Seedco

Center for Workforce Development Innovations in Community

Linking Employment and Education for Economic Development
Development
Jefferson County
Community and Economic
Development

H O S P I TA L C A R E E R S I N I T I AT I V E A P P L I C AT I O N

Sponsors Description of the Hospital Careers Initiative

The Hospital Career Initiative (HCI) is an innovative program that will
The following provide training and quality jobs to community residents while
partners have meeting the workforce needs of Jefferson County hospitals. HCI is a
provided valuable collaboration between the Jefferson County Center for Workforce
support of the Development (CWD) and the One Stop system; Seedco, the Intensive
Initiative in the Services provider for the One Stop; local hospitals; training providers;
form of funding, and faith-based and community organizations (FBCOs).
planning,
guidance, and Specifically, CWD and Seedco are looking to FBCOs to provide
facilities: training and supportive services to low-income residents designed
to move them into entry-level jobs in the healthcare industry.
Alabama FBCOs will also help current hospital employees to advance to
Hospital higher skill positions within hospitals.
Association
FBCOs are invited to apply to provide the following three categories
of services: 1) Outreach, Assessment, Referrals and Work Supports;
Baptist
2) Job Readiness Training; and 3) Upgrade Training/Case
Princeton Management. Applicants must elect to provide one or more of the
Medical Center three categories of services.

Children’s Grant amounts will be determined based on the number of service

Hospital options for which FBCOs successfully apply. Grants will be awarded
for a 12-month term.
St. Vincent’s
Hospital How to Apply
Interested FBCOs, which meet the eligibility criteria included in the
United States Request for Proposals (RFP), should complete the attached RFP,
Department of which should include:
Labor  Cover Sheet
 4-7 double-spaced page narrative
 Audited financial statements (preferred)
 Proof of nonprofit status (i.e. 501(c) 3 documentation) or plans to
obtain status

Mail one original and three stapled copies of the application cover
sheet, narrative and attachments to: CWD, Attn: Ann Collins, 3420
Third Avenue South, 2nd floor, Birmingham, AL 35222. Applications will
not be accepted by fax or email.

Jefferson County Health Careers Initiative 1

Deadline
Applications must be received at CWD’s offices by November 7, 2005 by 12 PM.

Health Careers Initiative 2

 REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS

Through support from the United States Department of Labor, grants are
available to faith-based and community organizations (FBCOs) to provide
employment-related services to Workforce Investment Act (WIA)-eligible
low-income residents. The goal of this initiative is to address the mismatch
between the skill requirements of high-demand jobs in Jefferson County’s
hospitals and the qualifications of working-age community residents. HCI
will prepare residents for entry-level jobs in the healthcare sector and assist
these individuals in obtaining employment with local hospitals. In addition,
HCI will provide upgrade training and advancement opportunities to current
employees of local hospitals.

Applicants must select one or more of the options of services

below.

Option One - Grants will be awarded for FBCOs to provide outreach,

assessment, referrals, and work supports. Specifically, selected FBCOs will
be responsible to:
• Perform outreach in their communities to identify potential
candidates for entry-level positions with local hospitals participating in
HCI. Some examples of outreach activities include: advertising the
HCI program to your current clients, distributing HCI project flyers at
job fairs and other community events, posting HCI project flyers at
churches and community centers.
• Assess potential candidates based on the requirements of HCI.
Assessments will include determining eligibility for WIA services, and
conducting the Test of Adult Basic Education (TABE).
• Refer qualified, WIA eligible individuals to the Jefferson County One-
Stop to register for Core and Intensive Services. (Refer a minimum of
45 eligible individuals.)
• Receive referrals of employed individuals from the One Stop and
assist these individuals in accessing work supports. Work supports
include childcare subsidies, Food Stamps, the Earned Income Tax
Credit, transportation assistance, and other government programs
that enhance the income of low-wage workers. FBCOs will assist
hospital employees in determining their eligibility for these work
supports and in completing applications for these programs. (Provide
such services to a minimum of 30 individuals.)

Participating FBCOs will be expected to provide CWD and Seedco with

regular reports on the number of individuals receiving outreach,
assessment, referrals, and work supports. Participating FBCOs will also be
expected to attend monthly meetings for the first six months of the project.

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Option Two - Grants will be awarded to FBCOS to provide contextualized
basic education and job readiness training. Specifically, selected FBCOs
will be responsible to:
• Prepare community residents (referred to the One Stop through
Option One) for non-clinical, entry level jobs within the hospitals,
including patient transport, unit secretaries, and food service
attendants. Selected FBCOs will provide intensive job readiness
training and adult basic education, including workplace skills, basic
math/writing/reading, adult literacy, and customer service. The One-
Stop will then place training graduates into entry-level hospital jobs.
• Provide such services to a minimum of 100 individuals.

Each FBCO will also be expected to provide CWD and Seedco with regular
reports on the training activity and the number of individuals successfully
completing training programs. Participating FBCOs will also be expected to
attend monthly meetings for the first six months of the project.

Option Three - Grants will be awarded to FBCOs to provide employment

counseling services for current hospital employees who are accessing
upgrade training in the healthcare field and are WIA eligible. Specifically,
participating hospitals will identify current employees who are in need of
upgrade training to advance to high-demand positions within the hospital
and are WIA eligible. These employees will receive training from
participating schools and training providers. FBCOs responsibilities for this
option will include:
• Providing employment counseling services to WIA participants
enrolled in training programs. FBCO awardees will help participants
meet the dual demands of work and training, and work with the
hospitals and training providers to ensure participants have the
opportunity to advance on the job.
• Providing intensive counseling services to a minimum of 20
individuals during the grant period.

