Cooperative Development Technical Assistance Request

Overview: The Respite Care Association of Wisconsin (RCAW), in collaboration with the UW Center for Cooperatives (UWCC) and the ICA Group, is offering free technical assistance to groups in Wisconsin who want to launch a worker-owned cooperative that provides respite services.

This application is for groups ready to begin that journey. Your team will receive expert guidance in cooperative business development through this support, which includes planning, operations, governance, licensing, and more.

Eligibility Checklist

To qualify for this assistance:

Your group must have at least three individuals committed to becoming founding cooperative members.

At least one group member must have completed the BRYC training and shared the BRYC final assignment with the team.

Your group must plan to start a new cooperative business OR convert an existing business into a cooperative.

Services must be based in Wisconsin.

This program is supported by the Administration for Community Living (ACL), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of a financial assistance award totaling $2,042,074 with 75% percentage funded by ACL/HHS and $689,234 with 25% percentage funded by State of Wisconsin source(s). The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by ACL/HHS, or the U.S. Government.

Group and Contact Information

Group Name *

Lead Contact Name *

Phone *

Email *

Please enter the same email you used to create your account.

Address

Street Address

City

State

Country

Postal code

Have any group members participated in BRYC?

Yes

No

If yes, please list the name and date attended/completed.

How many people are in your founding co-op team (steering committee)?

Please list their names and briefly describe the experience they bring to the project. Will any of these founding team members be caregivers in the cooperative once it launches and starts offering services? Will any of these founding team members be administrative staff in the cooperative once it launches and starts offering services? What relevant experiences do they have?

Your Vision

Is this a new respite business or the conversion of an existing business into a worker-owned cooperative structure?

New business

Conversion of an existing business into a worker-owned cooperative structure

What is the best description of your respite program model? Please check all that apply.

If other, please explain:

Please describe the services that your business will offer.

How do you know there's a need for these services in your community? Have you done any market research or received community support for your idea?

(e.g., letters of support, survey results, interviews, etc.)

Who are your target customers or communities? Describe the client population (specific disabilities, level of care, medical needs, behavioral needs, etc.) that the program will serve. Include if there are any limitations on who you may not be able to serve.

Will this program need licensing or certification? Please list which licensing/certification the program will receive.

What funding streams will this program use once the business provides services? Choose all that apply. *

Private Pay

Long-Term Care Waiver/ Medicaid

Privately held LTC Insurance

Other (explain below)

If other is selected, please explain:

What counties or areas in Wisconsin do you plan to serve?

Do you have connections to communities or groups of workers who would be good candidates for becoming caregiver-owners of the new cooperative?

What inspired your group to form a worker-owned cooperative? How would a cooperative ownership model help meet the needs and goals that motivate this project?

Have you previously discussed the cooperative model with UWCC or ICA? If so, please describe briefly.

Do you want the TA providers to know any other comments or things about your cooperative business plan?

Readiness & Goals

Has your whole group reviewed and discussed the BRYC business plan (final assignment)?

Do you have a draft budget or startup plan already created?

What goals or milestones does your group hope to reach with this technical assistance?

Can your team commit to regular biweekly or weekly meetings over the next 6-12 months and complete work between the meetings?

When would your group be ready to begin with weekly/biweekly coaching meetings?

Are there any challenges or scheduling constraints we should know about?

Required Attachments:

Please email [email protected] with the subject line: "Cooperative TA Application – [Group Name]."

A copy of your BRYC final assignment (if available)

Any letters of support or community needs data (optional but recommended)