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Community-Led Design Group

We're creating a plan to pilot a community-led response to mental health crises in Boston.

The Design Group will create a pilot proposal plan for a community-led mental health response. We're looking for 10 Boston residents with professional or lived experiences with mental health issues. Interested in applying? Please complete our online application:

Design Group Application

You can learn more about the Design Group below.

About the group

History of the group

In April 2021, the Mayor asked the Health and Human Services Cabinet, Boston Police, and Boston EMS to reimagine responses to mental health crises. This work resulted in the development of three initiatives for pilot plans:

  1. Improving the co-response model
  2. Introducing an alternative response, led by Boston-EMS and mental health workers
  3. Creating a community-led response

You can learn more about these efforts on our mental health crisis response website.

Timeline and expectations
  • The Design Group will create a pilot proposal plan for a community-led mental health response. The group will be made up of at least 10 Boston residents. We are looking for members with professional or lived experience with mental health issues.
  • The group will meet from December 2021 to May 2022. Members are expected to actively participate in virtual or in-person meetings. We will follow all COVID-19 precautions and restrictions. 
  • We acknowledge the time and effort that goes into serving on the Design Group. For that reason, we will provide members a monetary stipend of $1,200.
  • We will have translation services available for residents who do not speak English. If you plan to apply, you can request your preferred language in the application

How to apply

Applications and deadlines: 

Want to become a member of the Community-Led Design Group? Please complete the online application:

Design Group online application

All applications must be completed and turned in by Wednesday, November 10, 2021, by 5 p.m. (EST).

Have any questions regarding the Design Group or the application? Please call Krystal Garcia at 617-635-3950 or email krystal.garcia@boston.gov.

Paper Application:

If you are having trouble filling out the online application, you can download our paper application. Once you have finished filling it out, please email your completed application to Krystal Garcia at krystal.garcia@boston.gov.

You can also mail it or drop if off in person to: 

Krystal Garcia

Boston City Hall, 1 City Hall Square, Room 806

Boston, Massachusetts 02201

Paper Application in other languages: 

Common questions

Common questions

Do I have to live in a specific neighborhood to participate? 

No. All Boston residents should feel free to apply regardless of which neighborhood they live in. 

I don’t live in Boston, but I work in Boston and would like to participate. Can I still apply? 

While we appreciate your desire to serve on the Design Group, all members must currently live in Boston.  

Will translation services be provided for Design Group members that prefer to communicate in another language? 

Yes. Translation services will be provided, but you have to notify us ahead of time. Make sure to indicate what language you are fluent in the application process. 

Why are you providing a monetary stipend for participants? 

The City of Boston is deeply appreciative of the time and expertise community members will invest in serving on this Design Group. All selected members will receive a monetary stipend. We want to acknowledge the time and effort that goes into serving in this group. We also want to help offset any necessary childcare and transportation costs associated with their participation. Providing monetary stipends has been shown to: 

  • help bring a broader range of voices into the work 
  • demonstrate that we value community knowledge and participation, and
  • encourage greater consistency, responsibility, and accountability in participation.

I don’t have time to be part of the Design Group but would like to provide my thoughts on Community-led responses to mental health crises. How can I do that?

The Design Group will hold opportunities for additional community voices to be presented. Please look out for those opportunities in the coming months.

¿Tengo que vivir en un barrio específico para participar?

No, todos los residentes de Boston deben presentar una solicitud sin importar en qué vecindario de Boston vivan.

No vivo en Boston, pero trabajo en Boston y me gustaría participar. ¿Todavía puedo aplicar?

Apreciamos su deseo de servir en el Grupo de diseño, pero todos los miembros deben vivir actualmente en la ciudad de Boston.

¿Se proporcionarán servicios de traducción a los miembros de Design Group que prefieran comunicarse en otro idioma?

Sí, se proporcionarán servicios de traducción, pero debe notificarnos con anticipación. Asegúrese de indicar qué idioma prefieres en la solicitud.

¿Por qué proporciona un estipendio monetario a los participantes?

