Mental Health Association of Franklin County

Mental Health Association of Franklin County

Scholarship Application Information

The Mental Health Association of Franklin County (MHAFC) administers the scholarship funds allocated by the Ohio Department of Mental Health (ODMH), effective July 1, 2005. The goal of these funds is to assist individuals and groups to develop the leadership and advocacy skills needed to effectively participate in the planning and development of mental health policies and services. We provide Scholarships to consumers and family members, both individuals and groups/organizations. Scholarship funds are awarded to individuals to attend workshops and conferences to enhance their leadership skills and knowledge of mental health issues. To access these funds, potential recipients must complete an application process and meet the enclosed criteria. Applications are available from the MHAFC, ODMH, and online at www.mhafc.org.

CRITERIA FOR SCHOLARSHIP AWARDS

The MHAFC has developed a set of criteria that scholarship applicants must meet in order to be considered for an award. Please read these carefully as you complete your application. Please be complete and accurate on your application. You may contact the MHAFC at 614-221-1441 if you have any questions.

1. The MHAFC must have adequate funds available in its budget to cover all costs associated with approval of scholarship requests. This includes funds for emergencies that may arise in association with the awarded activity.

2. The conference or event must be relevant to the overall purpose of the scholarship fund.

3. The cost of the conference, including meals, registration, lodging, and travel must be reasonable for the experience and knowledge to be gained in comparison with past conferences.

4. Consideration will be given as to whether there may be a more appropriate conference or event that might better provide the knowledge or experience the individual or the MHAFC will derive from participation at the requested event.

5. The scholarship request must be received in the MHAFC office at least ten (10) working days prior to the conference of event registration deadline.

6. The applicant must indicate efforts to obtain scholarship/funding from other sources prior to making application to the MHAFC.

7. The applicant must agree to complete and submit a brief summary of the conference or workshop and a description of its benefits to them (form enclosed) within three (3) weeks following attendance at the conference/workshop.*

8. A copy of the event brochure/flyer should be submitted along with the scholarship application.**

9. Individuals who are members of consumer/family groups will be given priority for consideration. If funds are available for more than one scholarship, additional individuals will be considered.

10. Consumer and/or family groups applying for multiple scholarships to allow several group members to attend an event must also complete the ≥Multiple Scholarship≤ section of the application. Unless otherwise indicated, multiple requests will be limited to five (5) members from an individual group. Multiple requests will be awarded at the discretion of the MHAFC.

11. Presenters should seek scholarships from the conference organizers prior to requesting MHAFC funds. Presenters not sponsored by the conference will be considered in the following priority:

1. Consumers/Family Members who will be presenting on behalf of a mental health board or consumer-operated service will be considered first;

2. Consumers/Family Members who will be presenting on behalf of Ohioπs mental

health consumers will be considered next; and

3. Other presenters will then be considered.

12. Presenters should provide a description of their workshop or presentation.

13. Consumers/Family Members who have not been awarded MHAFC funds to attend an out-of-state conference or workshop in the current fiscal year will be given first consideration for an out-of-state conference. Individuals requesting a scholarship to in-state conferences and who have not been awarded MHAFC funds to attend another in-state conference in the current ODMH fiscal year will be given first consideration. Additional consideration will be given to:

∑ Consumers/Family Members who are willing to share the information gained with other individuals and/or groups will be a priority. You must state on the application form the way you will accomplish this.

∑ Consumers/Family Members who have received MHAFC/ODMH scholarship funds in the past and who submitted the follow-up ≥Description of Conference/Workshop Benefit≤ form.

14. Those individuals who have secured matching funds from another source will be given a very high consideration. These funds may come from local consumer/family groups, mental health agencies, mental health or ADAMS boards, other social groups and agencies, statewide organizations or from oneπs own funds.

Note: If you require a Letter of Recommendation from the MHAFC as part of the criteria for receiving matching funds or scholarship, the above listed criteria will be used to determine if one will be provided. Not more than two (2) Letters of Recommendation will be written per year for any individual.

* Applicants who do not agree to these criteria and who do not submit the ≥Description of Conference/Workshop Benefits≤ will not be considered for additional scholarship grants during the remaining fiscal year.

**Applications not containing copies of conference/event brochures or announcements will not be considered and will be returned to the applicant.

The MHAFC office may disapprove scholarship awards to any individual(s) or group(s) whose application fails to meet one or more of the expressed criteria.

If you have any questions regarding this application process, please call the MHAFC office at 614-221-1441.

PLEASE RETURN THIS FORM AT LEAST TEN (10) WORKING DAYS PRIOR TO THE EVENT TO:

Mental Health Association of Franklin County

538 East Town Street, Suite D

Columbus, OH 43215

Fax to: (614) 221-1491

APPLICATION FOR SCHOLARSHIPS

MENTAL HEALTH ASSOCIATION OF FRANKLIN COUNTY (MHAFC)

NOTE: Application MUST be received in the MHAFC office 10 working days prior to the event registration deadline.

Mental Health /ADAMH Board Name:					County Name:		Date Submitted:
Applicantπs Name:					Telephone No. Home/Work		Tax ID #(If applicable)
Address: (Street, City, State, Zip)
Group Affiliation: Consumer Family Member Other *To check box above, double click on box and choose checked*.
Conference/Workshop Title (enclose a copy of flyer/brochure)*
Location:							Date(s)
Are you a presenter? Yes No		Topic (attach a description of your workshop/presentation)*
Conference/Workshop Expenses
Item	Actual Cost		Requesting from MHAFC	Matching Funds		MHAFC Approved Amount
Travel
Registration
Lodging
Meals
Other
Total Cost
Matching Funds Secured Yes No	Source of Funds
Please tell us with whom you will be sharing the information gained from attendance at this conference/workshop? ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
How and when will you accomplish this? ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

*In some cases, the MHAFC may request a letter of recommendation.

I agree to complete the attached Conference/Workshop Benefit Report and return it to the MHAFC within 3 weeks following the event. Yes No
Previous Scholarships from MHAFC or ODMH
Title	Location	Date	Amount