Request for Applications (RFA) Release Date: March 31, 2015

Transcription

1 Funding Announcement for Community Advocacy Grants Scope of Work: Tobacco Prevention & Control Advocacy with Youth (11-17) Focus: Point of Sale Strategies and Advocacy Request for Applications (RFA) Release Date: March 31, 2015 Fiscal Year (FY) 2015/2016 July 1, 2015 June 15, 2016 TFL Community Advocacy Grants Request for Applications The Louisiana Campaign for Tobacco-Free Living Application Deadline: April 30, :00 p.m. CST

2 TABLE OF CONTENTS 2 Table of Contents 3 RFA Timeline 4 Introduction 4-5 Community Advocacy Grants 5 Background 6 Restrictions 7-9 Scope of Work : Tobacco Prevention & Control Advocacy with Youth (11-17) Focus: Policy and Advocacy 7-9 Required Activities 9 Defy Project Timeline and Key Dates 10 Reporting Requirements 10 Application Requirements 11 Budget Requirements 11 Requirements 11 Budget Preparation 11 Unallowable Costs Application Application Review Criteria and Process Application Instructions FY 2015/2016 TFL Community Advocacy Grants RFA - 2

3 TFL Community Advocacy Grants (CAGs) RFA Timeline March 31, 2015 April 13, :00 am April 30, :00 pm April 30-June 18, 2015 June 12, 2015 June 15, 2015 June 29, 2015 July 1, 2015 Important Dates Important Benchmarks RFA Release Date The RFA will be made available on the TFL website. A Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) document will also be available on the TFL website. Technical Assistance Workshop Provide background and purpose of the Youth Point of Sale Initiative Facilitate the understanding of the RFA. The RFA info sessions will be held via teleconference. Conference line: No registration or access code required. Submission Deadline Grant applications must be received, via online submission process by 3:00pm CST Mailed, faxed, and ed applications will NOT be considered. Review Process Technical, Primary and Secondary Reviews Award Notification Applicants will be notified of funding decisions via . Contracts Sent to Awarded Organizations Grants Agreement Signing Deadline Grant agreements must be signed and returned to the Louisiana Public Health Institute by this date. Grant Period Begins FY 2015/2016 TFL Community Advocacy Grants RFA - 3

4 INTRODUCTION The Louisiana Campaign for Tobacco-Free Living (TFL) is a statewide, nonprofit tobacco prevention control program. The program s mission is to implement and evaluate comprehensive tobacco control initiatives that prevent and reduce tobacco use and exposure to secondhand smoke. TFL envisions a healthier Louisiana through 100% tobacco-free living. TFL provides statewide coordination of existing tobacco control initiatives, funding for innovative community programming for tobacco control, a statewide media campaign, administration of a state hospital system cessation program, and monitoring and evaluation of program impacts and outcomes. All aspects of the statewide implementation and evaluation of the campaign are coordinated by the core staff at the Louisiana Public Health Institute (LPHI), as provided for in a contract with the Louisiana Cancer Research Consortium (LCRC). TFL Goals To prevent initiation of tobacco use among youth To eliminate non-smokers exposure to secondhand smoke To promote quitting among adults and young people To identify and eliminate tobacco-related health disparities To promote statewide coordination of all Louisiana tobacco prevention and control programs COMMUNITY ADVOCACY GRANTS The purposes of our Community Advocacy Grants (CAGs) are to build and sustain strong communities, address and eliminate disparities in smoking and other tobacco use in Louisiana, and create opportunities for youth engagement. Our grants have been designed to reach communities while assisting in the implementation of effective and evidence-based practices in tobacco prevention and control. The CAGs, along with other TFL programmatic elements, play an important role in changing community norms around tobacco use and perceptions of the tobacco industry. We fund projects that: Aim to reduce youth exposure to tobacco product displays and other tobacco marketing Demonstrate a proven record of advocacy efforts and outreach in their community/region Demonstrate communities needs and organizational capacities of how their organization plan to implement the activities requested, and how these plans fit into their existing organizational structure We give priority to organizations who: Engage youth ages in current programming Promote youth advocacy, participation and engagement Have the ability to provide transportation to and from required activities FY 2015/2016 TFL Community Advocacy Grants RFA - 4

