Fairfax County’s Trauma-Informed Spaces Grant Program invites community-based organizations that have experienced a negative impact as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic to apply for a new round of grants funded through the federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA).

Because pandemic impacts so often resulted in CBOs prioritizing spending on direct services and staffing, and because the pandemic resulted in widespread collective traumas, this program emphasizes the development of trauma-informed spaces. A trauma-informed approach can be implemented in any type of service setting or organization and is distinct from trauma-specific interventions or treatments that are designed to address the consequences of trauma.

To be eligible, organizations must:

• Be 501(c)(3) or 501(c)(19) organizations; 
• Provide services to Fairfax County residents in one or more of the following categories: Financial Stability, Food and Nutrition, Health, Literacy/Educational Development Attainment, Housing, Positive Behaviors/Healthy Relationships, and Support/Community/Social Networks.
• Demonstrate a negative economic impact on a population or group and to provide assistance to nonprofits. Impacts include reduced revenues, increased expenses and community need, and persistent staffing concerns are continued negative economic impacts on these organizations.

Proposals will be evaluated by NCS’ Cross Systems Prevention Unit and TICN Leadership based on the extent to which they address areas for improvement identified by use of the TICN’s Facility Review Checklist and rely on the TICN’s Guidance for Creating Trauma-Informed Spaces document for project guidance. Additional consideration will be given to especially innovative and creative proposals that demonstrate a likeliness to be successful. The maximum total request for each organization is $5,000 and is for infrastructure needs of community programs.

The application must be submitted by Friday, May 12, 2023, 5 p.m. For more information and to apply, please visit the Trauma-Informed Spaces Grant Program page.

For assistance or questions, please email Fairfax-TICN@fairfaxcounty.gov or call Hallie Jackson at 571-585-2209.