Transforming Systems Together announces $1.2 million in first-round community grants

Ramsey County, Minnesota sent this bulletin at 07/18/2023 10:46 AM CDT

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Transforming Systems Together announces $1.2 million in first-round community grants

 

Transforming Systems Together (TST), Ramsey County’s shared decision-making initiative with community members, has awarded $1,228,550 to 26 community organizations and individuals in its first-ever round of grantmaking. These TST Grants will support organizations and community members in providing programs and services directly to those who have, or are potentially vulnerable to, involvement in the child protection system in Ramsey County. 

In 2021, TST identified transforming the child welfare system as the county’s highest and most urgent need, and its first North Star in changing how the county delivers services and does business. TST members and county leaders then co-designed a simpler and more accessible grant process to distribute resources with greater flexibility to better meet the needs of families and organizations that serve them. In 2022, the board of commissioners authorized up to $2.5 million for the grants to community rooted organizations and individuals. 

“TST community members and system leaders worked arduously to create an innovative framework of equitable community investment to advance upstream interventions and prevention,” said Danny Givens, Transforming Systems Together Director. “The seeding at this moment with these grants marks the beginning of a new era of systems transformation we hope will continue to grow for years to come.”   

Black and American Indian communities are systematically and disproportionately impacted by the child protection system in Ramsey County and throughout the state. In 2022, American Indian children in Ramsey County were 10 times more likely to be placed in an out-of-home placement by the county’s Children and Family Services than the general county population, while multiracial and African American children were two times more likely.   

"The TST Grants will allow culture and community to bring healing to American Indian and Black families who have been vulnerable to and/or harmed by child protection," said Tonya Long, a TST community member who helped create the grant process and select the awardees. 

The TST Grants seek to move county investments that are systems heavy, to those that are community-informed and community-focused; a shift away from deep-end services to investments in early intervention and prevention. By doing so, TST and the county aim to address inequities by funding community-led and culturally appropriate resources to reduce the number of families involved in the child protection system and limit the harm caused by out-of-home placements. 

“When we first asked community to join us in this shared decision-making initiative, the county board made a commitment to the urgent need to redesign systems to address racial and health equity and achieve well-being, opportunity and prosperity for all,” said Ramsey County Board Chair Trista MatasCastillo. “Today, through these grants, the TST collaborative is taking its exciting next steps by providing significant resources for community-designed and led work to address needs and transform systems.” 

County Manager Ryan T. O’Connor said the TST Grants are a model for developing other community-led projects. “This has been a proof-of-concept for rethinking how we streamline our usual processes, and engage and support community,” said O’Connor. “Lessons learned from the TST Grants are informing how we improve investments and decision-making in the county’s other work with community.” 

The following received first-round TST Grants: 

Innovation Grants award $50,000-$100,000 to established community nonprofits to provide programs that will serve that will serve families or individuals in Ramsey County who are vulnerable to involvement in or have been involved in the child protection system. 

Micro Grants award $10,000-$35,000 to community organizations and small/individual business owners to provide programs that will serve families or individuals in Ramsey County who are vulnerable to involvement in or have been involved in the child protection system. 

Individual Grants award up to $10,000 to individuals who do not have a nonprofit or business to provide unique services like telling stories, teaching culture and overseeing cultural ceremonies/ events for families or individuals in Ramsey County who are vulnerable to involvement in or have been involved in the child protection system. 

  • Alfreda McClain, awarded $10,000.
  • Latoya Ealy, awarded $10,000.
  • Patricia Azu-Domike, awarded $10,000.
  • Regina Jackson, awarded $10,000.
  • Steven Nelson, awarded $10,000.
  • Tamiko French, awarded $10,000.
  • Tarina Gordon, awarded $10,000.
  • Jaquelyn Layman, awarded $10,000.

See full grant award descriptions. 

About Transforming Systems Together  

Transforming Systems Together is a Ramsey County shared decision-making initiative designed to rethink how the county delivers services and invests in the community. TST is intended to change the way the county makes decisions about priorities, approaches, budgets and program design by having community members at the table as an equal voice.  

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Media Contact: 
Valerie Hsu, Health and Wellness Communications Strategist, 507-276-1515