MENTAL HEALTH MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES FOR SERVICES FOR

PARENTS PARENTS EXPERIENCING EXPERIENCING

HOMELESSNESS: A HOMELESSNESS: A GRANT PROPOSALGRANT PROPOSAL

Lindsay WillmanLindsay WillmanCalifornia State University, Long California State University, Long

BeachBeachMay 2013May 2013

IntroductionIntroduction

The number of homeless persons in families increased by 20% The number of homeless persons in families increased by 20% from 2007-2010 in the United States (US Department of Housing from 2007-2010 in the United States (US Department of Housing and Urban Development, 2011).and Urban Development, 2011).

On a given night in January 2010, 241,951 persons in families On a given night in January 2010, 241,951 persons in families were homeless (US Department of Housing and Urban were homeless (US Department of Housing and Urban Development, 2011).Development, 2011).

Many homeless families are headed by single mothers, and Many homeless families are headed by single mothers, and these mothers experience high rates of mental illness, abuse, these mothers experience high rates of mental illness, abuse, and trauma (Bassuk et al., 1996). and trauma (Bassuk et al., 1996).

This project will secure funding for the development and This project will secure funding for the development and implementation of a program that will address the needs of implementation of a program that will address the needs of homeless families with mental health issues in San Francisco homeless families with mental health issues in San Francisco County.County.

Social Work RelevanceSocial Work Relevance

Project addresses a service gap for the populationProject addresses a service gap for the population

Empowers Mental Health Social Workers and Empowers Mental Health Social Workers and families experiencing homelessnessfamilies experiencing homelessness

Changes Mental Health outcomes for families Changes Mental Health outcomes for families experiencing homelessnessexperiencing homelessness

Helps eliminate relapse to homelessnessHelps eliminate relapse to homelessness

Closely aligns with Social Work core valuesClosely aligns with Social Work core values Service, social justice, dignity and worth of the Service, social justice, dignity and worth of the

person, and cultural competency (National person, and cultural competency (National Association of Social Workers, 2008)Association of Social Workers, 2008)

Cross-Cultural Cross-Cultural RelevanceRelevance

Mental illness and Mental illness and homelessness affect culturally homelessness affect culturally diverse populations in diverse populations in disproportionate amounts disproportionate amounts (Burt et al., 2001; Center for (Burt et al., 2001; Center for Disease Control and Disease Control and Prevention, 2010).Prevention, 2010).

MethodsMethods

Target Population: Target Population: Families experiencing homelessness and Families experiencing homelessness and mental health issues in San Franciscomental health issues in San Francisco

Strategies for Identification of a Funding Source: Strategies for Identification of a Funding Source: Internet searches: Google, Google ScholarInternet searches: Google, Google Scholar Database searches: The Grantsmanship Center, Grants.gov Database searches: The Grantsmanship Center, Grants.gov Keywords: “homelessness,” “homeless,” “housing,” “children,” Keywords: “homelessness,” “homeless,” “housing,” “children,”

“families,” “parent,” “health,” “mental health,” “wellness,” “families,” “parent,” “health,” “mental health,” “wellness,” “employment preparation,” “job preparation,” “grant,” “funding,” “employment preparation,” “job preparation,” “grant,” “funding,” “RFP,” and “foundation.” “RFP,” and “foundation.”

Networking: Social Work Professionals (Professors, Executive Networking: Social Work Professionals (Professors, Executive Director, Program Director)Director, Program Director)

Evaluation of Potential Partners to meet the needs of the programEvaluation of Potential Partners to meet the needs of the program

Funding Source Selected: Funding Source Selected: The California Wellness The California Wellness FoundationFoundation

Methods (cont.)Methods (cont.)

Sources Used for Needs Assessment: Sources Used for Needs Assessment: Reviewed current and previous literature for the needs of the Reviewed current and previous literature for the needs of the

target populationtarget population Gathered information from Grant Writer’s experience with Gathered information from Grant Writer’s experience with

populationpopulation Communicated with staff at host agency Communicated with staff at host agency Reviewed recent policy and legislation regarding target Reviewed recent policy and legislation regarding target

populationpopulation Reviewed statistical information regarding target populationReviewed statistical information regarding target population

Projected Budget: $74,170Projected Budget: $74,170 Includes salaries and all projected program costsIncludes salaries and all projected program costs

Grant ProposalGrant Proposal

Program Description & Population Served: Program Description & Population Served: Program Program will provide trauma-informed mental health therapeutic will provide trauma-informed mental health therapeutic counseling services to participants of host agency’s counseling services to participants of host agency’s medium-term rental subsidy program.medium-term rental subsidy program.

