Federal Grant Award Summary

Yale University received a $757,250 Project Grant from the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) under the Mental Health Research Grants program (CFDA 93.242), effective May 1, 2026 through April 30, 2029. The project, titled "Financial Tools Access and Navigation (FINTAN) for Supported Financial Decision Making," addresses the intersection of financial hardship and serious mental illness (SMI) among vulnerable populations. The research will explore person-centered financial management models and digital tools that support autonomous financial decision-making for individuals with SMI, particularly those from low socioeconomic backgrounds and communities of color who experience disproportionate financial vulnerability and stress. This work represents an alternative approach to current limited interventions—either ad hoc budgeting advice or removal of financial control through representative payees or conservators—with the goal of improving both financial stability and mental health outcomes.

The FINTAN initiative will develop and evaluate accessible financial tools designed to enhance money management capabilities without unnecessary curtailment of individual autonomy or the documented downsides associated with traditional payee arrangements. By advancing evidence-based, person-centered models for supported financial decision-making, the project directly aligns with NIMH's mission to transform mental health treatment and prevention through rigorous research. The research outputs will include empirical evidence, validated financial decision-making tools, and implementation guidance to inform policy and practice improvements for individuals with SMI managing financial hardship.