Mental Health and Addiction COVID-19 Community Funding grant

Government of Alberta will provide a one-time grant funding of up to $25 million for eligible projects and services to enhance community mental health and addiction recovery supports and services.

Funding will be distributed through 3 calls for proposals from Alberta Health.

Approved projects are eligible for up to $500,000.

Overall administration of the funding should not exceed 1%.

Call for proposals

First Call – Immediate to May 2020

Information or communication phase

The first call for proposals will provide up to $5 million to fund community initiatives that aim to improve mental health and addiction recovery by providing information about, and navigation to community services and supports.

Applications due May 8, 2020.

Second Call – August 2020

Response phase

The second call for proposals will provide up to $10 million to fund community initiatives that engage community members and aim to improve coping skills and support social connection and healing activities that build whole population mental wellness and resilience.

Applications accepted May to August 21, 2020.

Third Call – November 2020

Recovery phase

This final call for proposals will provide up to $10 million to fund community initiatives that aim to provide focused, action-oriented mental health and addiction supports and services (for example, self-help groups or bereavement support for people experiencing increased social barriers to recovery).

Applications accepted August to November 20, 2020.

Eligibility

Eligible organizations

• charitable organizations

• non-profits

• faith organizations

• small community groups

Organizations may apply individually or as collaborating groups.

Unregistered faith and small community groups may apply with a registered non-profit as a fiscal agent.

Eligible projects and services

Eligible projects must focus on improving the mental health and addiction recovery of Albertans who are negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic or measures to contain it, such as isolation.

Projects must align with one or more of the following funding priorities:

• Protect and promote psychosocial well-being and resilience.

• Mitigate, prevent or treat the mental and behavioural health and addiction issues that arise for individuals in response to, or recovery from, the COVID-19 pandemic.

• Support or enhance individuals’ ability to adapt to the stress and distress of the COVID-19 pandemic.

• Increase individuals’ capacity to respond to the adverse impacts of the pandemic by developing a sense of empowerment and responsibility, and engage civil society (paid and volunteer) in helping individuals adapt and cope.

• Support workers’ willingness and ability to continue to work.

• Improve support of and adherence to public health measures.

Projects should include support for:

• Indigenous communities

• seniors

• people experiencing social barriers

All projects must adhere to the government recommended procedures and standards for COVID-19.

Ineligible projects and services

Ineligible project expenses include, but are not limited to:

• any expense not related to addressing the mental well-being of people affected by the COVID-19 pandemic

• offering direct assistance in the form of money or shelter

• purchasing of any capital assets

• costs required to sustain an organization that do not relate to direct service delivery under the project

• ongoing operational costs

• projects receiving funding from similar Alberta government funding programs (for example, the Civil Society COVID-19 Community Funding)

Project outcomes

Project expenses must align with one or more of the following outcomes:

• Help vulnerable Albertans meet their social well-being needs if they were compromised due to COVID-19.

• Engage individuals, families, communities and civil societies to discover and implement ways to meet the social well-being needs during the COVID-19 pandemic.

• Provide additional infrastructure to support the social well-being of Albertans who are affected either directly or indirectly by COVID-19.

Project examples

Initiatives that provide focused, action-oriented mental health and addiction recovery supports and services, including:

• addiction support groups

• bereavement support

• peer-led recovery and support

• facilitated self-help

• adversity-based growth skills and tools

• support for change and loss

Programs that engage community members and help them improve coping skills while connecting with others, including:

• support groups

• education and training programs (for example, Psychological First Aid, Heart Math, and E-Prep)

• programs promoting short and long-term psychological coping strategies and capacity

Initiatives to improve mental health and addiction recovery by helping people navigate community services and support, including:

• peer support and navigation programs

• virtual resource networks

• virtual help wanted/offered hubs

How to apply

Step 1: Complete the application form

Complete the Community Funding Application form (DOCX, 78 KB).

Step 2: Submit the application form

Email the completed application to albertaaddictionandmentalhealth@gov.ab.ca by the deadline.

After you apply

They will assess the application and engage successful applicants to develop grant agreements.

Reporting

All grant recipients must submit a final report at the end of the grant term as outlined in the grant application form.

Grant recipients must submit the final report package within 4 months of the grant end date to demonstrate:

• grant funds were spent on the activities described in the agreement, and

• the proposed activities were completed

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