Contact: Karen Hawes, Human Services

(941) 656-7925 or Sue Gonzalez, 656-7918

CASP FUNDING AVAILABLE FOR HUMAN SERVICES AGENCIES

FORT MYERS, Fla. (February 10, 2000) – Human services organizations wanting funding next year through Lee County’s Community Agency Support Program (CASP) will need to attend a training workshop Feb. 24 and apply by Mar. 31.

The program serves low-income, homeless, elderly, developmentally disabled, and handicapped residents of Lee County. About $1.8 million of requests are funded each year. Agencies that have received funds include the Lee Association of Retarded Citizens, Child Care of Southwest Florida, Abuse Counseling & Treatment, Senior Friendship Centers, and Boys & Girls Clubs.

Through the program – which funds food, shelter, self-sufficiency and independent living programs – the county purchases units of program services and provides up to 15 percent of indirect/administrative costs associated with the provision of those services.

Because applications require performance-based outcomes in the United Way format, applicants must attend a technical assistance workshop Feb. 24 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the United Way Building, 7275 Concourse Drive, in Fort Myers. For more information call 656-7944.

A maximum of 20 contracts will be awarded. The minimum contract is $12,000, and requests may not exceed 25 percent of the total agency budget. Lee County will conduct pre-audits of agencies not previously funded through the CASP program or that have not been audited by Lee County Internal Audit.

Completed applications for CASP are due by 5 p.m. Mar. 31 at the Department of Human Services, 83 Pondella Road, Suite 1, in North Fort Myers. Applications received after the deadline will not be considered for funding. Submission of an application does not guarantee funding.