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DDES Memo Series 2004-24
ACTION MEMO

December 28, 2004

STATE OF WISCONSIN
Department of Health and Family Services
Division of Disability and Elder Services

To: 
Area Administrators/ Human Services Area Coordinators
Bureau Directors
County Departments of Community Programs Directors
County Departments of Developmental Disabilities Services Directors
County Departments of Human Services Directors
County Departments of Social Services Directors
Licensing Chiefs/Section Chiefs
Mental Health Coordinators
PATH Coordinators
Tribal Chairpersons/Human Services Facilitators

From: 
Sinikka Santala
Administrator

Re:  
Innovative Approaches to Serve Individuals with Serious Mental Illness who are Homeless

Document Summary

This memo describes how counties can apply for additional funding for special innovative homeless projects for 2005. The application process is described in this memo. This is a competitive process and applications are due by January 29, 2005.

The Bureau of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (BMHSAS) wants to fund innovative approaches to serve individuals who have a serious mental illness and are homeless, or training of staff to increase knowledge in this area. The total amount available is $48,000, and it must be spent by December 31, 2005. The maximum amount of funds awarded for a project will be $25,000. Providing additional local funds to the amount requested is encouraged. New funding after December 31, 2005 is contingent on available funds. This funding is currently available to county agencies and their subcontractors.

Please provide a proposal of no more than four pages. It should consist of:

  1. A statement of need
  2. The approach that will be used to increase access to mainstream services for individuals who have a serious mental illness and are homeless. Some examples may include:
    • Collaborating with prisons or jails to provide services to individuals when they are being released
    • Establishing a process to aid individuals with SSI/SSA applications
    • Developing supportive housing
    • Developing street outreach
    • Collaborating with hospitals on discharge plans
  1. The timeframe for the project
  2. The number of individuals that will be served
  3. The amount of money requested for this project
  4. The amount of Mental Health Block Grant or local funds the agency will provide for the project in addition to the requested amount and the plan for continuing the project if this funding ends
  5. The evaluation process the agency will use to measure the project outcomes
  6. The method the agency will use to document participation in the HUD Continuum of Care, and collaboration with other homeless services providers

Funds may also be used to provide training for staff working with individuals who have a serious mental illness and are homeless. Some examples may include training for staff to increase knowledge about:

  • Street outreach
  • Co-occurring disorders
  • Impact of Trauma
  • SSI determination
  • Affordable Housing or Supportive Housing development
  • Collaboration with prisons and hospitals

For a training grant, provide a proposal of no more than three pages. It should consist of:
  1. A statement of need
  2. The number of people to be trained
  3. Names of the partner agencies that will be invited to the training
  4. The impact the training will have on the ability of staff to work more effectively with individuals who have a serious mental illness and are homeless
  5. The steps the agency will take after the training to insure that individuals who have a serious mental illness and are homeless have better access to mainstream services
  6. The amount of money requested for this project
  7. The amount of Mental Health Block Grant or local funds the agency will provide for the training in addition to the requested amount
  8. The evaluation process the agency will use to measure the training outcomes
  9. The method the agency will use to document participation in the HUD Continuum of Care, and collaboration with other homeless services providers

These funds may be provided to counties or private agencies. If funds are awarded to a private agency, a memorandum of understanding between the agency and county must be submitted. The deadline to submit a proposal is 4pm on Friday, January 28, 2005. An evaluation committee will review the proposals and make a decision about who will be funded.

The evaluation committee will score each proposal. The following criteria will be used to rank the proposals. Maximum points will be 100.

  1. Statement of Need                                            20 points
  • Indicate the number of individuals who have a serious mental illness and are homeless who live in your County.
  • What are the issues and challenges these individuals face in your county?
  1. Program Design                                               40 points
  • How are individuals who have a serious mental illness and are homeless currently being served and how will this project or training assist them?
  • Does this proposal represent a new way to provide services in the county?
  • How will participation in the HUD Continuum of Care, and collaboration with other homeless services providers take place?
  • How will the program be continued when this funding ends?
    • For training, what steps will be taken after the training to ensure individuals who have a serious mental illness and are homeless will have their needs met to better access mainstream services?
  1. Number served                                                   5 points
  • How many individuals who have a serious mental illness and are homeless will be served by this project?
    • For training, how many people will attend the training?
  1. Funding                                                                5 points
  • What amount of funding is requested?
  • What amount of local funds will be included
  1. Outcomes                                                           30 points
  • What are the proposed outcomes for the project or training?
  • How will the outcomes be evaluated?
  • How will the needs of individuals who have a serious mental illness and are homeless be met to provide better access to mainstream services?
    • For training, how will outcomes of the training be evaluated for the participants and how will services improve for individuals who have a serious mental illness and are homeless?

If you have any questions or would like to discuss your proposal ideas, please contact Marge Tully at 608-267-5139 or tullyme@wisconsin.gov

REGIONAL OFFICE CONTACT: 
Area Administrator

CENTRAL OFFICE CONTACT: 
Marge Tully
1 West Wilson Street, room 850
P.O. Box 7851
Madison, WI 53707-7851
e-mail: TullyME@wisconsin.gov

MEMO WEB SITE: 
http://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/partners/local.htm


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