Caregiving

Request for Proposals: 2010 Community College Caregiver Training Initiative

A Partnership of the International Longevity Center–USA
and the Schmieding Center for Senior Health and Education

Purpose

The International Longevity Center and the Caregiving Project for Older Americans, with support from MetLife Foundation, invites proposals from community colleges and other 2-year institutions under the 2010 Community College Caregiver Training Initiative. The purpose of the initiative is to encourage the development of new and novel programs to train both family caregivers and in-home care workers, promote skill development, advance the quality of care, and provide opportunities for career development.

The caregiver training program awards under this initiative may either be to fund a new program or for building upon existing programs. Up to 13 grants of up to $15,000 will be awarded.

Background

Finding affordable, quality care is a major issue in the United States. The available pool of family caregivers is shrinking, and at the same time, the caregiving profession is experiencing a severe and worsening shortage of paid caregivers.

Many people who need long-term care prefer homecare services over care in nursing homes and other institutional settings. Although there has been a change in emphasis toward home and community care among policymakers and caregiving agencies since the 1980s, there is considerable room for development of the homecare profession, where the shortage of affordable quality care is especially acute.

Community colleges have demonstrated success in attracting individuals to healthcare professions. With their modest tuition rates, availability of financial aid, and community orientation, community colleges are well positioned to meet community needs, to attract people into the caregiving field, and to foster professional development. By improving access to caregiver training, community colleges can both inform family caregivers and prepare paid care workers to serve their communities.

Supported by MetLife Foundation, the International Longevity Center and the Caregiving Project for Older Americans’ 2010 Community College Caregiver Training Initiative is intended to continue to raise national awareness both of the critical need for caregiver training and of the central role that community colleges can play in providing this training.

The large number of high-quality applications submitted in the first three years of this initiative underscores the strong role that community colleges can play in providing caregiver training. Previous grantees offer a wide variety of content, hours and methods of training, and plans for sustainability. The 39 winning community colleges since 2007 serve a diverse group of students in both rural and urban communities throughout the country.

Although this 2010 Request for Proposals (RFP) specifies certain requirements regarding caregiver training programs, it allows for substantial flexibility and encourages innovation.

Eligibility

Community colleges and other 2-year institutions located in the United States are eligible to submit proposals. Only one proposal per community college will be accepted. Colleges that award 4-year degrees are not eligible. Previous winners of grants under this initiative are not eligible.

Submissions may be for either (1) a new program or (2) additions to an existing program. Determination of a college’s eligibility is at the sole discretion of the International Longevity Center-USA.

Proposal Submission Process

Proposals must be submitted in Microsoft Word format and sent via email to ccct.2010@ilcusa.org.

IMPORTANT: When submitting a proposal, you must put the name of the community college in the subject line of the email, followed by RFP 2010. (For example, “XYZ Community College RFP 2009”.) Abbreviated names for community colleges are acceptable.

Closing date: Proposals must be submitted by March 31st, 2010.
Final selection of grantees will be announced in late May 2010.

Training Program Requirements

We encourage innovation in the design, management, and implementation of caregiver training programs under this initiative. The only explicit program requirements are as follows:

The training must prepare students to care for older people, either exclusively or in addition to other groups.

The training must prepare students to provide care in home settings, either exclusively or in addition to institutional care.

While the overall program may be for the training of paid care workers, some components must address family caregivers.

At a minimum, the planning stages for implementation of your program must begin by September 2010. Full implementation of the training program must begin by Spring 2011.

Proposal Format

The proposal, including all sections, cannot exceed 7 pages in length, single-spaced, using no smaller than 12-point font. The only exceptions to the 7-page limit are curriculum vitae of key personnel and the “Proposal Cover Sheet” described below. In addition to the 7-page limit for the total proposal, the “Training Program Description” section of the proposal cannot exceed 5 pages in itself (which means that the other sections of the proposal taken together cannot exceed 2 pages).

Proposals should clearly address the Training Program Requirements specified above. Proposals should be submitted using the following format:

1. Proposal Cover Sheet. The Proposal Cover Sheet attached at the end of this RFP must be completed and included as the first page of your proposal. (The Proposal Cover Sheet is separate from the 7-page limit of the proposal.) Information on the Proposal Cover Sheet must be kept to a single page. A Chief Officer of the community college must indicate approval of the proposal on the Proposal Cover Sheet.

