Summary
Description
My Friend’s House
Request for Proposals –
Consultant for Review and Update of Staff and Board Policies with an Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Access Lens
Issue Date: December 2023
Introduction
The goal of My Friend’s House (MFH) is to ensure that our organization's policies and procedures align with Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Access (IDEA) best practices and promote inclusivity. MFH invites proposals from qualified consultants with expertise in IDEA to review and update our organization's operational, governance, and service policies and procedures as well as identify any gaps in the existing policies and procedures as they relate to IDEA. The selected consultant will work closely with MFH to assess the current policies and procedures, make necessary revisions, develop new policies where required, and provide training and capacity-building support to embed IDEA principles within our organization. We are committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse environment for our clients, employees, and board members. With your specialized knowledge and experience in this field, we believe you can help us accomplish this goal.
Background Information
MFH is a non-profit agency that provides shelter and crisis support, and advocates for equity for women and children in the South Georgian Bay area who are experiencing gender-based violence and abuse. Since opening in 1991, we have helped thousands of women get the safety and support they need to rebuild their lives.
We serve about 600 women and their children each year–200 through our Shelter Program and the balance through our Outreach, Transition, and Children’s Programs. In addition, our counsellors answer our crisis line 24 hours a day, seven days a week, offer help to women in immediate crisis, assess safety, and provide the necessary intervention. Last year, the crisis line
addressed over 3,300 calls.
Scope of Work
1. Policy Review and Analysis:
- Conduct a comprehensive review of our existing operational, governance, and service policies and procedures, with a specific focus on IDEA principles.
- Assess the current policies for alignment with best practices in IDEA, identifying areas for improvement and potential gaps.
2. Policy Development and Revision:
- Propose revisions to existing operational, governance, and service policies and procedures to align them with IDEA best practices.
- Collaborate with the team at MFH to provide recommendations for new policies and procedures, where necessary, to enhance inclusivity and diversity within our organization.
3. Policy Implementation and Adoption:
- Assist in the implementation and communication of these new policies, ensuring buy-in and understanding among staff and board members.
4. Training and Capacity Building:
- Provide guidance and resources to the leadership team at MFH to build internal capacity in embedding IDEA principles into our policies and practices.
Deliverables
1. Policy Review Report:
- A detailed assessment of our current operational, governance, and service policies and procedures, including strengths, weaknesses, and gaps in relation to IDEA best practice.
- Recommendations for policy updates and additions to enhance adoption of IDEA at MFH.
2. Updated Policies:
- Revised operational, governance, and service policies and procedures incorporating IDEA best practices.
- Documentation highlighting specific changes made and rationale behind them.
3. New Policy Recommendations:
- A draft of proposed new policies, if warranted, including descriptions, objectives, and guidelines for approval by senior leadership.
4. Training Materials:
- Training materials and resources used for staff and board IDEA training sessions on updated and new policies and procedures.
- Leading training and capacity building sessions with the board and staff.
Timeline
The proposed timeline for the project is as follows:
- Proposal submission deadline: December 22, 2023
- Consultant Interviews: Week of January 22, 2024
- Consultant selection: January 29, 2024
- Project kickoff: February 12, 2024
- Project target completion: November 2024
Budget
The anticipated budget for the consultant’s scope of work for this project is $20,000.
Proposal Submission Guidelines
Interested consultants are requested to submit the following information as part of their proposal:
- Brief cover letter.
- Overview of the Consultant including full legal name, address, telephone number, and email contact information, company profile (if applicable) and relevant experience and qualifications.
- Details with evidence of previous work related to IDEA policy development, preferably in the non-profit, social services sector.
- The methodology and approach used while reviewing the policies.
- A proposed work plan and timeline for the project.
- A budget estimate, including a breakdown of costs for each phase of the project.
- Two references.
Submission Instructions
Proposals must be received via email to: selection@myfriendshouse.ca
All proposals MUST be received PRIOR to: December 22, 2023
Resumes submitted without a project proposal and costing will not be considered.
All information and files required to complete this project will become property of My Friend’s House
Questions regarding proposal expectations are welcome. Questions and proposals can be sent to:
