Grants and Other Financial Assistance Programs: FY2010

The purpose of this federal grant program is to support the partnership of select school districts in Worcester County with the Central Massachusetts Communities of Care Project (CMCC) for the purpose of developing and implementing Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS). PBIS is a tiered system for improving school climate by supporting positive behaviors throughout the school. Schools participating in this grant program will receive PBIS training and associated technical assistance and other resources from the Central Massachusetts Communities of Care Project. CMCC is a provider of care management services for youth with serious emotional disturbance and has two community-based family centers in Worcester County. The school district-CMCC partnership is designed to identify at-risk students who are in need of mental health services and to reduce and/or prevent court involvement among students with emotional impairment. The funds awarded under this grant will support district administrative costs and are designed to ensure sustainable implementation and long-term success of this initiative in participating schools.

See Appendix A for a description of the system of care model in the Central Massachusetts region, including Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports.

The priorities of this grant program are to:

1. increase the capacity of school districts in Worcester County to: foster positive school climates; support positive behaviors throughout participating schools; and reduce disruptive behaviors; and

2. increase participating schools' ability to identify students, grades 4-8, in need of mental health services and to respond to the need for intensive support via both internal capacity and community-based specialty providers of coordinated wraparound services.

Public school districts and charter schools are eligible for this grant program. Participating schools must serve students in grades 4-8.

Priority will be given to:

1. districts identified by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (Department) with special education determination(s) of Level 3: Needs Technical Assistance or Level 4: Needs Intervention. Additional Information is available at: http://www.doe.mass.edu/sped/need.html; and

2. districts applying on behalf of more than one school.

Note: This is the first year of a two-year grant program. Applicants must commit to completing all grant program activities in year one and year two. This cohort will be limited to schools and districts in Northern Worcester County. See Appendix B for list of eligible applicants.

Thursday, September 24, 2009

Competitive proposals must be received at the Department by 5:00 p.m. on the date due.

1.      Part I - General - Program Unit Signature Page - (Standard Contract Form and Application for Program Grants)

2.      Part II Budget Detail Pages (Include both pages.) - Instructions

3.     Part III - Required Program Information

1.      Appendix A: Central Massachusetts Communities of Care Resources and Services

2.     Appendix B: List of Eligible School Districts

3.     Appendix C: Required Participation in Evaluation of PBIS

4.     Appendix D: Draft Training Schedule

5.     Evaluation Criteria Scorecard

Submit 5 sets, each with an original signature of the Superintendent/Executive Director.

Mail to: