Deadline: 20 November 2020
The Government of Alberta has announced the Mental Health and Addiction COVID-19 Community Funding grant.
Funding Information
- Government 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.
- Funding will be distributed through 3 calls for proposals from Alberta Health.
- Overall administration of the funding should not exceed 1%.
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 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 supports, including:
- Peer support and navigation programs
- Virtual resource networks
- Virtual help wanted/offered hubs
Eligibility Criteria
- 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.
For more information, visit https://www.alberta.ca/mental-health-and-addiction-covid-19-community-funding-grant.aspx#toc-0