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NEWS FROM WASHINGTON

Shelley Rood

AJFCA Washington Director

                        Thursday, August 23, 2012 

District Meetings and Town Halls
It's August - and that means campaign season is in full swing. Every district in the House is up for re-election (or up for grabs) and a third of the Senate is also on the ballot. Now is a great time to be voicing issues of importance in town halls and district meetings. We encourage you to speak about your programs in your community. If you'd like ideas of issues you could raise, please refer to this list.  
Action Alert:  Behavioral Health Information Technology (BHIT) Act
Urge your senator and representative to cosponsor the Behavioral Health Information Technology Act (HR. 6043 and S. 539). The implementation of Electronic Health Records (EHRs) and Health Information Technology (HIT) is an essential technological advancement with benefits for both patients and providers. While the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITCECH) Act provided reimbursements for primary health providers who implemented HIT through Medicare and Medicaid reimbursements, it did not include funding for behavioral health providers such as your agencies. This legislation seeks to enable organizations such as Jewish family services to apply for these funds. The populations targeted in this legislation are among the most vulnerable with exceedingly high rates of cancer, heart disease, diabetes and asthma, in addition to their behavioral health issues. Read more here. Click here to view template letter.   
Action Alert:  Responding to Urgent needs of Survivors of the Holocaust (RUSH) Act
Urge your senator and representative to cosponsor the Responding to Urgent needs of Survivors of the Holocaust Act (S. 3358 and H.R. 2786). The RUSH Act amends the Older Americans Act to include a focus on Holocaust survivor social service needs and on the costs associated with providing kosher or other specialized meals to older adults.  We encourage members of Congress to reauthorize the Older Americans Act and include the RUSH Act as an integral part. Although Holocaust survivors face the same daily challenges as other aging adults, they may be more acutely impacted by premature or unnecessary institutionalization, because for survivors in particular the loss of privacy, control and autonomy, along with certain triggers, increases the likelihood of re-traumatization. Read more here. Click here to view AJFCA's letter of endorsement.
Boomer/Senior Services - Special Populations
We are collecting information about programs that serve specific populations of baby boomers or seniors. If you have programs geared toward any of the following categories, please send Shelley a 2-3 sentence email about it. Shelley will follow up if she needs more information. The categories are mental illness, disabilities, chronic conditions, care giving boomers, low-income, isolated, or LGBT boomers.
Save the Date:  Government Affairs Institute/Washington Advocacy Mission
We are excited to announce plans for the next Government Affairs Institute (GAI). As many of you know, the Jewish high holy days, House and Senate session schedule, and the political party conventions leave no available date for our GAI in the Fall of 2012. Therefore, we will host the GAI on February 5-7, 2013.  

This new time period will maximize our impact on the policy scene. The 113th Congress will have just been sworn-in, and the Presidential Inauguration will have just taken place. Hosting our Institute in February will provide an opportunity to introduce ourselves to new members of the House and Senate, and potentially a new presidential administration. It will also occur at a time when members are operating on a fresh slate and all issues can be given a fair hearing without the influence of political elections on the horizon. We have booked a great rate for you to stay at the Embassy Suites DC Convention Center. More information about agenda, registration and hotel will follow, but for now we ask you to please SAVE the DATE, February 5-7, 2013.  
FEDERAL - Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS)
RSVP Grant Competition                      
DEADLINE:  October 11, 2012
DESCRIPTION:  Grants to recruit and train senior citizens, who will in turn perform community service. RSVP volunteers help  organizations expand services, build capacity, develop partnerships, leverage resources, create sustainable projects, and recruit and manage other volunteers. Grant funding partially covers expenses to operate an RSVP project, such as staffing, supplies, volunteer stations, and training of staff and members. Projects may use RSVP grant funds to conduct volunteer recruitment and recognition and to reimburse volunteers for service-related travel.

CNCS will host technical assistance calls to answer questions about this funding opportunity, including information on RSVP, how to apply for the grants, and the new performance measures. Calls will take place on September 18th, September 26th, and October 2nd. Call details and registration information are available here.                             
ELIGIBILITY:  Nonprofit organizations, including faith-based and community                      organizations
Email:  [email protected]     
Phone: 202-606-3225 
________________________________________________________________________
FOUNDATION - The Fledgling Fund
DEADLINE:  Letters of inquiry due September 17, 2012
DESCRIPTION:  The Fledgling Fund seeks to improve the lives of vulnerable                   individuals, families, and communities by supporting innovative media projects that target entrenched social problems. The Fund's creative media initiative provides grants to nonprofit organizations throughout the U.S. for film and other media projects that engage key audiences in efforts to affect positive social change. Grants typically fall in the following broad areas:
  • Environmental Justice, Girls'
  • Empowerment and Women's Leadership, Health and
  • Wellness, Economic Justice and Systemic Poverty,
  • Educational Experiences, and the Justice System.                 
ELIGIBILITY:  Nonprofit organizations
CONTACT:  http://www.thefledglingfund.org/
_________________________________________________________________________
FOUNDATION - Target              
DEADLINE:  October 1, 2012
DESCRIPTION:  The Target Field Trip Grants program provides funds for K-12 field trips to give students throughout the country the opportunity to explore more of the world outside the         classroom. Over 5,000 grants of up to $700 each will be awarded to educators, teachers, and principals who are employed by accredited K-12 public, private, or charter schools only. (Parents, PTOs, after-school programs, Pre-K centers, and other nonprofit organizations are not eligible to
apply.) Types of eligible trips include art, science, and cultural museum visits; community service and civic projects; career enrichment opportunities; and other events or activities away from the school facility. Funds may be used from January 2013 until the end of the school year to         cover trip-related costs such as transportation, ticket fees, food, resource materials, and supplies.
ELIGIBILITY:  Educators, teachers, and principals who are employed by accredited K-12 public, private, or charter schools.
CONTACT:  http://tinyurl.com/c63lhkq
___________________________________________________________________________
DEADLINE:  September 30, 2012
DESCRIPTION:  The Safeway Foundation supports nonprofit organizations whose mission is aligned with their four priority areas:
  • Hunger Relief
  • Education
  • Health and Human Services
  • Assisting People with Disabilities                      
ELIGIBILITY:  Nonprofit organizations. All organizations funded by The Safeway Foundation must serve the community where  Safeway operates stores.
CONTACT:  http://tinyurl.com/7dtgmq9
___________________________________________________________________________
DEADLINE:  September 28, 2012
DESCRIPTION:  The goal of the Doug Flutie, Jr. Foundation for Autism is to improve the quality of life for people and families affected by autism spectrum disorder. The priorities of the           Foundation include supporting nonprofit organizations that help families who need assistance in caring for their children with autism spectrum disorder, and funding education and advocacy initiatives for all individuals with autism. Grants generally range from $10,000 to $20,000.
ELIGIBILITY:  Nonprofit organizations in Massachusetts; Vermont, New Hampshire; Rhode Island; Maine; Connecticut; New York; New Jersey; San Diego County, Los Angeles County and Orange County; select Canadian Provinces including Alberta, British Columbia & Ontario National Educational and Advocacy Programs