The Long Term Care Quality Improvement Initiative

Department of Health

The New York State Department of Health, through the Long Term Care Quality Improvement Initiative (LTCQII), is dedicated to improving the quality of the nursing home experience in New York State facilities. The LTCQII will support projects of long term care providers and others who will utilize grant monies, in addition to their own funds, to achieve sustainable improvements that will benefit nursing home residents. Applicants are encouraged to look at creative ways to use these funds. Projects must meet at least one of the following objectives which include: improving resident quality of life; improving the quality of care provided; improving the use of data in decision making; and improving cross-provider communication and information sharing. Contracts will be a maximum of 18 months, starting July 1, 2008, in length. Therefore, activities and an evaluation of their effect must be completed within that timeframe.

ELIGIBILITY:  All applicants must be currently licensed as a nursing home in New York State, and be certified as a Medicare/Medicaid provider; or if the applicant is not a nursing home, the applicant will have entered into a project that benefits nursing home residents in facilities certified as a Medicare/Medicaid nursing home provider in New York State.

FUNDING:  Individual grants of up to $45,000 will be awarded.

DEADLINE:  Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis beginning April 11, 2008 through May 5, 2008.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:  Contact Cathy Fiato, NYS Department of Health, Office of Long Term Care, Division of Residential Services, 161 Delaware Avenue, Delmar, NY 12054, or e-mail: kxf10@health.state.ny.us

New York Great Lakes Protection

Department of Environmental Conservation

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) is offering state assistance funding to conduct innovative projects that help to protect, conserve, restore, and enhance the Great Lakes resources in New York State. Preferred projects should bring together experts from diverse disciplines to conduct research, data collection and analysis, and public communication that informs or enhances current New York State management issues and processes. Projects should especially focus on the exchange of knowledge in the areas of toxic discharge control and elimination, contaminant remediation, and sustaining and enhancing the health of the basin’s floral, fauna and human elements of the Great Lakes ecosystem. Proposed projects must have a high probability of success and benefit the watersheds, communities or natural resources located within the geographic boundaries of New York State’s Great Lakes. Projects already receiving funds from other available New York State assistance programs for similar activities are ineligible for funding under this program. The DEC anticipates that a grant project should not exceed a two-year term. Where circumstances beyond a recipient’s control necessitate an extension of the project term, the DEC may consider up to two additional one-year term extensions at no additional cost. Applicants should note that this is a reimbursement grant program. It does not allow for any advance payment of funding.

ELIGIBILITY:  Not-for-profit organizations and corporations, local municipalities and academic research institutions.

FUNDING:  The minimum grant amount will be $15,000 and the maximum will be $100,000.

DEADLINE:  April 21, 2008.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:  Contact Donald Zelazny, Great Lakes Programs Coordinator, 270 Michigan Avenue, Buffalo, NY 14203-2999, or call (716) 851-7220, e-mail: glakes@gw.dec.state.ny.us.

Supported Housing for Persons with Serious Mental Illness in New York City

Office of Mental Health

This grant is intended to provide access to affordable, independent housing and support services based on the needs of adults with severe and persistent mental illness and who reside in New York City. Funding is available to provide rental assistance and support services, to serve individuals in the target populations which include but are not limited to chronically homeless single adults who have a serious mental illness or who are diagnosed as mentally ill and chemically addicted. Many recipients will be coping with co-occurring substance abuse disorders and be at various stages of recovery. Services provided by the sponsoring agency will vary, depending upon the needs of the recipient. Supported Housing staff should encourage and assist recipients to develop natural community supports, use community resources and pursue an individualized path towards recovery. Staff should also help the individual to establish a household and facilitate the resolution of landlord-tenant issues. It is expected that the need for services provided by the sponsoring agency will decrease over time as the recipient is more fully integrated in the community.

ELIGIBILITY:  Not-for-profit organizations which operate in New York City and have experience providing housing and/or mental health services to seriously and persistently mentally ill individuals.

FUNDING:  Contact the Office of Mental Health for funding information.