SustainabilitySustainability: Grant writer will reapply for funding with : Grant writer will reapply for funding with the California Wellness Foundation, or seek other funders the California Wellness Foundation, or seek other funders to maintain program.to maintain program.

Program ObjectivesProgram Objectives: : Participants will improve coping skills to deal with mental Participants will improve coping skills to deal with mental

illnessillness Participants will increase their ability to retain stable housingParticipants will increase their ability to retain stable housing Participants will increase their ability to participate in case Participants will increase their ability to participate in case

management activities related to employment or increased management activities related to employment or increased income income

Program EvaluationProgram Evaluation

Participants will rate themselves on a 6 Participants will rate themselves on a 6 question Likert Scale survey on willingness question Likert Scale survey on willingness and ability to participate in meaningful and ability to participate in meaningful housing related activities based on symptoms housing related activities based on symptoms of mental illnessof mental illness

Attendance of therapy sessions will be Attendance of therapy sessions will be trackedtracked

Basic follow-up phone call at 6 and 12 months Basic follow-up phone call at 6 and 12 months after discharge will measure client’s housing after discharge will measure client’s housing stabilitystability

Lessons LearnedLessons Learned

The cycle of family homelessness is large-The cycle of family homelessness is large-scalescale

There is a lack of literature on homeless There is a lack of literature on homeless families and mental healthfamilies and mental health

There is a lack of mental health services for There is a lack of mental health services for rental subsidy families in San Franciscorental subsidy families in San Francisco

Time management is important when Time management is important when writing a grant proposalwriting a grant proposal

ReferencesReferences

Bassuk, E.L., Weinreb, L.F., Buckner, J.C., Browne, A., Salomon, A., & Bassuk, Bassuk, E.L., Weinreb, L.F., Buckner, J.C., Browne, A., Salomon, A., & Bassuk, S.S. (1996). The characteristics and needs of sheltered homeless and low-S.S. (1996). The characteristics and needs of sheltered homeless and low-income housed mothers. income housed mothers. Journal of the American Medical AssociationJournal of the American Medical Association, , 276276(8), 640-646.(8), 640-646.

Burt, M., Aron, L.Y., Lee, E., Valente, J. (2001). Burt, M., Aron, L.Y., Lee, E., Valente, J. (2001). Helping America’s homeless: Helping America’s homeless: Emergency shelter or affordable housing? Emergency shelter or affordable housing? Washington, DC: The Urban Washington, DC: The Urban Institute Press. Institute Press.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2010). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2010). Percent of population Percent of population with feelings of sadness, hopelessness, worthlessness, or that everything with feelings of sadness, hopelessness, worthlessness, or that everything is an effort, all of the time, among persons 18 years of age and overis an effort, all of the time, among persons 18 years of age and over [Graph illustration]. Retrieved from the Office of Minority Health website: [Graph illustration]. Retrieved from the Office of Minority Health website: http://minorityhealth.hhs.gov/templates/http://minorityhealth.hhs.gov/templates/content.aspx?content.aspx?lvl=3&lvlID=9&ID=6477 lvl=3&lvlID=9&ID=6477

National Association of Social Workers. (2008). National Association of Social Workers. (2008). Code of ethics of the National Code of ethics of the National Association of Social Workers.Association of Social Workers. Retrieved from Retrieved from http://www.socialworkers.org/pubs/code/code.asp http://www.socialworkers.org/pubs/code/code.asp

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. (2011). U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. (2011). The 2010 The 2010 annual homeless assessment report to congress annual homeless assessment report to congress [Data file][Data file].. Retrieved Retrieved from from http://www.hudhre.info/documents/2010HomelessAssessmentReport.pdfhttp://www.hudhre.info/documents/2010HomelessAssessmentReport.pdf