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Robert J. Nejedlo Social Emphasis Grant

The deadline for receiving grant requests is August 15.

(Grantees will be notified of their application's status in late November.)

The Schultz Foundation for Advancing Counseling seeks to promote innovative projects and programs that address and help solve social problems in Illinois.  The Foundation will award a grant(s) not to exceed $25,000 for this grant category.  

Particular areas to be focused upon include, but are not limited to:

  • Needs and interventions for children and youth at risk  

  • Issues and needs of returning war veterans and their families

  • Coping with the effects of traumatic events (i.e., natural disasters, gun violence, sexual assault, grief, emotional trauma, terrorism, human/sex trafficking)

  • Interventions to remediate social justice inequities (i.e., gender, race, sexual preference)

  • Employment and Unemployment Issues

  • Identity and/or Sexual Preference

  • Unique Community Needs

  • Immigrants and Immigration

  • Special consideration will be given to applications regarding the use of innovation and technology in meeting the needs of populations impacted or impaired by COVID-19.  This includes social workers, counselors, and mental health professionals utilizing technology in an effort to assist clients and agencies in need. 

  • Issues related to collective fatigue

Proposals will be evaluated using a blind review process, and on the basis of:
 

  • The magnitude of the contribution.

  • Quality of the proposed work (significance, innovation, approach).

  • Demonstrated scholarship, research, and financial competence of the applicant.


Eligibility: Applicants must be a counseling graduate student or practicing counseling/mental health professional (minimum of Master's degree).  Grant applications from ICA Divisions and Chapters, or any mental health or counseling group or agency, must be signed by at least two officers or an officer and a staff member.

Terms:  

The awardee will be required to provide two reports to the Schultz Foundation throughout the planning and implementation of the program or project. A mid-year report will be on June 15, with a final report due at the completion of the program on December 15.  The recipient will need to provide detailed reporting to the Schultz Foundation for Advancing Counseling Board specifying the results of the program, whether goals were met, and further suggestions and interventions.  Failure to submit reports by the requested deadline may result in forfeiture of grant and/or future funding.  Disbursement of grant funds will coincide with receipt and acceptance of reports that should be submitted to info@advancingcounseling.org by the requested deadlines.

The Foundation requires that the individual or group representative applying for a grant belong to a professional counseling/mental health organization, such as the Illinois Counseling Association, in order to ensure grants are awarded to those who are adhering to a professional Code of Ethics.
 

Results of the project must be submitted for publication in a counseling/mental health professional journal, submitted as a proposal for a counseling/mental health professional conference/workshop, or professional training in a program for peers within 12 months of grant approval either in person or virtually. 
 

Mileage in the grant application can be considered for transporting clients to and from your program. 

Only one Schultz Foundation for Advancing Counseling application may be submitted per grant cycle.  Duplication of any application will result in the forfeiture of grant funds.

ALL DECISIONS MADE BY THE GRANT COMMITTEE AND IT'S TASK FORCE ARE FINAL.

Proceed to Submit an Application for the Robert J. Nejedlo Social Emphasis Grant

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