As we continue to work apart from each other to help slow the spread of COVID-19, we are thinking of all of you. We sincerely hope that you and your loved ones are doing well and staying healthy and that you are finding ways to continue your vitally needed work. Here at MHCF, our strategy remains steady: we are working to find and provide directly relevant resources and technical assistance to help our partners navigate this crisis and take advantage of new state and federal opportunities. We are encouraged and energized by the dedication, innovation, and leadership our partners and grantees have shown in the last two months.
In this update, we want to tell you about our Grant Application Assistance Initiative and the encouraging results that are coming out of that work. We also want to share a couple of other resources we developed. Keep reading to learn about:
- The Grant Application Assistance Initiative
- Resources for American Indian Tribes & Urban Indian Health Centers
- Federal Funding Opportunities for Behavioral Health
Grant Application Assistance
Our Grant Application Assistance Initiative is playing a crucial role in our COVID-19 response. With it, we are helping Montana organizations navigate the rapidly evolving landscape of legislative and funding opportunities. Our staff actively monitors new policies and federal grants designed to combat the impact of COVID-19. When we find a promising opportunity, we contact partners who are in a good position to apply to let them know about it. We don’t stop there. If the organization is interested in applying, we work with them to develop and submit a successful application.
For example, we are currently providing grant writing assistance to six American Indian tribes to help them with their federal COVID-19 funding applications.
The assistance we provide is tailored to the applicant’s needs. Most often, we hire a grant writer to help write the grant for the applicant. In some cases, we provide in-depth assistance to help the organization develop a project strategy.
We helped DPHHS develop the strategy to apply for a $2 million SAMHSA grant. This grant was just awarded to Montana. The funding will increase the state’s capacity to provide behavioral health crisis services, including telehealth, assessment, treatment, and recovery to people impacted by COIVD-19.
If you are interested in learning more about this initiative or think this is a resource that could benefit your organization, please visit our website or send us an email.
Resources to Combat COVID-19
Resources for Tribes & Urban Indian Health Centers
We contracted with Reichard & Associates to put together a list of resources for American Indian tribes and urban Indian health centers in Montana. The list includes program descriptions, available funding, and how to access funding. This resource is extensive and is updated regularly as new programs are added and updated.
Federal Funding Opportunities for Behavioral Health
We contracted with Steptoe to provide an overview of current behavioral health funding opportunities from federal legislation and emergency declarations. This webinar goes over COVID-19 funding opportunities for behavioral health, substance abuse, and other related nonprofit providers.