APPLICATION DEADLINE HAS BEEN EXTENDED TO SEPTEMBER 15, 2009

WE ARE CURRENTLY ACCEPTING GRANT APPLICATIONS FOR OUR 2009 FAMILY FIRST PROGRAM.

GRANTS CAN NOW BE USED FOR LOCAL, FACE-TO-FACE MARRIAGE COUNSELING.

PLEASE SUBMIT ALL APPLICATIONS BEFORE SEPTEMBER 15TH, 2009.
 

FAMILY FIRST PROGRAM
The divorce rate within the autism community has been creeping up for quite some time. With the explosion in autism cases comes many more challenges with couples in our community. Family First was launched to provide couples within our community a way to access counseling. 

GOALS:
The four goals of the Family First Program are to:

1. Provide couples with access to counseling
2. Provide couples with financial aid for counseling
3. Raise awareness about the divorce rates within our community and around the country
4. Provide a solid support system for all autism couples

By focusing on these four objectives, our primary goal is to keep autism families together, which will open the door to a slew of other benefits for families including two-person income potential, less stress on just one parent, more time dedicated to therapy and treatments for the child, and the list goes on.  

HOW YOU CAN HELP:

Create
There are so many ways we can help autism couples. Do you have a great idea that will work in your area? Here are some of the ways people from around the country are helping autism couples:

• Far Hills Community Church in Dayton, Ohio, offers a free “Date Nite” to autism couples. Could your church or support group do something similar in your area? See: http://farhills.org/events/datenight.html
• Free workshops are happening in places like Tennessee and North Carolina. Could you hold a free couples workshop in your area?

To download the Family First Grant Application, click here.   Word Doc | PDF

GRANT APPLICATION FAQ’S:

Q:  How do I know if my spouse and I qualify for help from the National Autism Association?
A: You must meet all three basic criteria to apply:

1.     Be married to, or temporarily separated from, the parent and/or caregiver of your autistic child. Life Partners who have a child with autism may also qualify depending on the circumstances.

2.     Reside in the United States of America.

3.     Have a child diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder.

4.     Be in financial need.

Q: How much money can I request?
A: The maximum amount we can award per couple is a one-time grant of $500.

Q: How do I apply for assistance from the National Autism Association?
A: First, review the four basic criteria. If you meet these, complete a GRANT APPLICATION. You must attach some form of documentation that confirms your child's diagnosis (i.e., school eval or doctor’s note, etc). If you have multiple children with autism, you only need documentation for one of the children with the diagnosis.

Q: Are grant funds paid directly to couples?
A: At no time are funds transferred to couples. All grants awarded are paid directly to the service provider to pay for counseling, etc. If at any time monies are attempted to be transferred by the grant recipient to an unauthorized provider, the grant may be forfeited immediately.

Q: Can I use the money for individual counseling or counseling for my child?
A: The Family First Program is designed to help keep families together. Because our budget is limited, we can only pay for therapy that helps the marriage. Grant monies cannot be used for anything other than marital counseling or relationship coaching.

Q: I've sent my application in. How long until I know if my application has been approved?
A: Once we have received all components of the application (completed application form, doctor's letter, and tax returns, if applicable), your application will be reviewed by the NAA staff within 3-4 weeks.  No awards will exceed $500 per couple at this time.  ONLY APPROVED GRANT RECIPIENTS WILL BE CONTACTED BY NAA. If the application period is up, grant monies have been exhausted or if you have not qualified for a grant, you will not be contacted.

Q: I have health insurance. Can I still apply for assistance?
A: Yes. Up to $500 can be used for co-pays for qualifying applicants.

Q: I'm not sure if this request falls within the grant guidelines. Should I still send in an application?
A: If your request is for something other than financial aid for marital counseling, it does not fall within the grant guidelines. 

Q: We have so many medical bills, we're having trouble paying the rent/electric /water/telephone bills. Can NAA help us?
A: The guidelines of this grant do not allow payment for anything other than marital counseling.

If you have additional questions, please write to lori@nationalautism.org.

To download the Family First Grant Application, click here.   Word Doc | PDF