2. Description of Community College. Provide a brief description of the community college, including:

Whether the community college has multiple sites
Student body
Population and geography served
Major programs
Indicators of outreach, success, accreditation, or the like

3. Training Program Description. (Note: This section cannot exceed 5 pages.) Provide a description of the proposed program, including:

Whether you are proposing (1) A new program, or (2) Additions to an existing program.
Content and delivery of the program.
Innovative features of the program such as in content, delivery of training, partnership activities, outreach, use of technology, populations served, or otherwise. Note: These examples are only suggestions, and are not intended to indicate favored program components.
Where the program will be offered or conducted.
Whether components of the program will involve college credit. (College credit is not a requirement of the RFP.)
Whether certification will be offered to students who complete the program
How the program will accommodate people entering the caregiving field, whether in training content, location of training, or time of training.
If your program provides training for paid care workers, then describe how you will support their professional development and career opportunities, whether through job-placement or counseling efforts, special training courses, association with established nursing programs, or otherwise.
The approximate the number of student/caregivers to be served by the program.

You should also include:

Plans for ensuring the sustainability of your proposed program.
Plans for evaluating the project, including measurements of success and how information regarding your project will be shared with others.
Any collaborations or partnerships, and how they will enhance effectiveness of the program. Note: Such collaborations are a plus, but not required.
The extent to which your program will help address local or regional needs.

4. Personnel. Describe how the program will be implemented and managed. List key instructional and related support staff who will be assigned to the project. Describe the qualifications of key personnel, and attach their curriculum vitae.

5. Timeline and Budget. Provide a timeline and budget for implementation of the program (with starting and end dates). The budget must exclude indirect costs. Indicate sources and uses of funds and the amount requested for the grant.

Criteria

Proposals will be evaluated according to the following criteria:

Potential for replication and sustainability
Project innovation and creativity
Local or regional needs for the project
Adherence to Training Program Requirements of the RFP
Clearly defined project goals and outcomes
For programs that train students to be paid care workers, the capacity of the community college to support career opportunities
Qualifications of key personnel

Grantees will be asked to give us the opportunity to conduct follow-up interviews of staff involved in the project, partners involved in the project, and students entering and leaving the program. Anonymity of all interviewees will be respected.

Selected grantees will be required to submit an evaluation describing the implementation of their training programs and the successes and challenges encountered.

This RFP is available at http://www.ilcusa.org/caregiving/colleges.htm.

Questions may be emailed to ccct.2010@ilcusa.org. Please put “Question about RFP 2010” in the subject line. Questions will not be answered by phone.

As described in the Proposal Submission Process section, when submitting a proposal, you must put the name of the community college in the subject line of the email, followed by RFP 2010.

PROPOSAL COVER SHEET
2010 COMMUNITY COLLEGE CAREGIVER TRAINING INITIATIVE

A COMPLETED COVER SHEET MUST BE INCLUDED AS THE FIRST PAGE OF YOUR PROPOSAL
INFORMATION FOR THE COVER SHEET MUST BE PROVIDED ON A SINGLE PAGE

1. FULL NAME AND ADDRESS OF COMMUNITY COLLEGE:

2. WEBSITE:

3. TYPE OF COLLEGE (PUBLIC, ETC.):

4. IS THIS A MULTIPLE-SITE OR SINGLE-SITE INSTITUTION?

5. LIST UP TO 2 PROJECT COORDINATORS OR CONTACT PERSONS (Name, title, address, telephone, email):

6. THE PROPOSED PROJECT IS (indicate one):

A NEW PROGRAM

AN ADDITION TO AN EXISTING PROGRAM

7. WHEN WILL TRAINING BEGIN UNDER THE PROPOSED PROGRAM? (MONTH/YEAR)

8. SUMMARIZE THE PURPOSE AND DESIGN OF THE PROPOSED PROJECT (no more than 75 words):

9. APPROXIMATE NUMBER OF STUDENTS/CAREGIVERS SERVED BY THE PROGRAM:

10. LIST COLLABORATORS AND PARTNERS (if any):

11. TOTAL PROJECT BUDGET:

12. AMOUNT REQUESTED FOR THIS GRANT (NOT TO EXCEED $15,000):

13. SIGNATURE (OR INDICATION OF SUPPORT) BY CHIEF OFFICER OF COMMUNITY COLLEGE

Back