Brookdale Relatives as Parents Program

The Brookdale Relatives as Parents Program (RAPP)
Local Initiative – Year 2009

Guidelines
2009 RAPP Local and Regional Request for Proposals (RFP)
Introduction
The Brookdale Relatives as Parents Program (RAPP) aims to develop or expand services for
grandparents or other relatives who have taken on the responsibility of surrogate parenting when the
biological parents are unable to do so. Up to thirty local and regional programs will be selected
through this Request For Proposal (RFP) process from within the United States. Each selected
organization will receive a mini-grant of $10,000 over a two-year period ($6,000 and $4,000
respectively), contingent on progress made during year one and potential for continuity in the future.
On-going technical assistance will also be provided.
The deadline for the completed proposals is Thursday, December 4, 2008. Selected applicants will
be notified in April and are required to attend an Orientation and Training Conference to be held
May 1-3, 2009 in Denver, Colorado.
Goals of the Relatives as Parents Programs
• supportive services to relative caregivers and the children they are raising, with emphasis on
relative caregiving families that are not in the formal foster care system;
• start new or expand current services in response to caregiver and family needs;
• Services and assistance to relative caregivers and the children in their care must include regular
ongoing support, educational or social groups and at least two of the following:
- benefits and legal guidance - educational seminars
- individual and/or family counseling - health care services
- childcare - housing assistance
- children’s services - group recreational activities
- transportation assistance - services to special populations
- services with local schools - other programmatic initiatives
- mental health services
• establish collaboration with community organizations and other service systems such as family
services, child care, aging, education, legal, health care, mental health and extension services;
• initiate programs that have assurance of continuity beyond the two year grant period; and
• create replicable models of cost-effective, quality services across the region
General Guidelines for Local and Regional Sponsors
• The sponsoring organization must have a 501(c)(3) or equivalent tax-exempt status.
• The proposal should reflect responsiveness to all of the goals listed above.
• The sponsor must show linkages to other community agencies. Letters of support from
collaborating agencies should be included in the appendix of the proposal and reflect the kinds
of supportive services and activities they will contribute to this project.
• The sponsor must assign a senior staff member who will have overall administrative and
supervisory responsibility for the Program, and should also designate a person to serve as RAPP
Coordinator to manage the day-to-day operations.
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• The proposal must include a clear statement of how direct services will be provided to meet the
needs of relative caregiver families. It will not be sufficient to simply refer the
grandparents/relatives elsewhere for assistance.
• The seed grant must be matched 100%, either in-kind or in cash before the initiation of the
program. The source of matching financial support may be the sponsor, other community
agencies or public/private funds.
• The sponsor is responsible for the appropriate management of the seed grant and must comply
with the reporting requirements of the Foundation.
• Evidence of the ability to continue the program beyond the seed grant period should be included
in the project proposal.
• Applicants may apply for either the local or regional initiatives.

The Brookdale Foundation Group
The Brookdale Foundation The Glendale Foundation Ramapo Trust
950 Third Avenue, 19th Floor
New York, NY 10022