Small Grants Program for Recovery

Small Grants Program for Recovery is sponsored by VA Capitol Health Care Network (VISN 5) Mental Illness Research, Education, and Clinical Center (MIRECC). This program catalyzes VA clinical innovations and educational projects that foster the development of recovery-oriented mental health services in VISN 5, potentially including projects related to traumatic stress for veterans.

**VISN 5 MIRECC Seed Money Small Grants Program** **For Recovery-Fostering Clinical and Educational Innovations** **Proposal Submission Guidelines** (last updated August 2017) Contact: Alicia Lucksted PhD Alicia. Lucksted@va.

gov 410-706-3244 or 410-605-7451 The Capital Health Care Network (VISN 5) Mental Illness Research, Education, and Clinical Center (MIRECC) was formed in 1999 and is one of ten MIRECCs in the Veterans Health Administration, each mandated by Congress to help the VA improve the provision of mental health care to Veterans through research, education, and clinical activities.

The VISN 5 MIRECC focuses on research, training, and services for veterans with serious mental illnesses, and their families. In early 2005, in response to the VA’s Action Agenda to transform VA mental health services to a recovery model, the VISN 5 MIRECC initiated various activities to support and encourage recovery-oriented innovation across the VISN, including this Small Grants program.

We have continued since, also embracing person centered care and whole health initiatives. **Purpose of the Small Grants Program** The purpose of the Seed Money small grants program is to catalyze, through one-year grants, VA clinical innovations and educational projects that support the development of recovery-oriented mental health services in VISN 5.

**Recovery-oriented Mental Health Services** Recovery-oriented mental health services embody core assumptions that people living with mental illnesses are not defined by their illness and can live rich satisfying and meaningful lives.

More specifically, such services… * View the Veteran as the center of mental health services * Include the Veteran and involved family members as substantial partners * Recognize that recovery is a dynamic, holistic process that the veteran pursues over time * Seek to restore hope, foster empowerment, and optimize functioning in all areas of one’s life * Work to maximize meaningfulness and quality of life * Help Veterans move forward on his/her life goals, not focus on only maintenance or stabilization.

* Employ staff who treat Veterans with respect, believe in each veteran as a person with potential, and express hope and optimism for the recovery process. * Actively work to eliminate stigma related to mental illnesses in their own operations and the larger organization and community.

Therefore, the Small Grants program especially encourages (but is not limited to) proposals for: * Creating, adopting, launching new recovery-oriented clinical, self-help, or related projects – or expanding existing ones to reach more veterans or in new ways. * New programs to educate staff, veterans, and/or family members of veterans with SMI about mental health recovery models, or specific recovery-oriented services/programs.

* Purchase of new curricula, training materials, equipment, etc needed to initiate a recovery-oriented clinical or educational innovation that will continue past the award year. _In each case the grants are awarded to projects that will catalyze lasting change and have ripple effects beyond the single year. _ **Eligibility & Regulations** 1.

Proposals may come from any individual or group (unit or program) within VA VISN 5 (DC, WV and MD) mental health services, including Veteran councils and other VA-based veteran groups. 1. We encourage applications from all VISN 5 mental health sites.

1. Funding may only be transferred to a VA Fund Control Point. Therefore, all proposals and applicants must be formally part of a recognized VA mental health program or unit.

Further, it is critically important that applicants clarify _ahead of time_ with their relevant fiscal officers/administrators, the process for which these funds can be used to purchase items (i.e., books, videos, etc.). These funds are limited by the Fiscal Year (FY) in which they are awarded and therefore, must be spent (or obligated) before the end of the FY.

Purchases can only be made from GSA approved vendors when using VA funds so when discussing your project with your administrator, be sure to inform him/her of what purchases you would like to make in order to make your procurement a smooth process. 1. All proposals must name a specific individual as the designated contact person.

1. Proposals for research are not accepted. For information on the MIRECC’s separate research pilot mechanism see www.

mirecc. va. gov/visn5/research/pilot_research_program.

asp 1. Proposed projects must abide by all relevant VA and other federal regulations. In our experience, the most commonly relevant ones include: * Clear and reasonable justification for the proposed expenditures, including that the need cannot be met by already existing resources.

* Documentation that all curricula, trainers, consultants, speakers, etc are clearly qualified, available, and otherwise able to fulfill their proposed functions. * Federal prohibition on purchasing refreshments for government personnel (staff) with government funds. * Federal prohibitions on purchasing refreshments for VA clients/veterans beyond that which is modest and a minor part of an event.

* VA administrative regulations governing purchase of electronics and computer equipment which can delay purchases for months. * Depending on the specifics of a given application, other regulations may apply. Applicants are encouraged to consult with their program head and the MIRECC.

1.

All proposed projects must have the approval of the person in charge of the relevant program or unit (see letter requirement below) **Characteristics of Funded Projects** Successful applications have been those where the proposed project is: * Clearly _innovative_ – beyond standard good clinical care * Clearly _reasonable_ – would be easily considered a good way to spend taxpayers’ money from the perspective of Veterans, Staff, Members of the public and VA auditors * Clearly _recovery_ fostering – not just generally quality-enhancing or effective * Clearly _feasible_ within the single year of the Award and within the program/unit Proposals that have been funded in the past include: * Purchase of new psychosocial, rehabilitation, life skills, or other curricula, accompanied by a clear plan for implementation and ongoing use.

