Federal Fiscal Year 2023 Funding Application: Mental & Behavioral Health Initiatives at New Mexico’s Higher Education Institutions
The New Mexico Higher Education Department (NMHED) is accepting applications for Federal Fiscal Year 2023 (FY23) titled Mental and Behavior Health Initiatives at New Mexico’s Higher Education Institutions. Poor mental health brings various consequences, as it can hinder a student’s academic success and lead to high dropout rates among struggling students. Students struggling with mental health are twice as likely to leave a college or university without graduating, and the results hold even after controlling for students’ prior academic records. Students suffering from symptoms of mental health disorders are at risk of a lower GPA, discontinuous enrollment, and possibly dropping out. Therefore, higher education institutions (HEIs) should aim to provide all students with access to mental health services that will in turn benefit the student population.
The purpose of this program is to support initiatives that prioritize students’ mental and behavioral health at New Mexico’s public and Tribal higher education institutions. The grant is designed to assist colleges and universities build essential capacity and infrastructure to create or support efforts to address mental and behavioral health, promote wellness, and cultivate a campus climate where mental and behavioral health resources are normalized as a critical component of student learning. This year, two additional areas will be funded for initiatives that include staff and faculty, along with student mental health initiatives and programming, that works to implement trauma-informed care and teaching models in the classroom and across campus.
Guidance and Template [Download Word Doc]
Guidance and Template [Download PDF]
Please submit completed applications via email to Joel Zimmerer, Executive Administrative Coordinator, at joel.zimmerer@hed.nm.gov.
Questions
For any questions, please contact Nathan Moquino, Director, Indian Education Division, at Nathan.moquino@hed.nm.gov or 505-476-8400
Key Dates
| RFA Released | July 13, 2023 |
| Application Deadline | August 17, 2023 |
| Application Review | August 18 - August 31, 2023 |
| Award Notifications Issued | September 1, 2023 |
Available Funding
To address the different needs of higher education institutions across the state, this year’s awards will be scaled from $50,000 to $250,000. The $50,000 awards can be utilized by schools, colleges, and universities that received a FY23 Mental and Behavioral Health Grant to build and expand upon a previously funded project. The awards up to $150,000 to $250,000 must demonstrate a higher education institution’s ability to build significant capacity with the funding for mental and behavioral health services on their campus. These transformational projectsshould include an institutional plan to maintain the services implemented after the term of award.
Up to $950,000 will be awarded to nine higher education institutions in the following manner:
- Two (2) awards up to $250,000
- One (1) award up to $150,000
- Six (6) awards of $50,000
Eligible Applicants
- Public, post-secondary, higher education institutions, or Tribal colleges in New Mexico
- Non-profit organizations that have a formalized relationship (MOU) with a public or Tribal higher education institutions to address mental and behavioral health issues
Evaluation Criteria
The New Mexico Higher Education Department (NMHED) will select awardees based on the following:
- Alignment of proposed activities with the purpose of the grant;
- Cost of service relative to need and cost efficiency;
- Track record of work with student populations; and
- Demonstrated commitment to addressing one or more areas of the areas below:
• Propose a campus-wide project that prioritizes mental health utilizing one or more of SAMHSA’s 8 Dimensions of Wellness (see APPENDIX).
• Partnering with other HEIs, public programs or non-profit organizations, and/or private entities to combine resources for supporting student mental health.
• Leveraging technology to support students in various learning environments.
• Designing and implementing a clear, comprehensive communication plan that addresses student, staff, and faculty mental health concerns.
• Utilizing innovative methods such as podcasts, social media marketing, and/or highlighting the needs of vulnerable student groups.
• Assessing the needs of diverse students to tailor mental health services and programs (Resource: “Higher Ed Today College Student Mental Health and Well-being” is an article with links to mental and behavior health initiatives at campuses across the country).
• Developing and offering mental and behavioral health programming for faculty and staff; for more info read Howard and Elue article in Faculty Focus (2023).
• Implementing trauma-informed care and teaching models in the classroom and across campus.
Grant Period
September 15, 2023 to December 31, 2023
Submissions
When submitting your application, please combine all relevant items into one PDF and save the file as “ACRONYMofyourschool/org.addressMHBH.July2023”.
- Example: NMHED.addressMHBH.July2023
Please submit completed applications via email to Joel Zimmerer, Executive Administrative Coordinator, at joel.zimmerer@hed.nm.gov.
Questions
For any questions, please contact Nathan Moquino, Director, Indian Education Division, at nathan.moquino@hed.nm.gov or 505-476-8400.