2006 APPLICATION GUIDELINES

The FAR Fund, established in 2001 by an anonymous donor, focuses its resources in three domains:

• IMPROVING AND EXPANDING SERVICES AND SYSTEMS FOR PEOPLE ON THE AUTISTIC SPECTRUM

The Fund’s focus in each of these domains is described below.  We encourage the creation of projects that operate across domains.  The Fund also encourages projects that increase the participation and influence of consumers in shaping the service system that affect their lives.  We are particularly interested in projects that incorporate psychodynamic thinking in their program philosophy and service delivery.

I. IMPROVING AND EXPANDING SERVICES AND SYSTEMS FOR PEOPLE ON THE AUTISTIC SPECTRUM

Diagnoses of autism have increased dramatically in the United States over the past years.  Not long ago, as few as one in 10,000 people was diagnosed with classic autism.  More recent studies report that the incidence of diagnosis of autistic spectrum disorders is as high as one in 150 children ten years old or younger.  Although epidemiological research  present conflicting conclusions regarding whether there is an actual increase in incidence, the dramatic increase in diagnoses appears to result from increased awareness of autistic spectrum disorders, improved identification and reporting, an expanded definition of the autistic spectrum, and likely also reflects an actual increase in incidence.

Although services have improved in recent years to assist people with autistic spectrum disorders, dramatic improvements and expansion in support services and systems are still needed.

The FAR Fund supports efforts to improve and expand services and systems for people with autistic spectrum disorders in three areas: 

• Early Identification: Earlier identification and intervention can make a tremendous difference in the life of the child and his or her family. Although parents of children with autism recognize early that their children are having problems, a formal diagnosis of autism is often not made until considerably later. The FAR Fund supports efforts to identify autistic spectrum disorders early, and refer children for an early and appropriate assessment. We would like to target families who are less informed about autism, which limits their access to assistance.

• Education: Approximately 4,000 children on the autistic spectrum attend public school in New York City, representing the vast majority of school-age children with autistic spectrum disorders in the City.  The programs for these children in public schools are not adequate for the needs of these children, particularly for children of color and immigrants. We believe that children on the autistic spectrum are best served by a developmental, psychologically informed approach that includes support for the child’s parents and family. 
  
  The FAR Fund supports efforts to improve the quality of programs, teacher competence and resources available for children with autistic spectrum disorders in the New York City public school system. The Fund supports direct service programs and projects that seek to reform public policy or practice.

• Independence: Each year approximately 2,000 students with autistic spectrum disorders leave the New York City school system, and make the transition to independence.  These include young people who are in District 75 schools , mainstream schools and private schools funded by the Department of Education. Young people from each of these settings face severe difficulties in the transition from school to satisfying, productive adult lives.
  
  The FAR Fund supports direct service and policy reform projects to improve the transition and long-term life conditions of young adults with autistic spectrum disorders in three areas:

• Parent Training and Advocacy: Parents, both individually and collectively, need to become forceful advocates for their children.

 II. PREVENTING VIOLENCE AGAINST YOUTH

Violence against young people causes widespread harm to the victims of violence as well as the perpetrators. The FAR Fund supports projects that focus on four areas of violence against youth.  In each of these areas the FAR Fund is interested in supporting a combination of direct services, youth development and efforts to change problematic polices or programs.

• Violence within the family: The FAR Fund supports projects that prevent domestic violence and child abuse.  The FAR Fund is participating in a funders’ collaborative, the Partnership for Family Supports and Justice.  The Partnership is testing a new approach to child welfare services in Highbridge, the Bronx. In this approach, parents, neighbors and young people in the community, in partnership with existing providers, are the first line of support for families experiencing difficulties.  The Fund will consider support for projects that reduce violence against children and youth within families in Highbridge as well as in other neighborhoods of New York.

III. PREVENTING HOMELESSNESS

Homelessness has become an endemic problem in the nation. In New York City children and families are 80% of the more than 30,000 homeless people in the public system.   Over the past years the number of homeless families known to the system has increased from 4,429 in January 1998 to 7,873 in December 2005.

Many problems contribute to families’ vulnerability and homelessness, including domestic violence, mental illness, AIDS, chronic unemployment, substance abuse and disabilities.  Supportive, permanent housing is one of the primary ways that formerly homeless and vulnerable individuals and families can remain in permanent housing.  Supportive housing provides case management and a range of social services on-site to address many of the problems these individuals and families confront. Other services that cannot be provided on-site are available through referrals.

New York City and State have an extensive network of supportive housing for individuals but have few supportive housing units for formerly homeless or vulnerable families.

The FAR Fund seeks to create a network of supportive housing for vulnerable and formerly homeless families in New York City.  The Fund will do this in two ways. First, we support demonstration projects that document the efficacy of various supportive housing models for families.  We also support campaigns that demonstrate the efficacy of supportive housing for families, that seek to increase public support and create public funding streams for supportive, permanent housing for families. 

IV. SUPPORTING PSYCHODYNAMIC SERVICES, TRAINING AND RESEARCH

The FAR Fund is currently not making separate grants to programs engaging in psychodynamic services, training and research.  Instead, we are interested in promoting the contributions of psychoanalytic theory and practice within the three funding domains specified above as well as in the Fellowship.  For example, we have funded programs that provide psychoanalytic psychotherapy to adolescents with Asperger’s Syndrome, young people in foster care and victims of domestic violence.

Psychoanalytic theory, with its appreciation of the mind’s complexity provides a comprehensive account of human mental development and experience.  Psychodynamic psychotherapy and assessment comprise a number of different approaches and treatment modalities including psychoanalysis, psychological testing, short and long-term psychoanalytically-orientated individual therapy, family therapy, group therapy, supportive therapy and parent consultation.  The Fund supports these approaches to assisting children, adults and/or families and is particularly interested in supporting projects that, where relevant, include a psychodynamic component.

The Proposal

The deadlines for proposals are the first of February, June and October.  In 2005 grants ranged from $5,000 to $76,000.  The modal grant was $25,000.  Final decisions are made within four months.  The application proposal should be brief and describe the following:

1. The organization where the project will be located.

2. The problem.

3. The project, including the project title.

4. The expected impact.

5. A plan for project evaluation, including outcome indicators.  The evaluation should include feedback from the recipients of service when services are provided.

6. Plans for the project beyond the grant period.

7. Project staff.

8. A project expense budget and income budget, and an organization expense and income budget.

9. The percentage of the project budget that you expect to have supported by the FAR Fund.

10. A monitorable Work Plan identifying projected activities and anticipated dates of completion.  A copy of the Work Plan format is available on our website at www.FARFund.org.

11. The name of the tax-exempt organization that would receive the grant, a copy of the organization’s tax-exempt form and the most recent audited financial report.

Each grantee is required to submit a detailed monitoring report every six months including an expenditure report at the end of each grant period.  A copy of the Monitoring Report Form is available on our website at www.FARFund.org.  Grants are reviewed yearly, generally for a maximum of three years.  When an organization seeks to reapply for a second or third year of support, the proposal should demonstrate progress toward securing long-term funding to institutionalize the project after support from the FAR Fund ends.

All references or acknowledgements of the grant should refer to the FAR Fund.  Proposals should be submitted to:

Shirlee Taylor, Ph.D., Director
The FAR Fund
555 5th Avenue, 14th Floor
New York, NY 10017

Phone: 212-918-0720
Fax: 212-986-5316
Email: FARFund@mac.com
Website: www.FARFund.org