Pinellas County Applications Sought For Mental Health Program Grant

PINELLAS COUNTY, FL — The Florida Department of Children and Families is seeking applications for the Criminal Justice Mental Health and Substance Abuse Reinvestment Grant.

Local agencies that provide mental health or substance abuse programs for juveniles and adults could be eligible for the state grant that will be administered through Pinellas County’s Public Safety Coordinating Council.

Grant proposals must be submitted for review to the council by Feb. 4.

The grant provides funding to counties to plan, implement or expand initiatives that increase public safety, avert increased spending on criminal and juvenile justice systems and improve access to effective treatment services for juveniles and adults with mental illness or substance abuse disorders.

One program will be selected by the Pinellas County Public Safety Coordinating Council to move forward. An application link from the Department of Children and Families can be found here.

Interested organizations must first submit a program summary by 1 p.m., Feb. 4, to Deborah Berry, operations manager at Pinellas County Justice Coordination, by email justice@pinellascounty.org. All submissions should be followed up with a phone call to verify receipt to 727-464-6485.

To be considered, submissions must meet the following criteria:

• Executive program summary that provides plan details and information about the organization

• Program title and lead organization with contact information

• Program abstract, description and related activities

• Number and population being served

• Expected outcomes

• List of partnering organizations and associated roles

• Program budget requested and statement of ability to comply with all the requirements of the grant, including match requirements for each of the three years

• Explain the organization’s grant writing capacity to complete the full application by March 2 to allow one week for final review.

• A representative from the organization must be present at the 9 a.m., Feb. 5 meeting of the Public Safety Coordinating Council. The meeting location will be Conservation Resources - Magnolia Room, 12520 Ulmerton Road, Largo.

The Public Safety Coordinating Council meets quarterly with a mission to create and execute effective public safety strategy to ensure availability and accountability of programs, sound and efficient justice system operations, and necessary jail facilities.

The council is made up of members of local and state criminal justice agencies, social service organizations and other local leaders with a member of the Pinellas County Board of County Commissioners serving as chairman.

The council, which was established by Florida statute, fulfills Pinellas County’s strategic goal of ensuring public health, safety and welfare for residents.