Flint ReCAST to Award Grants to Community Agencies that Support Trauma-Informed Youth Engagement

FLINT, Michigan — The City of Flint is excited to announce that a Request for Proposals (RFP) for the 2022 Flint Resilience in Communities After Stress and Trauma (ReCAST) Community Mini-Grant Program is now available. Mini-Grants will range from $5,000 to $25,000 with up to 12 grants being awarded.

Flint ReCAST seeks to promote resilience and equity through implementation of evidence-based violence prevention and community youth engagement programs, as well as linkages to trauma-informed behavioral health services. The goal of this program is for the greater Flint community to work together in ways that lead to improved behavioral and mental health, empowered community residents, reductions in trauma, and sustained community change.

“We are incredibly grateful to offer these mini-grants during a time when community organizations can really use the funds to support building resilience in Flint residents,” said City of Flint Chief Resilience Officer, Lottie Ferguson. “The ability to partner well with community organizations has been a hallmark of this administration and is increasingly necessary as we continue to move Flint forward.”

The Community Mini-Grant Program is seeking proposals from agencies implementing programs that use trauma-informed approaches to youth engagement and betterment. Proposals should have direct relevance to Flint youth and their families impacted by the Flint Water Crisis and relate to the two outlined RFP goals. Applicant organizations must be legally incorporated entities in the State of Michigan with 501(c)(3) status or be a project sponsored by a government agency or academic institution with a clear charitable purpose. Community-based organizations with a fiscal sponsor are also eligible to apply.

This round of mini-grantees will be selected differently than in previous years. In addition to a standard scoring review, Flint ReCAST is incorporating a robust community engagement process throughout the grant period to ensure projects are informed by community participatory budgeting and input. Therefore, all applications will be assessed by a ReCAST review committee for scoring and adherence to allowable program goals, and will be uploaded to www.flintrecast.org for the participatory budgeting process to take place through community voting. Part 2 of the application addresses this component of the selection process as it will be up to each applicant to “sell” their program to the community and seek support through votes on project merit and potential for community impact. More information about how you can participate in participatory budgeting will be available at www.flintrecast.org.

Interested applicants can access the RFP and submission template at www.flintrecast.org. Proposals must be submitted via email to [email protected] no later than Monday, February 14, 2022 at 1:00 PM EST.

Questions about the RFP process should be directed to Kristin Stevenson, Program Manager at [email protected] or (810) 232-2228 x257.

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