The Canada Post Foundation for Mental Health 2010 Grant Recipients
The Canada Post Foundation for Mental Health is pleased to announce its 2010 grants recipients. In April 2010, the Foundation invited community-based groups across the country to apply for funding of projects that would directly benefit people affected by mental illness. Funding was allocated to projects aimed at building front-line capacity to provide community-based support for those affected by mental illness or for those supporting them in a non-professional capacity (e.g. family, friends).
"Trustees were again impressed with the quality of the applications received. With just over $1.5 million available for disbursement this year, the Foundation’s Grants Advisory Committee did an outstanding job assessing the applications and making recommendations to the trustees as to how the money available could be best allocated. The goal was to ensure the money Canadians entrusted to the Foundation would be of the greatest benefit possible to those suffering from mental illness and to their families," said James Roche, Chairman of the Canada Post Foundation for Mental Health.
The Foundation is pleased to provide the following organizations—across Canada—funding (ranging from $7,000 - $65,000) for their mental health-related programs:
The Canada Post Foundation for Mental Health 2010 Grant Recipients
Distress Centre Calgary
Project: Hire Coordinator for Volunteer Leadership
Location: Calgary (AB)
Objective: The Coordinator will train, support and mentor Leadership Volunteers for the Distress Centre’s crisis line. Leadership Volunteers will, in turn, mentor other volunteers staffing the crisis line and otherwise supporting the activities of the Centre.
Impact: The support to volunteers providing help to those in distress will be improved and customized.
Southern Alberta Self Help Association
Project: Increase Capacity to Deliver Services and Improve Client’s Independent Living Skills
Location: Lethbridge (AB)
Objective: Train personnel and hire life-skills coaches to better support clients’ efforts to acquire capability for independent living.
Impact: With better independent living skills, clients can more easily integrate into and contribute to the community.
Crisis Intervention and Suicide Prevention Centre of B.C.
Project: Phone Services Capacity-building
Location: Province-wide (BC)
Objective: To improve the capacity of phone-based distress services by equipping the Centre with reliable, sustainable and up-to-date phone equipment, database management systems and training tools.
Impact: Increased capacity to deliver service on a sustained basis.
Covenant House Vancouver
Project: Mental Health and Addictions Program
Location: Vancouver (BC)
Objective: To provide training to front-line staff working with youth suffering from mental illness and addiction who are living in the crisis shelter at Covenant House.
Impact: Staff will be better equipped to manage the concerns and to make the appropriate referrals for youth in crisis. Affected youth will be able to stabilize their mental health and improve the management of their addictions.
Motivation, Power & Achievement (MPA) Society
Project: Hire a Social Programming Coordinator
Location: Vancouver (BC)
Objective: The incumbent of this position will develop, implement and evaluate social programming at the MPA Resource Centre. The social programming will focus on mental health education, skills-building, empowerment and self-esteem.
Impact: Participants will develop a better understanding of their legal rights, the social determinants affecting mental health and expand their involvement in community activities. There will be improved integration between the Society and other health, social service agencies and community groups.
CMHA Kamloops Branch
Project: On-The-Job Life Skills Training for Unemployed Persons with Mental Illness
Location: Kamloops (BC)
Objective: Increase the quality of life for people with mental illness by providing life skills training through paid work assignments. This will also include social rehabilitation and access to education.
Impact: Will increase self-esteem, quality of life, independence and community relationships for clients.
BC Society of Transition Houses
Project: Making Connections: Support Groups for Women Impacted by Abuse, Mental Illness and Substance Use
Location: Howe Sound, Trail, Vernon, Prince George, North Vancouver and Port Hardy (BC)
Objective: To support victims of abuse by providing low-barrier counselling, support groups and a self-help resource workbook. Increase capacity of community-based service providers to facilitate support groups, deliver ongoing clinical support and provide resource material.
Impact: Integrated mental health and anti-violence support in a safe support group setting will assist women with complex issues.
Fort Garry Women’s Resource Centre
Project: Enhanced Staff Training Program
Location: Winnipeg (MB)
Objective: Enhanced training and professional development opportunities for staff in order to provide clients with more responsive, individually-tailored support regarding mental health issues
Impact: A broader range of counselling services, workshops and programs will be available to clients; better-trained staff will result in higher job satisfaction rate
Restigouche Family Services Inc.
Project: Collaborative Treatment of Traumatized Children and Teens
Location: Restigouche Region (Belledune to St. Quentin, New Brunswick and Listiguj First Nation Community, Quebec) (NB and QC)
Objective: To provide support to children suffering from multiple traumas who are struggling under extremely challenging circumstances. Also, to help the community understand the mental health problems of these children and what help is required.
Impact: Children and families develop long-term strategies to break the cycle of trauma, preventing mental health difficulties and disorders. The community understands the mental health difficulties and is able to respond.
