Smokefree at Home Mini-Grants 2019
Request for Proposals 

About Smokefree at Home

The American Lung Association, with support from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, is conducting the Smokefree at Home project to facilitate the successful implementation of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)’s smokefree housing rule and improve health outcomes for all residents, including those living with mental illness and substance use disorders. HUD’s smokefree housing rule will protect over two million people from secondhand smoke and the Smokefree at Home project will help all residents comply with the rule and avoid possible problems.

As part of this project, the Lung Association has partnered with Mental Health America (MHA) to create and disseminate educational resources and awareness messages specifically directed and culturally relevant to the behavioral health community. Our organizations are working together to provide learning and networking opportunities for Public Housing Agencies (PHA)’s, other housing providers, behavioral health advocates and public housing residents. 
Purpose of mini-grant program

The American Lung Association will award up to 5 $5,000 mini-grants to MHA affiliates to provide education and peer support to PHA staff and residents in support of the smokefree rule implementation. As the project moves forward, mini-grant recipients will serve as knowledge leaders and mentors, identifying promising practices that the Lung Association and MHA can disseminate across the country to PHA staff and other stakeholders. 
Eligibility
  • MHA affiliate organizations that are awarded mini-grants are expected to meet the following criteria:
  • Familiarity with the needs of the behavioral health community
  • Knowledge of and support for the HUD smokefree housing rule
  • Capacity to provide support through the transition to smokefree housing for residents living with mental illness and substance use disorders in public housing
  • Experience collaborating with housing providers
  • Nonprofit tax-exempt status under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code
Grant activities and expectations
  • Participate in a web-based project launch training within a month of mini-grant start date
  • Establish partnership or collaboration with at least one PHA in order to provide education and support to staff, residents and visitors.
  • Deliver at least two presentations at each property served to educate PHA staff and residents about the smokefree rule, the health effects of tobacco use and secondhand smoke, how to address compliance issues, and the availability of community resources for resident support including tobacco cessation programs
  • Educate constituents of your organization and surrounding community about the impact of tobacco use including the behavioral health population, the health effects of exposure to secondhand smoke, and the availability of community resources for constituent support, including tobacco cessation resources.
  • Serve as a resource to support staff and residents of partnering PHAs on an as-needed basis, and a local community resource on the issue of smokefree housing.
  • Participate in at least one Smokefree at Home peer support network (see FAQ for details)
  • Serve as a knowledge leader and potential mentor to other MHA affiliates and housing providers (See FAQ for details)
  • Track and report on the reach and impact of mini-grant activities as established by the Smokefree at Home evaluation team, including the submission of two brief progress reports and a final report

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