HomeMy WebLinkAbout2.g. AmeriCorps Promis Fellows Initiative Grant (Add-On)CITY OF ROSEMOUNT
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY FOR ACTION
COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE: October 10, 2001
AGENDA ITEM: AmeriCorps Promise Fellows Initiative Grant
AGENDA SECTION:
PREPARED BY: Dan Schultz, Parks and Recreation Director
AGENDA NO. AJJ _ N
ATTACHMENTS: Grant - request for proposal
APPROVED BY:
The City of Rosemount is recognized as being a Community of Promise, thus making the City eligible to
apply for an AmeriCorps Promise Fellows Initiative Grant. The purpose of the Promise Fellows Program is
to increase youth access to the five promises of "America's Promise - Alliance for Youth." The five
promises are:
1. Mentor: On going relationships with caring adults- parents, mentors, tutors or coaches.
2. Protect: Safe places with structured activities during non - school hours.
3. Nurture: A healthy start and future.
4. Teach/Learn: Marketable skills through effective education.
5. Serve: Opportunities to give back through community service
If the City does apply for the grant and is awarded a fellow, the Parks and Recreation Department will work
together with Rosemount Middle School and Rosemount Partnership Program (RPP) to assist the fellow with
expanding the opportunities to introduce the five promises to Rosemount youth. The fellow might work with
existing programs such as Teen Night, teen field trips, skate park task force, after school activities at the
Family Resource Center (FRC), public achievement, job shadowing and volunteer opportunities.
The fellow would office at the Rosemount Community Center in the Parks and Recreation office and would
be supervised by the Director of Parks and Recreation. The cost for hosting a fellow would be $5,000, if we
receive a first year fellow and $8,000 if we receive a second year fellow. The City would also provide in-
kind services in the form of workspace, phone, copying, faxing and computer use. There is funding
available in the City's Crime Reduction Project Fund to cover these costs. This fund has been used with the
Crime Reduction grant and other grants secured by RPP.
If the Council feels this project would benefit our City's youth, the grant application would be turned in by
Friday October 19, 2001. Fellows would report to their host city on December 3, 2001.
RECOMMENDED ACTION \ NOTES:
Opportunity to host an AmeriCorps Promise Fellow
for one year at your organization!
MINNESOTA AMERICORPS PROMISE FELLOWS
2001 -2002
Request for Proposals
Proposals due October 19, 2001
Minnesota AmeriCorps Promise Fellows Request for Proposals
1
MINNESOTA AMEmCORPS PROMISE FELLOWS
2001 -2002
Request for Proposals
Table of Contents
Summary
3
Program Goals and Objectives
4
Overview of Program Structure
4
What Should a Promise Fellow Do and Not Do?
5
Understanding the Function of the Two Types of Promise Fellows
5
Partnership With the Department of Corrections
7
Promise Fellow Recruitment and Selection
7
Skills and Characteristics of AmeriCotps Promise Fellows
8
Personal and Professional Development of Promise Fellows
8
Program Monitoring and Reporting
9
Cash and In -kind Requirements of Host Organizations
9
Eligibility and Selection Criteria for Host Organizations
10
Application Instructions
11
How to Submit Your Application
13
For Assistance While Preparing Your Application
13
The Review Process
13
Attachment A: The Five Promises
14
Attachment B: Why the Five Fundamental Resources Matter
17
Promise Capacity Worksheet format
20
Pr_ oiect Timeline
Request for Proposals (RFP) available September 20, 2001
Proposals due 4:00 PM, October 19, 2001
Preliminary notice of selection decisions provided to applicants November 1, 2001
Host sites begin recruitment November 1, 2001
All Promise Fellows begin their year of service December 3, 2001
Minnesota AmeriCorps Promise Fellows Request for Proposals
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Summary
The Minnesota AmeriCorps Promise Fellows Initiative Grant is a program of the Minnesota Commission
on National and Community Service /Serve Minnesota in partnership with The Minnesota Department of
Children Families and Learning. The funds for this program are provided by the Corporation for National
Service through the AmeriCorps program and the State of Minnesota through the YouthWorks program.
The Promise Fellows program seeks to increase youth access to the Five Promises of "America's
Promise — the Alliance for Youth. " America's Promise is a national organization that mobilizes people
from every sector of American life to build the character and competence of our nation's youth by
fulfilling Five Promises for young people. In Minnesota, a statewide movement of committed
organizations, communities and individuals promotes the goals of America's Promise. This movement is
known as the Minnesota Alliance With Youth.
The Five Promises of America's Promise are:
1) Mentor: Ongoing relationships with 3) Nurture: A healthy start and future.
caring adults — parents, mentors, tutors, 4) Teach/Learn: Marketable skills through
or coaches. effective education.
2) Protect: Safe places with structured 5) Serve: Opportunities to give back
activities during non - school hours. through community service.
Please see Attachments A and B for additional information on the Five Promises.
Fifteen host organizations in Minnesota are sought to host a fulltime Promise Fellow for a period of
one year, beginning approximately November 15, 2001. Eligible host organizations are Nonprofit
Organizations, Indian Tribes, Local Governments, and Educational Institutions. AmeriCorps Promise
Fellows are committed, talented individuals who dedicate a year of their lives to building a better future
for children and youth. As part of this special partnership between AmeriCorps and America's Promise,
nearly 500 AmeriCorps Promise Fellows across the nation will spearhead community efforts to provide
young people with the Five Promises. The Promise Fellow granted to the organization will support the
organization's capacity to connect Minnesota's youth to the Five Promises. The cost of hosting a Promise
Fellow is $2,500 or.$5,000 plus in -kind contributions, payable by the host organization.