5 Who can apply? Community youth groups or youth organizations with 501(c)3 status o Organizations must provide a copy of the IRS letter stating your non-profit status Any private or public Louisiana school serving students years of age o Schools must provide a copy of the most recent IRS 990 report (nonprofit tax return). If a 990 tax return has not previously been filed, explain why in your Application. BACKGROUND Since 2007, TFL s youth grantees have engaged in a variety of tobacco control and advocacy activities. For the FY grant cycle, TFL introduced the Point of Sale (POS) project, which engages youth in collecting information about the tobacco retail environment in their community and communicating this information to community leaders. Why Point of Sale? Research indicates that youth exposure to tobacco marketing in the retail environment is correlated to youth tobacco use. Because the industry is focused on point-of-sale advertising, tobacco control educators and policy makers need to focus their attention there as well. According to the Surgeon General, evidence consistently and coherently points to the intentional marketing of tobacco products to youth as being a cause of young people s tobacco use. 1 This means that scientific evidence establishes that tobacco industry marketing causes youth tobacco use. The report also demonstrates that the vast majority of the tobacco industry s marketing is focused on the retail establishments where tobacco is sold the point of sale. Adolescents are vulnerable targets of POS advertising, as the tobacco companies perceive them as the next generation of smokers. The National Cancer Institute summarizes significant research very clearly: a causal relationship exists between exposure to tobacco advertisements and youth smoking uptake. 2 This effect is not a surprise: more than two-thirds of U.S. teenagers shop at convenience stores at least once a week, where POS materials are most prevalent. 3 And, stores where teenagers frequently shop have about three times as many tobacco advertisements as stores which serve mostly adults. 4 In short, youth who see more advertisements are more likely to start smoking, and the stores where young people shop are also the ones where most tobacco advertisements and promotions are found. Exposure to tobacco advertising distorts adolescent s perceptions about the availability, use and popularity of cigarettes, thereby promoting smoking. 5 1 U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Preventing Tobacco Use Among Youth and Young Adults: A Report of the Surgeon General. Atlanta, GA: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Office on Smoking and Health, National Cancer Institute. The Role of the Media in Promoting and Reducing Tobacco Use. Tobacco Control Monograph No. 19. Bethesda, MD: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health, National Cancer Institute. NIH Pub. No , June Henriksen, L, et al., Association of retail tobacco marketing with adolescent smoking, American Journal of Public Health 94(12):2081-3, Henriksen, L, et al., Reaching youth at the point of sale: Cigarette marketing is more prevalent in stores where adolescents shop frequently, Tobacco Control 13: , Payntner, J & Edwards, P, The impact of tobacco promotion at the point of sale: A systematic review, Nicotine & Tobacco Research 11(1), FY 2015/2016 TFL Community Advocacy Grants RFA - 5

6 The Importance of Stakeholder Engagement Stakeholders are those individuals that hold a vested interested in your organization and its mission. Using them to convey your message not only helps to expand your message s reach, its also allows stakeholders the opportunity to contrinute to the overall success of the your organization with which they are associated. Thus, stakeholders and their engagement are important in helping an organization express its values, carry out its mission, develop strategies, implement processes and improve relationships on a continuous basis. The ultimate goal of data collection of the tobacco retail environment is to influence policy change in your community. As we move forward with the grant year, our focus has advanced to the next step of engaging stakeholders through advocacy. Engaging stakeholders in the data collected in POS and how the tobacco industry targets serves as not only an opportunity to educate them, but also an opportunity to influence those with the ability to make changes in your community. RESTRICTIONS TFL will not fund political parties, candidates or partisan political organizations, or fundraising events. Applicants must NOT accept funds from any tobacco company during the grant cycle. Grantees must sign a statement acknowledging this restriction. FY 2015/2016 TFL Community Advocacy Grants RFA - 6

