Request for Proposals: Seeking Norms Change Consultant to Support Local Organizations in Strategy Development and Implementation

Request for Proposals: Seeking Norms Change Consultant to Support Local Organizations in Strategy Development and Implementation

Position Overview

Illuminate Colorado and the Colorado Partnership for Thriving Families (CPTF) are seeking support for local organizations who are developing and implementing local norms change strategies in coordination with the Colorado Connected campaign, a large-scale effort focused on increasing help-seeking and help-offering behaviors among Colorado caregivers and families. The norms change consultant partner will work with Illuminate Colorado Staff and CPTF members to provide coaching support to local partners around the state. Project details, key responsibilities, and qualifications of the norms consultant partner are described below.

Illuminate Overview

Illuminate Colorado is a statewide 501(c)(3) organization working to strengthen families, organizations, and communities to prevent child maltreatment. With a research-based approach that emphasizes building promotive and protective factors, we address systemic and multi-sector issues by collaborating with families and partners at the community, state, and national level to develop and implement powerful programs, policies, and initiatives that build brighter childhoods in Colorado. 

Our organization is working to build an inclusive and diverse team of passionate experts who value each other’s differing lived experiences and backgrounds. All of our work is grounded in the foundations of equity and inclusion, family and community driven, holistic, and multigenerational approaches – and guided by our core values of empathy, innovation, growth, and integrity. Learn more at https://www.illuminatecolorado.org/about/.

Key Responsibilities of the Norms Change Consultant

To offer support for local organizations who are developing and implementing local norms change strategies in coordination with the Colorado Connected campaign, this norms change consultant partner will have the following responsibilities:

1. Local survey interpretation, campaign integration, & strategy development: In coordination with Illuminate’s Evaluation & Communications Teams and contracted Marketing Partner, the norms change consultant will provide coaching support to local partners as they interpret existing local norms survey results in the context of behavior change models, leverage survey results to develop local norms change strategies, and integrate the Colorado Connected campaign into their efforts.  This responsibility will also include developing and sharing quarterly summaries of local work. 

        • Anticipated monthly hours (November 2023 – February 2024): 10

2. Ongoing local strategy implementation support: In coordination with Illuminate’s Strategic Initiatives and Home Visitation Teams, the norms change consultant will provide ongoing coaching support to local partners as they implement their local strategies. This responsibility will also include developing and sharing quarterly summaries of local work. 

        • Anticipated monthly hours (March – September 2024): 10

3. Expert consultation in monthly meetings: In coordination with Illuminate’s Strategic Initiatives Team, the norms change consultant will participate in the existing monthly Norms community of practice and Family Support through Primary Prevention Advisory Board as an expert panelist/advisor, including sharing verbal monthly updates on local progress to date.

        • Anticipated monthly hours: 3 

4.Identification of local tool and resource needs: In coordination with Illuminate’s Communications Team and contracted Marketing Partner, the norms change consultant will identify tools and resources needed to support local norms implementation efforts.

        • Anticipated monthly hours: 2

Experience, Skills, and Qualifications

The norms change consultant must bring the following:

    • At least 3 years experience leading and/or implementing norms change and/or behavioral change efforts. 
    • Knowledge and practical application of behavioral change theory/models.
    • Experience leveraging data to inform norms change efforts.
    • Experience offering coaching and technical assistance related to strategy development and implementation. 
    • Demonstrable success in closely collaborating, building trust, and capacity building with local, regional, and community-based organizations.
    • Strong understanding of family well-being systems in Colorado, including child welfare, human services, and public health.
    • Demonstrable commitment to racial and social justice, language justice, and equity-oriented action. 

Budget

$10,000. Annual contract renewal is possible, pending mutual interest and initial contract period.

Term of Contract

Upon execution – September 30, 2024, with the possibility of ongoing annual extension.

RFP Submission

Proposals should be digitally submitted by 5:00 p.m. MT on Monday, November 6, 2023 to tkorb@illuminatecolorado.org. Please include “Norms Change Consultant” in the subject line.

Candidate Selection & Virtual Interviews

Proposals will be reviewed by the Illuminate Colorado team, and final candidates may be invited for an interview in mid-November.

