Grants Review Committee Meeting

1 The Regional Access Project Foundation provides funding, oversight, technical

assistance and guidance to tax exempt/nonprofit agencies, community based organizations, or collaborative groups, which serve the populations of eastern

Riverside County, in the areas of health, mental health, and juvenile intervention

Grants Review Committee Meeting

Monday, March 9, 2020

1:30 PM – 5:00 PM, RAP Foundation

41-550 Eclectic Street, Palm Desert, CA 92260

REVISED

AGENDA

Attendance:

Craig Borba, Chairman Ann Dew, Emeritus

Van Tanner, Board Tricia Gehrlein, Community member Mike Gialdini, Board Leticia De Lara, CEO

Maria Blue, Board Stephanie Minor, staff, CNA Director Rosemary Ortega, Board arrived 2:00 PM Eva Guenther-James, staff

Aurora Wilson, Board, arrived at 1:45 PM

II. Public Comment:

All persons wishing to speak are requested to fill out a comment card so they may be recognized at the appropriate time. General comments regarding non-agenda items will be called for at this time. Specific comments regarding agenda items will be called for during discussion of each item. Please be prepared to limit your remarks to three (3) minutes.

None.

III. Minutes of February 10, 2020 Committee Meeting Action Item

Motion: Accept and file February 10, 2020 Meeting Minutes.

Correction: Take Maria Blue off minutes as absent because she was not yet formally introduced on the Board

Motion: V Tanner Second: M Gialdini Approve: 5 Oppose: 0 Abstention Name(s): Maria Blue, Ann Dew, Tricia Gehrlein

IV. Available Funding Budget Review available funding.

Reviewed funding. Brief discussion on possible need to set aside funds for services or support related to corona virus. Staff is directed to contact RUHS-PH.

V. Funding Requests

2 1) Cove Communities Senior Association dba Joslyn Senior Center request for $20,000

Program: Wellness Center Mental Health Prevention and Early Intervention

Reviewers: 7 Percentage Score: 83.2% Recommend funding and request that Applicant assist those who are financially challenged with more than $5.00 cost reduction in book for program. Executive Summary: “This application is for an expansion of The Joslyn Wellness Center programming to provide greater access to mental health prevention and early intervention programs for seniors and older adults. This request builds on current Wellness Center

programming and allows for the expansion of the Brain Boot Camp and Problem Solving Strategies programs. We are requesting $20,000.00 for the expansion which will continue from April 2020 through March 2021.” The program is in collaboration with Cathedral Senior Center and Alzheimer’s Association.

Representative: Jack Newby, Executive Director Interview Time: 1:50 PM – 2:05 PM

Funding support from DHCD, Helen Grace Spearman, CV Wellness and Auen Foundations. First year was 300 unduplicated clients and 400 duplicated clients. Jack is looking into billable services for sustainability. Program possible for billing is the Problem Solving Strategies. CSUSB interns will be able to obtain hours under supervision of LCSW director of the program. Jack shared the emergency response plan they have implemented regarding the corona virus.

Aurora Wilson recused herself from interview and left room due to conflict of interest. 2) HopeThrough Housing request for $20,000

Program: Connections To Care

Reviewers: 7 Reviewers Percentage Score 76.2% Recommend funding with condition to improve evaluation

Executive Summary: “Hope through Housing Foundation aims to improve the health and well-being of residents in our five Coachella Valley, low-income affordable housing communities that include family and senior properties. Focusing on care coordination at our Cathedral Palms and Desert Meadows properties, our team will work to increase awareness, reduce stigma, and connect residents with available behavioral health and wellness resources to better meet their mental and physical health needs.”

Representative: Greg Bradbart, Executive Director and Lucia Mitre, Services Coordinator Interview Time: 2:10 PM to 2:25 PM

Lucia gave a brief history of the organization and number of local properties. The five properties, one of which is in Yucca Valley. Of the properties, 70% family units and 30% senior (55 years and older). With this proposed program, she will emphasize mental health and related education and resources. It would be piloted at Cathedral Palms and Desert Meadow. If successful, they want to launch the program to their 85 other properties.

