Vibrant Communities Mental Health Grant Program

The Vibrant Communities Mental Health Grant Program, initiated by the St. Croix Valley Foundation, aims to enhance mental health support across its six-county service area. With over 50% of adults facing mental health issues, the program funds diverse initiatives ranging from prevention to management. Eligible organizations can receive grants between $500 and $10,000 to implement impactful programs that address mental health challenges and improve community well-being.

For many years, qualitative and quantitative health data has identified mental health as a priority throughout the St. Croix Valley Foundation’s (SCVF’s) six-county service area (Chisago and Washington counties in MN and Burnett, Polk, St. Croix and Pierce counties in WI).
More than 50% of adults will be diagnosed with a mental illness or disorder at some point in their lifetime.1 in 5 Americans will experience a mental illness in a given year.1 in 5 children, either currently or at some point during their lifetime, have had a seriously debilitating mental illness.
The Vibrant Communities grant program recognizes that supporting mental health and wellbeing lies on a spectrum from prevention to management. Each stage of the spectrum addresses important aspects in helping people achieve and maintain positive mental health and wellbeing.
Focus Areas & Funding Examples
The Vibrant Communities grant program intends to fund programs that address any aspect of the mental health and wellbeing spectrum. To help organizations determine if their programs address the mental health and wellbeing spectrum, please find examples of previously funded programs below.
Prevention: Programs for individuals and/or families who are at high-risk for mental health conditions that aim to encourage resiliency, help improve overall mental well-being, and/or address social determinates of health (SDOH). Examples:Mentoring programs that develop positive relationships with at-risk youth.Programs that connect at-risk parents and their children to resources that build resiliency and address social and emotional needs and development.Access: Programs that help eliminate or reduce barriers to accessing mental health services.Examples:Mental health evaluations offered with interpretational help.Treatments, medications, and services offered to patients at reduced cost.Illness Identification / Diagnosis: Programs that help individuals/organizations understand the warning signs of mental health conditions and/or programs that help people living with mental health conditions receive an accurate diagnosis. Examples:Training for individuals to identify mental health crisis and respond appropriately.Training or implementation of new diagnostic assessment tools to support early diagnosis of mental illness.Treatment / Intervention: Treatment programs vary based on the mental health diagnoses and may include medication, counseling (therapy), and education. Examples:Individual and family counseling and therapy.School-based behavioral health intervention.Management: Programs that help manage symptoms of diagnosed mental health conditions.Examples:Case and resource management for people living with severe and persistent mental illness.Vocational training and intervention to help people living with mental health conditions obtain and maintain employment.

Eligibility

Applicant must provide programming/services in at least one of the ten participating affiliate communities.Chisago and Washington counties in MN and Burnett, Polk, St. Croix and Pierce counties in WIApplicants must describe the mental health projects they are implementing in at least one of those participating Affiliate communities, indicate which specific community/ies they serve, and outline the anticipated impact in the community/ies.Applicants must be a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, partner with an eligible fiscal agent, or be a governmental entity, tribal entity, educational or religious organization defined as tax exempt.Program funding may be used to develop, enhance, or expand the capacity of programs, services, or organizations to provide mental health supports. Eligible expenses may include: staffing, training, therapeutic services and programs, and operational costs related to enhancing or adding capacity to health organizations, programs, or services to support individuals facing mental health challenges.

Ineligibility

What types of requests are ineligible?Individuals (i.e., to pay for individuals to receive treatment or medications, to pay for individuals to attend training programs/classes).General public health prevention, surveillance, or promotion efforts (i.e., marketing campaigns to raise awareness, surveys for population/community surveillance on prevalence, programs that promote general health and wellness).Capital requests (i.e., equipment, buildings, etc.).