection agencies, and these agencies to engage with community.
- Conducting community visioning sessions focused on equity and wellbeing, while identifying emerging leaders willing to join the Thriving Families movement.
- Establishing cross-sector community or neighborhood-based collaboratives as places communities can count on to convene, dialogue, and plan.
- Developing, supporting, and compensating emerging cohorts of youth, parent, family, and community leaders who have real life experience with child protective services and other family serving systems.
- Building capacity to conduct neighborhood asset mapping, utilize community opportunity maps, and other efforts to share data and resources.
- Expanding proven engagement strategies such as Parent or Community Cafes, youth and community organizing, and parent-to-parent peer support networks.
- Facilitating truth and reconciliation processes to address historical harm and trauma imposed upon Black, Latino, and Indigenous people as a result of structural racism, child protection policies and practices, separation of children and families, and devaluing of family and community networks of support.
Amount: Grants will range from $50,000 – $150,000 per site depending on the activities proposed. The number of grantees will vary depending on the size of the grants. 8-10 grantees are expected to be awarded.
Eligibility: 501(c)(3) organizations within one of the Round 2 Jurisdictions may apply. Organizations with a fiscal sponsor/agent will also be considered. Grants are intended for community-based non-profits with a history of engaging Black, Latino, and Indigenous youth and families.
Note: Public child welfare agencies are not eligible to apply for these mini-grants. However, applicants must commit to working with the child protection agency, Thriving Families partners, and those with real life experience to improve child, youth, and family wellbeing and prevent involvement with, or entry into, the child protection system.
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