Schizophrenia Society of Nova Scotia
Project: Expansion of Community-based Volunteer Support Network and Strengthening of Advice/Connection Services
Location: Eight rural Nova Scotia communities including Cape Breton (NS)
Objective: To develop self-help groups for people living with depression and bipolar disorder, and their families, including meetings with professionals and trained volunteers to provide information on resources available.
Impact: Consumers will have a new support system within their communities and have a self-management tool to help with their illness. Families will also have a new source of support.
Healthy Minds Cooperative
Project: Funding of Peer-support Worker
Location: Halifax and Dartmouth (NS)
Objective: The Peer-support Worker will link those with mental illness to community resources as they transition from an inpatient facility to the community.
Impact: Patients returning to independent living in their community will feel better connected and supported. The risk of re-hospitalization will be diminished.
St. Leonard’s Society of Nova Scotia
Project: Enhanced Mental Heath Training Program
Location: Dartmouth (NS)
Objective: To train employees of St. Leonard’s Society to provide a higher level of service to those with mental illness. The focus will be on the unique mental health needs of people living in shelters and half-way houses.
Impact: Currently, half-way houses and shelters in the area offer little or no mental health support. Employees will now be able to better identify and address mental health issues of residents at the facilities.
Laing House
Project: Peer-support Network
Location: Halifax (NS)
Objective: To help address issues faced by youth living with mental illness such as low self-esteem, feelings of hopelessness, stigma, addictions and isolation. The network will provide a forum for youth to share their experiences, insights and challenges in an informal, non-judgemental and supportive environment.
Impact: Consumers will strengthen their peer support networks both within and beyond Laing House, their understanding of barriers and challenges and how to address them, increase their knowledge about mental illness, stigma and recovery, and increase their awareness of available community resources.
Tri-County Women’s Centre
Project: With Hope in Mind
Location: Yarmouth, Shelburne and Digby (NS)
Objective: To hire a mental health outreach worker to provide support to women in rural communities of Southwest Nova Scotia.
Impact: Women in rural areas often do not have access to services available elsewhere. Accessible, effective, timely and barrier-free services to these women will enhance their ability to manage mental heath issues.
Algoma Family Services
Project: Mental Health First Aid Training
Location: Sault Ste Marie/Algoma Region (ON)
Objective: To provide training for those working with children and youth suffering from mental illness so that they can better recognize the symptoms of mental illness and provide appropriate intervention strategies.
Impact: An increase in the community’s capacity to recognize the symptoms of mental illness and to better provide initial front-line support.
CMHA – Grand River Branch
Project: Support Group to Reduce Potential Risk Factors for Suicidal-related Behaviours
Location: Waterloo, Wellington and Dufferin (ON)
Objective: To reduce suicide attempts and deaths by providing coping mechanisms for those at risk. This support will serve as a first step in engaging clients to seek longer-term help.
Impact: The support group will equip participants with the psycho-social skills to deal with suicidal urges.
Hong Fook Mental Health Association
Project: From Stigma to Recovery – WRAP (Wellness Recovery Action Plan) for Consumers and Family Caregivers
Location: Greater Toronto Area (ON)
Objective: To support those suffering from mental illness in the Cambodian, Vietnamese, Mainland Chinese and Korean communities by providing facilitation training to staff and consumer/peer leaders. The focus will be on self-management and self-care.
Impact: Individuals will have better understanding of the resources available to assist their recovery from mental illness. The project also intends to address the stigma that surrounds mental illness.
Boost Child Abuse Prevention and Intervention
Project: Assessment and Treatment Program
Location: Toronto (ON)
Objective: To enhance the delivery of timely, responsive, evidence-based assessment and treatment services for children and youth suffering from post-traumatic stress, anxiety and depression who have experienced abuse or violence, and to prevent or reduce trauma symptoms.
Impact: Reduce the wait time for assessment and treatment, expand service delivery and increase community-based resources.
Workman Arts
Project: From Training to Creation to Presentation to Education
Location: Toronto (ON)
Objective: To increase the number and the quality of training programs offered to those affected by mental illness to use art as therapy and to generate income.
Impact: Some 300 individuals affected by mental illness will have access to art-related programs designed to help manage their illness and improve their lives.
CMHA - Hastings and Prince Edward Branch
Project: Community Resource Program
Location: Hastings and Prince Edward Counties (ON)
Objective: To provide residents of the CMHA’s transitional housing program with skills and resources to move into safe, affordable housing, allowing them to function independently.
Impact: Decreasing the number of homeless people and helping individuals and families develop the skills to live independently.
Open Doors for Lanark Children and Youth
Project: Expedite Access to Mental Health Services for High-risk Children and Youth
Location: Smiths Falls (ON)
Objective: To provide clinical services to high-risk children and youth whose significant mental health and addiction issues interfere with their ability to be successful in a traditional school setting.
Impact: To reintegrate high-risk children and youth into traditional school settings and to increase the number of 15- to 24-year olds to remain in school. The mental health literacy of educators will be enhanced.