7 Scope of Work: Tobacco Prevention and Control Advocacy Youth (11-17) CounterPop (Point of Sale Strategies) Up to $12,000 for Required Activities The TFL CAG youth initiative will be executed through the development of a local Defy group. Defy is a Louisiana youth-driven advocacy movement that seeks to reduce the influence of the tobacco industry and promote tobacco-free lifestyles. Please visit for more information about Defy. Required Activity 1: Manage a Defy Team Defy teams consist of youth aged who are interested in learning advocacy and policy skills. A critical component of Defy is youth empowerment and youth ownership. Defy teams are managed by adult Defy coordinators. If an existing youth group (city, school, faith-based, after school program, etc.) hasn t already been identified, coordinators will be responsible for recruiting youth to participate. Adult responsibilities include: Recruit and maintain a Defy team comprised of youth in your community o Conduct a Defy team orientation and parent meeting o Hold at least one monthly Defy team meeting Attend required meetings and calls o Attend monthly regional Healthy Community Coalition/tobacco subcommittee meetings o Participate in monthly Defy conference calls Attend the Defy Orientation and Training Meeting Submit quarterly reports detailing Defy project and budget activities Youth responsibilities include: Attend monthly Defy team meetings Attend Defy Orientation and Training Meeting Participate in special events and activities, as needed, upon request from TFL TFL will provide: Technical support for reporting requirements Assistance with planning and implementing communication activities, including media materials and promotion of events Required Activity 2: Identify and Engage Community Stakeholders As an advocacy project focused around changing policies at the local level, Defy grantees are expected to identify and engage stakeholders in their area. Stakeholders are defined as those with interest in the outcome of the project and/or POS related policy. Examples of stakeholders include policymakers, FY 2015/2016 TFL Community Advocacy Grants RFA - 7

8 councilpersons, store owners, members of the media, and leaders in the local communities. Adult coordinators, in conjunction with the TFL Regional Managers, will be responsible for identifying key stakeholders in their local area and will be tasked with keeping an updated list of potential and confirmed stakeholders. Stakeholders will be engaged throughout the grant period through strategic bimonthly activities. Upon identifying stakeholders, youth will present their community report card created utilizing the data collected from the store assessments. Each community will be assigned a grade determined by the data and report cards will be shared with stakeholders. TFL will provide technical assistance in creation of the report cards and how to present the information. Advocacy Activities: Advocacy activities will be selected by grantees based upon the venue in which their organization is based. Churches Ensure that church has a smoke-free policy Display/distribute Quitline information Design smoke-free signs Present report card to congregation Create tobacco product displays and present to congregation Meet with store owners to discuss removal of tobacco ad placement Meet with store owners to discuss placing Quitline information in stores Schools Present tobacco prevention information to student body, including report card Create tobacco product displays and present to students and faculty Conduct focus groups with teachers and students not involved with Defy Host smoke-free movie events on school grounds Design smoke-free signs Meet with store owners to discuss removal of tobacco ad placement Meet with store owners to discuss placing Quitline information in stores Other Organizations (not affiliated with churches or schools) Develop community report card Meet with store owners to discuss removal of tobacco ad placement FY 2015/2016 TFL Community Advocacy Grants RFA - 8

9 Meet with store owners to discuss placing Quitline information in stores Create tobacco product displays for presentation Engage local parks and recreational areas in tobacco- free events Engage local law enforcement in advocacy activities and educate on tobacco ad placement in stores Youth responsibilities include: Identify and maintain a list of stakeholders throughout the grant period Participate in stakeholder engagement activities beginning September Participate in advocacy activities beginning September 2015 TFL will provide: Assistance with identifying and networking stakeholders Interview training for the youth, including an interview guide Assistance with planning and implementing interviews and meetings with policymakers Assistance with the development of community report card Assistance with planning advocacy activities Required Activity 3: Kick Butts Day Event Defy grantees are involved in the broader statewide tobacco prevention and control movement by planning and participating in Kick Butts Day, March All grantees are required to follow the National Theme for Kick Butts Day developed by the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, yet center this theme around POS. There is an extensive list of suggested activities laid out at please visit the site for detailed information on activities as well as additional information about Kick Butts Day. All activities MUST take place within the designated week of Kick Butts Day in order for Media & Communications to effectively promote all events and work with local/statewide media. Coordinator responsibilities include: Oversee and assist youth participants in Kick Butts Day event planning and implementation in collaboration with TFL Regional Manager Coordination with other regional CAG grantees Keep in mind you can co-host an event with other Fresh Campus and Defy grantees in your region. Youth responsibilities include: Develop the concept and event plan for Kick Butts Day, based on national theme Develop materials to hand out at your Kick Butts Day event based on POS FY 2015/2016 TFL Community Advocacy Grants RFA - 9

