The mission of the California Department of Veterans Affairs (CalVet) focuses on increasing access to mental health services for veterans and their families through prevention and early intervention efforts. They aim to support mental health initiatives that are inclusive, equitable, and available to all veterans, regardless of age, period of service, type of service, discharge status, or disability rating.
The California Veterans Health Initiative (CVHI) Mental Health Support Grant Program (MHSGP) announced by CalVet offers up to $38 million in competitive grants. The program's primary goal is to enhance mental health service access for California veterans and their families by addressing gaps in mental health services and expanding the state's capacity to provide mental health support. This involves a focus on prevention and early intervention efforts. Grantees are expected to propose activities that align with program areas such as Outreach, Peer Support, Case Management, Outpatient Clinical Treatment, and Innovative Approaches. Additionally, successful applicants will demonstrate their capability to meet eligibility requirements, effectively implement proposed activities, and maintain significant engagement with CalVet for operations assistance, reporting, and evaluation. The program allows for flexibility in program design to meet the diverse needs of veterans across the state.