Mental Health Support Program

• Support pre-existing mental health initiatives by integrating cultural components and fostering knowledge mobilization and information sharing to better understand urban Indigenous mental health needs.
• Increase mental health programming and capacity at Friendship Centres (FCs) and Provincial/Territorial Associations (PTAs) to ensure that all Indigenous individuals, regardless of status, residence, or intergenerational trauma, can safely address mental wellness issues related to their lived experiences.
• Address mental health concerns and promote mental wellness for all Indigenous individuals, irrespective of status, residence, or intergenerational trauma, in a community-based, holistic, and integrated manner.

We invite member-FCs to start brainstorming on what a new or existing project would look like in the project activity categories below.

Some examples of eligible project activities include but are not limited to:  

• Cultural Programming
  • e., Cultural/ceremonial teachings, traditional medicines, traditional foods, land-based programming and access to ceremony.
• Community-based Health and Support Services
  • Food security, family programming, and community gatherings
  • Any wrap-around service that ensures clients feel safe and supported.
  • Providing workshops and support groups locally for all Indigenous persons, regardless of status, place of residence, or those who experience intergenerational trauma due to Indian Residential Schools.
• Community Outreach and Partnerships
  • Conducting community outreach to inform community members about available support services offered locally,
  • Providing workshops and support groups locally for all Indigenous persons, regardless of status, place of residence, or experience intergenerational trauma due to Indian Residential Schools
  • Working with partners to provide information about other support services (e.g., victim support services), including eligibility criteria, and where possible, help clients access service(s)
• Other Mental Health Programming
  • Bridging Indigenous traditional knowledge and western teachings to provide personalized care unique to client/community needs.
  • Distribution of self-care bundles to community members (i.e., youth and Elders).
  • Assistance with transportation may be offered when mental health counselling and cultural support services are not locally available.
• Staff Capacity and Expertise
  • Hire mental health support staff to assist with program implementation.
  • Project activities that support resource sharing, training, and expertise amongst mental health & cultural support workers.
  • Providing regular training opportunities for Health and Cultural Support Worker(s) on subjects relevant to the delivery of services, such as crisis intervention, suicide prevention, post-traumatic stress, conflict resolution, vicarious trauma, and self-care for their clients.

The eligible expenditures identified in the following budget categories should be directly related to project activities. Indirect costs can be eligible on a prorated basis (i.e., accounting, information technology management). Eligible expenses include:

• Personnel
  • Project staff salaries and wages
  • Employer’s contribution to statutory and extended employee group benefits plans (dental, medical, pension benefits, RRSPs) by virtue of the collective agreement or the letter of employment, combined with statutory benefits for each employee (must be offered to all employees and if benefits are above 20%, please provide a copy of the collective agreement or the letter of employment).
  • Contractor fees (trainers, consultants, nutritionists, translation services etc.)
• Travel and Accommodation
  • Expenses for project activities such as private vehicle mileage, air, train, or bus fares, project-related meals, and accommodation costs are all eligible
  • Note: Kilometric rates, meals, and other travel related expenses must not exceed those allowed under the National Joint Council Travel Directive.

• Materials and Supplies
  • Office supplies
  • Printing
  • Postage
• Equipment
  • Office/Project equipment such as computers; equipment for children, adults with special needs, etc.
• Rent
  • Actual rental costs incurred and substantiated by a rental/lease agreement
  • Cost incurred to rent space for off-site meetings, conferences, training (if space not available at project location)
• Utilities (if not included in the rental agreement)
  • Telephone, electricity, heating, etc.
  • Property maintenance costs based on the square footage or other acceptable methods used for the project
• Performance Measurement / Evaluation
  • Fees for a third-party evaluation, data collection and analysis

• Personnel

• Statutory and extended benefits not included in employee group benefits plans (dental, medical, pension benefits, RRSPs) by virtue of the collective agreement or the letter of employment.
• Performance pays (bonus)
• Severance/separation/termination payments
• Maternity leave (including top up – portion not covered under EI)
• Compensation during extended absence

• Travel and Accommodation

• Travel and hospitality expenses that exceed the National Joint Council Travel Directive
• Materials
• Rental charges for use of recipient owned equipment (i.e., computers)

• Rent

• Rental costs claimed for property/space owned by or donated to the recipient

• Other

• Capital costs such as the purchase of land, buildings, or vehicles
• Direct services which are part of the jurisdiction of other governments, (e.g., medical treatment and services)
• Costs of ongoing activities for the organization (not directly related to the funded project)
• Overhead/administrative fees expressed as a percentage of ongoing operational support of an organization.
• No transfer or use funds for any other purpose but for carrying out the trauma-informed cultural and health support program.

• Stand-alone activities such as (a “stand-alone activity” would be considered as such when there is no program intervention with a project audience, etc.)
• Audio visual production or website/smartphone application development and maintenance
• Conferences, symposia, and workshops as stand-alone projects
• Profit-making activities
• Pure research in any discipline (Pure research also known as “basic” or “fundamental” research is original investigation undertaken to gain new scientific or technical knowledge and understanding, but without specific applications.

The NAFC will be accepting applications from member-FCs for the Trauma-informed Mental Health Program from Monday, July 10^th to Friday, July 28^th, 2023 at 11:59 pm EST.

FCs and PTAs can apply to receive up to $125,000 per year for a 2-year period with a total of $250,000 in funding.

Applicants should expect to receive a decision two weeks after the application deadline. Projects should start no later than September 5, 2023, and should be complete by March 31, 2025.

APPLICATION FORM

SUBMIT APPLICATION FORM HERE

Framework: Trauma-informed Mental Health Program

Briefing Note