A reflection for today: In our wellness training this week with Hive & Thrive, they shared this video by Dr Brené Brown on empathy v. sympathy. Let us all #bethebear. Watch this 3-minute video here!

Please continue to keep us informed of what's happening with you in Bucks and Montgomery Counties. The information here comes from you, with links to our website for more complete information and resources. Send your events and updates to Kristyn: [email protected]. Thank you!

Kristyn DiDominick, Executive Director

Shushma Patel, Training & Outreach Manager

There are many online and in-person discussions, events, and celebrations occurring with resources below from Collaborative and Racial Equity Learning Community members. Thank you!

The African American Museum of Bucks County will host exhibit displays throughout the month: Learn more

DuSable Museum Events, Wisdom Wednesdays Lunch & Learn (and more): Learn more

Gwynedd Mercy University, Black History Month Keynote - In Living Color: The Historical Significance of Race in American Society and its Lasting Implications for Today: Learn more

Souderton Area for All, The History and Influence of the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity: Learn more

"In a 786-page decision, Judge Renee Cohn Jubilerer said that over the course of the more than three-month trial that ended a year ago, the petitioners had demonstrated 'manifest deficiencies.'" - Philadelphia Inquirer, February 7, 2023

Read more! Photo credit, Inquirer

On December 19th, the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness released "ALL IN: The Federal Strategic Plan to Prevent and End Homelessness". This new federal strategy lays out a goal of reducing homelessness in the United States by 25% by January 2025. The plan also provides a model for work that states and localities, along with the private and nonprofit sectors, should undertake. The strategic plan has a focus on housing and prevention and calls for collaboration with other federal efforts to help low-income Americans. You can read an executive summary of the plan here.

Campaign for Trauma-Informed Policy & Practice

The Pathways Learning Network convened on January 11, 2023, for a conversation about potential pathways for implementing trauma-responsive policies and programs at the state and federal levels. Pathways to Resilience was joined by the Campaign for Trauma-Informed Policy and Practice (CTIPP) to discuss areas where new governors’ platforms and federal investments may align in the movement for trauma-responsive policies in 2023.

The Campaign for Trauma-Informed Policy and Practice (CTIPP) has launched a national campaign – #TakeOnTrauma – to urge the newly sworn-in 118th class of Congress to support policies that create conditions for people, families, and communities to succeed. From substance misuse and youth mental health challenges to heart disease and community violence, our nation faces fundamental challenges with a common root cause: trauma.

70% of U.S. adults have experienced at least one traumatic event.

46% of U.S. children have experienced at least one event by age 18, and more than 20% have experienced at least two.

Adverse childhood experiences are linked to five of the leading causes of death in the US: Heart disease, cancer, respiratory diseases, diabetes, and suicide. Policymakers and lawmakers can prevent trauma and provide supportive healing by investing in communities. And preventing trauma is cost- and resource-effective. Learn more and sign on!

The Community Support Program (CSP) and the MontCo Office of Mental Health need your feedback!

Background: The MontCo Office of Mental Health uses the feedback from this survey to prioritize how to spend the funds allocated to Montgomery County from the PA Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (OMHSAS). The survey asks for your feedback on mental health services in Montgomery County and then asks for you to rank each priority. The Office of Mental Health will base their funding plan on the rankings from the survey, so your thoughtful feedback is very important. At the end of the survey, there are several questions about the Social Determinants of Health – these areas are not funded by the Office of Mental Health and so they are not areas for ranking. The CSP committee is interested in your feedback from these questions to gather data that can be used when CSP is advocating for issues related to people’s whole health, and to help the committee understand what resources are needed for the entire mental health community. Complete the survey online!

If you are interested in providing in-person feedback, please join a stakeholder feedback session on February 9, 2023 at either 12 pm or 5 pm. The sessions will take place at NAMI Montgomery County, 100 West Main Street, Suite 204, Lansdale, PA 19446. Food will be provided. Please click here to RSVP

The Montgomery County Planning Commission has started work on Montco 2050, the next comprehensive plan for Montgomery County. This plan will guide overall growth and future development and will help the county in making planning decisions with an outlook to 2050. It will focus on broad issues that affect everyone’s quality of life. Public opinion is important as the plan will ultimately reflect the needs of county residents, and Montco would like to hear from as many voices as possible!

