Strengthening Youth-Led Prevention in Appalachian Ohio

The Strengthening Youth-Led Prevention RFP is now closed for applications. Please stay tuned to Foundation for Appalachian Ohio communications as participants in the Appalachian Ohio youth-led prevention cohort are announced. 

The Foundation for Appalachian Ohio has a longstanding track record of lifting up the region’s children of Appalachia. With this funding opportunity, FAO seeks to empower the region’s young people to be a voice in their communities and specifically in prevention.

Through FAO’s Health & Human Services Pillar, the Foundation is focusing on youth prevention and the vital role that it plays in the lives of our young people, their families, and our communities. As part of this effort, the Foundation has created this funding opportunity to grow the level of engagement in youth-led prevention in Appalachian Ohio, increasing the number of young people leading evidence-based prevention efforts in their communities, and to develop a network of Appalachian Ohio communities working to empower their young people.

THE OPPORTUNITY: GRANT FUNDING & TRAINING TOGETHER

The Foundation for Appalachian Ohio (FAO) announces a two-year funding opportunity  to support the development and growth of high school-aged youth-led programs focusing on prevention in Appalachian Ohio.

Building off the work of the Ohio Youth-Led Prevention Network and in partnership with the Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services and Ohio University’s Voinovich School of Leadership and Public Affairs, FAO is offering a funding and training opportunity for adults interested in establishing a local high school-aged youth-led program or grounding an existing youth-led program in the Strategic Prevention Framework and Youth Empowerment Conceptual Framework within Appalachian Ohio communities.

To learn more about this grant opportunity, youth-led prevention, the Strategic Prevention Framework, and the Youth Empowerment Conceptual Framework, please watch the recorded webinar . You can also access the webinar presentation here.

WHAT DOES IT INVOLVE?

A funding and training opportunity that will award up to 12 grants in Appalachian Ohio for adults interested in establishing a local youth-led program or strengthening an existing youth-led program by grounding it in the Strategic Prevention Framework and Youth Empowerment Conceptual Framework within Appalachian Ohio communities.

The Strategic Prevention Framework, developed by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), is a planning process for preventing substance abuse and misuse. The Youth Empowerment Conceptual Framework identifies the core programmatic components needed to empower youth to become community change agents.

Grantees selected for participation in this opportunity will receive:

• A grant award of up to $5,000 over two years – up to $2,500 for the 2018-2019 and 2019-2020 academic years;
• Training, technical assistance, and professional development for adult allies who facilitate youth-led programs;
• Membership in a network of adults guiding high school-aged youth leaders in Appalachian Ohio;
• Eligibility for grant dollars to support the strategies youth leaders plan to implement;
• Funding for additional professional development opportunities for adult allies may also be available for those selected to participate; and
• Potential dollars to support your young people in growing their leadership skills and networks through participation in youth leadership summer programs.

WHO CAN APPLY?

Eligible applicants include adult leaders in Appalachian Ohio who are/have:

• new to youth-led programming;
• interested in establishing a youth council at the local level;
• interested in training and technical assistance on the Strategic Prevention Framework/Youth Empowerment Conceptual Framework; and
• an existing youth-led program and a strong desire to expand their knowledge, skills, and abilities as it relates to engaging in Youth-Led Prevention and empowering their youth to create change in their communities

Appalachian Ohio includes the following counties: Adams; Ashtabula; Athens; Belmont; Brown; Carroll; Clermont; Columbiana; Coshocton; Gallia; Guernsey; Harrison; Highland; Hocking; Holmes; Jackson; Jefferson; Lawrence; Mahoning; Meigs; Monroe; Morgan; Muskingum; Noble; Perry; Pike; Ross; Scioto; Trumbull; Tuscarawas; Vinton; and Washington.

HOW WILL IT WORK?

The goal of this RFP is to seek grantees who are interested in developing youth-led programming or strengthening their youth-led program for high school-aged students. Those adults selected to participate will be part of a rare opportunity to receive grant funds as well as training, technical assistance, and professional development. Grantees will participate in a series of in-person trainings; these meetings are designed to engage adult allies of all experience levels by learning together.

Grantees should remember that this is a unique opportunity to receive funds to engage in professional development while also growing a network of partners within the Appalachian Ohio region, therefore grantees will be expected to participate fully in every aspect of the opportunity.

To see the calendar of trainings required to be a part of the opportunity, reference the RFP.

WHAT WILL I NEED TO DO TO BE A PART OF THIS OPPORTUNITY?

Please make sure the following statements are true about your team before submitting your application:

• Our school, community, or organization is located in Appalachian Ohio
• We have two adult allies committed to serve as adult allies to youth
• We have reviewed the Scope of Work and year one calendar to ensure consistent participation
• We have sign-off and support from our organization
• We have completed the application and budget narrative
• We have reviewed and signed the prospective grant agreement
• We are excited to empower young people in our community to provide leadership to prevention!

TO APPLY

Please download and complete the RFP to apply. Applications are due by Monday, August 20, 2018 at 5PM and should be submitted by email to Kelly Morman.

If you encounter any technical issues with the RFP, please email Kelly Morman with any questions.

Please direct any questions to the Foundation for Appalachian Ohio at 740.753.1111 or email Kelly Morman.

Photos Courtesy of Prevention Action Alliance 

The Foundation relies on a variety of sources for its grantmaking resources that may vary in amount and duration from year to year. Budgets for the future year are established annually and the level of funding available in any given year is likely to fluctuate. For that reason, the Foundation’s activities are all contingent upon the availability of funding. Appalachian Ohio has long felt a philanthropy gap when compared to the rest of the state, and FAO is working to grow the permanent endowment dollars needed to provide sustainable, long-term funding through the Pillars of Prosperity – more information on this critical work can be found at www.AppalachianOhio.org/Pillars.