Additional help will soon be available to veterans struggling with post traumatic stress, traumatic brain injury, military sexual trauma and other serious mental health issues. The California Department of Veterans Affairs (CalVet) is now accepting applications for 2013-2014 for grant funds made available by Proposition 63 in support of veteran mental health outreach and treatment programs.

Proposition 63, the Mental Health Services Act (MHSA), which passed in November 2004, increased funding, personnel and other resources to support county mental health programs and monitor progress toward statewide goals for serving children, transition age youth, adults, older adults, and families with mental health issues.

“Many California veterans suffer from untreated and serious mental health issues that adversely impact their lives long-term. These funds will help many of those veterans,” said CalVet Secretary Peter J. Gravett. “During the 2012-2013 Proposition 63 funding cycle, CalVet had the pleasure of awarding a total of $270,000 to County Veterans Service Offices in six counties.”

Proposition 63 Request for Funding Applications which outline the purpose of the funding, restrictions, application process, evaluation criteria, review process, and application scoring, were mailed out to interested organizations and are available by request by contacting Christopher Colbert, christopher.colbert@calvet.ca.gov, 916-503-8376 or Stewart MacKenzie, stewart.mackenzie@calvet.ca.gov, 916-503-8383.