The Promise Fellows program is an AmeriCorps program. The Corporation for National Service was
established in 1993 to engage Americans of all ages and backgrounds in community -based service. The
Corporation supports three primary programs: "Learn and Serve America" for youth and college students;
"AmeriCorps" for young adults and adults (full or part-time service, sometimes described as the domestic
Peace Corps); and the "Senior Corps" engaging senior citizens in service. These programs provide
tangible benefits to local communities and foster civic responsibility in those who serve.
The Corporation for National Service works closely with America's Promise to support Promise Fellows
in each state. In Minnesota, approximately 700 AmeriCorps members serve Minnesota communities
through twenty programs. The Promise Fellows are one of these programs, supporting 15 Fellows. The
State of Minnesota provides matching funds to support all Minnesota AmeriCorps programs through
legislation called "YouthWorks." Therefore, in Minnesota, these programs are combined to form
"YouthWorks-AmeriCorps."
Promise Fellows are AmeriCorps members. Promise Fellows receive a typical AmeriCorps living
allowance of $13,000 for their year of service, plus an Education Award of $4,725 that can be used to pay
for college loans. Promise Fellows and supervisors will be trained in the AmeriCorps identity and the
Fellows and their organizational hosts are expected to support and promote this national service identity.
Minnesota AmeriCorps Promise Fellows Request for Proposals
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Program Goals and Objectives
The Promise Fellows program has thrived in Minnesota for three years. Moving into a new three -year
phase, the following goals will build on our past accomplishments and strengthen the program for the
future.
Connect more youth to the Promises: "We See Too Many Lives Untouched By Our E orts"
This need relates to both the numbers of youth who feel the impact of the movement, as well as the kinds
of youth who most need to be part of it and are not. We will increase the number of Communities and
Sites of Promise, and also work to engage youth who are otherwise disconnected from these efforts.
Ensure authentic I youth engagement in the movement
A statewide study lists a number of "critical successes" that allowed the movement in Minnesota to
achieve what it has to this point. It found "authentic youth engagement" to be the most important of these.
It is critical that this value be passed to the future of the movement in Minnesota and continued in the
Promise Fellow program as well. Great attention will be paid to ensure Fellows understand and can
articulate this value in their work, and host sites can support this.
Improve structures for communication and assessment
The Minnesota Alliance and Promise Fellows worked to develop 100 new Communities of Promise in the
past three years; new structures must be devised to support these Communities and others who see its
value and flock to the movement. Communication among these groups is essential to celebrate
accomplishments, build enthusiasm, share learning, and eliminate redundancies. Greater attention must be
paid to how outcomes from this work can be measured. A fledgling regional structure will be
strengthened through this new program, and a priority will be placed on assisting Communities and Sites
of Promise to use emerging tools for documenting their work.
Given the above goals for the next three years, measurable obiectives for the overall program in 2001 -02
are the following:
• Regional Fellows will increase the number of Communities of Promise by 18.
• Organizational Fellows will expand the capacity of eight organizations to deliver the Promises
to youth in all five Promise areas.
• A Promise Fellow Leader will formalize a system to document 100 Sites of Promise.
• Fellows will guide at least 40 juvenile offenders to Promise resources (by working directly with
the Corrections Transitions Team) as the youth transitions back to his home community.
Overview of Program Structure
The proposed program was structured to meet the needs of a movement that is three years old and has
experienced substantial growth in Minnesota. Eight Promise Fellows will be placed with eight
organizations to build organizational capacity in the five Promise areas; six Promise Fellows will be
placed in a region of the state serving as regional coordinators; and one Promise Fellow Leader will serve
to coordinate statewide communication among Fellows.
As in past years, Promise Fellows will be placed with organizations that wish to expand their capacity to
serve youth in the Five Promise areas. Organizations that have hosted a Promise Fellow for three years
Minnesota AmeriCorps Promise Fellows Request for Proposals
4
are not eligible to apply to host another Fellow unless the position description and outcomes for the new
Fellow are substantially different than in past years.
Six Fellows will be placed regionally, using an existing structure created by the Minnesota Initiative
Funds that divides the state into the following six regions: Northwest, Northeast, Central, West Central,
Southeast and Southwest. (Please see more information on the boundaries of these regions at:
http : / /www.mcknight.org/mif.htm.) The existing Communities of Promise, Commitment Makers, and
other partners in each region should work together to identify an appropriate host organization in their
region to host the Fellow. From this host, the Fellow will support the entire region, including the region's
existing and new Communities and Sites of Promise.
What Should a Promise Fellow Do and Not Do?
In all cases, Promise Fellows will follow a pre - determined position description (written by their host
organization) for their year of service. Promise Fellow roles must relate to the goals of this program and
contribute to achieving the program's measurable objectives (see above). See below for additional
information on what each type of Promise Fellow will be expected to do.