RFP Requirements

Each proposal should include the elements below to demonstrate both capacity and approach and should not exceed 3 pages.

1. About You: Describe your organization, agency, or position.
2. Qualifications: What makes you uniquely positioned to serve as the norms change consultant for this work? As applicable, in your response please describe your experience with the following: 

i. Norms and/or behavioral change efforts

ii. Leveraging data to inform norms change efforts

iii. Coaching and technical assistance related to strategy development and implementation

iv. Collaboration with, trust building, and capacity building with local, regional, and community-based organizations.

3. Proposed Scope of Work: Provide a high-level plan for how you would support the key responsibilities outlined above, including how you would coordinate with Illuminate staff to ensure ongoing alignment.

     

    Request for Proposal: Seeking Research Partner for a Participatory Action Research Project Exploring Caregiver Experiences within Family Support Systems and Services

    Request for Proposal: Seeking Research Partner for a Participatory Action Research Project Exploring Caregiver Experiences within Family Support Systems and Services

    Position Overview

    The Colorado Partnership for Thriving Families’ (CPTF) Family & Caregiver Space (FCS) is seeking a research partner to support a participatory action research (PAR) project called the Story of the System (SOS). The research partner will work closely with the Family & Caregiver Space’s SOS Project Team to provide ongoing guidance on all stages of the research process, from project design to findings dissemination. The project’s initial budget is $10,000 which will be provided upon contract to support Phase 1 of this project. The deadline to submit proposals is 5:00 p.m. MT on Friday, October 20, 2023.

    Family and Caregiving Space (FSC) Overview

    The FCS is a group of Lived Experience Experts who identify as family leaders and who have experienced, been involved in, or otherwise touched various systems that influence family health and well-being in Colorado. The overarching goal of the FCS is to work collaboratively across the state to engage families in creating conditions that allow all families to thrive.

    Story of the System (SOS) Project Objectives, Phases, and Status

    The SOS project is a co-designed, multi-phase qualitative research project led by the Family & Caregiver Space’s SOS Project Team. Through this project, the SOS Project Team aims to explore the following research questions:

    1. How do Colorado families navigate obstacles in the intersections of Child Welfare/Department of Human Services and Public Health/Prevention and other connected systems?

    2. To what extent is the participatory action research (PAR) approach an effective method for promoting the adoption of family-centered research practices in child welfare and related areas of policy and practice?

    Transformational Campaign Informs Colorado Parents “We Got UR Back”

    Transformational Campaign Informs Colorado Parents “We Got UR Back”

    The statewide effort aims to strengthen connections between families and communities.

    DENVER, COLO. (May 22, 2023) – On June 1, Global Day of Parents, the Colorado Partnership for Thriving Families and Illuminate Colorado will celebrate with the launch of a multi-year, statewide campaign to reinforce the idea that it takes a village to raise a child, urging all Coloradans to provide support to those serving the crucial role as a parent. The campaign is designed to inspire parents to build a network to turn to when they need “back up” and to encourage friends, families and neighbors to become a “village” of support and let parents and caregivers know “We Got UR Back.” The goal is to empower parents to ask for support, offer support to one another, and to normalize supportive parenting networks to create strong families.

    “Parenting is one of the most fulfilling roles we can take on, but also one of the most challenging,” said Illuminate Colorado Executive Director Jade Woodard. “Every parent needs and deserves a supportive network of people. By backing up parents with essential supports, we celebrate them daily…and also help to raise healthy children and build stronger, more connected communities.” 

    Nationwide studies have shown that connectivity with people and the community improves physical and mental health, happiness, and longevity for parents and children. A supportive network surrounding families helps reduce stress and fosters nurturing parenting habits and better outcomes for children.

    To help build connections, Illuminate Colorado has redesigned its social connections website, www.coconnected.org, to be a valuable resource for parents and to provide tools for community members and partners who want to help them develop stronger connections. Visitors can see the stories of Noah and Lucinda, and Brisa, who share their parenting journeys of raising a child with disabilities and as a single parent.  

    A pre-pandemic survey among parents in Colorado showed that one in five parents felt they had no one to turn to for day-to-day emotional support with raising children. In 2022, Illuminate Colorado conducted a statewide survey to understand existing perceptions among parents and community members about seeking support, offering support, and the importance of social connections.

