Bill > H2207

This bill establishes a mental health capacity grant program within the Massachusetts Department of Mental Health specifically designed to support nonprofit organizations at high risk of hate crimes or serving populations vulnerable to hate crimes. The program will provide grants to help these organizations improve their mental health support capabilities through various initiatives such as mental health first aid training, culturally responsive referral programs, community education, and destigmatization efforts. Grant distribution will be strategically planned to ensure geographic equity across the commonwealth and align with the bias types identified in the previous year's hate crime report. The grants aim to enhance staff behavioral health competency and expand supportive programming for targeted communities. The bill requires the department to develop specific grant-making regulations and mandates that within six months of the first grant distribution, the commissioner must submit a detailed report to various legislative committees, including information about the number of applications received, grants awarded, grant amounts, organizational missions of grantees, and the types of programming supported by each grant. The program is subject to appropriation, meaning funding will depend on available state resources.

Health and Social Services

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/H2207