While Promise Fellows provide an exciting opportunity to get additional things done for the host
organization or region during their year of service, Promise Fellows may not do the following:
Promise Fellows may not displace other paid staff of the organization;
Promise Fellows may not perform secretarial functions for other staff;
Promise Fellows may not lobby politicians or organize voter registration drives;
Promise Fellows may not attempt to influence legislation;
Promise Fellows may not organize or engage in protests, petitions, boycotts, or strikes;
Promise Fellows may not assist, promote, or deter union organizing;
Promise Fellows may not engage in activities that have connections to religious instruction, religious
proselytizing, or maintenance or construction of facilities that serve a religious purpose.
These are prohibited activities while Promise Fellows are accruing hours that count towards their living
allowance and education award. However, a Promise Fellow can participate in activities of this nature on
their own time.
Understanding the Function of the Two Types of Promise Fellows
Organizational Fellows
Organizational Fellows will expand their individual host organization's capacity to offer services to youth
around all Five Promises. They will focus their energy on serving their one host organization and that
organization's partners and stakeholders. Organizations have the flexibility to establish a direction for the
Fellow that reflects their unique mission and circumstances. A new emphasis of the Promise Fellows
program requires all Fellows to focus on all five promises in their service. Therefore, all Fellows will be
trained to promote all five Promises in their service from the very beginning, as well as understand each
one and how to serve effectively and authentically with youth to provide them. Individual Communities
of Promise that wish to host a Promise Fellow should apply for an Organizational Fellow.
The host site for organizational Fellows is required to complete a worksheet as part of their application to
host the Fellow. This Promise Capacity Worksheet (see enclosed format) requires the organization first to
Minnesota AmeriCorps Promise Fellows Request for Proposals
5
do a self - assessment regarding each Promise. Applicants will list if and how they currently offer services
to youth in each Promise area and if the Promise is an organizational priority, measuring their
involvement on a five -level developmental scale. Applicants then determine the progress they hope to
make in each Promise during their future Promise Fellow's year of service. Each host organization should
strive to move up one developmental level in all five Promise areas. The completed Worksheet provides a
detailed blueprint for each organizational Promise Fellow as s/he begins her/his year of service. Progress
will be tracked through quarterly progress reports submitted by the organization reflecting on their
Worksheet progress in each report.
Summary of service tasks to be completed by each O anizational Fellow:
• complete activities aimed at achieving the organization's goals for expanding and deepening its
own capacity as detailed on its Promise Capacity Worksheet;
• promote the Five Promises, America's Promise and the Minnesota Alliance With Youth by
meeting and becoming familiar with partners, Sites of Promise, youth and staff;
• use a new statewide system to formalize Sites of Promise connected to the organization;
• offer support and resources available through the Alliance and America's Promise;
• promote the Five Promises to interested partners and sponsors of the organization by making
presentations, holding meetings, and following up on contacts;
• become trained in and promote use of assessment tools such as the Five Promises Checklist and
new Community of Promise Assessment Tool;
• update the Minnesota Alliance With Youth on -line Resource Directory with new or revised
resources related to the host organization;
• make referrals to juvenile offenders in the corrections system who are transitioning back to their
home communities (see details later in this document).
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Minnesota AmeriCorps Promise Fellows Request for Proposals
6
• create a structure for communicati in the region among interest ommunities of Promise and
others, advertise the structure and fa ' itate people coming to er for peer -to -peer training and
sharing of information, including at le one regional ring;
• become trained in and promote use of as ssment t such as the Five Promises Checklist and._.
new Community of Promise Assessment
• update the Minnesota Alliance With Yo o ine Resource Directory with new or revised
resources from the region;
• work with Corrections Tr n Team that will g e juvenile offenders in connecting to
Promise Resources ' Jr home communities in the r on (see details below).
Partnership with the Department of Corrections
Representatives from the Department of Corrections have worked with the Alliance to find ways to
connect the youth in the juvenile system to the Promises in Minnesota. Several short -term projects have
now taken place, involving incarcerated youth in home - building and peacemaking activities in
collaboration with Alliance partners. The maximum security facility for young men in Red Wing is taking
the groundbreaking step of becoming the first correctional facility in the nation to be a Community of
Promise. It is the desire of the Department of Corrections and the Minnesota Alliance With Youth to
connect young men from this facility to Promise resources in their home communities as they transition
back from incarceration at Red Wing. Promise Fellows will be asked to make referrals of community
resources to the professional Transition Team at the Department of Corrections to guide these youth to
Promise resources in the youth's hometown. Fellows will not be expected to work directly with these
youth; instead, they will play a bridge- building role between the Department of Correction's Transition
Team and the resources available in the youth's home community. Fellows will reference resources
through the on -line Minnesota Alliance With Youth Resource Directory and knowledge of their own
region or organization. The goal is that each Promise Fellow provide information for an average of two
incarcerated youth during their year of service. Fellows will be trained on this role in the beginning of
their year of service.
Promise Fellow Recruitment and Selection
Fellows will be recruited both by their host organization/region and the Program Director for the program.
Host organizations are expected to recruit aggressively through their networks and local media and refer
interested applicants to the Program Director. The Program Director will place ads in major state
newspapers, alert Alliance With Youth partners, and work with national AmeriCorps recruiting systems.
