TEEN PARENT IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM REQUEST FOR
PROPOSAL
Table of Contents
I.
PROGRAM OVERVIEW
1.1
1.2
1.3
1.4
Introduction
Anticipated TIP Schedule
Available funding
Terms and Conditions
II.
2.1
2.2
2.3
2.4
2.5
2.6
2.7
2.8
2.9
III.
TEEN PARENT IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM (TIP) SERVICE
ELEMENTS AND SERVICE DELIVERY
General Description
Living Arrangements
Definitions of Types of Facilities
Emergency Living Arrangements
Intake
Child Care
Transportation
Rules and Terminations
Other Program Responsibilities
STAFFING
CLIENT PROFILE
4.1
4.2
Description
Placement
FACILITY
VI. DESIRED PROGRAM OUTCOMES
6.1.1
6.2
6.3
Resident Outcomes
Program Outcomes
Data Collection and Reporting
VII. PROVIDER PROFILE
VIII. GENERAL PROGRAM SPECIFICATIONS
IX. BUDGET
X.
PROPOSAL FORMAT/ REVIEW CRITERIA
XI. APPENDICES
I. PROGRAM OVERVIEW
1.1-1.4 Introduction
In 2000 the Georgia General Assembly and Governor Barnes approved an appropriation of
$1.6 million from Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) funds to establish
Second Chance Homes (hereafter referred to as the Teen Parent Improvement Program
(TIP) in Georgia. Among the welfare reform provisions of TANF is the requirement that all
teen parents under the age of 18 must live with their parents, adult guardian, or an adult
relative over the age of 20. While the majority of teen parents in Georgia are able to comply
with this requirement, some teen parents are unable to in with their parents’ home due to the
potential for abuse, neglect, addiction, or other extraordinary circumstances.
The Department of Human Resources (DHR) has contracted with Georgia Campaign for
Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention (G-CAPP) to purchase structured residential services in
Georgia, which will meet the long-term needs of eligible teenage mothers and their children
who are in of need housing. The DHR Division of Family and Children Services (DFCS) has
a need for a residential program for these teen mothers. It is the purpose of the TIP program
that services be provided to eligible teen parents to develop, in a safe and supportive setting,
the requisite skills and knowledge to be competent parents, and therefore leading to
independent and productive lives after completion of the program.
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II. TEEN PARENT IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM SERVICE ELEMENTS
AND SERVICE DELIVERY
2.1 General Description
Teen Parent Improvement Program (TIP) services may be provided in a number of possible
settings, to include: congregate care facilities; small group homes; and/or supervised
apartments. The residential setting must reflect client profile, availability of ancillary
services, and community considerations. TIPs must provide at a minimum:





Twenty-four hours skilled staffing and supervision of residents and their children;
Access to licensed child care;
On-site or community-based educational services leading to a high school diploma or
a General Equivalency Degree (GED);
Counseling services, client assessment; case management services; and
Parenting and independent living skills education.
TIP eligibility is open to TANF and non-TANF recipients, who are referred, assessed, and
approved by the service provider, in consultation with the state TIP Coordinator. In cases
involving TANF eligibility issues, the local DFCS Case Manager will be involved in the
assessment process. TIP providers may plan to provide a limited number of their total slots
for emergency placements for teens who have not been through the assessment process and
are in need of immediate housing.
It is the purpose of the program that TIP services to support teen parents to improve their
achievement of certain objectives including:

To reduce the risk factors associated with youth, social isolation, poverty, lack of
education, domestic violence, and limited access to services;

To develop basic parenting skills to facilitate the optimal growth and development of
their children;

To acquire life skills to facilitate successful transition to independent living;

To reduce the number of, or delay of, repeat pregnancies and their adverse impact on
goal attainment;

To ensure the successful completion of a course of study resulting in a high TIP
diploma or a General Equivalency Degree;

To provide a safe, supportive living environment for both the teen parent and the
child.