10 TFL will provide: Assistance with planning and implementing event, including media materials and promotion of event Printed material templates (logo, invite, flyer) in the forms of a JPEG, PDF, and EPS Media promotion of Kick Butts Day activities - statewide press release, local media alerts. Reporting Requirements: Quarterly Report Quarter 1 (July 1-September 30, 2015) Quarter 2 (October 1-December 31, 2015) Quarter 3 (January 1-March 31, 2016) Quarter 4 (April 1-June 30, 2016) Due October 15, 2015 January 15, 2016 April 15, 2016 June 15, 2016 Application Requirements: Defy adult coordinators must have current background checks on file with their organization and TFL prior to beginning any work with your Defy Team. Defy adult coordinators must provide a valid driver s license and state required automobile insurance coverage. Fiscal agent must provide proof of organizations liability insurance. Failure to meet the application requirements or activity responsibilities will result in forfeiture or delay of grant funding. FY 2015/2016 TFL Community Advocacy Grants RFA - 10

11 TFL Community Advocacy Grant BUDGETARY REQUIREMENTS REQUIREMENTS Grantees can apply for up to the maximum allowed for this Scope of Work. BUDGET PREPARATION Organizations should prepare a proposed budget using the online Budget Worksheet. The budget is to be developed to cover the grant period of July 1, 2015 through June 15, Budgets should be based on the best available estimates of time and expense, and expenses itemized should include all estimated expenses for the year. A budget narrative must clearly describe all planned expenditures and indicate the role each line item will play in carrying out the required activities. Applicants who partner with other community organizations and who seek out in-kind or other sources of support to accomplish their project will receive special consideration for funding. UNALLOWABLE COSTS The following are unallowable costs specifically prohibited by the terms of this RFA. Unallowable costs include, but are not limited to: The use of cash by Grantees as an incentive for their programmatic events is prohibited. Gift cards/certificates should be used as an alternative. Costs related to political activity. Lobbying is strictly prohibited. Fundraising activities Dues to organizations or federations Rent/lease or building purchases Interest costs, fines, penalties, lawsuits or legal fees Contributions and donations Salaries and fringe benefits (stipends are allowable.) Workers compensation Disability administrative costs Indirect costs Alcohol Gifts for staff Furniture Equipment The purchase of cessation products PAYMENTS Please keep in mind that this is a reimbursement-type grant process. FY 2015/2016 TFL Community Advocacy Grants RFA - 11

12 TFL Community Advocacy Grant APPLICATION REVIEW CRITERIA AND PROCESS All applications will be reviewed by a panel selected by TFL. Reviewers will sign a conflict of interest statement and will recuse themselves from reviewing those submissions from applicants with whom they have a working relationship. Reviewers will be prepared in an orientation sponsored by TFL and review applications via online with a standardized scoring sheet to reduce the potential for reviewer bias. Scores will be determined according to the categories described below: APPLICANT CAPACITY (possible 30 points) TFL is searching for grantees that have a demonstrated ability and experience in community organizing, community planning, health education and promotion, coalition building, advocacy, policy, training, and/or tobacco prevention and control. Priority will be given to applicants who engage youth aged in current programming, promote youth advocacy, participation and engagement, and have the ability to provide transportation to and from required activities. Describe your organization s: Mission and purpose. Specify the type of organization (church, school, or other). Staffing and administrative capacity. Experience in health education and promotion, coalition building, advocacy, policy, training, and/or tobacco prevention and control. Experience with youth aged and with youth advocacy, participation and engagement. Experience with community event planning. Please provide examples; include purpose/call to action, outcomes, challenges, etc. REQUIRED ACTIVITIES (possible 50 points) TFL is searching for grantees that demonstrate organizational readiness and ability to carry out the required activities. Describe: Your motivations for pursuing this grant opportunity, including community or regional need Your plans to recruit youth Defy team members and/or engage existing school, faith-based, or other community groups for this project. Your organization s connections with community leaders, stakeholders or other resources that will assist youth in carrying out the required activities. Your organization s experience with advocacy events. Please provide previous examples including purpose, outcomes, challenges, etc. Your experience with Kick Butts Day and plans to coordinate with other with other youth and young adult grantees. Your organization s current relationship with the Healthy Communities Coalition/tobacco subcommittee or, if none, what your organization can contribute to the Healthy Communities Coalition/tobacco subcommittee. FY 2015/2016 TFL Community Advocacy Grants RFA - 12

