Update on the IYSA Annual Business Meeting and Awards Presentation:
Indiana Youth Services Association (IYSA) deeply cares for the youth and their families of the state of Indiana. We are saddened by the illness, economic hardship and deaths caused by this pandemic. IYSA is grateful to be surrounded by people and agencies working tirelessly to help those in need. Our thoughts are with everyone during these unsteady, difficult times.
2020 has become a year of constant movement and flexibility. As of November 15th, IYSA’s Annual Recognition & Business Meeting has cancelled due to the current level of restrictions in the Indianapolis area. We want to do our part in keeping our agencies, youth workers and our partners safe during this pandemic.
However, until then we are working hard to create an announcement that recognizes the individual and agency winners in a fun and creative way. We are committed to honoring the award winners, as they have been so committed to this work, especially during these unusual times. We thank you for your patience in advance as we navigate how to make this moment special for all.
All good things come with time, please look for information of the announcement of this year’s winners early January 2021!!
The 2020 Youth Work Awards – Deadline for submitting nominations is Oct. 30th
Youth workers are often the unsung heroes of the youth within our communities. They have a direct impact on the lives of our youth and often wear many hats- mentor, educator, counselor, and friend. Indiana Youth Services Association (IYSA) is pleased to announce three new annual Youth Work Awards Please join us in honoring our colleagues in the field by nominating someone for these awards. By nominating, you are recognizing an individual who is improving and shaping the lives of youth and youth workers in our state. A monetary gift will accompany all IYSA awards.
RFP to Provide: Youth Service Bureau Services Response Due: October 23, 2020
Indiana Youth Services Association (IYSA), under contract with the Indiana Department of Child Services, is seeking proposals from Youth Service Bureaus for prevention of juvenile delinquency services. It is the intent of IYSA to solicit responses to this Request for Proposals (RFP) in accordance with Indiana Youth Services Association scope of work, proposal preparation section, and specifications contained in this document.
YSB Fund RFP 2021-23 (PDF)
Video
1503 RFP Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average award for a single agency? The individual agency awards range
from $37,000-$46,000.
Can an agency apply for more than one program and how does that affect the award amount received?
Yes, agencies can apply for more than one program. The funding amount received is based on a single agency award and the agency will then work with IYSA to divide the award amount among the proposed programs.
How is the funding allocation for awards determined?
DCS awards a set amount to IYSA for disbursement to the YSBs for prevention programs. This amount is divided by the number of accredited YSBs eligible to receive funding to arrive at a base amount. Once the grant proposals have been reviewed and scored, the average score will be calculated. The individual YSB scores will be compared to that base score to arrive at a percentage (higher or lower) which will be multiplied against the base amount to determine funding.
If the application is to be submitted electronically but the cover sheet form has to be signed in blue ink, how does the cover sheet form get submitted?
The cover sheet form, signed in blue ink, can be mailed separately to IYSA or can be color scanned and sent electronically with the rest of the application.
What qualifies as an evidence-based practice or program?
Any practice or program listed on the resources given in Attachment G qualifies as evidence-based. Additional source listings considered valid and reliable would include academic or professional organizations in fields related to youth services such as psychology, social work, juvenile justice and education. Evidence-based research typically includes verification and support from an objective third-party academic or professional source.
If the proposal includes more than one program for the upcoming year, am I committed to providing all of the programs in the proposal?
No, as mentioned before, the funding award is a single amount awarded to the agency. How the award is distributed through programs is determined by IYSA and the YSB jointly.
If the award is distributed among different programs of an YSB, can those funds be shifted between programs, if needed, at a later time in the grant year?
Yes, the YSB will work with IYSA to shift the funds so the agency is able to draw down as much of the award amount as possible.
Is there a page limit for the narrative portions of the RFP?
Yes, both the provider narrative and service narrative sections have page limits. See RFP instructions.
Is there a required format for the RFP?
No, there is no required format. However, following the outline and format of the Provider and Service Narratives and Budget Justification and Logic Model as they appear in the RFP instructions, Attachments C, D and E, is suggested.
