Deadline: 9-Jan-23
The Association for Conflict Resolution (ACR) is pleased to announce this Notification of Funding Availability (NOFA) and request for initial proposal ideas for the 2023 funding cycle of the JAMS Foundation-ACR Initiative for Students and Youth.
The JAMS Foundation/ACR Initiative for Students and Youth provides grant funding for conflict prevention and dispute resolution programs for K-12 students and for adults working with youth populations in ways that directly transfer CRE skills from adults to youth.
Each year, the Association for Conflict Resolution (ACR) and the JAMS Foundation identify specific subject areas seeking to address otherwise unresolved issues and unmet needs of both general and target youth populations, based on current research and feedback from leaders and stakeholders in the dispute resolution and education fields.
Funding contexts for selected subject areas will vary, and may include community-based organizations, alternative education settings (online education, charter schools), after-school programs, court- or juvenile justice-connected programs, as well as programs operating in traditional K-12 school districts.
Funding Focus
- The 2023 funding track will focus on efforts to increase the resiliency skills in children (ages 5- 11) by using conflict resolution education and training to increase their ability to cope with crisis, stress, and lack of hope in the future. Recognizing the importance and long-term impact of a child’s early environment, the funding focus is open to conflict resolution practitioners and organizations working with child-based community organizations which provide full childcare for working parents, guardians, or other caregivers, or to organizations providing before- and/or after-school programming.
- There are two priorities:
- The proposed evidence-based conflict resolution education and training strategies should be designed for children ages 5 – 11 years old, or a subset of that age group, focusing on one or more of the following experiential practices:
- peer mediation; de-escalation; restorative justice; and/or coaching. The proposed project should build upon the current work of either the applicant agency or the applicant’s community partner specifically aimed to integrate conflict resolution skills in a manner that educates children ages 5 – 11 years old as a means to navigate effectively conflict and develop positive attitudes and behaviors.
- Required minimum measures:
- An increase in children’s trust in and connection with adults as documented by children reporting being safe in the environment and able to name an adult whom they trust.
- An increase in positive peer-to-peer communication and connection as documented by an increase in social cohesion as observed by adults, and a decrease in reported bullying by children.
Funding Information
- Requests for funding may range from $20,000 to $40,000 for the first year of the potential two-year funding cycle.
- While the proposed projects are two-year projects, decisions on funding for a second year will be contingent on evidence of benchmark accomplishments at the end of the first year of funding. For those who may seek a second year of funding, those requests may be for no more than $20,000.
Eligibility Criteria
- ACR seeks to recommend a small number of high-quality projects with likely or proven impact and the potential of regional and national impact upon completion to the JAMS Foundation for their review and selection.
- Preference for funding is given for those that may bring existing programs or exciting new ideas to a level of scalability and sustainability on a regional or national basis.
- Eligible organizations include nonprofit 501(c)3 organizations, educational institutions, and public agencies working in conjunction with nonprofit educational institutions or organizations.
- If the proposal does not include conflict resolution education, training or services in a substantial way, the proposal will not be reviewed.
- If the proposal does not offer the opportunity to bring or enhance conflict resolution education, training, or services in child-based community organizations which provide full childcare for working parents, guardians, or other caregivers, or with organizations providing before- and/or after-school programming the proposal will not be reviewed.
For more information, visit JAMS Foundation.