Applicants will participate in a two - tiered selection process. It is critical that applicants understand both
what it means to be an AmeriCorps Promise Fellow and what is needed, provided and expected by the
different host organizations. Therefore, applicants will first be screened and interviewed by the Promise
Fellow Program Director. If the applicant is a good fit for the program overall, the various host
organizations and their position descriptions will be discussed. The Program Director will refer strong
applicants to host organizations for consideration. Only after applicants have been interviewed and
accepted by both the Program Director and host organization supervisor will final decisions be made.
Minnesota AmeriCorps Promise Fellows Request for Proposals
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Skills and Characteristics of AmeriCorps Promise Fellows
For basic eligibility Promise Fellows must be:
• 18 years or older
• A U.S. citizen
Able to serve in a full time position (e.g., not a full time student or working elsewhere full time)
Interested in serving youth and the community
Desirable Characteristics and Skills
• Associate or Bachelor degree in community or youth development, education, or related field.
• Strong oral and written communication skills.
• Volunteer experience and desire to develop a strong ethic of service.
• Experience working collaboratively with youth.
• Commitment to positive youth development.
• Able to deal effectively with multiple tasks and competing deadlines.
• Self motivated, capable of effectively working independently without daily supervision.
• Has initiative to see and follow through with "next steps" that will need to be taken.
• Able to present oneself in a highly professional manner and be an ambassador for the program.
Personal and Professional Development of Promise Fellows
Supervision
An important part of each Promise Fellow's year of service is the opportunity to grow and develop new
skills. Each host organization must appoint one responsible Promise Fellow supervisor. Supervisors can
have a very strong influence on the success of the Promise Fellow's year. The supervisor in most cases
must be a fulltime employee with available time to effectively supervise and mentor the Promise Fellow.
The supervisor should be a professional with supervision experience and a sincere desire to make the
Promise Fellow's year successful. Once a supervisor has been identified at each host organization
(approximately the beginning of November), a meeting will take place to orient all supervisors to the new
program and review expectations. Supervisors will be involved in approximately four additional
meetings /events during the year where they will meet together with the Fellows for the purpose of
building partnership relationships and maintaining good communication and links to the AmeriCorps
Promise Fellow identity. In summary, Supervisors will be expected to participate in approximately six
meetings during the year related to this program.
Leadership Development Plan
Attention must be paid by host organization supervisors that opportunities are provided for personal and
professional development during the year. An important part of the development of each Minnesota
Promise Fellow will be the creation of an individual Leadership Development Plan. The Plan will outline
individual goals in four areas:
communication (verbal, written, effective relationships with partners and supervisors);
facilitation (running meetings, facilitative leadership, coordinating events, providing training);
authentic youth engagement (youth as leaders, youth -adult partnership, advisory groups);
ethic of service (life after AmeriCorps, "sustaining the soul of service")
The Fellows will begin to fill in their individual goals in each area during their initial orientation retreat,
and will be asked to finalize their Plan with their supervisor. The supervisor can help engage the Fellow
Minnesota AmeriCorps Promise Fellows Request for Proposals
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in activities throughout the year to build on her/his goals. Progress on the plan will be a required part of
the quarterly progress reports submitted by supervisors and Fellows.
Trainings and Meetings
All Fellows will attend an Orientation Retreat offered in the first few weeks of their year of service.
Topics to be covered at this first retreat include: introduction to the Promise movement nationally and in
Minnesota; serving as an AmeriCorps member; general expectations for the year; prohibited activities;
introduction to reporting/tracking requirements; introduction to the Five Promises; overview of available
resources; introduction to working authentically with youth; and crafting a Leadership Development Plan
A primary focus of this retreat will be team - building and developing positive relationships among
Fellows.
Once Fellows have served at their host organizations for several weeks, a second retreat will take .place.
At this retreat, information will be provided in greater depth related to the Promises; the Promise
Capacity Worksheet; Alliance objectives and reporting requirements; using the Five Promises Checklist
and Community of Promise Assessment Tool; making referrals for corrections system youth; and working
authentically with youth. Developing relationships among the Fellows will be pursued so they can begin
to use each other as resources.
Each month after the second retreat, Fellows will gather to participate in a half -day meeting hosted by the
different host organizations. Each gathering will have a specific content area focus (such as assessment
tools, service in a particular Promise, authentic youth engagement, facilitative leadership, etc.) and will
also allow time for updates and team - building activities. In addition, AmeriCorps events at which the
Fellows will gather include the AmeriCorps Launch, Make a Difference Day, Mid -Year Conference,
Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service, National Youth Service Day, and the AmeriCorps End -of -Year
Celebration. Two Fellows will also meet regularly as representatives on the Alliance Coordinating Team.
Program Monitoring and Reporting
Monitoring will take place via three methods; quarterly progress reports, monitoring visits and monthly
meetings of the Fellows (and sometimes supervisors). The Supervisors from the host organization will be
required to write the majority of the quarterly progress reports. Each progress report will require
information in areas such as progress toward Promise Capacity Worksheet goals, Leadership
Development Plan goals, primary activities, objectives, challenges and feedback on the program. In
addition, Promise Fellows will keep track of their daily activities through forms provided by the program.
The Program Director will make at least one in- person monitoring visit to each site to meet with the
supervisor, Fellow and others about the progress being made. Finally, informal contact and observation
of Fellow and Supervisor relationships, accomplishments, etc. will be made by the Program Director at
monthly meetings.
