PLEASE NOTE: All applicants must demonstrate that funding has been requested from OCS (OCS Special Needs Hotline 1-855-603-8637), Tribal or other resources prior to applying to FACC.
Applications may only be completed on behalf of the child/youth by their CASA, GAL, Tribal representative, or OCS case worker.
As FACC grants are intended to support needs that are not otherwise provided for to allow maximum impact of limited funds, requests that appear to be researched and well detailed (for example that include explanation of need and item estimates and demonstrated contact/request through the OCS Special Needs Hotline (855-603-8637), Tribal or other resources prior to making application to FACC) will have priority consideration over “blanket” or simply maximum dollar amount requests. Barring exceptional circumstance, no child/youth will be awarded above $500 in any fiscal year.
PLEASE BE AWARE OF SOME OF OUR FUNDING LIMITS:
A. Bikes
FACC has extremely limited funds dedicated each fiscal year to support bike grant requests. Our fiscal year begins on July 1st with ½ of the limited bike funding reserved for bike requests received between July 1 and December 31. Once those funds are exhausted, bike requests will be denied. The remaining ½ of the limited bike funds will become available on January 1st of each year and will expire on June 30th or when funds are exhausted, whichever occurs first.
Bike funding requests are limited as follows:
$150 for ages 10 and under
$225 for ages 11+
Exceptions may be made for special circumstances (ex: size of child/youth).
Bikes are expected to transfer with the recipient and are limited to one per recipient every three (3) years. Requests for bikes DO NOT need to go through OCS prior to application to FACC as OCS no longer provides funding for them.
B. Clothing (In General)
OCS provides an annual clothing voucher for all children in foster care. Therefore, it expected that OCS will be the first point of contact for clothing requests. When children are transferred from one foster home to another or transferred from a foster home to a trial home visit, a clothing inventory is performed by OCS showing which clothes transferred with the child.
Before FACC will provide a grant for clothing, it will be necessary to make a funding request to the OCS hotline (unless the child(ren)/youth are in tribal custody. In cases where funding is denied because the child(ren)/youth are on a trial home visit, FACC will require a copy of the OCS clothing inventory sheet performed as part of the child(ren)/youth’s transfer from foster care to their trial home visit.)
Funding for clothing requests is limited as follows:
| Age of Child | Maximum Funding |
|---|---|
| 0-5 years of age | $150 |
| 6-10 years of age | $200 |
| 11-13 years of age | $250 |
| 14-16 years of age | $300 |
| 17+ years of age* | $350 |
C. Winter Coats/Boots
As part of the clothing vouchers, OCS provides for winter coats and/or winter boots for all children in custody. Therefore, it expected that OCS will be the first point of contact for requests for winter gear.
Funding for winter gear is limited as follows:
| Age of Child | Maximum Funding | Maximum Funding |
|---|---|---|
| Coat | Boots | |
| 0-5 years of age | $35 | |
| 6-10 years of age | $55 | $45 |
| 11-13 years of age | $75 | $55 |
| 14-16 years of age | $85 | $65 |
| 17+ years of age* | $100 | $70 |
D. School Supplies
This is another item typically funded by OCS. If, after contacting the OCS hotline funding requests for school supplies are denied, FACC will consider requests for school supplies for children in care.
Funding for school supplies is limited as follows:
| Age of Child | Maximum Funding |
|---|---|
| 2-6 years of age | $50 |
| 7-10 years of age | $65 |
| 11-14 years of age | $75 |
| 15+ years of age | $100 |
| Backpacks – All Ages | $25 |
GRANT FULFILLMENT
FACC’s Children and Family Needs Committee strives to respond to each application within three to five business days from receipt of a complete application. If you have applied and have not received a response within that timeframe, you are encouraged to please contact us to check the status of your application.
Approved grants may be fulfilled in several ways:
- Items can be independently purchased with receipts submitted to FACC for reimbursement. (Please note that reimbursement may take between 10-14 days and sometimes longer depending on the speed of the postal service.); or
- The item can be placed in a Wish List on Amazon and FACC will order the item and have it shipped directly; or
- The item can be chosen online with FACC arranging to purchase the item(s) and have them shipped directly to the child/youth
- As a rule, FACC does not issue gift/debit cards and does not work on a voucher system.
GRANT AREAS OF SUPPORT
Mini Grants
Mini-grants are intended to cover items that cannot be otherwise provided for, such as certain types of equipment to support a child/youth with special needs, devices to enable contact with family/caseworkers when no other means are available, camperships and extra-curricular gear. Please note that FACC has developed very specific funding criteria surrounding electronics: click here for FACC’s Electronics Policy.
Family Support
Family support grants are intended to provide support to assist with successful reunifications and visitations that may not otherwise be provided and may include certain types of interim supports for trial home visits, support to children and youth’s family of origin, including relatives, such as visitation meals and activities. All funding requests must specifically detail how the support requested will directly benefit the child(ren)/youth.
Camperships
Campership grants are for a child or youth’s participation in group experiences and programs. These experiences or programs could include summer camps, cultural, sports, or arts camps, sports programs such as soccer, volleyball, or football leagues, community band or orchestra, art, and theater programs, and may include individual art/music lessons or one-time league memberships and related equipment/materials. Camperships are limited as follows:
- One campership per child/youth per fiscal year.
- Total spent per child/youth will not exceed $500 per fiscal year.
- Eligible expenses may include enrollment or registration fees, travel, and per-match competition fees. Supplies that are necessary for the program involved, and generally useful specifically for that program, also are eligible. For example, gear required to participate.
Children and Family Needs Grant Recipient Expectations
It is the expectation of FACC, and those from whom we are ever grateful to receive donations, that any and all items provided by FACC are to remain with the child/youth on whose behalf the support was awarded. If for some reason the child/youth who received support from FACC has a change in residence, we ask that the support(s) provided (such as clothing, bikes, musical instruments, sports gear, paid camp tuition, furniture) are sure to stay with the child or youth for their continued benefit. If for some reason, this is not possible, we ask that you please contact us for other options so that we may ensure benefit to another child or youth in care.
Thank you for your understanding of FACC’s Mission, our intentions and our expectations surrounding grant awards.