Participating FBCOs will be expected to provide CWD and Seedco with

regular reports on case management activity. Participating FBCOs will also
be expected to attend monthly meetings for the first six months of the
project.

Eligibility
Organizations must meet the criteria below to be eligible for this grant
opportunity. For the purpose of this RFP, eligible FBCOs are defined as:
• Nonprofit organizations, which,
• Have social services as a major part of their mission,

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 • Are located in Jefferson County, AND
• Have a social services budget of $350,000 annually or less, OR
• Have six or fewer full-time equivalent paid employees

Instructions for Submitting a Proposal

The proposal narrative, excluding attachments, should be 4-7 double-
spaced pages. Please send an original and three stapled copies of the cover
sheet (attached), the narrative, and attachments to:

CWD
Attn: Ann Collins
3420 Third Avenue South, 2nd floor
Birmingham, AL 35222

The narrative should include the following:

1. Organization’s History (1 page) (This section will be worth 5 points

out of a total of 100 points.)
Briefly summarize the history and mission of your agency. Please explain
how the proposed project fits within your larger organizational mission.

2. Organization Description (1 page) (This section will be worth 5

points out of a total of 100 points.)
Please describe your organization and its target population.

3. Programmatic Capacity (1-3 pages) (This section will be worth 70

points out of a total of 100 points.)
Describe the types of services your organization delivers, who they are
delivered to, how they are delivered. Also describe the size of your
program(s) in terms of number of people served and operating budget. For
each of your major programs, please describe the number of full and part-
time staff allocated, and the number of volunteers and consultants. Explain
any partnerships your agency has with other organizations to provide these
services. Include information on your current relationship (if any) with the
One Stop Center.

You may also include a letter of commitment to the project from your board
of directors or other key stakeholders. (This commitment letter is optional.)

4. Plan for Selected Option (1-2 pages) (This section will be worth 20
points out of a total of 100 points.)
Explain which option(s) you selected and describe how you will provide the
specific service or services for each option. Your plan should include a
proposed staffing pattern for each option as well as whether new staff will
be hired for the Initiative. If you are partnering with another organization to
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provide one or more of the options, please explain how you will work
together.

Below are some questions to consider when formulating a plan for each of
the options.

Option One:
 What other programs does your agency operate that could serve as a
potential source of candidates for outreach efforts (e.g. shelters,
substance abuse treatment programs, daycare centers, community
education initiatives, etc.)?
 What is your agency’s experience with outreach and assessment?
 What client populations does your agency have access to and
expertise in serving?
 Does your organization have experience working with employers to fill
open positions?
 What supportive services does your agency currently offer (e.g. food
pantry, childcare center, and transportation service, etc.)?
 What specific work supports will your organization help HCI
participants access? Does your organization have past experience
helping clients access these programs?

Option Two:
 Does your organization have experience providing adult basic
education, job readiness training, and/or other education programs?
 What client populations does your agency have access to and
expertise in serving?
 Does your organization have experience working with employers on
training or other programs?

Option Three:
 Does your agency have experience providing intensive counseling
services?
 What populations does your agency have access to and expertise in
serving?

BONUS (This section will be worth up to 10 bonus points.)

Describe your organization’s capacity to manage contracts and/or grants.
Provide information on any past or current experience in tracking
participants and reporting on outcome data for project participants. Include
any information on past receipt of government or Foundation grants or
contracts. In addition, provide any additional experience that you feel may
be relevant to this project.

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CWD will select FBCOs to participate based on the strength of the
organization’s proposal with regard to the point system described
above.

In preparing the narrative, please be sure to review the

Information on Use of Federal Funds by FBCOs on page five.

Successful Applicants: What to Expect

RFP Submission Deadline Expected Notification Date

November 7, 2005 by 12 PM Week of November 18, 2005

CWD and Seedco will provide intensive technical support to FBCOs that are
selected to participate in HCI. CWD and Seedco will hold monthly meetings
with selected FBCOs to provide information on the program and help FBCOs
launch their program options. In addition, CWD and Seedco staff will visit
selected FBCOs to provide one-on-one technical assistance.

For more information, please contact Ann Collins at CWD at (205)

323-7146 ext. 23.

Information for Use of Federal Funding by FBCOs

HCI is funded in part through a United States Department of Labor (DOL)
grant. As such, FBCOs that receive grants through this project must adhere
to Federal rules regarding appropriate use of Federal funds. These rules are
described in some detail below. Please consider these guidelines when
developing your proposal. This information will also be reviewed in the RFP
workshops. CWD and Seedco will be available to provide guidance on how
to adhere to these rules.

Use of Federal (HCI) Funding for Program Activity:

• Faith-based or religious organizations can participate in HCI and
receive HCI grants; however, these organizations cannot use HCI
funding for “inherently religious activity”. “Inherently religious
activity” is defined as:
o Religious workshop, OR
o Religious instruction, OR
o Religious proselytizing
• FBCOs can engage in inherently religious activity but FBCOs cannot
use HCI grant money to provide these activities. Inherently religious
activities must be offered in a separate time or location from HCI
program activities.

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 • FBCOs can invite HCI participants to participate in inherently religious
activities (e.g. prayer groups, religious services); however,
participation in religious activities must be voluntary.

Hiring of staff with Federal Funds:

• FBCOs that use HCI grants to hire new staff for the project must
adhere to Federal rules. FBCOs cannot make employment decisions
on the basis of a candidate’s religion when hiring for a position to
provide services for HCI. This rule only applies to new staff hired
specifically for HCI. The rule does not apply to existing staff or staff
hired for a FBCO program that is not funded by a HCI grant.