December 2024 News & Notes
Here's what's going on at CAI
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Happy Holidays from the CAI Team!

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We're Hiring
Are you interested in joining the CAI team? We are looking for a Manager - Support Recovery who will coordinate, manage, and facilitate the implementation, management, and administration of approximately 2 million in grants/bursaries, in addition to supporting the development of an Indigenous Capacity Training program. With a focus on health equity, the aim of all CAI projects is to support the community-based sector to build capacity to achieve improved mental health and substance use outcomes in BC.
Deadline to apply is January 10th, 2025.
For more information about the position and to apply, visit our website.
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Coming Soon
We are excited to announce the upcoming launch of the Community Action Team Top-Up Grant. This funding opportunity is provided to us via The Vancouver Foundation and represents a one-time top-up of $10,000.00 to Community Action Teams to support the work described in the Community Action Team Grants.
Additional details on how to apply will be released by end of January 2025!
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External Community Opportunities & Resources
Funding: Youth Mental Health Fund - Call for proposals 2024
The Youth Mental Health Fund (YMHF) is a Health Canada initiative that aims to improve the mental health of youth and their families, and to enhance access to, and navigation of, mental health services with a particular focus on equity-deserving groups.
The fund seeks to improve the availability, accessibility and quality of mental health supports and services for youth. Health Canada is seeking proposals for projects under the following Youth Mental Health Fund priority:
- Building capacity in and supporting community-based organizations that provide mental health services to youth with the goal of facilitating and strengthening linkages to the broader mental health care system.
Not-for-profit organizations and public post secondary education institutions are eligible to apply.
Deadline to apply is January 22nd, 2025.
Click here to learn more about this funding opportunity and to apply.
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Grant: Island Health - Youth Resilience Grants

Island Health and the Pacific Public Health Foundation (PPHF) are now accepting applications for the Youth Resilience Grants program.
Up to $450,000 is available for initiatives aimed at improving mental well-being and building resilience among youth across Vancouver Island. Eligible applicants include not-for-profit organizations, schools, Indigenous-led organizations, youth-led groups, parent advisory councils, local governments, and community groups.
Resilience grants of up to $50,000 are available to launch new and innovative projects/programs in communities across the Island Health region.
Deadline to apply is Friday, December 20th.
Click here to learn more about the Youth Resilience Grants.
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Grant: Vancouver Foundation -Transforming Systems Grants
The Transforming Systems Grants (TSG) will fund organizations advancing systemic change by addressing the root causes of inequality and supporting those most affected to shape their own futures. TSG is intended to support organizations that prioritize intersectionality, allyship and mutual liberation in their efforts to challenge oppressive systems. These grants of $300,000 offer flexible, operational funding for three years to qualified donees, registered non-profit societies and community co-operatives operating in BC.
This funding was designed to support operational costs, rather than specific projects, to provide organizations with the flexibility to use the funding to meet their own needs and priorities.
Deadline to apply is January 14th, 2025
Click here to learn more and to apply.
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Grant: Building relationships in collaboration grants
The Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General has funding available for Indigenous, First Nations, Métis, and Inuit communities and organizations to share knowledge and support learning journeys with law enforcement regarding substance use, harm reduction, and decriminalization. The grant funding is intended to support a variety of initiatives that may help build relationships in ways that are distinctive and responsive to the unique needs of each community or population. These initiatives will be entirely Indigenous led.
Approximately $500,000 in total funding is available for the 2024/2025 grant cycle. The application criteria for this grant are broad and meant to encompass the diversity of needs, desires, and relationships between communities/organizations and law enforcement that exist and allows each applicant to self-determine what approach is best for their community or organization.
Deadline to apply is February 7th, 2025
Click here to learn more and to apply.
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Report: CMHA - The State of Mental Health in Canada 2024
The Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) has released The State of Mental Health in Canada 2024, a first-of-its-kind deep dive into the landscape of mental health, addictions, and substance use health care in Canada using data from across the country.
The report’s answer to the question “So how is Canada doing in supporting the mental health of its people?” is “Not great.”
Some findings:
- Mental health care is grossly underfunded, and mental health is often a privilege available only to those who can afford it
- Access to care depends on where you live and Indigenous and racialized people face the greatest barriers to care
- Data about mental health in Canada is severely lacking
- Mental health in Canada is three times worse than before the COVID-19 pandemic
Click here to access the report.
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Articles & Media
Podcast: How to thrive, not just survive in winter
Health psychologist Kari Leibowitz gives tips about how to enjoy winter and explains how a slight change in perspective can go a long way in the winter.
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