April 23 press release from Youth Policy Lab:
A new Michigan Resource Guide for Nonprofits Seeking COVID-19 FEMA Public Assistance provides timely information for Michigan nonprofits providing emergency response services as a result of COVID-19.
As the nation faces this public health crisis and prepares for the related economic downturn, many nonprofit organizations are on the frontlines responding to community basic needs such as food and shelter. Like small businesses, they also face this crisis with an incredibly uncertain financial outlook. To support nonprofits who have stepped up to respond to this national emergency, the federal government recently authorized Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to provide funding under its Public Assistance (PA) program to help nonprofit organizations recoup some of the increased costs they’re incurring as a result of emergency response efforts.
The Youth Policy Lab at the University of Michigan, a research center committed to working with nonprofit and government agencies to improve outcomes for Michiganders, assembled the resource guide to help eligible nonprofit organizations understand the program requirements and application processes, so that communities don’t lose out on these critical resources. Nonprofits must send critical information to the Michigan State Police by April 30th, 2020 in order to be included in the state’s application to FEMA.
“Nonprofits are busy keeping people safe, alive, and fed right now, and many aren’t able to devote the substantial energy and time required to digest these dense, federal regulations,” said Andrea Plevek, executive director of the University of Michigan Youth Policy Lab. "Helping nonprofits access FEMA public assistance resources is critical at this stage of the response because the demand for social services will only grow as we begin to feel the economic and social fall-out from this crisis."
The Youth Policy Lab has also been active in developing a broader network of faculty, staff, and students who are poised to respond to these types of needs from the government and nonprofit sectors in the wake of the COVID-19 crisis. In close partnership with several other research centers at the Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy, the Youth Policy Lab has launched the COVID-19 Consultant Corps (CCC) to help respond to requests for assistance from public and nonprofit sector partners throughout Michigan.
The CCC will deploy interested students in service of emergent, COVID-19-related policy and research projects throughout the state of Michigan as the economic and social challenges related to COVID-19 mount. “The CCC demonstrates the strong commitment of the Youth Policy Lab, the Ford School of Public Policy, and the broader University of Michigan community to public service,” Plevek said.
For more information on how to work with the CCC, please visit youthpolicylab.umich.edu/covid-19-resources.
Youth Policy Lab coordinates activities to provide information and analyses that social services organizations need to do their jobs most effectively. They develop close, sustainable partnerships with state and local agencies, and help connect our partners with each other to access and leverage one another’s work.