To provide services that reflect, respect, and respond to the cultural, linguistic and
religious diversity of families served.
TIP providers must evidence their experience working with pregnant and parenting teenagers
to achieve these objectives. If limited or no experence exists, providers must demonstrate an
understanding of and ability to meet the unique needs of teenage parents and their young
children.
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Applicants must provide evidence of strong collaborative relationships and partnerships with
existing community-based organizations. These relationships can be demonstrated through
memorandum of agreements, letters of support and other appropriate endorsements of the
proposed TIP program.
2.2 Living Arrangements
Tips must provide living arrangements for teenage parents and their child(ren) on a long-term
basis (up to 36 months). Programs must provide a minimum of five slots (a “slot” denoting beds
and services for both the teen mother and her child(ren). (See “Facility” for further description
of living arrangement requirements). Providers must describe the proposed site/facility model
(s) e.g. congregate care, supervised group home, supervised apartments, etc. Teens may not be
placed in unsupervised or scattered-site apartment units.
Providers shall provide the level of service to be compatible with the living arrangement model.
Providers must describe the level of functioning most appropriate for the living arrangement and
services provided. While the type of living arrangement and level of intensity of services will be
taken into account prior to a placement, Teen Parent Improvement Programs are responsible for
serving teens at all levels of functioning.
Providers must consider all referrals to the program by DFCS and must justify to G-CAPP
service refusals that are determined to create a danger to the teen or others in the program. The
determination involves the provider and G-CAPP. In this case, the teen and her child(ren) will
be referred to an appropriate placement.
TIPs are expected to serve a minimum of five (5) teen mothers and their children at one time.
Providers shall be prepared to service a limited number of mothers with more than one (1) child.
2.3
Definitions of types of facilities:
A congregate care model is defined as one in which a teenage parent and her child(ren) may
individually occupy a bedroom, while all residents share larger common space and bathrooms,
and dine in cafeteria-type setting. A congregate care facility usually serves a larger number of
teenage mothers than a group home.
A group home model is defined as a house or duplex setting in which a teenage parent and her
child(ren) may individually occupy a bedroom, while all residents share a larger common space
and bathrooms and a self-service kitchen.
A supervised apartment model is defined as a facility in which older teens or teens who have
made significant progress in a group home setting, live in an apartment and assume more
responsibility for daily tasks. In this model, a resident case manager lives in an adjacent
apartment and supervises the teens closely.
2.4 Emergency Living Arrangements
Providers serving over four (4) teen families must provide at least one (1) emergency bed for
unassessed teenagers with an immediate need for housing. Emergency living arrangements
require specific slots to be reserved for immediate placement, the ability to provide immediate
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transportation to the program site, enhanced staffing, and the ability to perform a Teen Parent
Assessment. Providers should describe their ability to offer these services.
2.5 Intake
Programs must provide prospective residents with all information necessary to ensure an
efficient and safe transition from the teen’s current residence to the program, including
directions, contact person, transportation information, and specifics on what the parent may or
may not bring into the program site. Upon being notified by G-CAPP and/or DFCS of a referral
to TIP, teen parents have up to 14 days to arrive.
Programs are required to provide transportation to program participants and their children from
their current residence to the program site. While DFCS will make every effort to refer teens to
programs closest to their community of origin, residents may require transportation from any part
of the state to the program site.
Programs must be prepared to offer prospective residents an interview and tour of the facility
prior to their admission.
2.6 Child Care
Programs proposing on-site childcare with letters of exemption from Office of Regulatory
Services (ORS) must at a minimum:

Meet all ORS required group sizes and child/staff ratios;

Insure that children in the child care program will be supervised at all times by a staff
person who is at least the equivalent of an ORS Infant/Toddler lead teacher, as defined in
the ORS Group Day Care regulations;

Have at least two separate emergency fire exits from each floor on which the childcare
program operates.

In order to promote the availability of off-site childcare, the Division of Family and
Children Services (DFCS) will purchase childcare slots for children of teen parents.
Funding is specifically offered to support operating costs for on-site childcare only (either
agency operated or subcontracted).

Documentation of licensure or documentation that the program has been exempted from
licensure is essential. If such documentation is not currently available, the provider
should detail when such documentation will be available.

All TIP programs must commit to ensuring high quality child care for the residents in
order to obtain program funding. All programs should define the age group to be served
and type of care, according to ORS licensing definitions.
2.7
Transportation
Programs are required to provide transportation to referred teens and their children from their
current residence to the program site. While G-CAPP will make every effort to refer teens to
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programs closest to their community of origin, residents may require transportation from any part
of the state to the program site. Transportation should, when possible, be provided for teens
referred for emergency bed services.
Arrangements for transportation as necessary to implement each resident’s service plan should
be described. Providers are responsible for arranging or providing transportation for the teen
parent and child(ren) to off-site childcare. Transportation may be provided by program vehicle,
contracted transportation vendor, or public transportation if the program provides fare. All
program vehicles and drivers must meet ORS and state requirement for transporting children,
including age and size appropriate child car seats.
2.8
Rules and Terminations
Program participants may be terminated for repeated failure to fulfill resident responsibilities.
Participants will receive a minimum of 14 calendar days written notice of intent to terminate,
during which time the resident may remain in the program with their child(ren), unless safety
concerns are identified. In case of endangerment to other residents and staff, immediate
termination is required. With the exception of an emergency situation, resident discharges must
be approved in advance by the TIP Coordinator. In addition, the DFCS Case Worker must be
notified of terminations.
2.9
Other Program Requirements
Providers must have in place written policies regarding how routine and emergency medical
services will be accessed by residents for themselves and their children.
Providers must meet all relevant licensing and approval requirements including:

