Capacity Building for American Indians Project

1. Capacity Building for American Indians Project American Indian Vocational Rehabilitation Grant Writing Essentials and Foundation Workshop November 17-18, 2009 Seattle, WA The contents of this PowerPoint presentation were developed under a grant from the Department of Education (Grant No. H315D050003). However, those contents do not necessarily represent the policy of the Department of Education, and you should not assume endorsement by the Federal Government.

2. Capacity Building for American Indians Project In collaboration with: San Diego State University – Interwork Institute Southern University Capacity Building Project This document is available in alternate format upon request. The contents of this PowerPoint presentation were developed under a grant from the Department of Education (Grant No. H315D050003). However, those contents do not necessarily represent the policy of the Department of Education, and you should not assume endorsement by the Federal Government.

3. Need for Project 5 points

4. Criterion • The magnitude of the need for the services to be provided or the activities to be carried out by the proposed project. • The extent to which specific gaps or weaknesses in services, infrastructure, or opportunities have been identified and will be addressed by the proposed project, including the nature and magnitude of those gaps or weaknesses.

5. Key words: 1. The magnitude of the need for the services to be provided or the activities to be carried out by the proposed project.

6. Explanation: • …focus on the purpose for which these projects are funded – to provide VR services that will enable American Indians with disabilities to achieve employment outcomes. • Barriers to the provision of VR services…can be described • Barriers to the achievement of employment outcomes…can be described

7. WHY is there a need for a vocational rehabilitation program on and near your reservation? HOW great is that need? How will you BOLSTER your case that your tribe is prepared to address the needs?

8. Why is there a need for an AIVR program on your reservation? • Is it because the state VR is not adequately providing culturally appropriate VR services? • Is it because the need is still there from previous grant years? • Is it because the data shows the need for services?

9. How great is that need? • Regionally: • What information can you use from the state VR to support your need for a tribal VR Program? • How many tribal members with disabilities are they serving? • How often does the state VR agency visit the reservation? • What are the prevalent disabilities? • What other federal or state resources are available or unavailable to your tribal members? • Locally: • What are the prevalent disabilities among tribal members? • What employment opportunities are available for individuals with disabilities? Or NOT available? • What is the consumer caseload? Or what is the anticipated caseload?

10. How will you bolster your case? Data requested include: disability type, age, sex &residency Receive information from: • Tribal VR program • State VR program • Indian Health Services (IHS) • High Schools, Colleges, or Tech Schools • Education Department • Diabetes Program Tribal Employment Rights Office (TERO) Grants and Contracts Office Treatment Centers Veterans Administration Other state and tribal programs that may serve the same population

11. Key words: 2. The extent to which specific gaps or weaknesses in services, infrastructure, or opportunities have been identified and will be addressed by the proposed project, including the nature and magnitude of those gaps or weaknesses.

12. Explanation: …provide information that shows the extent to which VR services are provided by State VR agencies to American Indians with disabilities in the geographic area to be served by the project.

13. Examples of gaps, barriers and weaknesses: • Barrier in transportation on and near the reservation • Lack of financial tribal resources to provide adequate and effective services for tribal members with disabilities • Lack of understanding of disabilities as an impediment to employment • Gap in transition services… high school to college/training or employment

14. Examples of gaps, barriers and weaknesses: • Lack of employment opportunities on or near the reservation • Barriers in accessible facilities for work, recreation, and home • Lack of coordination of services for tribal members with disabilities • State VR Agency limited or non-existent schedule to the reservation

15. This is the beginning of the rationale to fund your project... • and to fund it NOW. • Assure the peer reviewer that there is a plan for success/solution – • given the time and resources. • This section needs to be consistent • with your objectives.

16. Significance 10 Points

17. Criterion • The potential contribution of the proposed project to increase knowledge or understanding of rehabilitation problems, issues, or effective strategies. • The extent to which the proposed project is likely to build local capacity to provide, improve, or expand services that address the needs of the target population.

