THE CONSUMER FACILITATION FUND

Funding Application

Meetings: The third Monday of each month

 Philosophy:  Fund allocation is directed by consumers, family members, Mental Health and CMHA- Kamloops working in equal partnership as the Funding Committee.  The committed efforts of the Funding Criteria Committee membership has enabled the delivery of this fund in spite of the challenges faced in balancing a finite resource with the ever changing environment and needs of consumers and family members in the Thompson Region. This effort in and of itself reflects the notions of empowerment inherent to the Consumer Facilitation Funds initiative.

Purpose:  To allocate funds to consumers, their family members and agencies for projects, courses, and endeavours that relate to personal life, leisure, education and employment. These endeavours enhance self-fulfilment and mental health, while encouraging consumer and family member involvement in a coordinated mental health network.

Program Overview:  A consumer is a person with a current experience of mental illness.  This will be demonstrated by the consumer offering a brief description of the mental illness they experience and what they are doing to support their recovery (for example: I suffer from recurring depression. I visit my doctor, take my medications and see my counsellor regularly. I also take care of myself by going for a walk everyday.) Consumers over the age of 18 years of age are eligible to apply.  Case by case consideration will be made for requests coming from consumers less than 18 years of age.
A family member is a family member of a person with a mental illness.  This will be demonstrated by the family member offering a brief description of the mental illness and what they are doing to support themselves as family members (for example: My husband suffers from panic attacks.  I have attended a support group and read books to help me understand what panic attacks are.  I work to be a good support to my husband and keep myself healthy at the same time).
An agency is a registered not for profit agency that exists to provide programs and services to mental health consumers and family members as previously described.