    Key Survey Findings:

    • 80% of respondents agreed that social connections benefit them and their families and that offering support to others grows a sense of community. 
    • 73% of respondents said they feel better when they have someone to talk with and believe that asking for support when they need it helps strengthen their family.
    • 82% of respondents agreed that it’s good when parents have someone to ask for parenting advice.

    “Our research shows Coloradans want to provide support, but often don’t know where to start,” explained Woodard. “This campaign and our new website provide the tips and tools people can use to have a long-term impact on families and to create supportive communities we all want to be a part of.” 

    About Illuminate Colorado:

    Illuminate Colorado is a statewide nonprofit strengthening families, organizations and communities to prevent child maltreatment. With a research-based approach that emphasizes building promotive and protective factors, we address systemic and multi-sector issues by collaborating with families and partners at the community, state and national levels to develop and implement powerful programs, policies and initiatives that build brighter childhoods in Colorado. Visit www.IlluminateColorado.org to learn more.

    Campaign Partners:

    Colorado Connected was originally established through the Colorado Essentials for Childhood project with funding from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and support from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. In recent years, the Colorado Partnership for Thriving Families, with funding from the Colorado Department of Early Childhood and the United States Department of Health and Human Services Administration for Children and Families, has worked to convene a diverse group of state, county, and community members to create updated campaign tools and to continue to address social norms significantly impacting families and communities, building resilience and preventing child maltreatment. Visit www.copartnershipforthrivingfamilies.org to learn more.

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    Request for Proposal: Seeking Research Partner for a Participatory Action Research Project Exploring Caregiver Experiences within Family Support Systems and Services

    Building a Family-Wellbeing System for Colorado Families: Updates from the Colorado Partnership for Thriving Families

    Did you know that there’s an initiative right here in Colorado that is working to create the conditions that kids– and the adults in their lives– need to thrive? The Colorado Partnership for Thriving Families (the Partnership) has been working tirelessly to identify what Colorado communities need in order to be safe and supportive spaces for families. Illuminate Colorado provides backbone support for the Partnership, managing several projects and work groups that strive toward the coalitions’s mission. 

    In April, the Partnership met to discuss exciting updates on work in specific priority areas, updates on cross-cutting projects, and to share presentations on how systems can be better aligned to effectively serve families. 

    A few highlights from Illuminate Colorado staff and partners involved with the Partnership!

    The Partnership has three priority areas, which Illuminate staff and partners shared updates on at the April meeting. 

    Community Norms

    Change community norms related to social connectedness and promote support offering and seeking behaviors in communities, with the intent to reduce parental stress and decrease child maltreatment.

    Early Touchpoints

    Strengthen the family well-being system service array to improve outcomes for parents and infants throughout pregnancy and up to age 1.

    Systems Alignment

    Align state and county human services, public health, and health care systems to place family well-being at the center.

    Jillian Fabricius, Deputy Director of Illuminate Colorado, shared updates on Community Norms work, specifically the launch of Colorado Connected.

    The campaign will partner with Colorado counties to distribute a validated community survey to understand attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors surrounding support offering and seeking behaviors. The goal of COConnected is to build connections that surround families with supportive networks, so parents do not feel alone when faced with challenges. Doing so creates a safe, stable environment for children to grow up in and produce positive childhood experiences and outcomes.

    Angelica Fox, Director of Home Visitation at Illuminate Colorado, shared Early Touchpoints updates on Family Connects Colorado, a program that provides nurse home-visits and connection to community resources for new parents. 

    At Boulder Community Health Hospital, the Boulder Family Connects team has reached 100% recruitment for families who are visiting to deliver a newborn. Additionally, the Boulder team is planning to expand into a second hospital in June! 

    Next, Angelica shared that the Boulder team will be hosting their first Family & Caregiver Space in April, which provides an essential place for families to make their voices heard about the development and expansion of Family Connects.

    “This is wonderful way for the Family & Caregiver Space to provide input for the program”

    Angelica Fox

    Director of Home Visitation

    In Denver and Jefferson counties, a Community Alignment Specialist has been brought onto the Family Connects team, who will provide needed insight into the most effective resources to connect families with, as well as other program needs. Both counties are on track to launch Family Connects Colorado in early summer 2023!

