MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES FOR PARENTS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS: A GRANT PROPOSAL

1. MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES FOR PARENTS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS: A GRANT PROPOSAL Lindsay Willman California State University, Long Beach May 2013

2. Introduction • The number of homeless persons in families increased by 20% from 2007-2010 in the United States (US Department of Housing and Urban Development, 2011). • On a given night in January 2010, 241,951 persons in families were homeless (US Department of Housing and Urban Development, 2011). • Many homeless families are headed by single mothers, and these mothers experience high rates of mental illness, abuse, and trauma (Bassuk et al., 1996). • This project will secure funding for the development and implementation of a program that will address the needs of homeless families with mental health issues in San Francisco County.

3. Social Work Relevance • Project addresses a service gap for the population • Empowers Mental Health Social Workers and families experiencing homelessness • Changes Mental Health outcomes for families experiencing homelessness • Helps eliminate relapse to homelessness • Closely aligns with Social Work core values • Service, social justice, dignity and worth of the person, and cultural competency (National Association of Social Workers, 2008)

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

5. Methods • Target Population: Families experiencing homelessness and mental health issues in San Francisco • Strategies for Identification of a Funding Source: • Internet searches: Google, Google Scholar • Database searches: The Grantsmanship Center, Grants.gov • Keywords: “homelessness,” “homeless,” “housing,” “children,” “families,” “parent,” “health,” “mental health,” “wellness,” “employment preparation,” “job preparation,” “grant,” “funding,” “RFP,” and “foundation.” • Networking: Social Work Professionals (Professors, Executive Director, Program Director) • Evaluation of Potential Partners to meet the needs of the program • Funding Source Selected: The California Wellness Foundation

6. Methods (cont.) • Sources Used for Needs Assessment: • Reviewed current and previous literature for the needs of the target population • Gathered information from Grant Writer’s experience with population • Communicated with staff at host agency • Reviewed recent policy and legislation regarding target population • Reviewed statistical information regarding target population • Projected Budget: $74,170 • Includes salaries and all projected program costs

7. Grant Proposal • Program Description & Population Served: Program will provide trauma-informed mental health therapeutic counseling services to participants of host agency’s medium-term rental subsidy program. • Sustainability: Grant writer will reapply for funding with the California Wellness Foundation, or seek other funders to maintain program. • Program Objectives: • Participants will improve coping skills to deal with mental illness • Participants will increase their ability to retain stable housing • Participants will increase their ability to participate in case management activities related to employment or increased income

8. Program Evaluation • Participants will rate themselves on a 6 question Likert Scale survey on willingness and ability to participate in meaningful housing related activities based on symptoms of mental illness • Attendance of therapy sessions will be tracked • Basic follow-up phone call at 6 and 12 months after discharge will measure client’s housing stability

9. Lessons Learned • The cycle of family homelessness is large-scale • There is a lack of literature on homeless families and mental health • There is a lack of mental health services for rental subsidy families in San Francisco • Time management is important when writing a grant proposal

10. References 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-income housed mothers. Journal of the American Medical Association, 276(8), 640-646. Burt, M., Aron, L.Y., Lee, E., Valente, J. (2001). Helping America’s homeless: Emergency shelter or affordable housing? Washington, DC: The Urban Institute Press. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2010). Percent of population with feelings of sadness, hopelessness, worthlessness, or that everything is an effort, all of the time, among persons 18 years of age and over [Graph illustration]. Retrieved from the Office of Minority Health website: http://minorityhealth.hhs.gov/templates/content.aspx?lvl=3&lvlID=9&ID=6477 National Association of Social Workers. (2008). Code of ethics of the National Association of Social Workers. Retrieved from http://www.socialworkers.org/pubs/code/code.asp U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. (2011). The 2010 annual homeless assessment report to congress [Data file]. Retrieved from http://www.hudhre.info/documents/2010HomelessAssessmentReport.pdf