NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS;* PUBLIC OR PRIVATE INSTITUTIONS, SUCH AS UNIVERSITIES, COLLEGES, HOSPITALS; DISABILITY-SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS; COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS; CONSORTIA, GROUPS OR PARTNERSHIPS AMONG ORGANIZATIONS

Organizations whose staff was involved in the development of this Request for Proposal are not eligible to directly apply or be included as a sub-contractor for another applicant.

*Note: the lead applicant cannot be a for-profit organization; however, for-profit organizations may serve as subcontractors to the lead applicant.

To fund one grantee up to $75,000 for an 18-month period focused on the systematic information gathering including a review of existing literature and programming, as well as qualitative research, with the intended outcome of a strategic plan and recommendations for the DDPC to more adequately work in the area of exploitation and abuse and prevention.

OVERVIEW

Individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities are at an increased risk of experiencing any one of the many forms of exploitation, abuse, and violence. Minimally, research shows that 30% of adults with disabilities experience one or more instances of mistreatment (Oktay and Tompkins 2004). Given the broad scope of potentially exploitative and abusive situations, in addition to the range of individuals affected by these various forms of mistreatment, the complex nature of the problem creates more questions, rather than generating answers, surrounding the best mechanisms to prevent abuse and exploitation.

While there are many training curricula for individuals, as well as care providers (in varying capacities) and families, these trainings are typically reactive in nature, and teach people how to respond once an instance of maltreatment has occurred, rather than serve as proactive mechanisms to enable individuals to avoid the pathways to abusive scenarios. The trainings typically educate participants using scenario-based curricula, but have thus far proven to be ineffective as far as real, tangible prevention efforts are concerned.

Exploitation and Abuse of Individuals with Intellectual and/or Developmental Disabilities

With the shifting service delivery system toward a community inclusive and self-determined approach, individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities will be exposed to a multitude of scenarios that may be compromising to their personal safety and security. Not only must individuals be empowered to recognize and confidently respond to potentially abusive scenarios, caregivers and family members should have an increased awareness of what constitutes abuse and neglect, and how to avoid the pathways to these situations of mistreatment.

The purpose of this project is to address all forms of abuse and exploitation, including but not limited to: financial exploitation, physical and sexual abuse, emotional and psychological abuse, neglect and maltreatment, and abandonment and seclusion. These situations could happen in the home, in the certified care setting, or even in the community at large.

APPROACH

The intent of this grant initiative is to take a global look at the DD system, including accounting for the new community based and person centered trends toward which the system is moving, to assess the best ways to enable individuals, caregivers, staff, and the community at large to prevent abusive scenarios that impact those with ID/DD before they happen. The project funding aims to determine the factors that create pathways of abusive scenarios, as well as identify those who are most vulnerable to various forms of abuse and exploitation. The ultimate goal is to develop a strategic plan and accompanying recommendations to guide future projects in this area of need.

It is planned that the grantee will carry out some field research, using multiple methodologies, with individuals with ID/DD and their families and caregivers, in order to obtain first-hand information from the various forms of exploitation, and to access experiential and other data not readily available through literature review. A required component of this research project will be facilitating focus groups and in-person interviews, to discuss individual experiences and determine what relevant tools, resources, and approaches they might find useful. The applicant must take all necessary precautions to maintain the confidentiality and ensure sensitivity is provided for individuals with ID/DD who participate in the research.

EXPECTED OUTCOMES AND SCOPE OF WORK:

It is expected that the project will result in a strategic plan and step by step recommendations for next steps and future projects that will establish a clearer understanding the of the barriers that exist related to providing prevention tools as well as building skills/capacity for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities to protect themselves. This project will assess the pathways to abusive situations and address how to break down these pathways in a proactive way, before abusive situations occur.

DDPC recognizes that individuals need better training on the environments and conditions that lead to exploitative situations. We also are aware that family members and caregivers need to be more aware of the signs of potentially abusive and neglectful situations. Accordingly, the focus of this project is to produce a gaps analysis and accompanying needs assessment that specifically identifies the most relevant areas of work, potential future project ideas, and shows effective strategies for breaking down pathways to abusive scenarios.

The DDPC is interested in topics including outreach, training, and self-advocacy. The successful applicant will detail a clear methodology that how they intend to perform the gaps analysis and needs assessment. The proposal should outline how patterns of and variables that lead to abuse, neglect, and exploitation of individuals with ID/DD will be documented, as well as the ways in which the grantee will collect demographic data and identify the specific needs of culturally and linguistically un- and underserved populations. Other relevant themes might include relevant experiential factors by age, gender, service setting, circles of support, degree of community engagement, level of self-advocacy training among several others.

The successful applicant will guide their targeted research utilizing the following questions:

• What are the patterns of abuse that currently affect the ID/DD population?

• Which individuals are most negatively affected?

o That is, what circumstances lead to increased vulnerability, and how do we reach these individuals?

• How are diverse communities affected differentially, and what tools are needed to specifically meet their needs?

• Do the number of community connections (e.g. circle of support, connections to self-advocacy organizations, peer groups, local family members, etc.) positively or negatively affect patterns of abuse and neglect?

• How does self-advocacy affect the frequency of abuse?

• Is there a difference in frequency of abuse in congregate versus community settings?

o What variables are important to note?

• What strategies for prevention have worked in the past?

o What new strategies might be the most useful in reducing instances of abuse and exploitation?

o What curricula currently exist, which elements were successful, and what elements were unsuccessful?

• What tools/training do people need to protect themselves?

o What types of materials/mediums are needed to reach individuals with a range of functional needs?