    In Eagle County, Family Connects is seeing high levels of recruitment, and the team is preparing to advance from the installation (or learning) stage into the implementation phase.

    “We are learning a lot from Eagle as a rural area of how to implement [Family Connects] in similar communities.”

    – Angelica Fox

    Kendra Dunn, Director, Division of Community and Family Support at the Colorado Department of Early Childhood, shared Systems Alignment updates from the Government Systems Transformation Work Group.

    The goal of the work group is to provide a space for government professionals to come together and get into the weeds about the ability that they have to make transformational change across systems. The Partnership is planning to host monthly meetings for the Government Systems Transformation Work Group to come together to collaborate around their collective power as government professionals. 

    Courtney Everson, Senior Researcher/Project Director at the Colorado Evaluation and Action Lab shared updates from the Financial Well-Being Work Group.

    This work group has met since late 2022, and provides a space for various Colorado agencies, community-based organizations, and family leaders to identify opportunities for promoting financial-well-being among Colorado families. The Colorado Evaluation and Action Lab developed a Financial Well-being Data Brief, with input from the Partnership as an initial way to inform policy and practice. Feel free to use and share this brief widely!

    Heather Hicks and Kaylie Weese, Family and Caregiver Space Leaders for the Partnership, shared updates on new family leadership spaces to be launched in May-June.

    The Partnership Family Engagement Consultation Office Hours, led by family leaders, will be a collaborative space for family leaders and professionals standing up and sustaining local family engagement efforts. The Family Voice Affinity Space will be a space by family voice leaders, for family voice leaders. If you or someone you work with is interested in either space, please share your interest here. To get to know Family & Caregiver Space leaders, and share your questions and ideas on family engagement, please register here for our first information session on May 31st, from 4-5pm MT.

    Stay updated on the Partnership’s work!

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    Request for Proposals Awareness Campaign – Social Norming Campaign – Social Connections

    Request for Proposals Awareness Campaign – Social Norming Campaign – Social Connections

    Illuminate is seeking proposals to develop a multi-year awareness campaign to influence social norms related to social connections among parents and caregivers in Colorado with an initial budget not to exceed $110,000. The deadline to submit proposals is at 5 p.m. on July 27, 2022.

    Social norms marketing campaigns are a form of health promotion and universal prevention. Respondents are required to address expertise in the development of social norming campaigns, creative content development and digital marketing. It is preferred that respondents also demonstrate knowledge of primary prevention strategies associated with child maltreatment, Strengthening Families Protective Factors Framework, inclusive messaging strategies for diverse cultures and regions of Colorado and trauma-informed messaging.

    Download the complete Request for Proposals (RFP) Awareness Campaign – Social Norming Campaign - Social Connections

    RFP Questions from Potential Respondents & Responses from Illuminate

    Questions from Potential Respondent A.

    Just want to clarify that the RFP is just for the development of the campaign (messaging, creative, assets, and media plan) to be developed in August and September 2022, and that there will be a separate execution phase launching in October 2022 (and the budget for the paid execution phase is at least $50k)?

    Yes, depending on how quickly the work is executed there may be a possibility to utilize the $100,000 funds toward execution, but that is not required.   

    All campaign development and collateral should be under the $110k budget. This budget does not include paid execution, correct? 

    Our hope is to, at a minimum, develop a creative concept(s) that is well-tested within the $110k budget, administer baseline survey data and develop a strategy and media plan with a $50,000 budget.  Assets needed to execute that strategy should be developed within the $50,000 budget or depending on an agreed-upon scope of work. See the answer to question 4. 

    Is there a maximum budget for the paid execution phase (October 2022 to September 2023)?

    No. Our hope is to attract additional execution funds in the future based on a well-thought-out strategy and compelling culturally appropriate creative concept(s). Additionally, the assets developed under this contract will be made available to local and statewide partners through Illuminate to utilize in Colorado and local communities by blending and braiding available funds based on future social norms strategies.  

    Is there any wiggle room in the campaign development phase between August and the end of September? Is there a timing consideration that we should understand for the October 2022 campaign launch?