13 How your organization plans to measure the impact of your efforts. This should include measuring the effect on policies related to POS, reduction in youth exposure to tobacco advertisements, etc. How your organization will manage the components of the required activities: scheduling and/or attending Defy team and other required meetings, scheduling and/or attending community events and engagement activities, completing reporting and monitoring activities, manage the budget, etc. What your organization would like to gain from this project at the end of the grant period. TIMELINE (possible 10 points) TFL is seeking applicants that provide a clear and feasible timeline that considers the logistics and scheduling required to complete the required activities as described in the RFA. BUDGET (possible 10 points) TFL is seeking applicants that submitted a clear, detailed, and cost-effective budget and a budget narrative that reflects appropriate and realistic expenses to accomplish the required activities. APPLICATION REVIEW PROCESS Community Advocacy Grant applications are systematically reviewed and awarded through a four step process: 1. Technical Review by a TFL Staff Grant applications are reviewed for compliance with application guidelines; those applications which pass review are sent to Primary Review. 2. Primary Review by a Committee Comprised of Non-TFL/LPHI Staff and Community Experts Applications that passed initial technical review are evaluated by the Primary Review Committee using an objective scoring mechanism. This Committee also makes recommendations for funding status and needed modifications. 3. Secondary Review by TFL Leadership Team Applications and reviewer scores and comments are reviewed by TFL Leadership; TFL final funding recommendations and needed revisions are outlined. This also includes TFL s experiences with the applicant. 4. Revised Applications are submitted to TFL for Award (as needed). TFL will fund 15 youth organizations for the funding cycle. Scores from the primary and secondary panels will be added together and an average score computed. That average score will then be compared across all applicants. The findings from the application review panel and when requested, oral presentation, along with past experience with the agency will guide TFL resource allocation decisions. FY 2015/2016 TFL Community Advocacy Grants RFA - 13

14 TFL Community Advocacy Grant APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS Completed applications with all supporting documentation must be submitted online at the following link: NOTE: All returning Grantees also need to register. Please complete a full application for each Scope of Work option for which you are applying. o Missing sections may automatically disqualify your application. Please be thorough in completing each section. TFL has set up a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) page for this RFA on their website. Please visit to view this page. Additional Online Submission Information Please note that you should save your work frequently. Also, the submission process does not have to be completed in one session. You can save your work and come back to it. (Remember that your completed grant must be submitted by Thursday, April 30th, 2015 at 3:00 p.m. CST. Please do not forget to hit the submit button before 3:00 p.m. CST. It is highly recommended that you type your application in Microsoft Word using double-spaced 12-point font and then copy and paste your application into their appropriate sections in the online application form. o Please note that each section on the online application form will have its own page length requirements. Lastly, applications that do not adhere to the following may automatically be disqualified for consideration: Applications must be received by Thursday, April 30th, 2015 at 3:00 p.m. CST. Applicants should follow the instructions of the online registration and application. Applicants must submit an IRS letter showing tax exempt status for your organization or proof of tribal status. Applicants must submit the organization s most recent financial report. Applicants must provide proof of organization s liability insurance. Applicants must submit at least two (2) letters of support. All application components must be submitted in the order specified. All supporting documents need to be uploaded as a PDF in the online application. The following is required only if selected: Applicants will need to submit background checks for all adults working with youth. Applicants will need to submit a valid Louisiana driver s license and proof of state required automobile coverage. FY 2015/2016 TFL Community Advocacy Grants RFA - 14

15 RIGHT TO REJECT APPLICATIONS TFL has the right to: 1) reject, in whole or in part, any or all applications, 2) advertise for new applications, 3) abandon the need for such services, and 4) cancel this RFA if it is in the best interest of TFL. In the initial Technical Review Process, any proposal will be rejected outright and not evaluated for any of the following reasons: The applicant fails to submit the application by Thursday, April 30th, 2015 at 3:00 p.m. CST. The applicant fails to include required information, or fails to include sufficient information to determine whether an RFA requirement has been satisfied. The applicant fails to follow the application format instructions or presents information requested by this RFA in a format inconsistent with the instructions of the RFA. The applicant provides misleading or inaccurate information. The applicant states that a mandatory requirement cannot be satisfied. The applicant s response materially changes a mandatory requirement. The applicant fails to respond to TFL s request for information or documents. The applicant fails to include any signature, certification, authorization or stipulation requested in this RFA. FY 2015/2016 TFL Community Advocacy Grants RFA - 15