DEADLINE:  April 30, 2008.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:  Contact Christine Madan, Deputy Director, Office of Mental Health, New York City Field Office, 330 Fifth Ave, 9th Fl, New York, NY 10001-3101; or by e-mail at COCBCSM@omh.state.ny.us.

New York State Mentor Teacher Internship Program

Education Department

The New York State Education Department, through the Office of Teaching Initiatives, is offering this grant for the development and implementation of mentor teacher-internship programs in local school districts. Funding for this program is subject to yearly approval by the New York State Legislature. These programs enable experienced teachers (mentors) in a district to provide guidance and support to beginning teachers (interns) in their first or second year of teaching. Essential components of these programs include, but are not limited to: Joint development of these programs by school administration and local teachers’ bargaining agents, program focus on the mentor/intern relationship which develops through the project year, defined mentor selection process, including establishment of a mentor selection committee, mentor training, described activities for mentors, interns and principals as well as a final program evaluation.

ELIGIBILITY:  Public school districts and boards of cooperative educational services.

FUNDING:  This grant is for years 2008-2012. It is anticipated that funds totaling $10 million will be available for the initial year funding.

DEADLINE:  May 16, 2008.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:  Contact Nancy Brennan, Education Department Office of Teaching, 5N EB, State Education Department, Albany, NY 12234, or e-mail MTIPRFP@mail.nysed.gov, or call at (518) 474-4661.

Historic Preservation Grant Program

Preservation League of New York State

This grant program is being offered through Preserve New York, which is part of the Preservation League of New York State and the New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA). The Preservation League of New York State is a private, not-for-profit organization that works to protect and enhance the Empire State’s historic buildings, landscapes and neighborhoods. The New York State Council on the Arts is the state’s arts funding agency. The Preservation League and NYSCA have collaborated on this grant program annually since 1993. Projects which are eligible to receive funds include, but are not limited to: Historic structure reports for public buildings; historic landscape reports for municipal parks; and cultural resource surveys of downtowns and residential neighborhoods.

ELIGIBILITY:  Municipalities, including municipal housing authorities and housing development fund companies, and not-for-profit corporations and charitable organizations.

FUNDING:  Grants are likely to range between $3,000 and $15,000 each.

DEADLINE:  May 5, 2008.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:  Contact Preserve New York through their Website: www.preservenys.org. Prospective applicants should contact the Preservation League to discuss their projects and to request an application form.

. . . Grant Writing

Grantsmanship Center

The Grantsmanship Training Program is coming to New York: Buffalo, April 7-11, hosted by the Salvation Army. Another Grantsmanship Training Program will be offered in: Oriskany, November 3-7, 2008 hosted by the Cornell Cooperative Extension of Oneida County. The classes will be conducted by The Grantsmanship Center and are kept at a maximum of 30 participants. The cost is $875, which includes one-year enrollment in the TGCI Membership Program. A limited number of half-tuition scholarships are available to agencies with annual budgets of less than $300,000.

To register, or to apply for a scholarship, contact TGCI at (800) 421-9512 or visit www.tgci.com.

Foundation Center

The Foundation Center has scheduled the following free training opportunities during April 2008:

Grantseeking Basics:
April 3, 16, and 23
Attendees will learn how the Center’s resources can help make them more effective grantseekers. For beginners, this introduction to the library provides instruction in foundation research and identification of potential funders. A tour of the library will follow.

Proposal Writing Basics:
April 22
Attendees will learn about the basics of writing a proposal for their non-profit organizations.

Introduction to the Foundation Directory Online:
April 3, 16 and 24
This session provides a hands-on introduction to the Center’s comprehensive Web subscription database.

How to Approach a Foundation:
April 22
Attendees will learn how to initiate contact with potential funders; plan calls and meetings; and build partnerships with donors. This class is intended for fundraisers with some experience, though not necessarily with foundations.

Classes are held at The Foundation Center, New York Library, 79 Fifth Avenue, 2nd Floor in New York City. Space is limited and you can register on-line at www.fdncenter.org, in person, or by calling (212) 620-4230. You may also visit the Web site for information on other training opportunities available through the Center.