MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID
Request for Proposals
For Members of the Veteran Community – Project Evaluation
ISSUE DATE: November 27, 2015 PROPOSAL DEADLINE: December 18, 2015
For further information related to this Request for Proposal (RFP), please contact:
Mireille Cyr-Hansen
(613) 683-3736
[email protected]
www.mentalhealthcommission.ca
CONTEXT & BACKGROUND
The Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) for Members of the Veteran Community Project aims to improve the capacity of the veteran community to address mental health problems and illnesses by providing MHFA, an evidence-based training course. MHFA was developed to increase mental health literacy, decrease stigma, and increase helping behaviours in participants.
Mental Health First Aid is the assistance provided to a person who is first developing a mental health problem, or in a mental health crisis, until appropriate professional treatment is received or until a crisis has been resolved. The course achieves these goals by improving participants’ knowledge about mental health, including disorders and treatments; building skills for recognizing and responding to mental health issues through the use of a tested, evidence-based action plan (ALGEE); and increasing helping behaviours.
With funding from the Department of Veterans Affairs, MHFA Canada is leading the customization of the current MHFA Basic training course to adapt it for members of the Veteran community in collaboration with the
Department. Input from the May 2015 Curriculum Workshop, as well as key resources and sources from Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC) may serve as the foundation for the content development process.
The Mental Health First Aid for Members of the Veteran Community Project has the following objectives:
• To customize case study and resource sections of the MHFA Basic course to make it relevant, appealing and effective for members of the Veteran community.
• To train up to 48 Instructors across Canada in both official languages.
• To train up to 3000 members of the Veteran community across Canada in the customized MHFA course, in both official languages.
• To conduct a process and short-term outcome evaluation throughout the term of the project with results submitted by March 2020.
These objectives will facilitate the achievement of the following outcomes:
• Improve the capacity (increased knowledge and helping behaviors; decreased stigma associated with mental illness) of members of the Veteran community to recognize and assist with addictions and mental health problems or illnesses.
• Support members of the Veteran community to apply evidence-based practices in service delivery and workplace and personal interactions.
• Build capacity within the Veteran community to offer the MHFA course to Veterans across Canada.
MHFA has been evaluated in multiple contexts:
1. In two Australian government departments, a randomized controlled trial of MHFA was carried out in a workplace setting.
Benefits to participants included:
Greater confidence in providing help to others,
Greater likelihood of people encouraged to seek professional help,
Improved concordance with health professionals about treatments,
Decreased stigmatizing attitudes, and
Improved mental health for participants.1
2. In England, Brandling and McKenna undertook an evaluation of MHFA for front-line managers in the public sector.2 They studied 55 front-line managers, using both quantitative and qualitative methods.
On all quantitative measures, the investigators found significant positive results.
Participants demonstrated:
Increased knowledge and confidence and
Improved perceptions of mental health issues.
The results of other evaluations can be found on the MHFA Canada website.3
SCOPE & DELIVERABLES
The goal of this RFP is to secure a consultant that will utilize sound evaluation methods to conduct a process and outcome evaluation throughout the term of the project.
Deliverables within this scope of work include:
1. Work plan
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Outline specific tasks for completing the evaluation.
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List responsible person(s) and their roles in the work.
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Document a detailed timeline and completion dates for the work.
2. Evaluation Framework (March 2016)
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Develop an evaluation framework that includes a logic model for the Mental Health First Aid for Members of the Veteran Community Project, evaluation questions, indicators, measures and data sources, and analysis plan.
1Kitchener, BA, Jorm, AF, “Mental Health First Aid Training in a Workplace Setting: A Randomized Controlled Trial,” BMC Psychiatry, 2004; 4(23).
2Branding J, McKenna S, Evaluating Mental Health First Aid Training for Line Managers Working in the Public Sector, University of Bath, Mental Health Research and Development Unit, SofPH, 2010.
3Evaluation results found at http://www.mentalhealthfirstaid.ca/EN/about/Pages/Evaluation.aspx
3. Report of findings and implications (March 2020)
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Prepare a final written report including evaluation methodology, evaluation findings, implications, and recommendations.
REPORTING
The consultant will report to the Manager, Business Development and Planning at Mental Health First Aid within the Mental Health Commission of Canada. Bi-weekly verbal and/or written reports are expected at the outset of the project and will change to monthly reports once the project is well underway. Teleconferences will be scheduled with the Manager and MHCC staff as required. A mutual agreement on effective reporting requirements will occur at the beginning of the project. Linkages with the Department of Veterans Affairs will be available to support the evaluation. The consultant will be expected to have a draft of the evaluation framework and approach for review and feedback to the Department of Veterans Affairs. In addition, the consultant will be expected to produce a final report of findings and implications for MHCC and the Department of Veterans Affairs.
ESTIMATED VALUE AND TERM
The total estimated value of this contract shall not exceed $40,000. The project timeframe is January 4, 2016 – March 31, 2020, and must include all professional costs and expenses, including travel.
CANDIDATE QUALIFICATIONS
The successful candidate will have extensive and demonstrated evaluation experience working
collaboratively with government partners in evaluating mental health interventions and knowledge the veteran community. Ideally, the successful evaluation team will have a link to an accredited university.
SUBMISSION PROCESS
Proposals should include the following:
1. Demonstrated understanding of the project requirements.
2. Clear identification of approach and methods for carrying out the project work.
3. High-level work plan, including a timeline for the completion of deliverables.
4. Detailed budget.
5. CVs for the proposed project team outlining their qualifications, including a description of their
experience working in mental health and with government partners. The proposal should contain
a clear indication of the number of consulting days and tasks assigned to each team member,
including their daily rates.
Proposals will be evaluated on the following:
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Demonstrated understanding of the project requirements.
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Experience of team members in completing evaluation projects related to mental health.
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Experience of team members in working collaboratively with several partners, including government and members of the Veteran community.
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Appropriateness of costs and estimated budget.
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Demonstrated commitment to engagement of relevant stakeholders.
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