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    About community-based grants

    Our grant partners provide specialized services to meet the needs of Minnesotans who are deaf, deafblind or have hearing loss. Few providers have the unique skills needed to provide the culturally affirmative and linguistically accessible services required by the populations we serve. To support and sustain the providers, we work closely with our grantees. We appreciate all our grantees do to support Minnesotans who are deaf, deafblind, and hard of hearing.

    Grant contracts are effective for two years with the possible extension of additional year(s), up to five years. Funding extensions are based on satisfactory performance by grantee(s).

    If you are interested in applying for Department of Human Services grant opportunities, Request For Proposal (RFP) announcements are published on the Open grants, RFPs and RFIs webpage. You can find other grant opportunities for other agencies through the State Grants page. Grant opportunities are also published in the Minnesota State Register weekly.

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    Family mentor services grant

    1/1/0001 12:00:00 AM

    About the grant

    This grant was created to provide statewide family mentor services to families with infants and children who are deaf and hard of hearing. It serves families who would like to learn American Sign Language (ASL) and are seeking ASL exposure and language acquisition for their children.

    Tasks under this grant include:

    1. Provide statewide family mentor services to families with newly identified infants and children who are deaf or hard of hearing who use ASL as primary mode of communication.
    2. Establish an advisory committee to advise the family mentor services program on development, planning, and implementation of services.
    3. Provide additional resources (e.g., educational) to families to enhance their ability to communicate with their child and support their child’s development.
    4. Provide technology and other opportunities to support families’ access to family mentor services.
    5. Maintain collaborative relationships with other relevant agencies, programs, and stakeholders to support and enhance program services.
    6. Identify and implement quality program improvements based on program outcomes and other input to ensure that family mentor services meet the identified needs of families and their children who are deaf or hard of hearing who use ASL as primary mode of communication.
    7. Promote availability of program services and seek additional program support.

    Grant details

    Grant period: July 1, 2021 to June 30, 2026 
    Grant amount: $392,224 ($196,112 per fiscal year)
    Grant recipient: Lutheran Social Services

    Contact

    To learn more about the current project or to request mentoring services, email the Deaf Mentor Family Program or visit the Deaf Mentor Family Program webpage.

    Past awards 

    Grant period: July 1, 2016 to June 30, 2021 
    Grant amount: $890,560 
    Grant recipient: Lifetrack

    Grant period: January 15, 2012 to June 30, 2016
    Grant amount: $521,715
    Grant recipient: Lifetrack 

    Communicating

    Sign language

    Families

    Children

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