Older Adult Mental Health Grant

The Older Adult Mental Health initiative, spearheaded by the National Council on Aging (NCOA) and funded by the Mother Cabrini Foundation, is aimed at improving mental health support for older adults residing in rural regions of New York state. Recognizing that mental health conditions remain widely underdiagnosed and untreated among the elderly population, this program seeks to fill that critical gap by providing essential tools, training, and resources to community-based organizations (CBOs) that serve individuals aged 55 and older. The program offers selected CBOs an honorarium of $5,000 and comprehensive support materials to implement the “Get Empowered: Embrace Your Mental Well-Being” workshop series. This initiative is designed not only to deliver direct mental health education and engagement for older adults but also to combat stigma and promote access to behavioral health services within rural communities. The funding provided will cover all associated costs with workshop facilitation and training. Eligible organizations must be based in rural New York and actively serve diverse older adult populations. In addition to having a suitable facility for hosting in-person sessions, they must demonstrate an interest in launching or enhancing behavioral health programming. Selected CBOs are expected to identify two staff members who will complete both asynchronous and synchronous training (approximately 5-6 hours total) and deliver the three-part workshop series at least twice between May and October 2026, engaging at least 40 unduplicated participants. Participating organizations must attend a mandatory project kickoff call scheduled for May 14, 2026, and support evaluation activities including pre-program and six-month follow-up surveys. They are also required to collect at least two client testimonials with consent, including photographs, to showcase the program's community impact. Applications must be submitted online through the designated portal no later than April 19, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. EST. First-time applicants must create an account before starting their application. For inquiries related to the application process or program requirements, applicants are encouraged to reach out to Amanda Krisher or Heather Marriott. The program does not indicate recurring cycles and participation is limited to the current offering. This funding opportunity provides a unique avenue for CBOs to enhance their mental health offerings, build capacity through training and evaluation, and directly impact the well-being of older adults in underserved rural communities of New York state.