Good Health Starts Here

2005 Healthy Acadia Mini-Grant Guidelines

Healthy Acadia is pleased to announce that funds are available for groups working to create lasting changes to promote health in our communities. Grants of up to $1000 are available. Completed applications must be received by Healthy Acadia no later than December 31, 2004. Funding decisions will be made by Healthy Acadia’s Advisory Council, which reserves the right to make grants of more than $1000 for exceptional proposals. Applicants will be notified of decisions by the end of January, 2005. Please contact us with any questions at 288-5331, or email heather@healthyacadia.org.

Projects in the following five categories will be funded: Healthy Food Supply, Active Communities, Clean Environment, Freedom from Addiction, and Positive Child & Youth Development. For more information on these categories, please see the next page. You may also refer to Healthy Acadia’s Good Health Starts Here action plan for community health.

Requirements

All proposals must meet the following requirements:

• Project must lead to lasting community changes that support health. Some examples of lasting changes could include: enacting a new organizational policy; staff development trainings; development of resources or curriculum; creation of walking trail or other infrastructure to promote healthy living. One-time programs/events not leading to significant lasting change will not be funded.

• Project must primarily serve or involve people from one or more of the following towns: Bar Harbor, Cranberry Isles, Frenchboro, Lamoine, Mount Desert, Southwest Harbor, Swans Island, Tremont, or Trenton.

• Organizations that have received funding from Healthy Acadia in the past may apply only for projects that have not been previously funded by Healthy Acadia.

• All grantees must agree to complete a memorandum of understanding and partnership agreement with Healthy Acadia, and to submit a brief report on your project after it is completed.

Funding may be used for:

▪ Trainings

▪ Staff time or stipends

▪ Equipment

▪ Supplies

▪ Curriculum Development

Funding may not be used for:

▪ Indirect administrative costs

▪ Replace existing funding

▪ Prizes or giveaways

▪ Direct service

Funding Priorities

Additional points will be given to proposals that meet one or more of the following criteria:

▪ Involve residents of Trenton, Lamoine, Cranberry Isles, Frenchboro, or Swans Island

▪ Impact greater numbers of people

▪ Build intergenerational connections – for instance between youth and seniors

▪ Demonstrate collaboration with other groups, organizations or businesses

▪ Seed new/innovative projects

Good Health Starts Here Mini-Grant Funding Categories

For more information on these categories, you may also refer to Healthy Acadia’s Good Health Starts Here action plan for community health, available from Healthy Acadia and at www.healthyacadia.org

1. Healthy Food Supply

Goal: Our communities value and have easy access to nutritious and locally-produced foods including fruits, vegetables, and seafood. Disease and obesity rates decline as a result of healthy food consumption.

Previously funded projects include:

• Develop school gardens and food/agriculture curriculum

• Create organizational healthy eating policy and provide staff training

2. Active Communities

Goal: Our communities are consciously designed to promote physical activity including walking and biking as a part of daily life.

Previously funded projects include:

• Plan and construct new school and community walking trail

• Install swimming pool chair lift to provide pool access for people with disabilities

3. Clean Environment

Goal: Our land, water, air, and built environments are clean and free of toxic chemicals and contaminants. Our natural resources, including rural landscapes, farms, forests, and waterways are protected and accessible for citizens to enjoy.

Previously funded projects include:

• Develop a program to train camp counselors and youth to conduct water quality and wetlands monitoring

4. Freedom from Addiction

Goal: Our communities encourage and support lifestyles free from alcohol, tobacco, and other drug abuse. Adults model responsible behaviors. Families learn the skills needed to raise strong, resilient, healthy children.

Previously funded projects include:

• Develop tobacco-free playground policy and install signs

5. Positive Child and Youth Development

Goal: All our children have access to the social supports needed to thrive and achieve their highest potential. Children enter school ready to learn, succeed, and aspire. Our youth are valued, respected, and have a voice in community affairs.

Previously funded projects include:

• Provide staff development training for early childhood care providers

• High school girls produce documentary film on body image and use as a peer education tool