Cash and In -kind Requirements of Host Organizations
All host organizations will receive a grant from the program to cover the living allowance and FICA for
their Promise Fellow. Promise Fellows are provided with $13,000 annually as a living allowance (second
year Fellows receive a higher living allowance of $16,000and the difference is paid by the host
organization). The organization must have the administrative systems in place to distribute the Fellow's
living allowance on a monthly or bi- monthly basis, as if the Fellow is an "employee, " not a contractor.
Minnesota AmeriCorps Promise Fellows Request for Proposals
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Organizations must also cover their Fellow's Worker's Compensation expense. Promise Fellows' health
insurance with be coordinated and paid directly by the central office of the Promise Fellows program.
Host organizations are required to help offset the cost of the Promise Fellows' living stipend, health
insurance, training and program administration by providing a cash payment to the program. Host
organizations for Organizational Fellows are required to pay $5,000 (or $8,000 if the selected Fellow is
in her/his second year as a Fellow). Host organizations for Regional Fellows are required to pay $2,500
(or $5,500 if the selected Fellow is in her/his second year as a Fellow). Regions may collaborate among
various communities and organizations to provide this payment, but the host organization is responsible
for collecting and submitting the total payment. Payment plans may be negotiated with the Minnesota
Commission on National and Community Service if the full payment is not available at the start of the
program.
In addition to the cash payment, all host organizations must provide their Fellow with the following:
✓ coverage under organization's worker's compensation policy
✓ personal workstation/desk
✓ office supplies
✓ access to a computer with current software
✓ individual internet account
✓ technical iupport for computer
✓ telephone with personal voicemail
✓ mileage reimbursement for required trainings
✓ local travel necessary for conducting service activities
✓ parking permit or bus pass if necessary
Eligibility and Selection Criteria for Host Organizations
Host organizations will be assessed according to the following criteria:
• Ability and enthusiasm to deliver all Five Promises
• Status as Commitment Maker, Community of Promise, Coordinating Team member, or track record
in supporting the Promise movement
• Interest and ability to meet program objectives
• Quality of goals created for the Promise Capacity Worksheet;
• Ability to ensure that a high - quality supervisor will be assigned for the Fellow
• Ability to provide professional development experiences for the Fellow
• Commitment to provide office space and access to necessary equipment for Fellow
• Ability to pay required cash and in -kind matches.
In addition, please follow all requirements of the application process below in order to submit a complete
and acceptable application.
Minnesota AmeriCorps Promise Fellows Request for Proposals
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Application Instructions
Applications must arrive by 4:00 PM on Friday, October 19, 2001.Only applications that follow the
instructions below will be reviewed.
Applications must include items 1 - 5 below (Appendices are optional) and must follow the page limits
and specific instructions for each section.
Title Page (limit one page)
Proposal Narrative (limit 5, double- spaced pages)
3. Completed Promise Capacity Worksheet only for Organizational Fellows (limit 2 pages)
4. Completed Promise Fellow Position Description (limit one page)
5. Cash and In -kind Support Narrative (limit one page)
6. Appendices optional (limit 5 items)
1. Title Page (limit one page)
Create a Title Page that includes the following:
❑ Organization name
❑ Organization Tax Identification Number (FEIN)
❑ Contact person's name, title, address, phone, fax, email
❑ Projected supervisor's same information if different than the contact person
• Indicate if request is for a Regional or Organizational Fellow
• Executive Summary paragraph listing the primary reasons you request a Fellow, key Fellow
objectives and activities for the year, etc.
❑ Regional Fellow requests only: List the name of your region and the regional partners (if any)
involved in preparing the application, in addition to the host organization.
❑ Include the following statement, followed by a signature and date from a person with the authority to
commit funds on behalf of your organization. "I commit [fill in organization name] to actively
participate in the AmeriCorps Promise Fellows program by supporting and supervising an
AmeriCorps Promise Fellow for one year, paying the cash and in -kind costs for the program, and
allowing full participation by the Promise Fellow's supervisor in all required meetings and activities."
2. Proposal Narrative (limit 5, double - spaced pages)
The Proposal Narrative should address each area below in order. Please letter the sections of your
Narrative to correspond with the areas below. The percentage in parenthesis refers to the relative weight
of each section in the review process.
A. Context and History (20%)
Why do you hope to host an AmeriCorps Promise Fellow? What should we know about your
organization, community and/or region? What is your previous and current relationship to America's
Promise and the Minnesota Alliance With Youth? If you have hosted a Promise Fellow in the past,
please briefly describe what was achieved by your previous Fellow(s) and why an additional Fellow
is requested.
Minnesota AmeriCorps Promise Fellows Request for Proposals
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B. Primary Outcomes and Activities (30%)
What do you hope will happen after hosting a Promise Fellow for one year? Please list your 1 - 3
primary outcomes for the Promise Fellow during his or her year of service. These should be
measurable, realistic and important. After each outcome, list the activities you expect the Promise
Fellow to participate in to achieve the outcome.
C. Links to Program Goals and Objectives. (15 %)
Refer to the section of this document listing the overall program goals and objectives for 2001 -2002.
How will your goals for the Promise Fellow contribute to the program meeting its overall goals and
objectives?
D. Supervision and Development of the Promise Fellow (20 %)
Describe how and by whom the Promise Fellow will be supervised. What structures are in place at
your organization to contribute to a successful year for the Fellow? What personal and/or professional
activities, in addition to those provided by the program, will be offered to your Fellow?