3) Operation SafeHouse request for $35,000

Program: El Sol Community Outreach Collaboration with SafeHouse of the Desert/What’s Up SafeHouse 24/7 Mobile Text App

Reviewers: 8 Percentage Score: 85.7% Recommend funding.

Executive Summary: “El Sol and SafeHouse will collaborate to serve at-risk/homeless youth (11-24) and their families in eastern Riverside County, targeting Indio, Coachella, and Blythe with outreach, education, and 24/7 crisis counseling through the What’s Up Text app that is culturally and linguistically competent for the Spanish speaking community that El Sol serves. El Sol and

3 SafeHouse are requesting $35,000 in order to achieve this goal. This program begins May 1, 2020 and ends April 30, 2021.”

Representative: Calista Vassios, Development Officer and Angelica Alvarez, El Sol Program Director

Interview Time: 2:30 PM to 2:45 PM

A Spanish version of the app is being created. Emphasis for the project is outreach to the Hispanic/Latino communities in Indio, Coachella and Blythe providing awareness of this mental health resource. Many more of the Hispanic/Latino community could utilize the app but they are not aware of it. Emphasis for the outreach has been to youth through the school districts because texting is the preferred method of communicating. For improved evaluation as to persons using the app and how it is helpful, Ann Dew suggested the sun, moon and stars scale.

4) Coachella Valley Community Research Initiative dba HIV+ Aging Research Project – Palm Springs requests $20,000

Project: Reducing Stigma and Building Resilience in Older Adults Living With HIV Reviewers: 8 Reviewers Percentage Score 86.9 % Recommend funding

Executive Summary: “This project addresses stigma, isolation and depression experienced by long-term HIV survivors. The objective is to use data obtained about stigma and resiliencies experienced by people aging with HIV to link them to mental health and social services to improve mental and clinical health, help maintain and/or improve engagement in care and maintain

undetectable viral loads, and improve overall quality of life. HARP-PS requests $20,000 for this project to start 4/1/20 and end 3/31/21.”

Representative: Jeff Taylor, Executive Director and Ken Katz, Grantwriter Interview Time: 2:50 PM to 3:05 PM

Data will come from a larger sampling in Coachella Valley recruited from area clinical and social services providers. Jeff emphasized that there is little data on resiliency and stigma in the older LGBT population and that they will work with HARC to design the online survey and analyze data. 5) California Partnership (fiscal sponsor Community Partners) requests $20,000

Program: Coachella Valley Immigrant Dignity Rapid Response Hotline – Mental Health Services Support

Reviewers: 8 Percentage Score: 73.2% Recommend funding and for those Reviewers who attended the Reviewers meeting, recommendation is with condition that referral to Healing Circles and Talking Circles conducted by Danza Azteca Citlaltonac has a Mental Health Professional such as a LMFT, LCSW, Psych RN, Psychologist attend each of the Healing and Talking Circles and volunteers manning the hotline must obtain advanced mental health training to provide accurate and correct referrals.

Executive Summary: “CVID’s (Coachella Valley Immigrant Dignity) rapid response line receives many calls that are not deportation emergencies but the caller needs support. This grant would help us train the volunteers to make assessments and referrals to peer support healing circles and referrals to clinical therapists. $20,000 will allow us to get the volunteer training and incorporate Clinicas de Salud del Pueblo’s staff in the healing circles and clinical therapist referrals by May of 2020. The program will continue as long as the trained staff operate the rapid response

Representative: Maribel Nunez, Executive Director and Erick Lemus, CVID Coordinator Interview Time: 3:10 PM to 3:25 PM

4 Maribel shared briefly that the local rapid response line, manned by volunteers, was established to handle calls regarding immigration and related. However, many times callers are inquiring what would be deemed mental health related. The opportunity was seen to establish an extension to the program by providing callers seeking help with referrals to service providers. Erick reviewed the proposed peer to peer support hotline for mental health related inquiries. Also, stated was that the response line and partnering organizations attended RUHS-BH’s Mental Health First Aid course to assess calls and provide correct referrals. He shared that one of the referrals, partnering

organization Danza Azteca Citlaltonac, offers healing and talking circles. These are facilitated peer circles in a trusting space. There were questions asked regarding this particular referral due to concern that if a crisis arose during the time of a healing circle, there would not be a licensed mental health professional to provide intervention.