18. Key words: 1. The potential contributionof the proposed project to increaseknowledge or understanding of rehabilitationproblems, issues, or effectivestrategies.

19. Explanation: • Describe the extent the project will expand or improve the practice of VR for American Indians with disabilities. • Describe how proposed services and strategies, including services traditionally used by Indian tribes, will improve employment outcomes for American Indians with disabilities.

20. In the Need for Project you stated: • background information about the tribe, service area, and issues tribal members with disabilities are experiencing, • why your program should be funded now, • barriers to the provision of services and achievement of employment outcomes, and • provided the evidence (data/information) to support your need statement…

21. Nowyou will provide information about how the project will increase the KNOWLEDGE or UNDERSTANDING of REHABILITATIONproblems, issues, or concernsaffecting tribal members with disabilities

22. Some examples of rehabilitation problems or issues include: Lack of trained, licensed, or certified therapists or counselors Respite services Assistive living services Personal care assistance Assistive technology resources Recreation programs or services Support groups Transportation

23. Keep in mind… You may repeat or make reference to information previously stated in the Need for Project criteria. You are in essence re-stating the need and indicating the significance of your tribe administering its own VR program. The purpose of the program as you move from one criteria to the next criteria.

24. Key words: 2. The extent to which the proposed project is likely to buildlocalcapacity to provide, improve, or expand services that address theneeds of the target population.

25. Explanation: • Describe the extent the project will expand or improve the practice of VR for American Indians with disabilities. • Describe how proposed services and strategies, including services traditionally used by Indian tribes, will improve employment outcomes for American Indians with disabilities.

26. The term “capacity building” can be defined as: • a strategy that strengthens the tribal VR program. • an ongoing strategy that requires consultation and planning. • promotes advocacy and collaboration with community stakeholders, partner agencies, consumers, and family members. • Additionally, capacity building includes aspects of staff development, community training, and resource building, that clearly reflects the commitment of the program in furthering VR services for tribal members with disabilities. (definition by the CBAIP (wfr), 2007)

27. Impact of building local capacity: • Empowering and increasing the abilities, skills, and knowledge of consumers to engage in gainful employment • Increasing employment opportunities for consumers • Advocating for tribal leadership’s support to improve and expand consumer services and opportunities • Encouraging involvement of family members in consumer activities and advocating for community integration

28. How do you do this? • Outreach • Collaboration • Dissemination

29. Outreach • Individual basis • Promote program services • Personal appearances • Write articles in the tribal newspaper • Wear the tribal VR shirt • Group setting - Active participation at Chapter/Tribal Council meetings • Active participation at School Board meetings • Attend public forums on disability issues • Host an Open House

30. Collaboration • Disability awareness fairs • Joint presentations at the tribe, or at conferences • Co-sponsorship of activities • Partnerships with key stakeholders

31. Dissemination • Newspapers • Letters to the editor • Articles • Tribal Radio • Promotional material • Brochures • Business cards • Flyers • Posters • Website

32. This section shows how your project will contribute to the improvement of rehabilitation service provision on and near the reservation and building the partnerships to support the strategies proposed.

33. Quality of the Project Design 15 Points

34. Criterion • The extent to which the goals, objectives, and outcomes to be achieved by the proposed project are clearly specified and measurable. • The extent to which the design of the proposed project is appropriate to, and will successfully address, the needs of the target population or other identified needs. • The extent to which the proposed project will be coordinated with similar or related efforts, and with other appropriate community, State, and Federal resources. • The extent to which the proposed project encourages consumer involvement. • The quality of the methodology to be employed in the proposed project.

35. Key words: 1. The extentto which the goals, objectives, and outcomes to be achieved by the proposed project are clearly specified and measurable.

36. Explanation: • Describe the overall plan for the project and how the goals, objectives, outcomes, project design and methodology are directed toward the provision of VR services for the achievement of employment outcomes. • The overall project design should be compatible with the assurance statements made in response to the special application requirements at 34 CFR 371.21 (a)-(j). • Proposals should identify the measurable results expected to be achieved during each year of the project.