E. Sustainability of Promise Fellow Activities (15 %)
After your Promise Fellow's year of service is complete, what programs, structures, etc. will remain
to sustain the work of the Fellow?
3. _Completed Promise Capacity Worksheet (limit 2 pages) only for Organizational Fellows
See enclosed example of a Promise Capacity Worksheet. You should recreate a version of this worksheet
on your computer. List programs and examples that illustrate why you chose your current level. One level
above your current level, list programs and examples that illustrate the progress you hope to make after
hosting a Promise Fellow for one year. This information should correlate to the Outcomes and Activities
you described in your Program Narrative. (When re- creating the worksheet, you do not need to re -type
every word, just the headers and basic format are required).
4. Completed Promise Fellow Position Description (limit one page)
Enclose a Position Description for the Promise Fellow position with your organization or in your region.
20% of the Promise Fellow's time may be spent on professional development experiences. This Position
Description should be written so that it can be sent to external audiences for posting and advertising your
position. Note to Regional host organizations: The majority of your Promise Fellow's time must be spent
on activities benefiting the entire region. Less than 20% of the Fellow's time can be directed toward
activities that primarily benefit your own organization.
5._ Cash and In -kind Support Narrative (Limit one page)
Please describe the sources that will be used to fund your cash ($2,500 or $5,000) contribution and what
types of in -kind support will be provided. Please reference the "Cash and In -kind Requirements for Host
Organizations" section of this document for expectations.
6. Appendices optional (limit 5 items)
You may attach up to five items as appendices that clarify or strengthen your application. Appendices are
not required.
Minnesota AmeriCorps Promise Fellows Request for Proposals
12
How to Submit Your Application
Please make sure your application consists of sections 1 - 5 above (Appendices are optional; Promise
Capacity Worksheet only required for Organizational Fellows).
Submit one original and five copies (please make enough copies of Appendices and attach them to the
proposal copies if you want them shared with reviewers). To conserve paper, please make copies double -
sided.
Your complete application must arrive by 4:00 PM CDT on Friday, October 19, 2001. No emails or faxes
will be accepted. Applications sent by U.S. Mail should be sent with sufficient time to be processed and
arrive; the applicant is responsible for making sure the application arrives in time. Using a time - sensitive
delivery service or hand - delivery is recommended. Send applications to:
Minnesota Commission on National and Community Service
Attn: Audrey Suker
1500 Highway 36 West
Roseville MN 55113 -4266
(651) 582 -8367
For Assistance While Preparing Your Application
It is reasonable that all your questions may not be answered by these guidelines. You are encouraged and
welcomed to ask questions during the preparation of your application. Telephone consultation is
available. Proposal drafts cannot, however, be reviewed.
For all technical assistance questions, contact:
Carter Hendricks, 651 -582 -8307 or carter.hendricks @state.mn.us
For questions specific to the costs/budget, contact:
Joshua Bunker, 651 -582 -8326 orjoshua.bunker@state.mn.us
The Review Process
A group of reviewers will read all applications and make final contract decisions. Each section requested
in the application will be carefully considered. Proposals will be rated and scored based on overall fit with
program goals, ability to provide an excellent environment for the Fellow, ability to provide required cash
and in -kind contribution, overall clarity of proposal ideas, and other considerations referenced in this
document.
Minnesota AmeriCorps Promise Fellows Request for Proposals
13
Attachment A
The Five Promises are:
1. Caring Adults
Promise One: Ongoing relationships with caring adults - parents, mentors, tutors, or coaches
Communities need to provide all young people with sustained adult relationships through which they experience
support, care, guidance, and advocacy. Caring and connectedness within and beyond the family consistently are
found to be powerful factors in protecting young people from negative behaviors and in encouraging good social
skills, responsible values, and positive identity.
Ideally, youth develop sustained connections with:
• Parents or other caregivers.
• Extended family members.
• Neighbors and other adults that youth see in their daily lives.
• Adults who spend time with youth through schools and programs, including coaches, teachers, mentors,
childcare workers, youth workers, and employers.
While all these relationships are important, most youth do not experience this web of adult support and care beyond
their families.
2. Safe Places
Promise Two: Safe places with structured activities during non - school hours
Young people need structure, and they need to be physically and emotionally safe. Providing safe places and
structured activities has many benefits both to young people and society. This promise can:
• Connect youth to principled and caring adults.
• Nurture young people's skills and capacities, including social skills, vocational interests, and civic
responsibility.
• Protect youth from violence and other dangerous or negative influences.
• Create a peer group that exerts positive influence on each other.
• Provide opportunities for children and youth to contribute to their community and society.
• Enrich young people's academic performance and educational commitment.
Research consistently affirms the value of those opportunities. Yet far too many children and adolescents do not
have ongoing access to this critical support.
3. Healthy Start
Minnesota AmeriCorps Promise Fellows Request for Proposals
14
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• Religious congregations • Family volunteering
• Neighborhood teams a Youth organizations
• Service clubs • Schools
Though service by youth is often "packaged" as a single program run by an organization or social institution,
promoting service as a lifelong commitment is enhanced when youth participate at many ages, through multiple
avenues, and when opportunity is given to reflect on the act of service - hence, the term service - learning.
