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% from The number of homeless persons in families increased by 20% from

2007-2010 in the United States (US Department of Housing and 2007-2010 in the United States (US Department of Housing and Urban Development, 2011).Urban Development, 2011).

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

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

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 will Program will

provide trauma-informed mental health therapeutic 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 to the California Wellness Foundation, or seek other funders to maintain program.maintain program.

Program ObjectivesProgram Objectives: : Participants will improve coping skills to deal with mental illnessParticipants will improve coping skills to deal with mental illness 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 and question Likert Scale survey on willingness and ability to participate in meaningful housing ability to participate in meaningful housing related activities based on symptoms of related activities based on symptoms of mental illnessmental illness

Attendance of therapy sessions will be trackedAttendance of therapy sessions will be tracked 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

ReferencesReferencesBassuk, 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 with Percent of population with feelings of sadness, hopelessness, worthlessness, or that everything is an feelings of sadness, hopelessness, worthlessness, or that everything is an effort, all of the time, among persons 18 years of age and overeffort, all of the time, among persons 18 years of age and over [Graph [Graph illustration]. Retrieved from the Office of Minority Health website: 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 annual The 2010 annual homeless assessment report to congress homeless assessment report to congress [Data file][Data file].. Retrieved from Retrieved from http://www.hudhre.info/documents/2010HomelessAssessmentReport.pdfhttp://www.hudhre.info/documents/2010HomelessAssessmentReport.pdf