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Community Prevention and Early Intervention (CPEI) Mini Grants

Community Prevention and Early Intervention (CPEI) Mini-Grant Funding Announcement 

The Community Prevention and Early Intervention (CPEI) Team at CDPHE  is excited to announce a mini-grant funding opportunity (between $7,000 and $10,000) for community-based organizations engaged in substance use primary prevention efforts and the promotion of healthy behaviors and positive choices. This mini-grant program is funded through American Recovery and Rescue Plan funding that is part of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA)  Substance Use Prevention and Treatment (SUPTR) Block Grant Treatment Program; this program will be managed by CPEI at CDPHE. All awarded entities must complete their work and spend their funds by June 30, 2025. 

Purpose

The purpose of the Community Prevention and Early Intervention (CPEI) Mini-Grant Program is to distribute one-time awards between $7,000 and $10,000 to community-based organizations engaged in substance use primary prevention efforts to help with capacity-building efforts. For this program, primary prevention is defined as interventions that aim to prevent physical, mental, and behavioral health problems within communities before they occur. This is done by promoting health and well-being and addressing youth risk and protective factors that impact substance use. Data on risk and protection as well as health outcomes are available locally through the Healthy Kids Colorado Survey.

Outcomes

The CPEI Mini-Grant Program will fund evidence-based, community-driven, short-term projects that help communities build their capacity to work towards one or more of five outcomes:

  1. Preventing and reducing the use of alcohol, cannabis, prescription drugs, and other drugs (tobacco excluded);
  2. Changing community policies and norms regarding alcohol, cannabis, prescription drugs, and other drug use (tobacco excluded);
  3. Addressing population-based needs regarding alcohol, cannabis, prescription drugs, and other drug use (tobacco excluded);
  4. Addressing health inequities related to substance use in local communities;
  5. Increasing protective factors, such as community/school/peer connectedness, connection to a trusted adult, creating safe spaces, positive youth development, and opportunities for prosocial involvement, that relate to multiple dimensions of community health.

Strategies

Applicants must select one of the following strategies for projects. 

Please note that your choice must directly tie into an outcome listed above and cannot duplicate existing work. 

Language Justice Projects can include:

  • hosting language justice-related trainings
  • assisting staff and community members in becoming certified interpreters
  • translating prevention messaging into different languages
  • purchasing equipment that increases language accessibility

Community Assessment and Strategic Planning Activities can include:

  • conducting environmental scans
  • readiness assessments
  • facilitated strategic planning sessions

Community Engagement Activities can include:

  • listening sessions
  • youth engagement strategies
  • community workshops

Capacity Building to Implement Evidence-Based Programs, Policies, and Strategies can include: 

  • conducting a needs assessment to select a program based on the risk and protective factors of the community
  • sending staff to training on evidence-based programs
  • purchasing an evidence-based curriculum from a list of pre-approved evidence-based programs.

For more resources on evidence-based programs, policies, and strategies:

Capacity Building to Engage Youth can include: 

  • providing positive youth development training
  • trusted adult training
  • conducting community-wide or organization-based youth engagement readiness assessments
     

If your project idea does not fit into any of the categories listed but aligns with the project’s parameters and addresses one of the stated outcomes, please feel free to submit your application for consideration. 

Additionally, if you have questions about the allowability of an activity or one of the activities listed above, please contact Bonnie Holladay at bonnie.holladay@state.co.us. Please include "Mini-Grants Question" in the subject line. Please be advised that your question and the provided answer will be posted on the Q and A website, with your name and contact information redacted. 

Priority points

Priority points will be awarded to applications based on several criteria:

  • Organizations not currently funded by CPEI;
  • Applicants serving rural or frontier areas; 
  • Applicants serving priority populations. The CDC defines priority populations as those who have systematically experienced greater obstacles to health based on their:
    • racial or ethnic group;
    • religion; 
    • socioeconomic status; 
    • gender; 
    • age; 
    • mental health; 
    • cognitive, sensory, or physical disability; 
    • sexual orientation or gender identity; 
    • geographic location; 
    • or other characteristics historically linked to discrimination or exclusion. 
      • Specific groups considered priority populations include: 
        • LGBTQ+ youth and young adults
        • Youth and young adults of color
        • Youth and young adults with disabilities
        • Transition-age youth not planning to attend/enroll in a four-year college or university
        • Tribal communities
        • Other
          • Applicants who propose to serve additional populations facing significant health disparities may also be considered.
             

