DD Mini-Grants

Stone Soup Group is the administrator for the AMHTA/SDS DD/EI mini-grant funds in Alaska.  

Applications must be submitted through respective regional STAR programs or provider agencies or an Early Intervention Program, and are due on the 15th of the month. Each STAR office or provider is limited to 5 application submissions per month as of July 1st, 2010.

The following is a checklist of items that must be included in the application packet in order to be reviewed:

□  Completed DD mini-grant APPLICATION FORM (see below).
□  Paperwork showing DD and/or EI/ILP eligibility.     
□  Letter(s) of necessity/ support from. These letter(s) should be from a professional not identified on the front application form and on letterhead on as a prescription pad/note.  (Current letter, front POC sheet for MRDD waiver, or front of IFSP will be accepted).
□  At least 2 quotes for the item or service being requested.
□  Completed order form/invoice if specific item(s) are being requested.
□  Blank order form (in the event that multiple items are requested but only some funded).
□  Signed release of information form (see below).
We suggest you print this page out and use it as a checklist to insure that your application is complete.

 Applications will now be accepted and awarded on a monthly basis. If you have any questions, please contact Stone Soup Group at  1-(907)-561-3701 or Toll Free at 1-(877)-786-7327.  Or you can contact us via email at amyw@stonesoupgroup.org  

DD Mini-grant Process

Thank you to everyone who has been working with Stone Soup Group patiently as we develop the Mini grant process.  We know that the disbursement of funds has presented us all with some challenging issues. First and foremost, we want to make this process work best for families.  We also want to encourage families to take ownership of the funds they are requesting. 

Payments will NOT be disbursed via online orders, only by mail or by check.  Please include the following with each request so that the appropriate vendor receives the appropriate payment.

·          Include a mail order form, COMPLETELY Filled out. (applications will be deemed incomplete and denied if the order form is not complete)

·          Unless your agency is willing to have items shipped to your agency).           

·          Make sure shipping costs are correct.  (checks will be made out for the amount that is submitted on the order form).

·          After the DD Minigrant PEC has met each month, funded or denied letters will be sent to the originating agency (agency that is noted to have helped with the application on the form), when each agency is then expected to share this information with the family

.          Please pay close attention to this checklist, you may print it out and remember to check it TWICE!  If any pertinent documents are missing, the application will be automatically denied without being reviewed.  Thank you for your close attention to this portion.

Again no applications with requests for online orders will be accepted as of the May Application cycle (those apps due to SSG by May 15 and each month thereafter).  These Applications will be deemed incomplete and will be denied as a result. 

If there is a vendor that absolutely does not do anything but online orders, please communicate this with us before submitting the mini-grant application, so we may problem solve that barrier before the application gets denied.  For these issues, Amy Westfall will be the direct contact and will be available to work through those requests (by email only)  amyw@stonesoupgroup.org.

Stone Soup Group is the main contact for issues, questions and positive feedback in regards to the Mini grants and their overall management.

Revised process:  Applications will only be funded for respite when a respite provider agency has been identified on the application so that funds can be disbursed directly to that specific vendor.  Funds for respite will not be disbursed to the family directly or to the originating agency unless that agency is also the respite providing agency.  Please note that we will not hold an application for funding with a remark that respite is requested without an identified provider.  These applications will be denied. 


Downloads

Documents are in PDF format, so you may need to download Adobe Acrobat Reader for free from the Adobe website.

PDF - Requires Adobe Acrobat Reader (Free Download)Click here to download an application.
PDF - Requires Adobe Acrobat Reader (Free Download)DD mini-grant policies and procedures
PDF - Requires Adobe Acrobat Reader (Free Download)DD mini-grant funding breakdown by region