Project Overview

Campus Capacity Grants were developed to support BC post-secondary institutions in building capacity and encouraging innovation in campus mental health promotion and the reduction of risky substance use. These grants provided funding to encourage institutions to converge diverse and cross-sectoral representation to achieve some shift in campus culture relative to mental health or substance use in particular.

Background

Healthy Minds | Healthy Campuses’ Campus Capacity Grants program was funded by the BC Ministry of Health. This program was developed to support BC post-secondary institutions in building capacity and encouraging innovation in campus mental health promotion and the reduction of risky substance use. Each grant provided stimulus funding to encourage institutions to convene diverse and cross-sectoral representation to achieve some shift in campus culture relative to mental health or substance use in particular.

In keeping with the work of our Community of Practice, these grants also provided an opportunity for grantees to be connected to a broader community of students, campus professionals, faculty and administrators, all interested in cultivating mentally healthier campus communities.  We looked for applications that proposed unique, innovative and creative projects that fell into the broad domain of promoting campus mental wellness, including healthy relationships with psychoactive substances. 

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Application Criteria

To learn more about the application process that campuses participated in to apply for a grant, view the Application Package. Each project attempted to use ideas drawn from the socio-ecological model of mental health promotion. Applications included an explanation of how the project would provide a mechanism for at least two different campus constituencies (e.g. students, campus professionals, faculty, administrators) to plan and implement the activities collaboratively. These grants were designed to stimulate capacity development, not provide full funding. Applicants had to be willing to share details of their projects and associated outcomes with the broader Healthy Minds | Healthy Campuses Community of Practice. This helped to stimulate dialogue, learning and the exchange of ideas at a provincial level.

This grant program awarded up to a maximum of $3000 in matched funds per campus. Project progress updates were submitted and projects were completed by December 15, 2012, with a final report submitted by January 15, 2013. 

How Campuses Applied

1. Interested campuses completed the Campus Capacity Grants application form.
2. Proposals were accepted and reviewed on a rolling basis between January 3, 2012 and February 15, 2012.  Preference was given to early submissions.  All grantees were notified by March 1, 2012.

Evaluation Criteria

Applications were evaluated by representatives from CMHA BC Division, the Centre for Addictions Research of BC and the HM | HC Community of Practice. The following evaluation criteria were used to judge applications:

1. The project’s application of ideas drawn from the socio-ecological model for mental health promotion
2. The project’s capacity to develop and enhance a mechanism for at least two different campus constituencies to collaboratively plan/implement the proposed activities
3. The level of institutional in-kind or financial support
4. The project’s uniqueness, innovation and creativity
5. The clarity and feasibility of the project
6. The project had to adhere to budget guidelines

Presentations

Campus Capacity Development Grants

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