B. Small Grant

1) Desert Best Friend’s Closet

Program: Youth Attire Request: $4,875

Reviewers: 7 Reviewers 77.6% Recommend funding

Executive Summary: “Our Youth Attire Program was created to provide professional attire for any high school student in the Coachella Valley. Students often need professional attire for certain school activities for example, Mock Trial, Debate Team and HOSA, HEAL and DATA competitions. Students may also need professional attire for job interviews and internships. They may even need business attire for awards banquets or scholarship interviews. Too many families lack the

resources--either hanging in their closets or funds in their wallets--to provide this for their children. Desert Best Friend's Closet can readily meet this need in the community. We are asking for $4875 to help 50 local high school students.” The request is to match the $5,000 amount awarded by Anderson Children’s Foundation to fund 50 high school students. With the RAP funding request, she want to serve total of 100 students.

Representative: Connie Golds, CEO and C0-Founder and Johnny Anderson, Director of

Operations

Interview Time: 3:30 PM to 3:45 PM

Connie shared briefly how her idea came about to create the program and its first year

success. Johnny gave a brief background of his experience in fashion after his stint at

American Express. His work experience and training the volunteers as image consultants

has made other attire programs provided by the organization successful and assist in

building clients’ self-esteem

.

2) Added Item

Nickerson-Rossi Dance and International Dance Festival

Program: Palm Springs International Dance Festival Request $5,000

Summary: “$5,000 which covers 300 students from the Eastern Coachella Valley ( Mecca, Oasis, Northshore, Coachella, Indio) to attend our 2 performances on Saturday, April 4th ( 11:15 am and 1 pm ) at the Annenberg Theater in Palm Springs. The funds will also give RAP Foundation 100 seats for the Professional Gala Performance on Sunday, April 5th ( 6 pm ). My concept is for RAP Foundation to distribute the 100 seats to for April 5th program to their board, city officials,

supporters, decision makers, staff and volunteers. You would be providing a huge component in building community, creating access to international artists to your students-which will inspire the youth to pursue their dreams in education/arts.”

Representative: Michael Nickerson-Rossie, Artistic Director/Founder

Interview Time: 4:15 PM to 4:30 PM

5

Michael has been part time in Coachella Valley since 2013 but recently full time resident.

The program that he has received funding the last two years is for Los Angeles students.

He would like to replicate the dance program in the Desert for the east Coachella Valley

students. Michael will apply for financial support to Desert Recreation District, Anderson

Children’s Foundation. His relationship with Riverside County Office of Education is a

contact to teach master classes through the schools. He has partnered with Desert

Regional Medical Center’s Comprehensive Cancer Center to offer dance therapy. He sees

tremendous potential for his dance programming in Coachella Valley.

C. Performance Grant 1) Lift To Rise

Program: Lift To Rise Request: $50,000, year 5, previous four awards, 2018 - $75,000 2017 - $50,000 2016 - $50,000 2015 - $12,000

Reviewers: 5 Percentage score: 72.0 % Recommend funding with concerns regarding evaluation.

Executive Summary: “Support will be used to implement the testing and integration of a two-pronged initiatives serving low-income Coachella Valley families: enrollment in a reduced cost utilities program, and asset- and credit-building opportunities. A grant would support a new staff position managing our collaboration with three partner organizations targeting low-income constituencies.”

