Family Strengthening Awards Q & A

1. What are the benefits of this award?
2. What kind of program/service would qualify for the award?
3. How is "family" defined?
4. What is family strengthening?
5. Are there any restrictions on the use of the $25,000 award?
6. What are the obligations on the part of the awardee?
7. How were the award criteria developed?
8. How can I register online?
9. What is an advantage of registering online?
10. How do I get the Diocesan Director's signature on the electronic copy?
11. How will nominees be selected?

1. What are the benefits of this award?
   Winners will:
   • receive $25,000 in support of their program
   • be nationally recognized
   • have the opportunity to share their program with their peers
   
   
   
2. What kind of program/service would qualify for the award?
   Any program, service, system delivery, family center, or other initiative that promotes family strengthening is qualified for nomination. Only programs run by CCUSA members in good standing will be considered. Agencies or supporting groups may submit multiple program nominations.



3. How is "family" defined?

For the purposes of evaluating programs for these awards, "family" is defined as the support unit for a child or children comprised of the child/children and the individuals who serve as their caretakers. A caretaker may be the biological parent(s), foster parent(s), adoptive parent(s), grandparent(s), or surrogate parent(s).


4. What is family strengthening?

Family strengthening is the support of strong, capable, and economically successful families living in viable communities.


5. Are there any restrictions on the use of the $25,000 award?

Only that the award must be reinvested into the winning program.


6. What are the obligations on the part of the awardee?

One of the goals of the Family Strengthening Awards Program is to promote innovative initiatives and to share ideas with peers and the community at large. An award recipient is required to:

• host and participate in a peer technical assistance program (Peer TA) to describe and discuss their winning service; and
• attend the CCUSA Annual Gathering in Cincinnati, OH on September 15, 2007 to receive the award.
Additional funds (to be distributed by Catholic Charities USA) are available to support the Peer TA activities and to attend the Annual Gathering.


7. How were the award criteria developed?

A team of CCUSA and agency staff developed the award criteria and recommended the amount of cash awards for winning programs.


8. How can I register online?

Step 1:

Click “register online” and type in your program's contact information.

Step 2:

Because there is a length limit to the Program Overview and the Narratives, we suggest you type your entries in a word processor, and copy and paste them to the boxes on the online registration form. The overview should not exceed one page using a 12-point font (approximately 450 words), and the narratives should be in seven pages or less using a 12-point font. You are not limited to a single page on each narrative, but total must be no more than seven pages.

Step 3:

Hit the “submit” button. You should get an e-mail with a copy of your submitted application. You can print your e-mail and make 10 copies to mail to us, or you can print from your word processor and make 10 copies of your application package.

Step 4:

Mail your 10 copies of your application that has been signed by the diocesan director or the CEO of the supporting group member to:

Catholic Charities USA
2006 FSA Award
1731 King St.
Alexandria, VA 22314




9. What is an advantage of registering online?

All applications are due on April 20th. That means that either your postmark or email must show a date no later than April 20th. If you are filing electronically, you will be given an additional 5 working days (April 27th date of postmark) to submit your 10 copies.


10. How do I get the Diocesan Director's signature on the electronic copy?

All nomination forms must be signed by the diocesan director or CEO of the supporting group member in order to be considered for a Family Strengthening Award. Please know that when submitting electronically you do not need to put in an electronic signature. However, it will be required on the 10 copies that you submit via mail.


11. How will nominees be selected?

Please visit selection criteria page to learn more about it.

For more information about the Peer TA requirement, contact Jane Stenson at (703) 236-6237 or jstenson@catholiccharitiesusa.org.