    Illuminate Colorado is a subrecipient on a federal grant to implement this project which is dictating the timeframe. Illuminate Colorado must receive invoicing associated with the $110,000 budget and the contracted work through September 30, 2022 by October 4, 2022. These funds may or may not be eligible to carry over, however, we can purchase work aligned with an agreed-upon scope of work and set of deliverables by September 30, 2022. Hours to complete work may not be pre-billed.  

    Our expectation is that the campaign would launch in during the time period October 2022- September 2023, depending on the proposed strategy and continue for four years, depending on additional funding secured.

    Questions from Potential Respondent B.

    When do you expect to launch the campaign?

    Illuminate Colorado is a subrecipient on a federal grant to implement this project which is dictating the timeframe. Illuminate Colorado must receive invoicing associated with the $110,000 budget and the contracted work through September 30, 2022 by October 4, 2022. These funds may or may not be eligible to carry over, however, we can purchase work aligned with an agreed-upon scope of work and set of deliverables by September 30, 2022. Hours to complete work may not be pre-billed.  

    Our expectation is that the campaign would launch in during the time period October 2022- September 2023, depending on the proposed strategy and continue for four years, depending on additional funding secured. 

    What activities do you expect to complete in the first year?

    Our hope is to, at a minimum, develop a creative concept(s) that is well-tested within the $110k budget, administer baseline survey data and develop a strategy and media plan with a $50,000 budget.  Assets needed to execute that strategy should be developed within the $50,000 budgeting aligned to an agreed-upon scope of work.

    Can you please provide additional details on the evaluation requirement?

    There are no requirements other than what is outlined in the RFP. The Illuminate evaluation team and the Colorado Lab, the contracted evaluation partner for the Partnership, will partner with the Vendor to develop an evaluation process to measure the effectiveness of the social norms strategies.The vendor(s) will be responsible for using the survey created in exhibit A to administer a statewide survey of a statistically representative sample of Coloradans in the key audiences by September 30, 2022 and prior to the implementation of any strategies to serve as a baseline measurement of effectiveness.

    Are you planning to measure the effectiveness of proposed or in market social norms strategies?

    Yes. 

    What services are you expecting to need as part of the $50,000 to support continued work completed from October 1, 2022 to September 30, 2023?

    Assets needed to execute that strategy developed before September 30, 2022 should be developed within the $50,000 budget and any other agreed-upon scope of work.

    As part of Message Development are you anticipating receiving visual concepts, branding, or animatics?

    Yes, to some degree, to enable visual testing in front of outlined audiences. 

    Do you have an existing panel for fielding research or are you expecting the vendor to provide this?

    We have an existing panel of families with lived experiences. Outside of that, we are expecting the vendor to provide this. 

    How are you expecting vendors to leverage the research shared in the appendices?

    Create an innovative and thorough plan to implement the recommendations outlined in exhibits A and B for the campaign over the course of four years, use the survey to gather baseline survey data and use all known research findings and recommendations to inform messaging and creative development. We also acknowledge that the vendor will likely need to conduct additional research and focus groups to fully inform the messaging and creative content.

    Questions from Potential Respondent C.

    Can vendors apply through larger organizations, or do they need to apply as individual entities? 

    One or more parties with shared capabilities and capacity partnering to provide the requested services are eligible for consideration for this project. Qualified parties are encouraged to collaborate through one proposal demonstrating prior experience and expertise and the capacity to manage the statewide campaign over the courage of four years, as outlined in the RFP. 

    May you please explain the rationale behind the timeline of the allocation of funds?

    Illuminate Colorado is a subrecipient on a federal grant to implement this project which is dictating the timeframe. Illuminate Colorado must receive invoicing associated with the $110,000 budget and the contracted work through September 30, 2022 by October 4, 2022. These funds may or may not be eligible to carry over, however, we can purchase work aligned with an agreed-upon scope of work and set of deliverables by September 30, 2022. Hours to complete work may not be pre-billed.  

    Our expectation is that the campaign would launch in during the time period October 2022- September 2023, depending on the proposed strategy and continue for four years, depending on additional funding secured.

    Questions from Potential Respondent D.

    Is Illuminate or the Colorado Partnership for Thriving Families currently working with an agency?

    Yes, but we are aware that our current partner is not planning to submit a proposal in response to this RFP. 

