Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin has announced the state will offer micro-grants to qualifying faith-based and community organizations to aid people dealing with mental health and substance use issues.
Mr. Youngkin announced the micro-grants at a faith leaders forum on mental health on Oct. 24.
The micro-grants, totaling nearly $800,000, aim to foster better access to mental health support.
The Republican governor’s office said this will be done by supplying training to faith-based and community organizations that will provide direct care for people in their communities struggling with behavioral health issues and substance abuse.
The grants—part of the governor’s ‘Right Help, Right Now‘ plan—will be available for up to $15,000.
“Virginia’s behavioral health crisis is far too big a problem for government to tackle on our own,” Mr. Youngkin said.
“We must partner with faith-based organizations of all religions and community organizations to bring healing and hope to our neighbors.
“Our goal is to empower them to serve Virginians and their families struggling with mental health and substance use issues to get them the Right Help, Right Now,” he added.
Organizations qualifying for the grants can apply through the Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services (DBHDS).
The grants may also be used to fund non-religious activities and programs, provided they offer training for faith-based and other organizations, which are exempt from paying federal income tax. These include organizations that meet the requirements of IRC sections 501 and 501(c)3.
Those in receipt of the grants must gather information and data relating to the efficacy of their respective programs.
‘Right Help, Right Now’
Mr. Youngkin created ‘Right Help, Right Now’ in June as a program to transform Virginia’s behavioral health system and offer support to those needing help with substance abuse. It includes critical goals to expand community service capacity and reduce opioid overdoses.
According to Secretary of Health and Human Resources John Littel, the program largely depends on community engagement.
“We are supporting faith-based organizations and community organizations that are providing quality services because in many cases they are the first point of contact for Virginians in a behavioral health crisis,” he said.
“We are grateful to add faith-based organizations and community organizations to our team of state agencies, public and private community services providers, schools, public safety, and advocacy groups who are coming together for this critical effort,” Mr. Littel added.
The DBHDS currently already offers free training for Virginians for Mental Health First Aid, as well as a suicide prevention program, ASSIST.
‘Jump-Start Activities’
DBHDS Commissioner Nelson Smith said the programs play an instrumental role in strengthening mental health services and reversing the trends of the opioid epidemic.
“These grants will help jump-start activities we know are effective in faith-based and other settings and will come alongside efforts of state and community providers that are working extremely hard to meet the needs of the community,” Mr. Nelson said.
The funding was facilitated through identifying allowable uses of the federal State Opioid Response Grant and the federal Mental Health Block Grant via the DBHDS.