Representatives: Heather Vaikona, CEO, Jocelyn Vargas, Director of External Affairs and Araceli Palafox, Assistant Director, Research and Policy

Interview Time: 3:50 PM to 4:05 PM

Heather briefly described the background to implementing the Economic Opportunity CAN. Data/stats derived from a lengthy process has prioritized work in this CAN. The staff responsible for the CAN will implement and coordinate Lending Circles with three partnering organizations. She highlighted the progress made over the past four years and accomplishments through the various partnerships and collaboration. The nine CV cities are implementing policy changes regarding Housing.

Aurora Wilson disclosed that she, as COD trustee, had conversations with Jocelyn Vargas.

VI. Request Recommendations Action Item

A. Health/Mental Health Initiative RFP 2019.1

1. Cove Communities Senior Association dba Joslyn Center -Request $20,000 Recommendation: Recommend $20,000 and explore UCLA for longitudinal study.

Motion: V Tanner Second: M Gialdini Approve: 5 Oppose: 0 Abstention Name(s): 0 Aurora Wilson recused herself from the meeting and left room.

2. Hope Through Housing – Request $20,000

Recommendation: Recommend $12,500 of which no more than $5,000 for Personnel Budget Line item and $1,000 for one year CNA membership

Motion: M Gialdini Second: V Tanner Approve: 6 Oppose: 0 Abstention Name(s): 0 3. Operation SafeHouse – Request $35,000

Recommendation: Recommend $35,000 and continue to look for evaluation to measure clients served

6 Motion: V Tanner Second: M Gialdini Approve: 6 Oppose: 0 Abstention Name(s): 0

4. Coachella Valley Community Research Initiative dba HIV+ – Request $20,000 Recommendation: Recommend $20,000

Motion: A Wilson Second: V Tanner Approve: 6 Oppose: 0 Abstention Name(s): 0 5. California Partnership fiscal sponsor Community Partners - $20,000

Recommendation: Recommend $20,000, $1,000 one year CNA membership and require signed MOU with one or more mental health service provider for emergency services at 24 hours/7days a week to be able at time of Healing and Talking Circles.

Motion: V Tanner Second: Mike Gialdini Approve: 6 Oppose: 0 Abstention Name(s): 0 B. Small Grant

1. Best Friend’s Closet – Request $4,850

Recommendation: Recommend $4,000, not to be used for Marketing Budget Line Item Motion: R Ortega Second: V Tanner Approve: 5 Oppose: 1, Aurora Wilson Abstention Name(s): 0

2. Nickerson-Rossi Dance/International Dance Festival - $5,000 Recommendation: Recommend $1,000 one year CNA membership

Motion: M Gialdini Second: V Tanner Approve: 5 Oppose: 1, Maria Blue Abstention Name(s): 0

C. Performance Grant

1. Lift To Rise – Request $50,000

Recommendation: Recommend $50,000 and provide dashboard with updates on successes and recommend CNA membership

Motion: R Ortega Second: M Blue Approve: 6 Oppose: 0 Abstention Name(s): 0 VII. Announcements

VIII. Schedule next meeting

April 13, 2020, 1:30 PM, RAP Foundation

Standing meeting on the second Monday of the month, 1:30 PM, at RAP Foundation IX. Meetings for remainder of Fiscal Year 2019/2020

April 13, 2020 May 11, 2020 June 8, 2020 X. Adjourn at 5:25 PM

Agenda Posting: Agendas will be posted on the Foundation website – www.rapfoundation.org – a minimum of 72 hours prior to the meeting date. All public record documents for matters on the open session of the Agenda are available for inspection at the meeting listed in this Agenda, and at the following location three (3) days prior to the meeting date: Regional Access Project Foundation, 41-550 Eclectic Street, Palm Desert, CA 92260

If a public record document that relates to a matter on the open session of the Agenda is distributed less than 72 hours prior to the meeting date, the public record document shall be available for inspection, at the same time it is distributed, at the address listed above. Upon request, this agenda will be made available in appropriate alternative formats to persons with