This exploratory research project will determine the most significant barriers and provide directed guidance on future projects in the area of abuse and exploitation prevention. As a result of the targeted research, the grantee will identify priority areas for action, and will detail an outreach plan that includes strategies for future work in abuse prevention.

*If an individual has an adverse reaction to the content or materials involved in the project, the grantee assumes the responsibility of ensuring the individual is connected to appropriate supports and resources.

The full RFP can be downloaded from http://ddpc.ny.gov/council_funding_announcements_responsive. All interested applicants are required to submit a one page letter of intent by May 26, 2017 to [email protected]. Letters of intent are required for applications to be accepted for this RFP.

It is the applicant’s responsibility to check the DDPC website periodically for any amendments to the RFP. All changes will be posted by May 22, 2017 at http://ddpc.ny.gov/council_funding_announcements_responsive. No other notifications will be given.

All final grant applications should be sent to the address listed above and to the attention of Sheila Carey, Executive Director, and must be received by the DDPC office by 3:00 pm on June 23, 2017. No applications will be accepted after this deadline.

NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS;* PUBLIC OR PRIVATE INSTITUTIONS, SUCH AS UNIVERSITIES, COLLEGES, HOSPITALS; DISABILITY-SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS; COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS; CONSORTIA, GROUPS OR PARTNERSHIPS AMONG ORGANIZATIONS

Organizations whose staff was involved in the development of this Request for Proposal are not eligible to directly apply or be included as a sub-contractor for another applicant.

*Note: the lead applicant cannot be a for-profit organization; however, for-profit organizations may serve as subcontractors to the lead applicant.

To fund one grantee up to $175,000 for an 18 month, multi-strategy grant that creates an electronic resources for individual individuals with ID/DD, their family members, and caregivers, to learn about, and participate in abuse prevention and peer education.

OVERVIEW

There is no shortage of information regarding the frequency with which individuals with ID/DD experience instances of exploitation and abuse. Minimally, over 1/3 of adults with disabilities experience some form of abuse or exploitation, in at least one of the following ways: physical abuse, sexual abuse, financial exploitation, neglect, and psychological abuse. Often, however, individuals experience multiple instances of the various forms of abuse listed above, in addition to being at an increased risk for interpersonal violence and exploitation.

While a sizeable literature on the prevalence of these situations exists, in addition to several prevention materials and trainings, there is little evidence that demonstrates the effectiveness of these materials in reducing actual threats. In fact, despite scenario-based strategies, instances of abuse and neglect are on the rise, with the increase of individuals living in community-based and self-determined settings. Accordingly, individuals with ID/DD need access to readily available resources that provide peer-to-peer educational assistance and information at the ready, that will better equip individuals, family members, and caregivers with the tools they need to avoid and/or respond to scenarios of abuse.

Approach

Through this grant initiative, the DDPC intends to fund the creation of an online peer-to-peer support forum, website, and resource repository. The successful applicant will use social media and other platforms to provide educational information, resources, links, and tools, to support abuse prevention skill building for people with intellectual, developmental, and other disabilities. Social media campaigns and mobile phone and tablet applications are effective methods to reach across populations. It is intended that the grantee would develop a social media mobile application, blog where individuals can share their personal experiences, peer-to-peer educational resources, as well as a central website where individuals can go to ask questions, respond to others, and share stories about their experiences. The website would also consist of a repository for resources individuals can use to help protect themselves including video vignettes, to build their personal capacity, and know where to turn should they experience an exploitative situation. The products and tools of this grant will be fully accessible for individuals with varying needs. Alternative formats (including but not limited to large print, recorded audio, closed captioning, physical and electronic, etc.) will be offered, for those who do not have ready access to the internet or smart technology.

Peer-to-peer educational methods are productive resources to quickly deliver reader-specific information. The website would serve as a peer educational resource, which individuals could utilize to share their experiences and stories. The anticipated platform must maintain individual confidentiality and security. It is expected that the grantee will provide trainings and capacity building for individuals with ID/DD in order that they can most easily utilize these resources.

Expected Outcomes

The website, smart technology application with peer-to-peer forum and informational repository, tools, and social media campaign must be provided in plain, simplified language, so that all individuals can access the materials on the site and as part of the campaign. The website and products of this project should be broad in scope, in order that materials and associated components produced through this grant provide education and resources about the various forms of exploitation, abuse, exploitation, neglect, and so forth. Additionally, the material should be presented in a culturally competent and linguistically sensitive manner. The campaign and products should be marketed throughout all regions of the state. The materials must maintain the safety of individuals who will utilize the platform. Also, training sessions should be offered for individuals with ID/DD, with instructions and testing for using the website, throughout the state. Throughout the duration of DDPC funding, the grantee will be exploring tangible ways to ensure project sustainability beyond the term of funding.

*If an individual has an adverse reaction to the content or materials involved in the project, the grantee assumes the responsibility of ensuring the individual is connected to appropriate supports and resources.

The full RFP can be downloaded from http://ddpc.ny.gov/council_funding_announcements_responsive

All interested applicants are required to submit a one page letter of intent by May 26, 2017 to [email protected]. Letters of intent are required for applications to be accepted for this RFP.

It is the applicant’s responsibility to check the DDPC website periodically for any amendments to the RFP. All changes will be posted by May 22, 2017 at http://ddpc.ny.gov/council_funding_announcements_responsive. No other notifications will be given.

All final grant applications should be sent to the address listed above and to the attention of Sheila Carey, Executive Director, and must be received by the DDPC office by 3:00 pm on June 23, 2017. No applications will be accepted after this deadline.