Guaranteed Basic Income in Washington State: Design Phase
Early experiences matter, and a child’s earliest relationships with caregivers – starting prenatally – profoundly shape child development and caregiver wellbeing.
Infant and early childhood mental health is a field with the goal of supporting attuned, positive, and safe early parent-child relationships. Reducing parent stress is one way to support this goal. Boosting the financial security of low-income parents and primary caregivers with guaranteed basic income (GBI) has the direct effect of reducing the overload and immediate stress that families experience during this critical time. Decreased stress creates more space for hope, personal wellbeing and connection, and a focus on becoming parents.
The COVID-19 crisis has heightened stress and factors that threaten wellbeing: economic insecurity, isolation, trauma, systemic racism. Now more than ever, it’s critical to identify solutions that will have an immediate impact on health and economic security. One highly effective intervention is among the simplest: giving families cash with no strings attached.
APPLICATIONS DUE
January, 7 2021
QUESTION / CONTACT
Teresa Gonzales
The Opportunity
We seek proposals from potential partners passionate about economic security and wellbeing for expectant families and families with young children (0-3) to design a GBI pilot in one to three communities in Washington State. Pilot participants would receive unrestricted cash from the time of pregnancy to the period up to age three. We expect that a well-thought-out plan will be followed by Perigee Fund’s financial support for implementation of the pilot.
The funded partner will be expected to lead a design process with the support of advisory group(s), which would include family representatives and community leaders with multiple viewpoints, including that of policymakers.
Target Population
We expect the pilot to include a significant focus on enrolling and supporting pregnant people and/or primary caregivers with children (0-3) who identify as Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC).
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
Perigee seeks partners that reflect the diversity of the communities across the state and who are committed to centering family and community voices in strategy, design, and execution of their work.
Eligibility and How to Apply
- Community-based organization, including tribal organizations, with 501(c)3 nonprofit status or has a fiscal sponsor that qualifies as a nonprofit 501(c)3 organization.
- Based within the state of Washington and currently serving communities in Washington.
Strong preference will be given to:
- Organizations whose governance and leadership reflects the communities they serve and the pilot’s target population.
- Organizations that center racial equity, family economic security and emotional wellbeing for families in their work and approach.
- Organizations with strong relationships and trust in the communities they serve.
- Organizations that demonstrate a clear commitment to a no-strings-attached guaranteed basic income.
- Organizations who serve pregnant people and primary caregivers with young children (0-3).
Examples of organizations who may be good candidates for this work include multiservice organizations or community action agencies, or those that focus on family economic security, asset building, early childhood, maternal child health, or family support.
For more information from the webinar:
How to Apply
The grant review process is expected to be competitive. Proposals must be submitted by January 7, 2021 via email to Gloris Estrella. Please contact Gloris Estrella with any questions or to request an extension.
The grant timeline will run March 1st, 2021 – August 31, 2021.