Hopewell
Project: Family Support and Education Group
Location: Ottawa (ON)
Objective: To run a family support and education group for those caring for individuals with serious eating disorders.
Impact: Affected families will gain knowledge and skills to better troubleshoot challenging situations, develop healthy coping mechanisms, and feel less isolated and stigmatized.
Cornerstone Housing for Women
Project: Concurrent Disorders Certification Training
Location: Ottawa (ON)
Objective: To hire an educator to provide comprehensive training and mentoring to volunteers working with staff and residents in the agency's programs, which focus on women living with mental illness. The training will cover such issues as the correlation between mental illness and seniors, and the impact of chronic homelessness.
Impact: To increase agency capacity to provide community-based programs with a client-centred focus.
Dave Smith Youth Treatment Centre
Project: The Assertive Continuing Care Program
Location: Ottawa (ON)
Objective: To provide a proactive case management service to addicted youth for the first three months following discharge from a residential program or outpatient treatment centre.
Impact: To offer ongoing treatment, mentorship and inter-agency advocacy for youth re-entering the community and mitigating relapse risk.
St. James Drop-in Centre
Project: Hiring an Outreach Worker
Location: Montreal (QC)
Objective: To hire an outreach worker for the newly-established St. James housing program. The outreach worker will visit clients to support them in their transition to new homes. The worker will also organize lifestyle workshops for clients to re-learn life skills.
Impact: Help those suffering from mental illness and are homeless acquire housing and learn the necessary skills to keep their homes in the long-term.
Our Harbour/Le Havre A Nous
Project: Increasing Program Coordinators’ Hours
Location: Montreal South Shore (QC)
Objective: To provide an additional day of employment for the organization’s two part-time front-line coordinators. This will allow for the provision of support to more residents living in the organization’s long-term housing facility. It should be noted that the Coordinators have the support of a large group of volunteers.
Impact: The additional coordinators’ hours will leverage the work of a large number of volunteers and significantly increase the organization’s capacity to offer services to additional clients.
Friends for Mental Health
Project: Psycho-educational Workshop on Schizophrenia
Location: West Island, Montréal (QC)
Objective: To offer a ten-session workshop on schizophrenia, twice a year, designed to support families dealing with mental illness.
Impact: Families will have a better understanding of the disease and be better equipped to effectively support the family member in crisis.
Revivre - Association de soutien
Project: Community Psycho-Educational Follow-Up Care
Location: Montréal (QC)
Objective: To develop two new workshops on bipolar and anxiety disorders, for delivery to clients suffering from these illnesses and their families.
Impact: The workshops will help the consumer regain and maintain a degree of independence. Psycho-educational follow-up care will improve. The clients will be better equipped to prevent relapse.
Ami Québec
Project: Tele-workshops and Tele-support: Reaching Out to Underserved English Communities in Quebec
Location: English communities in Quebec isolated by language and geography, plus the island of Montréal (QC)
Objective: To support families struggling with mental illness through the expansion of tele-workshops and the tele-support component moderated by an Ami Quebec staff member.
Impact: Will help those suffering from mental illness to maintain their well-being and help families enhance their care-giving skills.
Société québécoise de la schizophrenie
Project: Peer-support Counselling
Location: Estrie, Laurentides and Lanaudière regions (QC)
Objective: To engage resources and provide training to facilitate the provision of peer-support counselling for persons affected by mental illness to counter isolation and to assist with efforts to continue treatment while living in the community.
Impact: Provide individuals suffering from mental illness with the confidence and hope needed to continue treatment.
Programme d’encadrement clinique et d’hébergement (PECH)
Project: Mental Health Workshops
Location: Québec City Region (QC)
Objective: Hire a coordinator who will develop and implement workshops regarding such mental health issues as management of medications, self-esteem, physical well-being, legal rights and social responsibilities and return to work and studies.
Impact: The workshops, which will be available to some 1,500 people affected by mental illness, will support their ability to live independently in the community.
Restigouche Family Services Inc.
Project: Collaborative Treatment of Traumatized Children and Teens
Location: Restigouche Region (Belledune to St. Quentin, New Brunswick and Listiguj First Nation Community, Quebec) (NB and QC)
Objective: To provide support to children suffering from multiple traumas who are struggling under extremely challenging circumstances. Also, to help the community understand the mental health problems of these children and what help is required.
Impact: Children and families develop long-term strategies to break the cycle of trauma, preventing mental health difficulties and disorders. The community understands the mental health difficulties and is able to respond.
Saskatchewan Prevention Institute
Project: Promoting and Supporting Early Childhood Mental Health
Location: Province-wide (SK)
Objective: To provide training focused on early childhood mental health and the impact of maternal health on infants.
Impact: Caregivers, families and service providers will have increased understanding of mental health and behavioural concerns during early childhood and an increased capacity for prevention or intervention.