Maui United Way announces $500,000 in new ‘Ohana Mental Health Grants focused on addressing mental health

On Wednesday, Maui United Way (MUW) announced a new ‘Ohana Mental Health Grant opportunity, offering five to 10 mental health grants of $50,000$100,000 each aimed at supporting local nonprofits working to meet the ongoing mental health needs in the aftermath of the wildfires, according to a press release from the organization.

Recognizing the challenges faced by individuals and families in accessing quality mental health care before the fires, MUW has stated they are dedicated to supporting organizations working to enhance mental health outcomes for all residents.

Nonprofit organizations providing mental health services are invited to submit a request for information (RFI) to Maui United Way for the ‘Ohana Mental Health grant which can be found on the MUW website: https://www.mauiunitedway.org/ohana-mh-grant.

The RFI process allows organizations to provide details about their programs, services, and funding needs. Based on the information gathered through the RFI process, MUW will identify potential grantees and invite selected organizations to submit full grant proposals. The deadline for RFI submissions is Wednesday, April 24, 2024, at 5 p.m. HST.

“We decided to provide a smaller number of grants at a higher dollar amount because we recognize that setting up mental health programs is time and labor intensive. We think this approach will help to quickly deepen our impact on one of our community’s most pressing needs – culturally appropriate trauma, grief, addiction, recovery, and wraparound mental health supportive services.” said Makana Rosete Nunes, community impact coordinator for MUW.

Thanks to the generous support of our donors, the MUW said they have been able to help provide mental health and trauma support to the community through stewarding the “Sentry Malama Keiki Initiative” which will be aimed at children displaced by the fires.

According to the MUW, teams of mental health professionals will literally be meeting children where they are – actively engaging with keiki in their environments, whether it be the resorts, beaches, and other community locations. It will build on crisis counseling services recently deployed on the West Side and will target children and families who are currently experiencing homelessness due to being displaced by the fires.

The MUW sponsored the Maui Flow Fest, a groundbreaking monthly dance event dedicated to Maui’s youth in grades 9-12. The events are crafted to be a celebration of youth and resilience in a wholesome drug, alcohol, and tobacco-free setting. Select youth attendees will be trained in peerto-peer counseling for even greater impact.

The MUW is also responsible for committing funds to construct a playground at the temporary campus in Lahaina for students and staff displaced from King Kamehameha III Elementary School, which was damaged beyond repair in the August fires.

MUW has also helped fund crisis, trauma, and grief counseling programs, equipment and training for student athletics and martial arts, science and art camps for hands-on experiential learning, and art and equine therapy.

“We know the road to recovery and resilience is long and we want to help by lighting the way as much as we can,” said Nunes.