Let’s Talk About It: Dealing with School Avoidance

The issue of School Avoidance is a growing problem for parents and schools. Join other parents to learn about how school-related anxiety can lead to children actively trying to avoid going to school. Some children and youth complain that they are not feeling well, while others may be defiant or display challenging behavior. Together we will learn about how this problem can emerge, the heightened effects from

the pandemic, and what parents and schools can do to help children move past this challenge.

Join us as we talk online with Dr. Jill Lee-Hubble from Washburn Center for Change on Wednesday, April 5th at 7:00 pm

REGISTER today!

A GUIDE TO THE CHILDREN’S MENTAL HEALTH SYSTEM

Parenting a child with a mental health concerns and mental illness can be very difficult. The child may be struggling in school, at risk of hurting themselves or others, or involved in the juvenile justice system. Parents often feel isolated and alone as they work to navigate the children’s mental health system.

NAMI Minnesota’s guide, Keeping Families Together, provides information about treatment, services,

and supports available to children with a mental illness and their families. It covers many of the questions parents may have such as:

• How do we know what level of care is best for our child?
• What happens if my child needs more support than what’s available in our community?
• What are my family’s legal rights?

988 SUICIDE AND CRISIS LIFELINE

Call, text, or chat using 988 for anyone you know in need of mental health crisis support. Trained crisis specials can help de-escalate situations, support safety planning and offering coping skills. Phone services are currently available in English and Spanish.

The United States began the transition to the new

three-digit dialing code 988 to reach crisis support. Calls, texts, and online chat from 988 will be routed to the existing National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (the Lifeline). The change is part of a nationwide effort to transition the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline to a phone number people can more easily remember and access in times of crisis.

Collaborative Co-Chair Nomination

The Collaborative is pleased to announce Angela Watts is stepping forward and running for Collaborative Co-Chair. This is for a 2-year term (2023-2024). We will vote on Angela’s nomination during the March Governance Committee meeting. Below is Angela’s statement of interest.

School-Linked Mental Health Requests for Proposals is Open

School-linked mental health services have provided critical mental health access to children, youth and families across Hennepin County. The new school-linked men- tal health request for proposals (RFP) has been released by the MN Dept of Human

Services and can found here; https://mn.gov/dhs/partners-and-providers/grants-rfps/open-rfps/#/detail/appId/1/id/561966.

Youth Gun Violence Prevention RFP is Open

The Hennepin County Children’s Mental Health Collaborative

is excited the announce the timeline has been extended to help address youth gun violence prevention and mental health. The Collaborative intends to support youth who are directly exposed or involved in gun violence and help address the underlying mental health challenges.

Funding is available in partnership with Community Health Improvement Partnership (CHIP), Public Health Promotion (PHP). The intent of this funding is to enable local organizations to use community-driven ideas, recommendations, and solutions to strengthen communities, build relationships and carry out meaningful work. These funds will provide resources for programs, projects, ideas, and/or events that positively impact community health disparities and improve mental well-being outcomes for BIPOC residents in Hennepin County.

Eligible applicants

Eligible applicants for this funding are community or school-based organizations that prioritize BIPOC people in cultural, spiritual, faith-based and/or geographic communities within Hennepin County.

Priority populations served by this RFP

The priority populations for this funding are BIPOC individuals and families in cultural, spiritual, faith-based and geographic communities in Hennepin County and:

• Who live in rental communities and experience a lack social connections, well-being and support; and/or,
• Who have been impacted by trauma created or exacerbated by the services and systems of governments and other large institutions; and/or,
• Who are served by spiritual/faith/cultural communities in response to mental wellbeing and trauma,
• Whose health and mental well-being have been disproportionately affected by the COVID-19 pandemic; and/or,
• Children (ages 0-21) and families who have had exposure to gun violence (or who have perpetrated gun violence) that has impacted their mental well-being.

Recommended next steps:

1. Meet with your team to discuss interest in this opportunity and potential project ideas!
2. Register in Hennepin County’s Supplier Portal OR check to see if you still have an account.
   1. How to register for a Supplier Portal account: PDF and video
   2. How to receive information about a proposal and how to submit a proposal: PDF and video.
   3. Need help? Email [email protected] or call 612-543-5412.

Summer Enrichment Program Funding Available

The Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) is seeking applications from eligible organizations for the ESSER Summer Enrichment Competitive Grant Opportunity. The funding opportunity will support community-based organizations to provide evidence-based summer enrichment programs that respond to students’ academic, social, emotional and mental health needs and address the disproportionate impact of COVID-19 on historically underserved youth. MDE estimates that $12 million is available to fund 40-60 grants statewide. At least 50% of the grant funds will be awarded to culturally-specific community-based organizations. It is anticipated that grant awards for the two-year period will range from $100,000–$250,000, though applicants are not restricted to this range of grant funds in their application request.

Find Grant information on MDE’s grant page.

COMMUNITY-BASED SUICIDE PREVENTION FUNDING

The Minnesota Department of Health is announcing a new request for proposals (RFP) for community-based suicide prevention in Minnesota. This grant will provide funding for Regional Suicide Prevention Coordinators and comprehensive suicide prevention models in key communities with high needs and risk of suicide.

The grant period will begin on July 1, 2023 and end June 30, 2027. Up to 25% of the funding is reserved for American Indian community-based organizations, both tribal and non-tribal.

Who should apply

Eligible applicants must be located and conduct grant activities within the state of Minnesota. Eligible applicants include, but are not limited to:

• Local public health and social services agencies
• Nonprofit organizations
• Tribal governments, tribal organizations, and urban tribal organizations
• Units of government
• Schools and/or school districts
• Health care organization
• Faith communities
• Emergency response organizations
• Other interested agencies demonstrating ability to provide evidence-based or practice-based-evidence suicide prevention