Do the outcomes provided in the Service Standards and logic model apply to all prevention programs?
Yes, the outcomes were purposefully written to be broad enough to apply to all nine prevention programs implemented by the YSBs.
Can I obtain a copy of the RFP in Word format so I can modify the documents?
Yes, you can email Robin Donaldson at rdonaldson@indsyb.org for a copy of the RFP in Word format. However, please note: the application should be saved and submitted as a single PDF document.
How should we address reporting pre/post assessment data in the RFP when reporting on outcomes?
The only thing we will be looking at in terms of the past year’s outcomes is the rate of completion for the YSB funded youth. Due to COVID, we are using July 2018 – December 2019 data only. Any new YSBs will use the data from their first month of billing through December 2019. IYSA staff will look at the database reports to determine the rate of completion and assigning the points accordingly.
What is the date range used for outcomes?
July 2018 – December 2019. New youth who began services in 2020 are not included in the outcomes reporting percentage count due to the COVID pandemic and difficulty collecting post-outcome assessments.
How do I know if we have missing data on the IYSA database?
Unless otherwise notified by the IYSA Chief Operations Officer, you can assume all information in the database is up-to-date, as of June 30, 2020.
Are we committed to writing the RFP proposals for the programs we identified in the letter of intent?
No, you are no committed to write for the programs identified in the letter. The purpose of the letter of intent is solely to determine the number of agencies applying for funding.
Do we report on all agency programs?
You report on only the YSB funded program
Are we to use the outcomes on the RFP (Logic Model) or from the new Post test?
The outcomes on the Logic still work with the new outcome assessment tools, so you use the outcomes provided on the Logic model template.
Because we are introducing a new program through the currently funded program, do we need to do 2 proposals?
You do not write two proposals but you do need to answer the Service Narrative questions 2.a. – 2.f. and 3.a. and 3.c. for each program. Service narrative question 3.d. can be answered once for all proposed programs but be sure to mention all programs.
How do we report progress toward goals as requested in the Provider Narrative – History or Providing Quality Prevention Services section?
On the IYSA database reporting page, there are several reports that will allow you to determine your progress toward goals (Outcomes). Reports #19 and #20 provide a visual account of progress toward goals and Report #31 provides progress in percentages of change. As long as you report the number of youth served in the funded program for 2018-2020 and talk about the results from any of these reports, you will earn full credit for this portion of the RFP.
If we are to attach an organizational chart in the Provider Narrative does that count as one of the 5 pages allowed?
No. A separate org chart attachment does not count against the five-page limit.
Question about Budget: Item C. Indirect Costs: This would be the YSB percentage of the total agency’s cost for things like accounting services, etc.?
Yes, if the agency budget is a single program. For an agency with multiple programs, it would be the YSB % of the program, not the whole agency budget.
Are program incentives, such as gift cards, an allowable expense?
Yes, program incentives are an allowable expense, but for clients only.
What you need to know before sharing!
Media Inquiries:
Kenneth Allen
kallen@indysb.org
317-909-7159
There has been an increase in interest surrounding Human Trafficking, especially child sex trafficking, in recent weeks. The Indiana Trafficking Victims Assistance Program is grateful for individuals desire to share information on social media. However, before you share we ask you to consider: Why are you sharing this information, is it accurate information, do you know what resources are available to help in your community, do you know what Human Trafficking looks like in Indiana, especially your local area?
To properly combat the issue of Human Trafficking, keep in mind we must ensure we are sharing accurate information. As a community, we need to be careful when sharing posts on social media as many of these posts portray Human Trafficking in an incorrect and sensationalized way. This is damaging to work intended to stop Human Trafficking as well as triggering to victims/survivors. Not all awareness is good awareness.
The Indiana Trafficking Victims Assistance Program (ITVAP) focuses on issues related to Human Trafficking throughout the state of Indiana. The goal of ITVAP is to raise awareness of Human Trafficking, increase recognition and identification of victims/survivors and to develop a statewide network of service providers for trafficked youth. ITVAP is committed to educating any and all individuals on Human Trafficking and amending the sensationalized narrative that leads to misunderstanding about the topic and ultimately a lack of care for victims/survivors.
