About the engagement grants

Our engagement grants are an opportunity for child and youth mental health and addictions agencies to enhance their efforts to effectively implement engagement at a system or organizational level using the quality standard for youth or family engagement as a guide. 

Each agency will be provided with implementation support through coaching, and funds up to $20,000 to offset costs or reduce a particular barrier to engagement.

Applications are open until November 16, apply today!

Eligibility

To apply, the agency must meet the following eligibility criteria:

• Be a community-based child and youth mental health and addictions agency funded by the Ministry of Health (lead agency or core service agency). 
• Have an organizational commitment to address meaningful youth and/or family engagement at the organizational level (e.g., recruit or retain a youth or family advisory committee, co-develop engagement processes and practices, support strategies that increase the voices of youth and/or family members in decision making to support program or policy improvements). 

Priority areas of focus

Applicants will be asked to complete five questions in the application form: 

• What is the challenge/barrier you are experiencing in supporting meaningful engagement? 
• What is your proposed plan to address the barrier?
• What is the anticipated impact of your opportunity/project?
• How will you assess the impact of your opportunity/project? 
• Please explain how this opportunity/project will help sustain your efforts in engagement at the organizational level after the granting period.  

Budget

Approved expenses related to implementing engagement at a system or organizational level using the quality standard for youth or family engagement (including but not limited to):

• honoraria for young people and families (e.g. for co-development or co-facilitation)
• backfill or salary for member(s) of the project team (e.g. hiring peer support workers or engagement staff to coordinate efforts) 
• expenses related to supporting engagement activities and meetings (e.g. local transportation, travel and mileage, facilitation supplies or catering for a specific meeting that includes young people or families)
• promotion of recruitment opportunities for young people and families through paid social media channels such as LinkedIn boosts 
• knowledge mobilization activities (e.g. publications, conference attendance, infographic development, webinars, posters, etc.)

Ineligible expenses include:

• offsetting budget shortfalls 
• general operations 
• computer hardware and other electronics (e.g. computers, laptops, mobile devices and tablets) 
• salaries for staff who are not involved in engagement efforts

 All applicants will be provided with an email outlining the decision and will be offered the continued opportunity to access coaching support from the Knowledge Institute to enhance engagement efforts around the quality standards for youth engagement or family engagement.

 If you have any questions, contact Kelli Dilworth at KDilworth@cymha.ca.