 

Eligible entities

Non-profit 501(c)3 organizations and local government entities, including schools, are eligible to apply. Applicants must submit proposals that do not duplicate existing work that is being implemented by their organization.  
 

 

Important note

This grant is cost-reimbursable only, meaning organizations must be financially able to fund expenses upfront and then request reimbursement. 

 

Funding restrictions for this project

  • All funds must be used exclusively for the awarded projects.
  • Funds cannot be used for capital expenditures, such as the purchase of land, construction, or major renovations.
  • Funds cannot be used for entertainment items including DJ rentals, bounce house rentals, or pool tables. 
  • Funds cannot be used for fear tactics or other contraindicated practices or activities.
  • Funds cannot be used to duplicate existing efforts.  Projects must add value beyond what is already in place.
  • Projects must be specific to primary prevention and address risk and protective factors.
  • While funds can be used for individual-level professional development and skills building, applications must explain how the proposed activity would benefit the served community as a whole.
  • Funds cannot be used for activities outside the scope of primary prevention, such as treatment, recovery, or enforcement-related activities.
  • Incentives for community members participating in services and activities are allowable, but may not exceed $25 per individual.
  • Funds must be used in a manner that demonstrates sound fiscal stewardship of taxpayer funds.
  • All purchased items and services must be pre-approved by CPEI Program Staff.
     

 

Requirements for this project

If awarded, awardees will be responsible for the following activities and services:

  • Please be prepared to provide a W-9 and to complete a Financial Risk Assessment Questionnaire within one week of the award notification.
  • Designate a point of contact (program coordinator) who will be responsible for: 
    • attending the virtual cohort kickoff meeting
    • coordinating the project
    • communicating with CPEI Program Staff
    • ensuring that all deliverables are submitted and contractual obligations are met
  • Complete an Action Plan outlining the project timeline and activities within 30 days of notice of award and provide it to the CPEI Program Manager. 
    • CPEI will provide each awardee with a template. 
  • Be available for virtual meetings upon CPEI’s request and submit monthly progress reports.
    • Monthly progress reports must include process data on Center for Substance Abuse Prevention (CSAP) Strategies, with data collection specifications provided by CPEI staff.
  • Submit invoices on provided templates to cdphe_cpei_invoices@state.co.us. 
  • Provide any documents produced with the funding to CPEI staff, including:
    • environmental scans
    • strategic plans
  • Submit a brief summary of the project’s impact upon completion, detailing outcomes and the impact of the project. 
     

 

Applications are due December 18, 2024.

 

Anticipated project timeline

November 15, 2024
  • Announcement opens.
November 21, 2024
  • Webinar on the Mini-Grant Program and Application. 
  • Webinar will be recorded and posted on the website by November 25, 2024. 
November 25, 2024
December 18, 2024
  • Deadline for grant applications.
Early January 2025
  • Review Committee convenes.
Mid-January 2025
  • Awards announced.
Late-January 2025
  • Contract negotiations meetings set up for Option 2.
June 30, 2025
  • All projects completed and all funds spent.

 

Webinar recording

 

Questions

  • If you have questions about this opportunity, please contact Bonnie Holladay at bonnie.holladay@state.co.us. Please include "Mini-Grants Question" in the email subject line. 
  • Please be advised that your question and the provided answer will be posted in the Q and A Document, with your name and contact information redacted. 
  • Questions and answers will be posted in the Q and A Document on an ongoing basis until the application deadline on December 18, 2024. 

To apply for this opportunity 

Please complete and submit the Google Form Application to apply for this opportunity.