MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES FOR PARENTS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS: A GRANT PROPOSAL Lindsay Willman California State University, Long Beach May 2013
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MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES FOR PARENTS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS: A GRANT PROPOSAL
Lindsay Willman California State University, Long Beach May 2013
Introduction
The number of homeless persons in families increased by 20% from 2007 2010 in the United States (US Department of Housing and Urban Development, 2011).
On a given night in January 2010, 241,951 persons in families were homeless (US Department of Housing and Urban Development, 2011).
Many homeless families are headed by single mothers, and these mothers experience high rates of mental illness, abuse, and trauma (Bassuk et al., 1996). This project will secure funding for the development and implementation of a program that will address the needs of homeless families with mental health issues in San Francisco County.
Social Work Relevance
Project addresses a service gap for the population
Empowers Mental Health Social Workers and families experiencing homelessness
Changes Mental Health outcomes for families experiencing homelessness
Helps eliminate relapse to homelessness
Closely aligns with Social Work core values
Service, social justice, dignity and worth of the person, and cultural competency (National Association of Social Workers, 2008)
Cross-Cultural Relevance
Mental illness and homelessness affect culturally diverse populations in disproportionate amounts (Burt et al., 2001; Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 2010).
Methods
Target Population: Families experiencing homelessness and mental health issues in San Francisco
Strategies for Identification of a Funding Source:
Internet searches: Google, Google Scholar Database searches: The Grantsmanship Center, Grants.gov Keywords: “homelessness,” “homeless,” “housing,” “children,” “families,” “parent,” “health,” “mental health,” “wellness,” “employment preparation,” “job preparation,” “grant,” “funding,” “RFP,” and “foundation.” Networking: Social Work Professionals (Professors, Executive Director, Program Director) Evaluation of Potential Partners to meet the needs of the program Funding Source Selected: The California Wellness Foundation
Methods (cont.)
Sources Used for Needs Assessment:
Reviewed current and previous literature for the needs of the target population Gathered information from Grant Writer’s experience with population Communicated with staff at host agency Reviewed recent policy and legislation regarding target population Reviewed statistical information regarding target population
Projected Budget: $74,170
Includes salaries and all projected program costs
Grant Proposal
Program Description & Population Served: Program will provide trauma-informed mental health therapeutic counseling services to participants of host agency’s medium-term rental subsidy program.
Sustainability: Grant writer will reapply for funding with the California Wellness Foundation, or seek other funders to maintain program.
Program Objectives: Participants will improve coping skills to deal with mental illness Participants will increase their ability to retain stable housing Participants will increase their ability to participate in case management activities related to employment or increased income
Program Evaluation
Participants will rate themselves on a 6 question Likert Scale survey on willingness and ability to participate in meaningful housing related activities based on symptoms of mental illness
Attendance of therapy sessions will be tracked
Basic follow-up phone call at 6 and 12 months after discharge will measure client’s housing stability
Lessons Learned
The cycle of family homelessness is large-scale
There is a lack of literature on homeless families and mental health
There is a lack of mental health services for rental subsidy families in San Francisco
Time management is important when writing a grant proposal
References
Bassuk, E.L., Weinreb, L.F., Buckner, J.C., Browne, A., Salomon, A., & Bassuk, S.S. (1996). The characteristics and needs of sheltered homeless and low-income housed mothers. Journal of the American Medical Association, 276(8), 640-646.
Burt, M., Aron, L.Y., Lee, E., Valente, J. (2001). Helping America’s homeless: Emergency shelter or affordable housing? Washington, DC: The Urban Institute Press. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2010). Percent of population with feelings of sadness,
hopelessness, worthlessness, or that everything is an effort, all of the time, among persons 18
years of age and over [Graph illustration]. Retrieved from the Office of Minority Health website: http://minorityhealth.hhs.gov/templates/content.aspx?lvl=3&lvlID=9&ID=6477 National Association of Social Workers. (2008). Code of ethics of the National Association of Social Workers. Retrieved from http://www.socialworkers.org/pubs/code/code.asp
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. (2011). The 2010 annual homeless assessment report to congress [Data file]. Retrieved from http://www.hudhre.info/documents/2010HomelessAssessmentReport.pdf