Mental Health Initiative

(En Español)

The Mental Health Initiative is an education and grant initiative designed to assist Indiana congregations in addressing mental health and wellness among their members. This opportunity includes educational sessions and a grant of up to $40,000 to fund expenses and activities that support mental health programming in congregations.

The Center for Congregations is committed to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and therefore encourages congregations of color and rural congregations to apply.

As a result of participating in this Mental Health Initiative, your congregation will:

• Understanding ways that their congregation can benefit from the intersection of mental and spiritual wellness.
• Harnessing their congregation’s spiritual practices and faith claims to promote healing and mental well-being.
• Understanding cultural dynamics that can limit the discussion of mental health in congregations.
• Equipping themselves to identify and offer mental health resources to support their faith community.
• Finding rejuvenation and healing while learning how to offer it to their own congregation.
• Learning ways to support clergy people and their spiritual and mental wellness.

This grant awards 90% funding up to $40,000 and will require a 10% commitment from each participating congregation. More information is below in Details for Selected Congregations section.

Continue scrolling for more information.

Timeline

• April – September 2024: Educational component of the cohort
• October 2024: Submit grant proposal
• November – December 2024: Grant checks awarded
• January – December 2025: Implementation and reporting of mental health project

Team Member Requirements 

• Select two to four people from your congregation to be your Mental Health Initiative team.
• Designate one person as the project director who is expected to attend all sessions.
• Include a pastor or clergy person on your team.

Educational Session Requirements

• Cohort participants will attend up to five educational sessions in 2024.
• Educational sessions are comprised of in-person and online gatherings.
  • Stable internet or cellular connection is expected and Zoom access is required.
  • Two to four team members may attend each educational session.
• 2024 sessions are scheduled for:
  • Friday, April 26, 2024 9am-3pm Eastern Time in Indianapolis
  • Tuesday, June 4, 2024 7pm-8pm Eastern Time on Zoom
  • Thursday, August 15, 2024 7pm-8pm Eastern Time on Zoom
  • Friday, September 13, 2024 9am-3pm Eastern Time in Indianapolis

Project Description and Funding 

• Cohort participants will submit a grant proposal in October 2024.
• The maximum grant dollar amount awarded is $40,000, or 90% of the total cost of grant activities, for each project. Therefore, each congregation’s financial responsibility is 10% of the grant eligible expenses and must be in the form of dollars and cannot include in-kind donations.
• Congregations may apply for and receive less than $40,000.

Grant Eligible Activities may include, but are not limited to, a combination of the following (all activities must be related to mental health): 

• Guest speakers (food and/or travel costs)
• Retreats (food/travel costs/supplies/facility rental)
• Experienced, professional counselor for family, group, or individual sessions where insurance is not available (not applicable for salary of licensed counselors already on staff at a participating congregations)
• Conference attendance (registration, travel and lodging expenses)
• Online courses related to mental health
• Books
• Curriculum
• Training (i.e. Mental Health First Aid, Celebrate Recovery)
• Coursework in pursuit of a degree is not grant eligible
• Technology or building improvements/fixed assets that support mental health activities