If you want to get involved in your community to combat issues of human trafficking contact your ITVAP regional coordinator to learn more about what human trafficking really looks like in most situations and about how you can help fight trafficking in your own community by asking what your community is doing and how to get involved. By working together, we can improve Human Trafficking in Indiana.
If you suspect a youth under 18 is being trafficked call:
The Indiana Child Abuse Hotline at 800-800-5556 and mention “Human Trafficking”
For anyone 18 and over contact:
The National Trafficking Hotline at 888- 373-7888 or text HELP or INFO to 233733 24 hour a day, seven days a week.
Additional information can be found at www.indysb.org/itvap
REGION 1
(219) 230-6797
Amie Rainfish: Lake, Porter, LaPorte,
Jasper, Newton, White, Pulaski and Starke
REGION 2
(574) 205-9497
Ian Hurst: St. Joseph, Elkhart, Marshall,
Kosciusko, Fulton, Cass and Miami
REGION 3
(574) 213-1502
Jeremy Greenlee: LaGrange, Steuben,
Noble, DeKalb, Whitley, Allen, Wabash
and Huntington
REGION 4
(317) 214-0905
Morgan Donatelli-Bow: Benton, Carroll,
Clinton, Fountain, Montgomery, Parke,
Putnam, Tippecanoe, Vermillion and Warren
REGION 5
(317) 361-2631
Jessica Herzog-Hall: Howard, Tipton,
Boone, Hamilton, Hendricks, Marion
and Hancock
REGION 6
(646) 580-7051
Laura Donatelli-Bow: Adams, Blackford,
Grant, Delaware, Henry, Jay, Madison,
Randolph, Rush, Wayne, Wells,
Bartholomew, Decatur and Shelby
REGION 7
(765) 343-9459
Elaine Banter (Bottomley): Sullivan, Vigo,
Greene, Brown, Clay, Owen, Morgan,
Monroe and Johnson
REGION 8
(812) 493-5999
Meagan Cothron: Scott, Jefferson,
Switzerland Ohio, Dearborn, Ripley,
Franklin, Fayette, Union, Jackson
and Jennings
REGION 9
(812) 204-4053
Christina Wicks: Daviess, Dubois, Gibson,
Knox, Pike, Posey, Spencer, Vanderburgh
and Warrick
REGION 10
(812) 267-2113
Sheila C. Bobay: Clark, Crawford,
Floyd, Lawrence, Martin, Harrison,
Perry, Orange and Washington
Lo que necesitas saber antes de compartir
Para publicación inmediata 21/8/2020
Consultas de los medios:
Kenneth Allen
kallen@indysb.org
317-909-7159
stas semanas ha habido un incremento en el interés acerca de la Trata de Personas (o Human Trafficking en inglés), especialmente Tráfico Sexual Infantil. El programa Indiana Trafficking Victims Assistance Program está agradecido con todos quienes comparten información en las redes sociales. Sin embargo, antes de compartir, te pedimos que consideres: ¿Porque estás compartiendo esto? ¿Es información real? ¿Conoces qué recursos tienes disponibles en tu comunidad?, ¿Sabes cómo se ve la trata en Indiana, especialmente en tu área?
Para combatir la trata de personas, debemos asegurarnos que la información que estamos compartiendo es real. Como comunidad debemos de tener cuidado con lo que compartimos en las redes sociales ya que mucha de esa información retrata la trata de manera incorrecta y amarillista. Esto daña el trabajo para detener la trata y también puede ser provocador y dañino para las víctimas y sobrevivientes. No toda concientización es buena concientización.
El programa Indiana Trafficking Victims Assistance Program (ITVAP) se enfoca en la trata de personas en el estado de Indiana. La meta de ITVAP es concientizar acerca de la trata de personas, ayudar a identificar víctimas y sobrevivientes y desarrollar una red estatal de proveedores para ayudar a la juventud traficada. ITVAP se compromete a educar a todos los individuos acerca de la trata y combatir toda narración sensacionalista que lleva a malos entendidos y falta de cuidados para las víctimas y sobrevivientes. Si te quieres involucrar para conocer como se ve la trata de personas realmente y combatir estos problemas en tu comunidad y contacta a tu coordinador regional ITVAP y pregunta ¿Qué están haciendo y cómo te puedes involucrar?