An emerging body of research suggests that service - learning experiences enhance self - esteem, a sense of personal
competence and efficacy, engagement with school, and social responsibility for others. With appropriate training
and support, there are hundreds of different types of service young people can perform in their communities. Just as
important is to remember that youth are much less likely to volunteer if they are not asked.
Minnesota AmeriCorps Promise Fellows Request for Proposals
16
Attachment B
"We cannot provide all our young people with idyllic childhoods, as much as we would like to do so. But
we can — and we must- provide them with the minimum requirements they need to grow up into self -
supporting and contributing members of society. We do this by keeping the Five Promises. "
Why the Five Fundamental Resources Matter
Why the Five Fundamental Resources Matter:
A reassessment of the Evidence
Peter L. Benson, President, Search Institute
Gary Walker, President, Public/Private Ventures
Apri127, 1998
The April 1997 Presidents' Summit for America's Future provided a national call to action. As a result, many
communities across the country, with the support of America's Promise - The Alliance for Youth, are now
mobilizing local social and economic capital to provide children and adolescents with five fundamental resources:
• caring adults;
• safe places and structured activities;
• a healthy start for a healthy future;
• marketable skills;
• and opportunities to give back through service to one's community.
At first glance, these resources seem so ordinary and common - sensical that it is easy to simply acknowledge their
importance and then move on to other priorities. Yet, these five resources contain within them the seeds for a
national movement capable of advancing the health and well -being of the next generation.
For starters, they break with what is now a 30 -year American habit of focusing on young people's problems only
after they've become crises. We've spent a lot of energy and resources on creating programs to fix problems, without
great results. So we've been sputtering the past few years over what to do next. Yet most of the proposals that have
gotten attention -from "comprehensive, integrated and individually tailored services," to "get families to do a better
job at raising their kids" -are not well -tuned to today's economic, political and social realities, or they're too little too
late. Furthermore, the traditional focus on problems and their reduction tends to place a lot of power and
responsibility for change within the hands of professionals and the public sector.
The five fundamental resources accent a series of developmental resources which should be promoted. This
important change in language shifts some of the power and responsibility to communities, and the residents, leaders,
and systems within them. The five resources encourage individuals, families, neighborhoods, religious institutions,
schools, youth organizations, different levels of government, and corporations to take responsibility and get
involved. Additionally, the five resources can become an over - arching community vision which unites all of these
actors and places them on the same team, moving in the same direction. Indeed, we have seen evidence of this
urtiting capacity of the five resources in communities across the country.
Let us be clear: these five fundamental resources are important for all youth, but they are not the only things that
matter. If this country is to truly turn the tide, we must also pay attention to economic justice, the elimination of
threats to healthy development (e.g., family violence, abuse, racism, danger in neighborhoods and school), and the
effective transmission of core human values (e.g., caring responsibility, integrity, citizenship). All of these things are
important. But increasing access to the five fundamental resources touted by the Summit is a sound and practical
Minnesota AmeriCorps Promise Fellows Request for Proposals
17
place to start. Success in these areas can help unleash the additional energy and commitment needed to tackle gther
issues.
New Evidence
As social scientists working in the fields of child and adolescent development, we think there is compelling evidence
for investing the nation's energy in dramatically increasing access to the five fundamental resources. As we continue
to monitor research from America's universities and research centers, we see additional evidence that buoys our
confidence in and commitment to mobilizing community action around the five resource vision. In brief, this new
evidence suggests the following:
FROM AT -RISK YOUTH TO ALL YOUTH
Research continues to show that these kinds of positive resources have important developmental consequences for
this nation's most vulnerable youth. Expanding the access of at -risk youth to the five resources should, of course, be
a top priority. But emerging evidence suggests there is a widespread lack of these resources among many American
youth. Across a number of studies, we see that it is becoming commonplace -even normative -for middle school and
high school students to lack engagement with after - school clubs, teams, and organizations; to lack access to long-
term caring adult relationships outside of one's family; and to engage only sporadically - -if at all - -in serving one's
community.' Add this to the evidence that millions of children lack adequate health care and are uninsured and the
mounting awareness of the disconnection between learning and work, we can see that our society does not
adequately provide core developmental resources for many of our young.
We are also beginning to see evidence which indicates that many youth with early deficiencies in these fundamental
resources not only do not "make up" for them as they grow older, but in fact get fewer and fewer of these vital
nutrients. A recent P/PV study of youth resources in three urban neighborhoods shows that older teenagers had
fewer of these basic resources than did their younger counterparts. As negative opportunities grew, positive counters
declined -a situation with predictable outcomes.
THE CUMULATIVE POWERS OF ALL FIVE RESOURCES
New research also shows that developmental strengths and resources such as those captured in the five fundamental
resources have an additive power. That is, the more the better. Access to three of the resources, for example, is better
than having access to one. And access to all five is particularly powerful. This line of reasoning is supported by a
new study of 99,000 public school 6th -12th grade students across the United States. As the number of
developmental assets (or resources) increases in a young person's life, two important trends are seen. First, multiple
forms of health- compromising behavior decrease dramatically, including alcohol, tobacco, and other drug use,
violence, anti - social behavior, attempted suicide, and driving and drinking. And, as the number of assets or
resources increases, multiple forms of thriving increase, including school success, affirmation of diversity, and
optimism for the future.
