1. Who can request a "Families Can't Wait" grant?
Any family currently waiting for services through the Family Support & Resource Center may request a grant. To be on our waiting list, a family must be a resident of Dane County and have completed the eligibility determination process for our publicly funded programs. An individual family may apply or a group of several families may join together to make a request.
2. What types of requests can be made to the "Families Can't Wait" Fund?
You can request a grant for any expenses that will make a positive difference in the life of your child who has a disability and is disability related. Funding is limited, and grants will be approved using the following guidelines for priorities and limitations.
Limitations:
- We fund items or services that are one-time in nature or limited in duration until another resource becomes available. We cannot provide assurance to families that funding will be continuous.
- We are a funding source of last resort, and can not pay for items or services that can be paid through Medicaid and private insurance.
- We are not able to make grants for services or items which are considered experimental or restrictive. We will always support solutions which we believe to be in the best interest of the child.
- At least 2 written estimates will be required for architectural modifications.
- Supportive documentation may be required depending on the request.
Priorities:
The following types of requests will receive the highest priority:
- Requests that respond to urgent needs of families in high stress situations, especially households that have low incomes, are headed by single parents or parents who have disabilities, or have a child at risk of out-of-home placement.
- Requests for innovative or creative forms of support; for example, ideas to share resources among families, to promote and strengthen the capacity of extended family and friends to help, to empower and to mentor parents, to address challenges of living in a rural area. (These are only examples!)
3. How much money can I request?
We don’t like to put upper or lower limits on the size of grants. We are expecting to receive a number of smaller requests ($100 – $1000) that will allow us to fund some larger proposals as well.
4. How do I request "Families Can't Wait" funding? Is there a deadline?
Print and fill out a simple request form and send it in. Tell us how you would like to use the grant and why it is important to your child and family. Please don’t call us with requests. The written forms will help us know the number and kind of requests that you have. There is no deadline. We’ll accept requests as long as we have funding available. We will try to get back to you within 30 days.
5. What kind of record-keeping or documentation will I have to do if I receive a grant?
Paperwork will be minimal. If we can grant your request, money will be made available as soon as you have completed all arrangements with the vendor and are ready for payments to be made. You will need to sign a service plan and complete an income declaration form.
“Families Can’t Wait” Grant Request Form
Download a copy of the request form for a Families Can’t Wait grant in Microword Word format. Download a Spanish version of the request form at En Espanol.
Email this completed form with a subject line of FCW grant to:
fsrc@fsrcdane.org