Applicable ORS licensing as a Transitional Home for Teen Parents;

Pertinent regulations of the ORS and Department of Motor Vehicles governing the safety
and delivery of transportation services;

ORS requirements pertaining to criminal record checking of employees.
Providers must meet all data collection and reporting requirements on residents as requested by
the Department (see “Data Collection”, 6.3).
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III.
STAFFING
Programs must be staffed 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Supervised apartment models must
have at least one on-site female resident staff who is accessible 24 hours a day. Staff/resident
ratios will vary according to the levels of on-site programming and utilization of communitybased services. Providers must describe staffing ratios and include sample shift schedules.
While efforts should be made to utilize volunteers and student interns, only paid staff shall be
included in meeting staff/child ratios.
Every effort shall be made to employ staff who are representative of the cultural, ethnic, racial
and linguistic diversity of the clients served by the program. Staff must be familiar with the
issues facing teen parents.
Staff responsible for counseling, service planning, and case management services must have at
least a bachelor’s degree in counseling, social work, psychology, or related field or be trained as
a paraprofessional with at least three years experience working directly with teen parents and
their children. All supervisory staff must have a master’s degree in counseling, social work,
education, psychology, or related field or programs may substitute four or more years of direct
service to teen parents in lieu of the master’s degree.
Providers must determine the most appropriate staff requirements for overnight staff, given the
model of program offered, to ensure the safety and security of residents.
IV.
CLIENT PROFILE
Clients to be served by TIPS may include females who are pregnant or parenting ages of 13 to 18
years of age. While clients may leave the program upon reaching their 18th birthday, termination
is not required until the goals of the service plan are achieved or the client reaches their 21st
birthday.
Although G-CAPP/DFCS will make an effort to refer a teenage parent to a program in or near
their community of origin, programs should be prepared to service teen parents from any part of
the state. Some teen parents may be referred to programs outside of their community due to
safety concerns.
Providers should be equipped to serve clients from a variety of cultural and linguistic
backgrounds.
Clients must be enrolled in high school or a GED program.
Clients under 18 years of age will remain in the custody of their parents; however, clients
deemed to be mature minors in accordance with DFCS regulations may sign their own placement
agreements with provider agencies.
Providers should discuss their interest in serving any or all of the client groups as well as special
expertise they many have in serving teen parents in general.
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V.
FACILITY
All facilities must meet the standards set in regulations for Transitional Housing Programs
Serving Teenage Parents. Issued by the ORS.
Programs must offer residential living space that meets all local and state public health and
safety codes. All residential facilities must be certified to be free of lead paint. All areas
accessible to infants, toddlers, and young children must be appropriately child-proofed.
For programs proposing supervised apartment models, clients will occupy apartments that are
owned or leased by the provider agency. Resident staff must possess keys to all resident
dwellings.
All agencies and program sites must be in compliance with ADA regulations.
VI.
DESIRED PROGRAM OUTCOMES/PROGRAM ASSESSMENT
The TIP is a residential structured living programs in Georgia that will provide teen parents with
the necessary supervision, support, instruction, and services to develop the skills to live
independently with their children. TIPs are intended to provide an environment where teen
parents are able to focus on specific personal goals while ensuring the safety and healthy
development of themselves and their children.
6.1
Resident Outcomes
The expected outcomes of TIP residents are as follows:

Completion of high school or high school equivalency program (GED);

Increased parenting skills and promotion of a nurturing relationship between parent and
child leading to a reduction in the numbers of supported reports of child abuse and
neglect;

No repeat pregnancy;

Improved health outcomes for teenage parents and their children;

The attainment of healthy growth and development (physical, emotional, social,
cognitive) of the children of teenage parents;

Increased ability to live independently including the reduction of dependence on welfare.
Applicants may submit as part of their proposal a comprehensive and specific set of screening
and assessment instruments to measure and document individual teen parent progress regarding
the achievement of specific skills, abilities, and milestones in the above areas. G-CAPP reserves
the right to develop statewide screening and assessment tools.
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6.2
Program Outcomes
In addition to client outcomes, G-CAPP will assess each program based on the following
categories:

Timely and comprehensive completion of assessments, service plans, and case
management;

Minimal delays in childcare and community-based service enrollment;

Regularity of contact and involvement with resident’s educational program;

Resident satisfaction;

