The Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (OMHSAS) has invited county mental health/mental retardation administrators to apply for assistance with community integration projects for persons with serious mental illnesses (SMI). OMHSAS will select up to four counties or provider agencies approved by the local county mental health program to receive targeted technical assistance and planning facilitation to improve individuals’ use of community resources, such as employment programs, housing supports, social and recreational opportunities, and other resources available to the public. At each selected site a core agency or coalition of agencies will be responsible for the project. Each site will select one or more areas to expand the use of community resources by persons with SMI. The UPENN Collaborative on Community Integration will assist with planning and implementation over a two-year period. The collaborative will also assist with defining and tracking measurable outcomes. No direct funding is allocated for this project, only technical assistance. Applicants will cover all project costs.
Interested counties/county joinders must submit an application form, postmarked by June 29, to Carol Ward-Colasante at OMHSAS. The application requires answers to the following six questions and can be no longer than six pages.
1. Please describe the area(s) in which your coalition will seek to enhance community integration: discuss the current circumstances in your county, list or identify proposed project area(s) in order of priority and importance. List types of community integration activities that have already been initiated.
2. Please describe the agencies and individuals who have agreed to cooperate in the proposed planning process, highlighting the participation of the county office, provider agencies, consumers, and community organizations that are likely to be impacted by the proposed project.
3. Describe the planning process you would hope to initiate: who will be its participants, how often will groups meet, what barriers do you anticipate, and over what period of time will planning and implementation take place?
4. What costs do you anticipate for either the planning process or the implementation activities, and how will those costs be met? (OMHSAS award pays for consultant expenses, only. There are no cash awards)
5. How would you intend to use the consultation and facilitation resources offered by the UPENN Collaborative on Community Integration, as well as any additional resources you will draw into the project? (Please identify additional resources from your county)
6. Describe the community integration outcomes you anticipate from the project, and how you plan to go about measuring and reporting on those outcomes.
Interested providers should contact their county mental health/mental retardation administrator to discuss the project. A copy of the cover letter and project announcement and application are available from these links. Questions may be directed to Betty Simmonds at PCPA.