* Purchase of recovery-focused materials to enhance current services (workbooks, educational videos, equipment etc) accompanied by a well-organized plan for their use. * Expenses for real-life practice of social and societal navigation skills in the community as part of a psychosocial rehabilitation program. * Support for collective projects enhancing recovery opportunities, such as a healing garden.

* Organizing a day-long service project involving Veterans and community members working together. Or transportation expenses for a program where Veteran-clients volunteer in the community. * Training Veterans who are clients of a given program to facilitate DRADA support groups at that program.

* Creation of a booklet of Veteran recovery stories and advice to other veterans, to inspire and inform other veterans receiving mental health services. * WRAP training to establish several staff members as WRAP trainers so they may train staff and veterans to be WRAP group leaders (as well as lead WRAP groups themselves) * Organizing a recovery-focused educational seminar, workshop, or other event.

* Expenses for Veterans attending a long-term therapeutic group to attend and present at a relevant conference. * Inviting a well known recovery-focused speaker to educate and inspire veterans, their families, and staff. Important: these are offered as examples and are not the only types of projects eligible for funding.

Award Amounts: range from $50 to $5,000; most are several hundred to several thousand dollars. Deadlines: Applications are accepted the first of March, June, & December of each year. **To apply please prepare and submit the following:** 1.

Cover sheet. Use the form at the end of this document. In three pages, briefly describe your proposed project labelling the following sections: 1.

Introduction/Background: Brief background information for your proposed project. 2. Description of the Proposed Project: What do you propose to do?

Why? How? Who?

Where? When? Etc. 3.

Timeline: What are the steps involved in the project and when will each take place. When will the project be completed? A list, outline, or table is fine here, as is a paragraph.

Monies will be available for up to 1 year after award date. 4. Relevance to Recovery: How will your project further the recovery model in VA mental health services?

How will it benefit the mental health recovery of Veterans receiving mental health services? 5. Specific itemized budget: List the actual or estimated costs of all expenses for which you are applying, as specifically as possible.

6. Outcomes & Sustainability: What will be the lasting positive recovery-oriented effects of your project? How will your innovation be sustained beyond this funding?

Or, how will its effects last into the future? Will you evaluate or document its outcomes? 1.

Length Limits. The total proposal (not counting cover sheet) must be no more than three pages, single or double spaced, one inch margins, 12 point type. 1.

Supervisor Support Letter: A letter approving implementation of your proposed project if it is funded, from the facility Mental Health Director, unit director, or other relevant VA mental health services administrator(s) must accompany your application. Submission: Please submit all materials attached to a single email message to Dr. Alicia Lucksted at Alicia. Lucksted@va.

gov **TIP**: Within the page limits be clear, concise, and complete. Reviewers cannot know what you are proposing unless you are specific. Vague or incomplete proposals will be returned to you un-reviewed for further development and resubmission at the next deadline.

PLEASE NOTE: I am available to help you develop your proposal. Please contact me _before_ submitting your proposal, if you have questions, wish to talk over ideas, want feedback on a draft, budget, or other help. Earlier is better!

Alicia Lucksted PhD 410-706-3244 or Alicia. Lucksted@va. gov Each application is reviewed by a panel of MIRECC management team members, who make funding recommendations to Richard Goldberg, the MIRECC’s Director, who has final approval.

Each application will be evaluated according to the following criteria: 1. Clarity and completeness of proposal 2. Embodiment and promotion of a recovery model regarding mental illness and mental health services.

3. Appropriateness of the project to the needs, characteristics, and knowledge level and of the target population(s) and the VA setting. 4.

Project feasibility and compliance with relevant regulations and procedures 5. Likelihood of and evaluation of lasting impact / effect 6. All awards are subject to the availability of funds Applicants will be informed of the funding decision regarding their proposal no later than two months after the deadline under which they submitted it.

**Important: Requirements AFTER Receiving a MIRECC Small Grant** Applicants receiving a Small Grant can receive ongoing support and assistance from Dr. Lucksted across the duration of their project as needed/desired. Awardees are required to submit a brief quarterly progress reports via email (every 3 months) during the year of their funding, to Dr. Lucksted.

Awardees must also submit a Final Report within three months of their project’s completion date, or one year after the date of award, whichever comes first. Final reports must include a copy of any educational or resource materials created during the project, and should be sent to Dr. Lucksted, who will share it with MIRECC management and facility Director of Mental Health.

All resource materials created as part of a project funded by this mechanism (e.g. manual, resource booklet, handouts, publications, etc) and all presentations of such projects must acknowledge support from the “VISN 5 MIRECC Small Grants Program for Recovery-Fostering Educational and Clinical Innovations” **VISN 5 MIRECC Small Grants Program** **for Recovery-Fostering Educational and Clinical Innovations** **APPLICATION COVER SHEET** 1.

**Descriptive Project Title** 1. **Principle Grant Applicant / Contact Person** 1. Unit, Program or Group Affiliation: 1.

Preferred email address: 1. Preferred telephone number & extension: 1. **Itemized Budget Summary with Total** **For questions or assistance, please contact:** **Alicia.

Lucksted@va. gov****410 / 706-3244 or 410 / 605-7451**