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. 

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. 

All applicants will be required to complete a Financial Risk Assessment Questionnaire (FRAQ) in conjunction with their application. The  FRAQ is linked in the Google Application Form, and there are resources discussing it in the Exhibits folder. 

Applications are due December 18, 2024.
*All applicants must submit proposals prior to that date and time. 

Anticipated project timeline

Webinar recording

• November 21, 2024 Webinar recording. (Google Drive)

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.