October 2, 2009

 

 

 

APPLICATION PACKET

October 2009

Kansas Council on Developmental Disabilities

Docking State Office Building, Room 141

915 SW Harrison

Topeka, KS 66612-1570

(785) 296-2608

This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

www.kcdd.org

“To ensure the opportunity to make choices regarding participation in

society and quality of life for individuals with developmental disabilities.”

I. SCOPE OF PROJECT AND COUNCIL INTENT

NEEDS AND GIVENS:

• The unemployment rate for youth and young adults with developmental disabilities remains considerably higher than for the population as a whole.
• The Council wishes to increase awareness, public acceptance and outcomes for employment of youth and young adults with developmental disabilities.
• Activities of this investment must increase productivity, integration, independence and inclusion for youth and young adults with developmental disabilities.
• Youth and young adults with developmental disabilities leaving the educational system have a more difficult time finding and maintaining employment than youth without disabilities.
• Youth and young adults with developmental disabilities and their families are seeking alternatives to traditional employment and day services.
• Youth and young adults with developmental disabilities represent a large pool of untapped workers.
• Products created from Council investment must use person-first language.
• Proposals should include the use of focus groups of youth and young adults to review and provide feedback on products.

INTENT:

It is the intent of the Council to invest in an information campaign that showcases innovative employment possibilities for youth and young adults with developmental disabilities using products that are attractive to youth and young adults. Information campaign should be field tested and include components for replication.

 

The Council must review and approve all media products prior to their release to the public.

 

Investor Result Target: The Council wishes to invest up to $40,000 in one information campaign. Target audience is youth and young adults with developmental disabilities. Campaign may include but is not limited to printed materials, radio and television spots, internet marketing, video and billboards. Additional years of funding may be available.

II. TARGET PLAN CONTENT

A. DESCRIBE YOURSELF AND YOUR ORGANIZATION

 

B. DESCRIBE YOUR IDEA

 

C. TARGET PLAN (Between 5 and 8 pages double spaced)

 

1. THE MARKET AND YOUR CUSTOMERS

Define the numbers and characteristics of the customers you will serve. Profile two or three people typical of those to be served by your idea. Explain why they will benefit from your product. How will they be informed of your product?

Name the intermediaries whose involvement is critical for your idea to work. You must demonstrate collaboration with these partners. This is not the same as letters of support. Intermediaries could be Vocational Rehabilitation, Department of Education, transitional councils, community service providers, individuals with developmental disabilities and their families.

2. YOUR PRODUCT OR SERVICE

What is your product? Describe its key features and its comparative advantages over others. What are the important and distinct functions of the product or service?

Why have you decided on this particular approach?

How will you know it’s attractive to youth? Describe your process.

How will you determine impact of your product and share those findings with the Council?

What is your plan for dissemination of the product? Who are you key partners for dissemination?

Highlight or focus on those aspects of your proposal that are innovative. Indicate your assumptions about how those aspects will answer the Council’s Outcome and Target Areas.

3. PERFORMANCE TARGETS

Specify the customer-focused performance targets you are committed to achieving. Indicate the reason for not setting lower or higher levels. (These targets state what changes will occur for the customer – not what activities or processes you do – and should be stated in observable terms.)

Describe how you will verify that your performance targets were achieved. How will you know the change has occurred?

4. MILESTONES

Specify the critical milestones (steps) that will be achieved to reach your stated performance targets.

5. KEY INDIVIDUALS

Profile those individuals who will have the most responsibility for the project, connecting it to the customers and achieving the performance targets. Describe why they are the right people for the job. We do not want resumes. Instead, focus on their energy, capacity and commitment.

If a team approach to managing and/or implementing is used, specify how strengths of individuals are complementary and not duplicative.

Please provide samples of previous work.

 

6. ORGANIZATIONAL SUPPORT

This section deals with your agency’s capacity to achieve your stated targets.

Explain one or two similar projects your agency has undertaken and the extent to which you stated and achieved results.

List specific resources that your group will contribute to the project and which are critical to success.

State and justify the priority this project has for your agency.

D. FACE SHEET

Complete the face sheet included in your packet. This must be the first page of your application. The original application must have an original signature on this form.

 

E. ABSTRACT

Include a one-page (1) abstract of the project. This summary will be used during the KCDD evaluation process and will be used to describe the project to the public.

F. BUDGET

The Kansas Council on Developmental Disabilities hopes to invest up to $40,000 for one project.

 

Complete the Budget Information page (Attachment). A 25% non-Federal match is required for this project. This matching requirement means that 25% of the total project must come from non-Federal funds (e.g. in-kind contributions, state, local, private funds.)

 

 

III. USE OF DD FUNDS

Council funds may not be used for capital expenditures or acquisition (construction, remodeling, or purchase of buildings).

 

 

IV. SUBMITTING THE APPLICATION AND CLOSING DATE

 

The original, unbound application plus six (6) copies of the application must be received by:

5:00 PM, December 1st, 2009

sent or hand delivered to:

Kansas Council on Developmental Disabilities

Docking State office Building, Room 141

915 SW Harrison

Topeka, KS 66612-1570

 

No FAX, Handwritten, or Single-Spaced Copies will be accepted. Please number your pages.

 

 

V. SELECTION PROCESS

 

After submission of your application, the Council will conduct a three step due diligence selection process:

 

1.) Telephone interview. Most applicants will be contacted and given the opportunity to answer any questions reviewers may have about the proposal or to clarify any part of the proposal.

2.) Personal interview. After the initial screening has been made, remaining applicants will be given the opportunity to meet personally with the review team to elaborate, substantiate and generally build upon the submitted target plan.

3.) Verification. Verification involves the review team contacting previous customers or other outside persons familiar with the provider’s work to ask for confirmation of any key claims made by the applicant at any point during the due diligence process.

 

VI. TIMELINES FOR APPLICATION PROCESS

 

Here is an estimated timeline for the completion of each step of the application process:

 

 

 

NOTE: Applicants must be available for the dates of the telephone interviews and the personal interviews should they be required. The key people responsible for implementing the project should be available for both contacts.