    Has Illuminate or the Colorado Partnership for Thriving Families previously worked with any agencies to support the work of the Partnership? If so, who?

    Yes, Amelie Company

    Is there an incumbent agency for this work?

    No.

    The Time is Now to Make Wise Investments on Local and State Levels

    The Time is Now to Make Wise Investments on Local and State Levels

    In the months and years ahead, Colorado State and local leaders have the opportunity to spend both American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds and Opioid Settlement Funds. Being a local-control state is both a blessing and a curse in so many ways when it comes to investing in strengthening families. On one hand it allows local county commissioners and government agencies the flexibility necessary to listen to the children and families in the community and respond to the unique challenges they face. On the other hand, it requires a considerable amount of time and thoughtful coordination to communicate best practices, evidence-informed research, and lessons lived and learned to help county commissioners and State leaders alike make informed investments.

    Through our roles as both a convener of collaborative spaces and experts on the prevention of child maltreatment, Illuminate Colorado proudly guided the collaborative development of investment recommendations to aid State and local decision-makers in prioritizing family strengthening to the most of this opportunity. Illuminate led both the Colorado Partnership for Thriving Families ( the Partnership) and the Colorado Substance Exposed Newborns (SEN) Steering Committee, a subcommittee of the Colorado Substance Abuse Trend and Response Task Force, and it’s Family Advisory Board, regarding ARPA funds and Opioid Settlement Funds respectively, to identify concrete investments Colorado can make to transform systems and services to build brighter childhoods.  

    Investing American Rescue Plan Act Funds to Prevent Child Maltreatment and Promote Family Well-Being

    The pandemic has impacted so many different aspects of our communities, and the challenge on local, state, and federal levels is to determine how to prioritize allocation of these ARPA funds. Decision-makers within county and state agencies are having to balance and prioritize everything from physical infrastructure to community infrastructure.

    The Partnership members including; Colorado Counties Inc., state and local public health and human services departments, families with lived experiences and Illuminate Colorado, created recommendations for county commissioners to guide investing ARPA funds in early childhood and reap long-term benefits of these investments to build stronger communities and families. 

    Wise investment of American Rescue Plan Act funds will go a long way to address pronounced need and opportunities during pregnancy through the first five years of life.

    Nobel-prize economist, James Heckman, shows that every dollar spent on high quality, birth-to-five programs for disadvantaged children delivers a 13% per annum return on investment.

    The recommendations include an overview of why it is important to invest in the prevention of child maltreatment and promotion of family-well being, data on the pronounced needs and opportunities of families during pregnancy and through the first five years of life, and specific recommendations on how ARPA funds can be leveraged to support families in Colorado.

    Setting Up a Framework for Dedicating Opioid Settlement Funds to Children and Families Impacted by Perinatal Substance Use

    In the coming months and years, Colorado will also continue to receive funds from settlements and court rulings resulting from numerous lawsuits against drug companies, distributors and pharmacies over their role in the opioid crisis. It’s money that can — and should — be channeled to programs and services that equitably serve all families through prevention and reduction of substance use during pregnancy and provide multigenerational support for families to thrive. 

    Investing in tailored substance use disorder treatment and recovery services for families leads to better outcomes, cost savings and stronger communities. 

    While pregnancy and motherhood can be a time of increased motivation for substance use disorder treatment and recovery, an absence of tailored services creates a gap between need and access. Substance use disorder treatment that supports the family as a unit has proven to be effective for maintaining maternal recovery and child well-being. Residential treatment programs serving women and children produced nearly $4 in savings for every $1 invested through reductions in child welfare costs, crime, foster care and low birth weight babies.

    With both support and leadership from Illuminate, the Colorado Substance Exposed Newborns Steering Committee and its Family Advisory Board which elevates the voices of families who have experienced, directly or indirectly, the impacts of substance use during pregnancy, jointly developed a set of guidelines and recommendations for how opioid settlement funds with a focus on building Colorado’s statewide capacity to: 

    • align efforts, 
    • apply lessons from data, and 
    • recognize and respond to emerging needs.

    Share these recommendations with your regional, county and state agency decision-makers.

    American Rescue Plan Act Funds Recommendations

    Opioid Settlement Funds Recommendations

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