I'm working on the initiative of offering mini-grants to students/trainees and am looking for those interested in helping with it. I would appreciate ideas for the grants, help with writing it, help with reviewing any applications that might come in, and anyone interested in offering monthly mentoring of a trainee. Here is my first draft: The BDSMHSJ is an interdisciplinary group organized to promote social justice for vulnerable communities around mental health and social welfare. It was created during the tumultuous time of 2020 to address the need to heal community divisions and mental suffering in some small way. 📷 Our mission is: To educate, organize community action, and advocate for policies that promote reducing behavioral health disparities, reducing racism, promoting human rights, and advancing social justice. Our goals are to: •Advocate for societal changes that will foster equity, eliminate racism, and promote the well-being of marginalized groups •Reduce disparities in mental health by promoting social justice and human rights •Apply principles of social justice to community action, systems change, education, policy formation, and clinical practice •Understand the effect of social and cultural factors on the behavioral health of people in our community We provide two awards to trainees: one to a Baltimore city public middle or high school student and one to a Psychiatry resident or medical student in Baltimore. The awardees will be provided a mentor and a monetary award to support a project they propose to promote social justice in mental health in the community. Baltimore City Public School Students “The Future is Ours” Award: BCPS students in the 7th-12th grades can submit a proposal for a project that promotes equity for marginalized and underrepresented groups in Baltimore City around health/mental health and general wellbeing. Projects will need to take place during the school year and be monitored by a teacher. Grants will not be awarded for performers, tablets, computers, furniture, transportation, prepared food, software purchases, and subscriptions. Awards can be from $100-$400 and includes monthly mentoring by a professional and leader in the community on the area of work proposed for up to 6 months. The award may also include an opportunity to shadow a mental health professional in their work to ensure that historically disadvantaged and marginalized individuals have access to culturally sensitive comprehensive treatment in the community for a day. Deadline: Rolling. Psychiatry COVID19 Disparities Award: Medical students or Psychiatry Residents who studied Psychiatry in Baltimore City can submit a proposal for a project that specifically addresses disparities in health equity, access to care, institutional distrust and other barriers, and poorer outcomes around COVID19 morbidity and treatment for marginalized and underrepresented black and brown communities in Baltimore City. Projects will need to take place while trainees reside in the area. Grants will not be awarded for performers, tablets, computers, furniture, transportation, prepared food, software purchases, attendance at professional meetings, and subscriptions. Awards can be from $100-$400 and includes monthly mentoring by a psychiatrist and leader in the community on the area of work proposed for up to 6 months. The award may also include an opportunity to shadow a psychiatrist in their work to ensure that historically disadvantaged and marginalized individuals have access to culturally sensitive comprehensive treatment in the community. Deadline: Rolling. Grant Award Application ___ Baltimore City Public School Students “The Future is Ours” Award ___ Medical Student/Resident COVID19 Disparities Award Student(s)/Trainee(s) Involved and grade/post graduate year: 1. Primary-______________________________________________________________ 2. _____________________________________________________________________ 3. _____________________________________________________________________ 4. _____________________________________________________________________ 5. _____________________________________________________________________ Supervisor/Supervising Teacher’s Name and Position/title: _____________________________________________________________________________ Supervisor/Teacher’s Signature:___________________________________________________ Supervisor/teacher’s email: _______________________________________________________ School Name and Address: ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ (For BCPS Students) Principal’s Name: ______________________________________________________________ Principal’s signature: ___________________________________________________________ Title of Project: _____________________________________________________________________________ Specifics of project including creative aspects: ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ What do you expect the project to accomplish? ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ Long-term benefits: ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ Total amount of money required: __________________________________________________ Itemized list of proposed purchases including costs: ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ Amount of money received from other sources: ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ Directions Submit to: Theodora Balis, MD- bdsmhsj@gmail.com. Phone-410-916-4890. Applications will be reviewed and decided within 30 days from receipt.