37. What is a GOAL? • A Goalis a broad and general statement of direction that may be a long-term plan, achievement, or desired impact of a program. • Direct correlation with need statement. • Make sure the goal(s) are similar to the funding sources goal.

38. Example: The goal of the XYZ Tribal Vocational Rehabilitation Program is to provide vocational rehabilitation services to American Indians with disabilities who reside on the XYZ reservation (and a 15 mile radius of the reservation), consistent with their individual strengths, resources, priorities, concerns, abilities, capabilities, and informed choice, so that they may prepare for and engage in gainful employment, including self-employment, telecommuting and business ownership.

39. What is an OBJECTIVE? • An objective breaks down a goal into short-term and specific action tasks to accomplish the goal(s). • An objective is a specific result measured in a specific amount of time. • Objectives need to be measurable and time-oriented. • Realistic and capable of being accomplished. • Addresses impact on population being served.

40. Remember… Objectives need to be SMART Specific Measurable Attainable Realistic Time bound

41. Example: Objective One: In Year One, provide VR services to 25 eligible American Indian consumers, with 2 becoming successfully employed. Objective Two: In Year Two, provide VR services to 30 eligible American Indian consumers, with 4 becoming successfully employed. Objective Three: In Year Three, provide VR services to 35 eligible American Indian consumers, with 8 becoming successfully employed. Objective Four: In Year Four, provide VR services to 40 eligible American Indian consumers, with 14 becoming successfully employed. Objective Five: In Year Five, provide VR services to 45 eligible American Indian consumers, with 22 becoming successfully employed.

42. Key words: 2. The extent to which the design of the proposed project is appropriate to, and will successfully address, the needs of the target population or other identified needs.

43. Explanation: • The overall project design should be compatible with the assurance statements made in response to the special application requirements at 34 CFR 371.21 (a)-(j). NOTE: the Special Application Requirements will be in a separate section of the proposal (Part IV in the Assurances, Certifications, and Disclosures)

44. How do you know… that the project design (goals, objectives, outcomes, and methodology) is appropriate to the needs of the tribal members with disabilities or the other needs that you may have stated? that the design of the project will successfully address these needs?

45. Some ideas to include: • A description of how the AIVR project will provide a broad scope of VR services comparable to State VR services. • 34 CFR 371.21 (a) • A brief assurance that the tribal VR program alone will determine eligibility and which VR services will be provided. 34 CFR 371.21 (b) • Determine if the project will provide VR services to all eligible American Indians with disabilities OR will provide a description of the order of selection, prioritized based on the basis of severity of disability. 34 CFR 371.21 (c) or (d)

46. cont. some ideas to include: • An assurance that the project will develop individualized plans for employment jointly with eligible tribal members with disabilities. 34 CFR 371.21 (e) • Explain how the project will ensure that opportunities will be provided for American Indians with disabilities to participate in the development and implementation of general policies. 34 CFR 371.21 (f) • Explain that the tribe has established a cooperative working agreement with State VR agency and that a copy is noted in the appendices. 34 CFR 371.21 (g)

47. cont. some ideas to include: • Explain how the project will use comparable benefits and services. 34 CFR 371.21 (h) • Provide the procedures for due process and include the policy and procedures manual for the project in the appendices. 34 CFR 371.21 (i) • Explain how the tribe and the project will ensure the use of qualified service providers. 34 CFR 371.21 (j)

48. Key words: 3. The extent to which the proposed project will be coordinated with similar or relatedefforts, and with other appropriate community, state, and federalresources.

49. Explanation: • In order to meet the needs of the target population, proposals need to describe collaborative arrangements with State VR agencies (as required at 371.21 (g)) and linkages with other appropriate community, State, and Federal resources. • Commitments of other organizations should be clearly documented, preferably in writing, and submitted with the application

50. Special Application Requirements Requirement of applicants to provide assurance statements in administering an AIVR project. • 34 CFR 371.21 (g)– Cooperative agreement with State VR agency • 34 CFR 371.21 (h)– Comparable services and benefits