These relationships between positive developmental experiences and youth outcomes hold across many
demographic variables, including race/ethnicity, age, gender, geography and community size. The point: the more
developmental resources, the better for all youth.
CONNECTEDNESS
In September 1997, the first report of the new National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health was released.
Supported by a coalition of 18 federal agencies, this important study addresses the question of what factors protect
youth from harm. The initial answer has to do with the theme of connectedness -that is, the degree to which youth are
deeply bonded to families, schools, and communities. As such connectedness increases, reductions are seen in many
forms of high -risk behavior.
Who are the agents of connectedness for America's youth? From this study, we know that they include parent and
teacher. But they can also include adults and peers in other settings, including youth organizations, religious
institutions, neighborhoods, and places of employment. A recent study of the Big Brothers Big Sisters program
showed that at -risk adolescents with mentors, when compared to a control group, were 46 percent less likely to start
using drugs, 27 percent less likely to start using alcohol, 52 percent less likely to miss school, and 33 percent less
Minnesota AmeriCorps Promise Fellows Request for Proposals
18
likely to commit acts of violence at school. Additionally, school grades increased for youth with mentors. These
effects are enhanced when the relationship is long -term and the one -to -one interaction is frequents
A recent portrait of adult attitudes about youth gives us pause. In a 1997 poll of adults, it was found that most view
today's youth with misgiving and trepidation, viewing them as undisciplined, disrespectful, and unfriendly. These
attitudes are a source of disconnecting, depriving too many youth of forms of support, belonging, and engagement
within their communities.
SHARED VISION
The five fundamental resources can and do become a community -wide vision capable of uniting citizens and
organizations to take collective action. A recent University of Chicago study shows the power of this kind of shared
vision. The question addressed was: in 343 neighborhoods across Chicago, what factors explain the level and
severity of violent crime? Traditionally, social scientists have fingered demographic factors such as the
concentration of poverty and residential stability. However, a deeper analysis suggests an important lesson about
social cohesion. Violent crime in neighborhoods is dramatically reduced when neighbors come together and
establish a unified commitment to protecting the children within their midst. This social norm, this commitment to a
shared vision, increases responsibility, accountability, and action.
CHANGE IS POSSIBLE
Interest in uniting communities to invest additional energy in the positive development of youth is on the rise. We
see evidence of this in a variety of recent foundation and government reports. More importantly, there is emerging
evidence that communities can successfully unite and mobilize to provide "safe passage" for youth into adulthood. 8
What appears to be critical is a widely embraced commitment to positive child and adolescent development
combined with careful planning and the meaningful engagement of all community sectors.
We have a challenge before us: how to ensure that all of our young matter, belong, and contribute. We suggest that
the evidence is mounting that the five fundamental resources put us on the right track.
1 Benson, P.L. (1997). All kids are our kids: What communities must to do raise caring and responsible children and
adolescents. San Francisco: Jossey -Bass.
2 Sipe, C. (1998). Resources for youth: A profile of three neighborhoods. Philadelphia: Public/Private Ventures.
3 Benson, P.L., Leffert, N., Scales, P., & Blyth, D.A. (in press). Beyond the "village" rhetoric: Creating healthy
communities for children and adolescents. Applied Developmental Science.
4 Resnick, M.D. et.al (1997). Protecting adolescents from harm: Findings from the National Longitudinal Study on
Adolescent Health. Journal of the American Medical Association, 178(10), 823 -832.
5 Tierney, J.P., & Grossman, J.B. (1995). Making a difference: An impact study of Big Brothers/Big Sisters.
Philadelphia: Public/Private Venture.
6 Farkas, S., & Johnson, J. (1997). Kids these days: What Americans really think about the next generation. New
York: Public Agenda.
7 Sampson, R.J., Raudenbush, S.W., & Earls, F.C. (1997). Neighborhoods and violent crime: A multilevel study of
collective efficacy. Science, 177 (August 15,), 918 -924.
8 Dryfoos, J.G. (1998). Safe passage: Making it through adolescence in a risky society. New York: Oxford
University Press.
Minnesota AmeriCorps Promise Fellows Request for Proposals
19
Minnesota Promise Fellows Application 2001 - 2004
Promise Capacity Worksheet Host Organization Name:
ddte created:
check one: _ initial assessment _g oals statements — progre ss report final report
On -going
Relationships With
Safe Places
with Structured
Healthy Start
Marketable Skills
Opportunities to
Caring Adults
Activities
and Future
through Effective
Give Back through
Level 5:
Education
Service
Many opportunities and many youth
engaged. This Promise is prominent
in organization's literature, planning,
staff responsibilities and
programming. Youth and adults
serve in equal leadership roles.
Level 4:
Some opportunities exist and many
youth participate. This Promise
exists, but not prominently, in most
organization literature, planning,
staff responsibilities and
programming.
Level 3:
Some opportunities and a small
Organizations will
g
number of youth involved. This
use these spaces to
Promise exists in a few limited ways
describe their
in the organization's literature,
current activities
planning, staff responsibilities and
that place them at a
programming.
particular Level.
Level 2:
A commitment exists to the spirit of
this Promise. However, no programs
or opportunities exist. No youth are
engaged in this Promise.
Level 1:
No commitment to or understanding
of this Promise exists.
MENTOR
PROTECT
NURTURE
TEACHILEARN
SERVE