The application deadline for the WCPCAN Capacity-Building Grant Program is currently over.

Please check back with us in September 2008 for future opportunities.

We have kept this information online to allow programs and organizations to better acquaint themselves with our grant process and to gain a better understanding of how WCPCAN supports community-based programs in achieving outcomes that benefit children and families.

WCPCAN invests in communities committed to developing and sustaining effective child abuse prevention through our grants program. Programs are selected based on prevention research, standards of best practice, their ability to demonstrate program outcomes, and their capacity to leverage resources within their community.

Because of the rigor of the grant application process and the high standards of our evaluation requirements, receiving WCPCAN funding is regarded as a gold standard for prevention programs in Washington. Being selected for WCPCAN investment opens doors to private dollars for our grantees.

Based on the research of what works best to prevent child abuse and neglect, WCPCAN invests in the following types of programs:

• Home visitation programs that provide services to vulnerable families with infants and young children.
• Parent education programs that use a formal structure and curriculum to help parents develop and refine parenting skills.
• Parent support activities that provide parents a social support network and environment to increase positive parenting skills.
• Crisis nurseries that offer respite care and support to families in crisis.

What Protects Children

The steadily growing body of research regarding effective prevention of child abuse and neglect drives WCPCAN’s investment priorities. We also highly value the capacity of community-based programs to report program outcomes to ensure that state dollars invested in prevention services are producing real results.

The outcomes we seek are based on eight protective factor goals which research shows make the most difference in determining a child’s chances for growing up in a protective environment. Programs that develop and support these protective factors have the greatest chance of preventing child abuse and strengthening families. The programs we invest in must address and achieve positive outcomes in at least one of the protective factor / family support goals areas:

• Nurturing & bonding
• Responsive social network
• Knowledge of child development
• Effective problem solving
• Effective communication
• Non-punitive discipline and guidance
• Life management skills
• Stress management

By supporting research-based community programs, WCPCAN takes an active role in front-line prevention that has far-reaching effects. To build capacity of community-based family support programs, WCPCAN provides the following:

• Technical assistance
• Outcome and evaluation consultation
• Peer-to-peer networking
• Program development assistance
• Resources and training, marketing, public relations and outreach opportunities
• Conference and event co-sponsorship

2008 Grant Cycle Timeline

• WCPCAN announces new grant guidelines each year in September.
• Letters of Intent are due November 2, 2007.
• Finalists will be selected to complete a full application on December 14, 2007.
• Final proposals are due from finalists on March 7, 2008.
• Grant awards will be announced on May 30, 2008.

Grant Guidelines

• 2008 Grant Guidelines - Word