Staff turnover; and

Termination rates.
Applicants should propose additional outcomes and indicators to be measured regarding overall
program functioning and client outcomes. Number and percentage goals expected to be obtained
by the program should be clarified for each of the above outcomes and any additional outcomes
to be measured. G-CAPP will determine specific numerical benchmarks for each outcome
during negotiations with individual providers.
PLEASE NOTE: If awarded a TIP contract, more specific performance measures will be
negotiated within the parameters of the RFP.
6.3
Data Collection and Reporting
All proposals shall include a detailed explanation of the means and sources to be used to obtain
all outcome data.
The provider will be responsible for measuring, tracking, documenting, and reporting required
outcome data on a quarterly basis. Quarterly outcome data shall be maintained on file at the
program, shall be made available to G-CAPP staff upon request and during on-site monitoring
visits, and shall be compiled and submitted to the Department annually. G-CAPP will finalize
all quarterly reporting requirements and dates prior to TIP operation.
All programs shall comply with the contract expenditure and reporting requirements. G-CAPP
reserves the right to institute standardized formats, methods, and procedures for provider data
collection and reporting.
VII. PROVIDER PROFILE
Preference will be given to provider agencies with demonstrated experience and expertise in
providing residential services to pregnant and parenting teenagers. Providers should describe
how provision of such services interacts with other services offered by the agency. Providers
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must list staff qualifications for TIP services. Providers should describe in detail how selection
as a TIP would affect their current mission, organization, and service capacity.
Providers must offer a program of staff development and training in the areas of teen parenting,
adolescent counseling, mandated reporting, and other related topics.
Providers should make efforts to address the linguistic and cultural needs of all referred
teenagers, as reflected by the composition of the community in which the program is located.
Providers must work in cooperation with G-CAPP and local DFCS staff and, when applicable,
assigned DFCS case workers.
All providers must follow the regulations of the Office of Regulatory Services regarding Teen
Parent Residential Programs and/or Transitional Housing Programs serving adolescent parent,
including maintaining records on all residents. All providers must be licensed by the ORS.
VIII. GENERAL PROGRAM SPECIFICATIONS
All contracts awarded for the fiscal year, July 2001 to June 2002 under this program, will be
funded on a cost reimbursement basis for the first year, after which G-CAPP will reevaluate
payment methods.
Contracts will end June 30, 2002.
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IX.
BUDGET
Please structure your response using the “contract budget” attachment. Address each item and
explain the costs in narrative form. Include the following information about the items listed
below:
A. Personnel Services: include salaries and benefits
B. Regular Operating: include equipment maintenance, postage, printing, training/conferences,
supplies, etc.
C. Travel: include lodging, meals, use of vehicle for job-related activities. Who will travel?
What will be the rate?
D. Equipment: include purchase of equipment, office furniture, computers, etc.
E. Facilities costs: include rent, utilities, maintenance, etc. Which facility will be used? What
square footage of space will be funded from this project?
F. Per diem and contract fees: include professional services, agreements for services. Give
details about what the contractor is providing, credentials, and what is being purchased.
G. Telecommunications: include telephone, beepers, etc. Identify items to be leased.
H. Any other anticipated expenses: Identify any associated administrative or indirect costs
that will directly support the project.
NOTE:
Funds cannot be used to purchase or renovate property and/or buildings; to
purchase vehicles; for fundraising activities/costs; to support activities that are self-supporting
through other sources of funding. Equipment with a value of $500.00 or more will be the
property of DHR.
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X. PROPOSAL FORMAT & REVIEW CRITERIA
Cover Sheet
501 (c) (3) Certification
Proposal Summary
A brief summary of the proposed program.
Length: 1 page
Organizational Background
Describe the organization’s history, capacity and experience in providing services
to adolescents. (2 pages)
Length: 3 pages maximum
Score: 20 points
Program Goals and Objectives
Describe the overall goals and objectives of the proposed program, including
timeframes for achieving them.
Length: 2 pages maximum
Score: 15 points
Service Delivery System
Describe in detail the program service model, including all operational components
of providing required Teen Parent Improvement Program (TIP) services.
Length: 8 pages maximum
Score: 30 points
Proposed Outcomes and Results
Identify anticipated outcomes for the residents and the program as a whole. This
should include measurable performance outcomes and quality outcomes.
Length: 2 pages maximum
Score: 15 points
Staffing (positions and qualifications)
Include resumes of all current staff that will work in the proposed program, as well
as descriptions and qualifications of positions to be filled.
Length: 3 pages maximum
Score: 10 points
Budget (start-up and annualized costs)
Length: 2 pages maximum
Score: 10 points
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