La Ciudad de Boston agradece profundamente el tiempo y la experiencia que contribuyen los miembros de la comunidad en servir en este Grupo de Diseño. Todos los miembros seleccionados recibirán un estipendio monetario en reconocimiento del tiempo y el esfuerzo que se dedican a servir en este grupo y para ayudar a compensar los costos de cuidado de niños y transporte necesarios asociados con su participación. Se ha demostrado que proporcionar estipendios monetarios:

  • Ayuda a incorporar más comunidades y voces en el proyecto
  • Demuestra que valoramos el conocimiento y la participación de la comunidad.
  • Crea una mayor responsabilidad en la participación.

No tengo tiempo para ser parte del Grupo de Diseño, pero me gustaría compartir mi opinión sobre las respuestas lideradas por la comunidad a las crisis de salud mental, ¿cómo puedo hacerlo?

El Grupo de Diseño Liderado por la Comunidad ofrecerá oportunidades para que se presenten voces adicionales de la comunidad. Esté atento a esas oportunidades en los próximos meses.

我必须住在特定的社区才能参与吗?

不须,所有属波士顿市的居民,不论那个社区都可以申请。

我不住在波士顿市,但我在波士顿工作并想参加。我可以申请吗?

很抱歉,我们感谢您对设计组的兴趣,但目前所有参与成员必须居住于波士顿市。

你们会否为非擅长英语交流的设计组成员提供翻译服务?

会。我们会提供翻译服务,但请你必须提前通知我们。请在申请表格上表明你所需的语言。

你为什么会给参与者提供金钱津贴?

波士顿市非常感谢社区成员为这个设计组投入的时间和专业知识。所有被选的成员都会获得金钱津贴,以表彰参与设计组服务的时间和努力,及帮助抵消其他托儿和交通费用。提供金钱津贴已被证明可以:

  • 帮助把更广泛的声音带入这工作
  • 表明我们重视社区知识和参与 
  • 鼓励更高的一致性、责任感和参与问责

我没有时间参与设计组,但希望就社区主导对付精神健康危机的应对提​​出我的想法。我可以怎么做?

社区主导设计组将会举办更多聆听社区声音的活动。请在接下来几个月留意这些活动。

Èske mwen dwe viv nan yon katye espesifik pou-m kapab patisipe?

Non, tout rezidan Boston yo ta dwe santi yo lib pou yo aplike nan kèlkeswa katye yo rete nan Boston.

Mwen pa rete nan Boston, men mwen travay nan Boston e mwen ta renmen patisipe. Èske mwen ka toujou aplike?

Pandan ke nou apresye dezi ou pou sèvi nan Gwoup Planifikasyon an, pou kounyea tout manm yo dwe ap viv nan Vil Boston.

Eske ap genyen sèvis entèprèt disponib pou Gwoup Planifikasyon an si key o ta prefere kominike nan yon lòt lang? 

Wi, sèvis entèprèt ap disponib, men wap bezwen di nou sa davans. Rasire ke ou endike ki lang ou pale pi byen nan pwosesis aplikasyon an. 

Poukisa yap bay yon lajan monetè pou patisipan yo? 

Vil Boston an apresye pwofondman tan ak ekspètiz manm kominote a pral envesti nan sèvi nan Gwoup Planifikasyon sa. Tout manm ke yo chwazi yo ap resevwa yon lajan monetè pou rekonèt tan ak efò ke yap mete nan sèvi nan Gwoup sa a epi ede konpanse nenpòt gadri ki nesesè ak depans pou transpòtasyon ki asosye ak patisipasyon yo. Lè nou bay pèman lajan nou wè: 

  • Ede vini a plis opinyon nan travay 
  • Demontre ke nou bay valè a konesans ak patipasyon kominite a
  • Ankouraje plis konsistans, ak responsablite, nan patisipasyon

Mwen pa gen tan pou-m patisipe nan Gwoup Planifikasyon an men mwen ta renmen bay ide mwen sou repons ki dirije pa Kominote a nan kriz sante mantal yo, kijan ke mwen kapab fè sa? 

Gwoup Planifikasyon ki dirije pa Komonite a pral bay opòtinite ak lòt kominote pou eksprime yo. Tanpri veye opòtinite sa yo nan mwa kap vini yo. 

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