U.S. Department of Health and Human Services: Mental Health Awareness Training Grants

The Mental Health Awareness Training grants (MHAT) aims to: (1) train individuals (e.g., school personnel, emergency first responders, law enforcement, veterans, armed services members and their families) to recognize the signs and symptoms of mental disorders, particularly serious mental illness (SMI) and/or serious emotional disturbance (SED); (2) establish linkages with school- and/or community-based mental health agencies to refer individuals with the signs or symptoms of mental illness to appropriate services; (3) train emergency services personnel, veterans, law enforcement, fire department personnel, and others to identify persons with a mental disorder and employ crisis de-escalation techniques; and (4) educate individuals about resources that are available in the community for individuals with a mental disorder. It is expected that this program will prepare and train others on how to appropriately and safely respond to individuals with mental disorders, particularly individuals with SMI and/or SED.

Required activities include:

• Implement evidence-based mental health awareness training on matters including recognizing the signs and symptoms of mental illness and identifying resources available in the community for individuals with a mental illness and other relevant resources. Training should also emphasize safely de-escalating a crisis situation involving an individual with a mental illness.
• Identify the intended individuals to receive mental health awareness training and the population of focus (e.g., school-aged children, veterans, children with a serious emotional disturbance, general public) for whom they are being trained to recognize the signs and symptoms of mental illness and how to appropriately and safely respond.
• Identify resources and supports and develop written and electronic materials for the individuals being trained so they may assist the population of focus, particularly those with SMI and/or SED.
• Establish referral mechanisms that increase the ability of the individuals trained in mental health awareness to refer and link the population of focus to mental health resources and services.
• Develop and implement a mental health awareness training plan that includes: 1) the curriculum and/or evidence-based practice to be used for mental health awareness training that is culturally and developmentally appropriate for the population of focus; 2) the processes to be used (e.g., screening, assessment, consultation, treatment) to refer the population of focus to mental health resources and services; 3) identification of de-escalation strategies that can be used by individuals trained in mental health awareness to safely and appropriately de-escalate crisis situations involving the population of focus; 4) the process to be used to track referrals to mental health resources and services; 5) identification of community outreach and engagement strategies to ensure that participation in mental health awareness training results in a broad representation of community members and broad representation of individuals who reflect the diversity of the selected population of focus; and 6) a description of resources to include, but not limited to, mental health services agencies and other appropriate resources that can be used by individuals trained in mental health awareness.
  individuals trained in mental health awareness.
• Develop collaborative partnerships with relevant community agencies and programs to assist with responding to mental health issues and improve coordination of services to the population of focus.

Amount: A total of $15,801,221 is available to make up to 126 awards that range up to $125,000 per year for up to three years.

Eligibility: Domestic public and private nonprofit entities, including:

• State governments and territories
• Governmental units within political subdivisions of a state, such as a county, city or town (e.g., local education agencies, law enforcement agencies, fire department agencies, emergency medical units)
• Federally recognized American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) tribes, tribal organizations, urban Indian organizations, and consortia of tribes or tribal organizations
• Community- and faith-based organizations, including those that serve veterans, armed services personnel, and their families
• Public or private universities and colleges

Link: https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=298774

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