The New Jersey Department of Human Services’ Division of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing intends to provide grant funding to New Jersey counties to promote communication and language access for deaf, hard of hearing, and deaf-blind residents of all ages.
Donor Name: New Jersey Department of Human Services
State: New Jersey
County: All Counties
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 05/30/2025
Size of the Grant: $10,000 to $100,000
Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned
Details:
The funding for these grants will come from the Division of Disability Services’ Inclusive Healthy Communities (IHC) Program. In alignment with IHC principles, these funds will support local governments’ efforts to support the health and wellbeing of individuals with disabilities in the communities where they live. County LOIs must include an explanation of how the funding will be used to improve the health and/or social determinants of health for deaf, hard of hearing, and deaf-blind residents.
Funds for interpreter and captioning services will prioritize innovative pilot programs with a goal of self-sustainability after expiration of the grant and respondents that show hardship in meeting American Disabilities Act (ADA) requirements for communication and language access. Potential areas to consider for the funding opportunities include libraries, local community centers, independent living centers, community theatres, non-profit organizations focused on health equity, county jails, municipal and county government agencies, parent-run organizations/disability groups and county courthouses.
This Request for Letters of Interest (this RLI) seeks to assist counties in providing communication and language access to their residents by providing funding for the following initiatives:
- Installation of hearing induction loops. Hearing Loop Systems
- Installation of public videophones and associated connectivity costs.
- Expanding access to sign language interpreter services
- Expanding access to captioning services
- Development and/or provision of community/educational/or healthcare-related programming or services accessible in American Sign Language (ASL).
It groups social determinants of health into five categories:
- Economic Stability—When people cannot afford healthy foods, health care, and housing, their health and wellbeing are negatively impacted.
- Education Access and Quality –People with access to quality and higher levels of education are more likely to be healthier and live longer.
- Health Care Access and Quality—Access to quality, affordable, welcoming, and supportive healthcare is a critical element for ensuring good health and wellbeing.
- Neighborhood and Built Environment – The neighborhood that one lives in has a major impact on their health, including but not limited to safe, clean, and vibrant communities, healthy and affordable housing, access to diverse modes of travel, and access to recreational amenities.
- Social and Community – The social and community context that a person lives in, such as whether they face discrimination, social isolation or exclusion from the processes that result in decisions that affect their lives, can have significant impacts on health and wellbeing.
Funding Information
Total funding available through this RLI is $250,000. Counties could potentially receive a maximum award of up to $70,000.
Eligibility Criteria
- Respondents must be a county government agency in New Jersey and LOIs can be submitted on behalf of the County Human Service Director, County Executive, County Commissioner, or other relevant position.
- All respondents must discuss and get input from the entities within their County on what areas they can provide communication and language access to deaf and hard of hearing residents.
- All successful awardees will be required to submit a quarterly progress report to DDHH.
- Successful awardees will be required to undergo the Division’s deaf and hard of hearing sensitivity training prior to receiving funding.
- Successful awardees will be required to post public signage where hearing induction loops have been installed and/or where sign language interpreting and captioning services are available.
- Successful awardees will be required to organize at least one public relations effort, ex: ribbon cutting ceremony to showcase the product and/or press release recognizing DDHH’s funding for this effort and its availability to New Jersey residents.
- Products and promotional materials arising from this funding will be required to include DDHH logo, examples including but not limited to brochures, flyers, and signage for loops and sign language interpreting and captioning services.
For more information, visit NJDHS.