Si sospechas que un joven menor de 18 años está siendo traficado, llama a The Indiana Child Abuse Hotline al 800-800-5556 y diga “Human Trafficking”
Para mayores de 18 años: The National Trafficking Hotline al 888- 373-7888 or manda un mensaje de texto que diga HELP o INFO al 233733
Puedes encontrar mas información en www.indysb.org/itvap
Contactos regionales
REGIÓN 1
(219) 230-6797
Amie Rainfish
Lake, Porter, LaPorte, Jasper, Newton, White, Pulaski and Starke
REGIÓN 2
(574) 205-9497
Ian Hurst
St. Joseph, Elkhart, Marshall, Kosciusko, Fulton, Cass and Miami
REGIÓN 3
(574) 213-1502
Jeremy Greenlee:
LaGrange, Steuben, Noble, DeKalb, Whitley, Allen, Wabash and Huntington
REGIÓN 4
(317) 214-0905
Morgan Donatelli-Bow
Benton, Carroll, Clinton, Fountain, Montgomery, Parke, Putnam, Tippecanoe, Vermillion and Warren
REGIÓN 5
(317) 361-2631
Jessica Herzog-Hall:
Howard, Tipton, Boone, Hamilton, Hendricks, Marion and Hancock
REGIÓN 6
(646) 580-7051
Laura Donatelli-Bow
Adams, Blackford, Grant, Delaware, Henry, Jay, Madison, Randolph, Rush, Wayne, Wells, Bartholomew, Decatur and Shelby
REGIÓN 7
(765) 343-9459
Elaine Banter (Bottomley)
Sullivan, Vigo, Greene, Brown, Clay, Owen, Morgan, Monroe and Johnson
REGIÓN 8
(812) 493-5999
Meagan Cothron
Scott, Jefferson, Switzerland Ohio, Dearborn, Ripley, Franklin, Fayette, Union, Jackson and Jennings
REGIÓN 9
(812) 204-4053
Christina Wicks
Daviess, Dubois, Gibson, Knox, Pike, Posey, Spencer, Vanderburgh and Warrick
REGIÓN 10
(812) 267-2113
Sheila C. Bobay
Clark, Crawford, Floyd, Lawrence, Martin, Harrison, Perry, Orange and Washington
IYSA Scholarship Winner: Callie Main
Callie Main is one of the scholarship winners for the work she did to promote Make Good Decisions and the Indiana Lifeline Law at Batesville High School. Callie joined the Make Good Decisions committee this year and formed a small group at her high school, but they faced challenges initially because of similar groups in the area. However, this did not prevent Callie and her fellow students from creating fun ways to reach the students in her area. Callie lead her group to find unique ways to promote Make Good Decisions and spread awareness about the dangers of underage drinking. One event that she and fellow students established was a popcorn giveaway event. To promote the event her committee made posters and flyers, and they typed up information about Make Good Decisions and the Lifeline law to staple to the bags of popcorn. Posters were also placed on the tables so that people in line could learn while waiting. Additionally, Callie prepared a trivia game to play with the people waiting in line. Not many of the people participating were familiar with the Lifeline Law, so this was a fun and unique way to keep people entertained while also spreading education and awareness. The event was a huge success with all 300 bags of popcorn being gone and all attendees leaving educated about Make Good Decisions and the Lifeline Law.
Callie and her committee were also in the process of planning a game day in a local park to further spread awareness and education before COVID-19 occurred. Due to this, Callie was unable to hold the game day, but the plans for the event were still a fun way to engage kids and teenagers with information about underage drinking and prevention. Some of the games that would have occurred include a ball toss with goggles that simulate what it is like to be drunk, trivia focused on the symptoms and effects of drugs, and various competitive games to showcase how alcohol and drugs are not needed to have fun. Although this event was unable to occur, Callie did not let isolation stop her from trying to promote Make Good Decisions and the Lifeline Law in her community. She reached out to a local movie theatre and was granted permissions to put up a message on their marquis stating: “Suspect Alcohol Poisoning? Call or text 911. MGD IN LifeLine Law.” Callie truly appreciates the experience she has had educating and promoting awareness about underage drinking throughout her community.
