Jack Hopkins Social Services Funding Committee Accepting Applications

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

March 9, 2017

For additional information:

Stacy Jane Rhoads or Dan Sherman, Office of the Common Council, 349-3409

Bloomington, IN - The Bloomington Common Council's Jack Hopkins Social Services Funding Committee announces that it is accepting applications from social service agencies for use of $295,000 in social service funds. Applications are available at the Committee's webpage http://bloomington.in.gov/jack-hopkins. Applications are due by Monday, April 03, 2017 at 4:00 pm.

Named in honor of former Councilmember Jack Hopkins who helped establish the program in 1993, the program is dedicated to funding projects that improve the lives of City residents who are low- to moderate-income, under 18 years of age, elderly, affected with a disability, or otherwise disadvantaged. Since the program's inception, the City has allocated over $3.66 million to local social services agencies serving our community's most vulnerable residents.

The Committee is composed of five members of the Bloomington Common Council and two City residents with experience with social services agencies. Councilmembers serving are: Tim Mayer (Chair), Allison Chopra, Dorothy Granger, Isabel Piedmont-Smith, and Susan Sandberg. Sue Sgambelluri and John West also serve on this year's Committee.

2017 Committee Chair Tim Mayer advises that "[t]he Committee takes very seriously its role as stewards of these taxpayer dollars and looks for creative and robust proposals that will make a significant contribution to improve the community condition."

This year the Committee is continuing the policy changes implemented within the last few years, including encouraging collaborative applications, requiring outcome indicators, and recommending funds be spent in 2017. The Committee is continuing one additional change launched in 2016: it is accepting applications for operational funds that do not meet one of the exceptions to the Committee's long-standing, one-time funding rule (pilot, bridge, or collaborative). Agencies should be advised that despite this allowance, the Committee still prioritizes one-time funding.

The Committee made two new policy changes to be implemented in the 2017 funding cycle. The Committee has eliminated the 2-page narrative requirement this year. Instead, the application form now includes a field at the end of the document that invites agencies to provide additional information the Committee may find useful. Additionally, the Committee is asking that agencies granted operational funds provide outcome data at two points: at the end of 2017 and again by March 1 of the following year.

Important Dates

Criteria

Applications must meet the following criteria:

- The program should address a previously-identified priority for social services funds (as indicated in the SCAN Report, City's Housing and Neighborhood
Development department's Consolidated Plan, or other community-wide survey of social service needs);

- The funds should provide a one-time investment that, through

matching funds or other fiscal leveraging, makes a significant contribution
to the program; and

- This investment in the program should lead to broad and long-lasting

benefits to the community.

To learn more, visit the Committee's webpage:
http://bloomington.in.gov/jack-hopkins or call the Council Office at (812) 349-3409

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