This RFP provides background information and describes the services desired by STATE. It describes the requirements for this procurement and specifies the contractual conditions required by the STATE. Although this RFP establishes the basis for Responder Proposals, the detailed obligations and additional measures of performance will be defined in the final negotiated contract. In this RFP, the STATE is seeking Responders with Indian Child Welfare programs whose goals are consistent with the Minnesota Indian Family Preservation Act, Minnesota Statutes, sections 260.751 to 260.835. These programs should include social services activities that focus on culturally appropriate early intervention services and resources to assist families in addressing issues that place them at risk of entering the child protection system. The intent of the EI-AIF is to offer voluntary early intervention support services to American Indian families to address risk factors leading to child maltreatment and to decrease the disparities American Indian families experience in child welfare outcomes. By building on protective factors that strengthen families and by making resources available early to struggling families, families can be supported in keeping their children safe and out of the formal child protection system. Additionally, the EI-AIF assists to preserve American Indian families. The EI-AIF is intended to serve approximately nine hundred (900) families each year. The EI-AIF will provide American Indian families living on tribal reservations and in urban areas in Minnesota access to culturally appropriate early intervention services and resources to assist them in addressing issues that place them at risk of entering Minnesota’s child protection system. The EI-AIF is modeled after the Parent Support Outreach Program (PSOP). For more information about PSOP refer to Bulletin 18-68-05. Tribal child welfare programs that currently receive Parent Support Outreach Program (PSOP) funding and are awarded an EI-AIF grant must ensure that families served do not receive both PSOP and EI-AIF funding simultaneously in the same month. Proposals should address how funding will be tracked to ensure funds from both sources are not received simultaneously. Through formal grant contracts, the STATE will award EI-AIF grants to Indian Child Welfare programs whose goals are consistent with the federal Indian Child Welfare Act and the Minnesota Indian Family Preservation Act. Pursuant to Minnesota Statutes, section 260.785, subdivision 2, these goals will include social service activities that focus on culturally appropriate early intervention services and resources to assist families in addressing issues that place them at risk for entering the child protection system. Selected Responders will identify families eligible for EI-AIF services through community referrals and/or self-referrals. To be eligible for services, families must meet the following requirements: Have at least one child aged 17 or younger, or be pregnant; Self-identify as American Indian; Not currently receiving services from child protection; and Be exposed to two or more child maltreatment risk factors including but not limited to: Poverty Domestic Violence Alcohol and drug problems Mental health concerns Past history of child protection involvement Homelessness
