The Behavioral Health Grant supports and evaluates new projects which improve the delivery of mental health and/or substance abuse services in Massachusetts in order to improve public health, welfare, and safety.
The grant will support projects that can be used as models to
(1) improve mental health and/or substance abuse services; and
(2) demonstrate societal benefits and measurable improvements in the areas of public health, welfare, and safety.
Applicants are asked to describe how receipt of a Behavioral Health Grant would
(1) improve the delivery of mental health or substance abuse services to underserved populations in Massachusetts and
(2) demonstrate how such improved services would result in measurable improvements in public health, welfare, and safety by reducing crime, violence, suicide, or homelessness, or by improving care for veterans, children, victims of violence, low-income populations, and other underserved populations who have difficulty obtaining or adhering to appropriate treatments and services.
Applicants should review the examples provided (the list is not exhaustive of types of programs eligible to apply for funding and is provided for illustrative purposes only) and select one category under which their proposed program will apply. Programs may have additional elements as described in other categories but must select one primary category for purpose of consideration for a grant.
Category One (1) - Direct Care Models
Examples include: Direct provision of mental health and/or substance abuse services, treatments, or therapies, for underserved populations; in settings other than healthcare facilities such as schools, courts, shelters; and/or for patients with complex or chronic co-morbidity that place the patient at increased risk of emergency hospitalization
Category Two (2) – Intervention, Testing, Coordination, and Referral
Examples include: Crisis intervention services; Community mental health workers to coordinate effective care and treatment adherence; and/or Early intervention and school-age screening to support treatment of children with mental health conditions and/or victims of abuse
Category Three (3) – Education and Training
Examples include: Education and training for health care professionals, law enforcement, youth workers, and/or educators to identify untreated or undertreated mental health or substance abuse conditions; and/or Education and training to address the stigma and discrimination experienced by individuals with mental health and/or substance abuse conditions.