Good Things Happen in the Fall

Lots of great things happen in the fall — kids go back to school, there’s tons of great produce, especially amazing Wisconsin apples, the weather is terrific, the leaves are beautiful and……the feds make their grant announcements.

This year I had two nice winners.  The first is a 3-year SAMHSA (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration) grant to expand Milwaukee County’s Drug Treatment Court.  This is a program that intervenes with people who are charged with lesser offenses but who would otherwise land in jail/prison.  The Drug Treatment Court basically defers prosecution if the individual agrees to treatment, case management and a series of other conditions.  This grant will also pay for Medication Assisted Treatment which will really help people achieve and sustain recovery from addiction.

A big part of writing this grant was working with the leadership at Milwaukee County Behavioral Health Division and the Circuit Court System to develop a strong, competitive approach.  Good grants come from really competent people working together — as evidenced by this big win.  The investment by all key sectors was essential to putting the proposal together but is fundamental to its implementation.  If the collaboration falls apart, so will the project.

The second happy event is a grant written for the Pan African Community Association to the federal Office of Refugee Resettlement.  This is the second 3-year grant for PACA, an organization that works with recent immigrants and refugees from African nations, most notably the Somali Bantu – a group that has undergone terrible persecution and now faces great resettlement challenges.

PACA started as a voluntary organization – established residents helping newcomers navigate employment, housing, health care, and the education system.  Explaining American social norms and helping new refugees weave their lives and culture into an urban environment are also huge components. 

But the Fall isn’t entirely joyous — I also failed to receive funding for an innovative program to connect delinquent kids to Milwaukee’s extensive prevention programs.  A really good idea, great collaboration, but didn’t hit the home run.  We continue to look for other funding for this one.

All in all — there aren’t really better words for a grantwriter in the Fall than “we got the notification from Congresswoman Moore’s office….”  Makes for a really nice season.