MENTAL HEALTH OUTREACH
PROGRAM FOR LATINOS:
A GRANT PROPOSAL
By
Cynthia Iniguez
CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY, LONG BEACH
MAY 2013
Introduction
•Across the literature, studies suggest a disproportionately low number of Latinos receive mental
health services (Cabassa, Zayas, & Hansen, 2006; Dupree, Herrera, Tyson, Yuri, & King-Kallimanis,
2010; Vega & Lopez, 2002).
•The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (2005) found that even though mental illness is high
among Latinos, fewer are receiving mental health services when compared to other ethnic groups.
•A national survey conducted in 2010 found that 18.3% of Latinos in the United States suffer from
mental illness (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2010).
•The National Alliance on Mental Illness (2003) found that less than 10% of Latinos with a mental
illness seek care from a mental health specialist.
•Latinos have been found to seek the help of a physician over a psychologist due to stigma associated
with psychiatric disorders (Haig et al., 2003).
•This proposed project seeks to increase knowledge of mental illness thus reducing the stigma
associated with seeking mental health services.
Social Work Relevance
•Social workers will often come in contact with Latino clients who are suffering from mental
illness.
•It is of great importance that barriers that impede the access of mental health treatment are
explored and understood.
•By understanding these factors, social workers can begin to formulate strategies for improving
mental health access among this population.
•Developing a program that is specifically aimed at increasing knowledge of mental illness,
treatment options, and resource availability for Latinos is a critical component when trying to
improve the access of mental health services among this population.
Cross-cultural Relevance
•When specifically looking at Latinos, research has indicated a great disparity in mental health
usage patterns of Latinos with that of other ethnic groups (Cabassa et al., 2006).
•Several barriers such as cultural factors have been found to impede on this population’s access
of services (Haig et al., 2003).
•Further barriers specific to Latinos come in the form of immigrant status and language
proficiency (Folsom et al., 2007; Shattel et al., 2008).
•These barriers that impede access to mental health services need to be addressed since Latinos
are at a high risk for developing mental health problems (Haig et al., 2003).
Methods
•a. Target Population
• Latino adults, 18 and over, who may be suffering from mental illness and who are eligible for the
Behavioral Health Program at St. John’s Well Children & Family Center.
•b. Strategies used to identify and select a funding source
• Internet search engines utilizing the following key terms, “grants” ,” “grants for Latinos,” “mental health
grants,” and “mental health grants for Latinos” .
•c. Identify the funding source selected
• The California Endowment since it has previously funded programs aimed at addressing the mental
health needs of ethnic minorities.
•d. Sources used for the needs assessment
• Government websites and scholarly journals with a focus on mental health needs and services among
Latinos.
Methods
•e. Projected budget range and categories
Expenses (1 year)
Amount
Personnel
Non-Personnel
Amount
Program Manager (MSW)-FTE
$50,000
Office Supplies
$1,000
Employee-Related Benefits (@ 30%)
$15,000
Rent($700/mo)
$8,400
Case Manager (BSW)- FTE
$30,000
Utilities($100/mo)
$1,200
Employee-Related Benefits (@30%)
$9,000
Training
$5,000
Community Outreach Worker X 2- FTE @ $13/hour
$49,920
Printing
$5,000
Employee-Related Benefits (@30%)
$14,976
Equipment ($1,200/computer) x 4, ($150/printer)x 2 $5,100
Independent Evaluator
$5,000
Total Personnel
$173,866
Indirect cost
Administrative Overhead (10% of total budget)
$19,956
Total Non-Personnel
Total Program Cost
$25,700
$219,555
Grant Proposal
•a. Program Summary and Description
• The program will provide mental health education and community outreach for Latinos in need of mental
health services.
• Educational presentations will be conducted and informational pamphlets will be disseminated at local
community centers, churches, health fairs, and clinics.
• Outreach efforts will link individuals and families in need of mental health services with case management
services.
•b. Population Served
• Latino adults, 18 and over, who may be suffering from mental illness and who are eligible for the Behavioral
Health Program at St. John’s Well Children & Family Center.
•c. Sustainability
•Collaboration with the Behavioral Health Program at St. John’s Well Children & Family Center to continue
informational and outreach services for Latinos with mental illness.
Grant Proposal
•d. Program Objectives
• To provide mental health education over a one year period to Latino adults, living in South Los Angeles
and surrounding communities about mental health diagnosis, symptoms, and treatment option.
• To provide information to Latinos through the course of one year in South Los Angeles and surrounding
communities about mental disorders, treatment options, and available resources within the community.
• To assist Latinos by linking them to the necessary mental health services.
•e. Program Evaluation
• Sign in sheets and pre and posttest workshop evaluation forms will be gathered at each educational
presentation.
• The amount of informational brochures and pamphlets disseminated at health fairs will be tracked.
• Case manager will submit weekly reports to the Program Manager which will include information
regarding service delivery.
• An Independent Evaluator will be hired to evaluate and assess the effectiveness of the program
Lessons Learned/Implications for Social
Work
•Lessons Learned
• The importance of conducting a needs assessment.
• The necessity of professional written communication.
• The importance of selecting a host agency whose programs and services are in alignment with the
needs of the target population.
• How to plan and develop a new program.
•Implications for Social Work
• Social workers are often limited in assistance to clients due to a shortage or unavailability of funds.
• Grant writing is a means for which social worker can become involved in the process of developing and
implementing programs that meet the needs of the population being serviced.
References
Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. (2005). National healthcare disparities report. Retrieved from
http://qualitytools.ahrq.gov/disparitiesreport
Cabassa, L. J., Zayas, L. H., & Hansen, M. C. (2006). Latino adults’ access to mental healthcare: A review of epidemiological studies.
Administration and Policy in Mental Health and Mental Health Services Research, 33, 316–330.
Dupree, L. W., Herrera, J. R., Tyson, D., Yuri, J., & King-Kallimanis, B. L. (2010). Age group differences in mental health care preferences and
barriers among Latinos: Implications for research and practice. Best Practice in Mental Health, 6(1), 47-59.
Folsom, D. P., Gilmer, T., Barrio, C., Moore, D. J., Bucardo, J., Lindamer, L. A., & Jeste, D. V. (2007). A longitudinal study of the use of mental
health services by persons with serious mental illness: Do Spanish-speaking Latinos differ from English-speaking Latinos and Caucasians?
American Journal of Psychiatry, 164(8), 1173-1180.
Haig, K., Byron L. Z., & David J. H. (2003). Barriers to community mental health services for Latinos: Treatment considerations. Clinical Psychology:
Science & Practice, 10(4), 394-422.
National Alliance on Mental Illness (2003). Latino community mental health facts. Arlington, VA: Author. Retrieved from
http://www.nami.org/Content/Content Groups/MIO/Fact_Sheets1/Lation_MH_Disparities_2003.pdf.
Shattell, M. M., Hamilton, D., Starr, S. S., Jenkins, C. J., & Hinderliter, N. (2008). Mental health service needs of a Latino population: A
community-based participatory research project. Issues In Mental Health Nursing, 29(4), 351-370.
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (2010). Results from the 2010National Survey on Drug Use and Health: Mental health
findings. Rockville, MD: DHHS.
Vega, W. A., & Lopez, S. R. (2002). Priority issues in Latino mental health services research. Mental Health Services Research, 3(4), 189–200.