The Government of Alberta has announced the Mental Health and Addiction COVID-19 Community Funding grant.

Funding Information

• Government will provide a one time grant funding of up to $25 million for eligible projects and services to enhance community mental health and addiction recovery.
• Funding will be distributed through 3 calls for proposals from Alberta Health.
• Overall administration of the funding should not exceed 1%.

Eligible Projects and Services

• Eligible projects must focus on improving the mental health and addiction recovery of Albertans who are negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic or measures to contain it, such as isolation.
• Projects must align with one or more of the following funding priorities:
  • Protect and promote psychosocial well-being and resilience.
  • Mitigate, prevent or treat the mental and behavioural health and addiction issues that arise for individuals in response to, or recovery from, the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • Support or enhance individuals’ ability to adapt to the stress and distress of the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • Increase individuals’ capacity to respond to the adverse impacts of the pandemic by developing a sense of empowerment and responsibility, and engage civil society (paid and volunteer) in helping individuals adapt and cope.
  • Support workers’ willingness and ability to continue to work.
  • Improve support of and adherence to public health measures.
• Projects should include support for:
  • Indigenous communities
  • seniors
  • people experiencing social barriers
• All projects must adhere to government recommended procedures and standards for COVID-19.

Ineligible Projects and Services

Ineligible project expenses include, but are not limited to:

• Any expense not related to addressing the mental well-being of people affected by the COVID-19 pandemic
• Offering direct assistance in the form of money or shelter
• Purchasing of any capital assets
• Costs required to sustain an organization that do not relate to direct service delivery under the project
• Ongoing operational costs
• Projects receiving funding from similar Alberta government funding programs (for example, the Civil Society COVID-19 Community Funding)

Project Outcomes

Project expenses must align with one or more of the following outcomes:

• Help vulnerable Albertans meet their social well-being needs if they were compromised due to COVID-19.
• Engage individuals, families, communities and civil societies to discover and implement ways to meet the social well-being needs during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Provide additional infrastructure to support the social well-being of Albertans who are affected either directly or indirectly by COVID-19.

Project Examples

• Initiatives that provide focused, action-oriented mental health and addiction recovery supports and services, including:
  • Addiction support groups
  • Bereavement support
  • Peer-led recovery and support
  • Facilitated self-help
  • Adversity-based growth skills and tools
  • Support for change and loss
• Programs that engage community members and help them improve coping skills while connecting with others, including:
  • Support groups
  • Education and training programs (for example, Psychological First Aid, Heart Math, and E-Prep)
  • Programs promoting short and long-term psychological coping strategies and capacity
• Initiatives to improve mental health and addiction recovery by helping people navigate community services and supports, including:
  • Peer support and navigation programs
  • Virtual resource networks
  • Virtual help wanted/offered hubs

Eligibility Criteria

• Charitable organizations;
• Non-profits;
• Faith organizations;
• Small community groups;
• Organizations may apply individually or as collaborating groups;
• Unregistered faith and small community groups may apply with a registered non-profit as a fiscal agent.

For more information, visit Government of Alberta.