Click here for the online survey or share ideas and comments on the Montco 2050 Padlet. Download the PDF to share here.

Take the survey here

On March 20, Pottstown Cluster of Religious Communities will be hosting the Reading Hospital Mobile Mammography Coach.

See flyers on how to register

*registration is required.

On January 30, 2023, the VNA Foundation of Greater North Penn launched spring 2023 grants for both General Operating and flexible Program support! The maximum grant for this spring 2023 cycle is $15,000 for one year. These grants are for organizations that directly provide under-resourced people in the North Penn region with access to Food, Housing and Basic Health Needs (including mental health & addiction). All applicants must hold IRS-nonprofit status.

In the spirit of trust-based philanthropy, the VNAF continues to use a pared-down, streamlined application. Funding is intended for flexible use, and they offer feedback and technical assistance to applicants through the due date of March 17, 2023. Decisions will be issued within 45-60 days. Grant reporting will take the form of a conversation to ease the paperwork burden on grantees, and to build mutual understanding.

The Partnership Grant Program is one of United Way’s primary tools for sustaining close ties to the communities they serve and for learning from organizations and leaders in their focus areas: Early Learning, Career Pathways, Financial Empowerment, and Community Resiliency.

Beginning January 30th, the grant application process aims to help identify poverty-fighting organizations that are not only deeply knowledgeable about their fields and communities but have interest in contributing to United Way’s understanding of the issues impacting their communities and working together to generate ideas for informed and collaborative solutions.

The Valentine Foundation has released its RFP for its Visionary Leadership Fund for women.

The application for the Visionary Leadership Fund is due February 12th. The Visionary Leadership Fund provides a dedicated source of funding for leadership development for women executives and aspiring leaders in organizations that improve the lives of women and girls in the Greater Philadelphia region. The Valentine Foundation's definition of women and girls includes anyone who is cis-gender or trans woman/girl, or non-binary. The groups they focus on who have historically been under-represented in leadership roles include, but are not limited to, those who are Black, Indigenous, People of Color, LGBTQ+, and/or People with Disabilities.

You can find full details about the application process here.

FEMA, through the Emergency Food and Shelter Program, has allocated $288,210 to Bucks County for Phase 40 funding. All nonprofits that provide emergency food and/or shelter are welcomed to submit an application for funding. The application for phase 40 funding is available here and the deadline to apply is February 10^th at 5:00 pm.

Applications should be emailed to [email protected]. Applications received after the deadline will not be accepted. Potential applicants are encouraged to save the blank application (a fillable pdf) and make it sure opens, accepts your input, and saves correctly to ensure that it is compatible with your system. New applicants are strongly encouraged to visit the website to learn more about this program before applying. New this year: Applicants are required to have a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI). For information on how to acquire a UEI if you do not have one, go to www.SAM.gov. Once you have submitted your application, you will receive a confirmation email from United Way of Bucks County. If you do not receive a confirmation email, contact Tim Philpot right away at: [email protected]. If you have any questions about this announcement of EFSP funding, please contact Tim Philpot at [email protected] or 215-584-0887.

Apply for a Montco 2040 Implementation Grant  

The Montgomery County Planning Commission is accepting applications from municipalities and their partners for the 2023 cycle of the Montco 2040 Implementation Grant Program, which assists municipalities in making targeted physical improvements that achieve real progress toward the goals of the county’s Montco 2040 comprehensive plan and its themes of Connected Communities, Sustainable Places, and Vibrant Economy. This cycle has a funding allotment of $2.5 million. The application deadline is 11:59 p.m. on March 1, 2023.

See the program overview, guidebook, and application.

Bucks Innovation and Improvement Grants (BIIG) are offered on a competitive basis to non-profit human services organizations providing services to children and youth in Bucks County. These grants, ranging in value up to $15,000, will be awarded to eligible applicants that develop innovative ideas to improve the quality of life for children, youth, and families.

Capital Improvement Grants are offered on a competitive basis to non-profit human service organizations providing services to children and youth in Bucks County. These grants, ranging in value up to $10,000, will be reviewed for capital campaigns including structural improvements to the facility (bricks & mortar, such as new buildings or addition to existing buildings), or extensive renovation or addition of durable equipment to an existing structure.

Awarded annually in December and June, a Letter of Inquiry must be submitted by April 1, 2023. Following LOI approval, applications must be submitted by April 15, 2023.