IYSA Scholarship Winner: Lekha Durai
Lekha Durai is one of the scholarship winners for the work she has done in promoting Make Good Decisions at West Lafayette Junior/Senior High School. Lekha was the vice president of her school’s drug awareness club REACH, and through this club she created several events to promote Make Good Decisions and the Indiana Lifeline Law. One event that she promoted Make Good Decisions and the Lifeline Law at was an ice cream fundraiser at the school’s homecoming football game. This is a yearly event that REACH puts on, but she altered the event to bring awareness to underage drinking. Lekha designed stickers advertising the Lifeline Law to place on the ice cream cups. Additionally, the first 40 buyers received Make Good Decisions wristbands. When kids and teenagers bought ice cream they also received candy if they could explain the Indiana Lifeline Law; the law was also explained to those who were unfamiliar with its purpose and function.
Another way in which Lekha worked to promote Make Good Decisions and the Lifeline Law was through presentations given to eighth grade students. REACH members attended three health classes and taught the students about various topics including vaping, underage drinking, and marijuana usage. Lekha specifically created the slides used to teach the students about the Indiana Lifeline Law. This section of the presentation was taught subsequently with the presentation on underage drinking because of the relation between the two. Lekha made sure to include various aspects pertaining to the Lifeline Law in the slides she created. She made sure to explain how the Lifeline Law works and emphasized that underage drinkers will be protected if they cooperate. REACH educated the students on the dangers of underage drinking, but also wanted to make sure that if any of them were in such a situation that they would understand how the Lifeline Law works so they could stay safe. She also made sure to mention how the Lifeline Law can be used to protect victims of certain sexual crimes. To showcase how the law functions in real situations Lekha made sure to include a news segment from the Make Good Decisions website that explained how the Lifeline Law was used to save a student from Marian University.
One of the last projects Lekha worked on was creating a Prezi presentation focused on what REACH members did to promote Make Good Decisions and the Lifeline Law. This presentation was created to be shared with other schools so that they could see the work that REACH members did. This presentation also included additional project ideas to inspire other schools to host their own events.
Article: The impacts of racism from the Academy of Pediatrics
Please check out this article on the impacts of racism from the Academy of Pediatrics.
The Traumatic Impact of Racism and Discrimination on Young People and How to Talk About It
Why This Matters This chapter describes the pervasive negative effects of racism on youth development, as well as on their health and well-being, and the toll it exacts on families and communities who have been racially marginalized. Approaching the topic of racism may not be easy. It can generate empathy, concern, and compassion as much as it can stir defensiveness, anger, hostility, and a wide host of reactions that lie along this continuum. We each approach racism differently according to our lived experiences, self-awareness and critical consciousness, and position in our stratified society. Approaching racism requires us to bring our most compassionate and mindful selves, to suspend emotional reactivity so that we can remain open to viewing the world from the perspectives of others, and to remember that we belong to each other. This chapter, especially crucial in these times of heightened social division, invites all of us to put ourselves into other’s shoes, regardless of who we are, our individual origins, or where we come from. In so doing, we may come to recognize our habits of harm, find our pillars of strength, discover the ways to heal, and come to a deeper understanding of what it means to care for one another. Because we belong to each other.
COVID-19 Agency Resource Guide Now Available
Indiana Youth Services Association and it’s partners the Indiana Afterschool Network and 21st Century Community Learning Centers are committed to enhancing organizations’ ability to serve youth and families in need during the COVID-19.
The following guide is intended to be reference for agencies to use when helping families address the challenges they are facing during this time. It is not an all- inclusive guide but rather contains information in four areas:
Education and Enrichment
Social-Emotional Health
Food/Nutrition
Agency operations