Strengthening Families Through Community Partnerships

Please read through this entire form before completing your application. If you have any questions or need additional support, please contact Marsha Brown. Marsha.brown@denvergov.org

Promoting strong families in our community is an important part of preventing child abuse and neglect before it ever occurs. Through Denver Human Services’ (DHS) Strengthening Families Through Community Partnerships program, organizations can apply for funding for qualifying events or activities that promote parental resilience and knowledge, family support, children’s wellbeing, and/or social connections, while enforcing COVID-19 safety measures.

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.

Organizations can apply for monetary support to support event expense and/or non-monetary DHS staff support (i.e. Speaker(s) or presentations on services available to families. DHS staff are happy to attend virtual meetings and provide information on topics such as positive parenting, child support, parenthood programs, parent education, kinship support, and more.

If your organization has activities or events scheduled that promote family strength, resiliency, and support, we'd love to partner with you!

The Strengthening Families Through Community Partnerships supports eligible events in the City and County of Denver by:

• Providing up to $1,500 for expenses that benefit events that are centered around at least 1 of the 5 Protective Factors. Expense can include food, supplies, and promotional items, incentives, among other things.
• Denver Human Services leadership and/or staff can attend events to provide information on supportive services and programs available. Topics may include, but are not limited to child support, fatherhood programs, parenthood programs, 5 Protective Factors workshops and Wellness Recovery Action Plan (WRAP) workshops, parent education, kinship support, TANF, and SNAP.
• Assistance with promoting event awareness by using DHS networks/platform; social media; newsletters and emails to help spread awareness to your event.
• Usage of DHS logo on printed materials with pre-approval.

All Events MUST Have a primary focus on at least 1 of the 5 Five Projective Factors:

1. Parental Resilience- The ability to recover from difficult life experiences and often to be strengthened by and even transformed by those experiences.

Some examples of building Parental Resilience in the community:

• A support group for parents/other caregivers (coffee club, knitting club, gardening).
• A workshop/speaker around self-care, discussion around how to manage stress.

2. Social Connections -Positive relationships that provide emotional, informational, instrumental and spiritual support

Some examples of building Social Connections in the community:

• A community event that allows families to connect with each other.
• Workshop/Training that includes building skills around reaching out to others, communicating and/or resolving conflict.

3. Concrete Supports In Times of Need -Access to concrete support and services that address a family’s needs and help minimize stress caused by challenges.

Some examples of building Concrete Supports in Times of Need in the community:

• Printed resources and/or a resource table at an event, with information on programs and benefits that can help children and families.
• A workshop or training around centered around families support and they can access help and support when in need.

4. Knowledge of Parenting and Child Development -Understanding child development and parenting strategies that support physical, cognitive, language, social and emotional development

Some examples of building Knowledge of Parenting and Child Development in the community:

• Education around parenting/child development, which could include a training, workshop, or resource table.
• A training around discipline practices.

5. Social and Emotional Competence of Children -Family and child interactions that help children develop the ability to communicate clearly, recognize and regulate their emotions and establish and maintain relationships.

Some examples of building Social and Emotional Competence of Children in the community:

• An activity for children around feelings and self-esteem.
• Information for parents around social/emotional development by age of the child.

The primary goal of this funding is to make strategic investments in the Denver Community, while empowering communities to develop innovative strategies to address pressing needs. All funds will be used to support community organizations and residents of Denver.

• The event must take place inside the City and County of Denver
• The event must be directed towards parents and caretakers and capture, educate, provide awareness or support for one or more of the 5 Protective Factors
• Complete and submit all required information at least 30 to 45 days prior to event.
• Must be registered as 501(c)(3) non-profits in Good Standing with the State of Colorado.
• Organizations without 501(c)(3) status may utilize a fiscal sponsor when applying.

Organizations must:

• Conduct their event within the City and County of Denver and benefit the residents of the City and County of Denver.
• Attend a one-hour application review meeting with DHS staff to discuss details and support for your event.
• Submit applications at least 30 to 45 days prior to event
• Comply with reporting requirements.

Ineligible events that include the following:

• Events held outside of the City and County of Denver
• Advocacy, lobbying, political activities or partisan causes, sub-awards, capital project, annual appeals, membership drives, underwriting or fundraiser events, endowments, loans or debt reduction, programs that require paid participant membership.

Financial Information

• Payment will be issued as Sponsorships Check prior to event.
• Required Documentation
• Completed Application must include –
• Narrative of event highlighting the impact and focus of one or more of the Protective Factors
• Completed W-9
• Copy of Certificate of Good Standing
• Complete Executive Order 101 Diversity and Inclusiveness
• Completed Program Budget (sample listed below)
• COVID-19 Action Plan maybe a required document as it relates to the event and City Ordnance

Sample Budget

Administrative Information

• Applicants can apply for up to $1500 per calendar year.
• Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.
• Applications must be submitted electronically. Applications mailed or hand delivered will be declined.
• Funding decisions will be at the discretion of the Community Impact staff and availability of funding.
• Verification of Certificate of Good Standing with the State of Colorado must be summitted along with application.
• All applicants must complete Executive Order 101 Diversity and Inclusiveness in City Solicitations Information Request Form.
• Please use the following link to complete the diversity and inclusiveness requirements for this solicitation:

Diversity and Inclusiveness Information Form

Any applications that do not complete Executive Order 101 Diversity and Inclusiveness in City  Solicitations Information Request Form, located at the link above, prior to submission will  be rejected.

Important: Before you begin the form, please complete the required Diversity and Inclusiveness in City Solicitations Information Request Form below:

Diversity and Inclusiveness Information Form

Any applications that do not complete Executive Order 101 Diversity and Inclusiveness in City  Solicitations Information Request Form, located at the link above, prior to submission will  be rejected.

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