Tai M. Paquin, PLMSW, LADAC

One thing I’ve noticed over the course of time with BH2I is that every grantee has had a journey with both highs and lows. Staffing turnover, evaluator engagement, competing priorities, and the ever-present challenge of “doing more with less” can make progress feel slow at times. These moments of struggle are not signs of weakness. Instead, they can be turning points that make a program stronger.

Grant resilience isn’t about avoiding challenges; it is about how you respond to them. And for grantees, every obstacle you overcome becomes a part of your story—one that shows Tribal Councils, funders and community members the persistence and creativity behind your success.

Setbacks Becoming Storylines

Many programs experience setbacks that, at first, feeling discouraged. For example, a new hire falls through, a trusted leader transitions out of their role or a process that looked good on paper doesn’t work as well in practice. These are real, human challenges.

But with reflection—and with the help of technical assistance—grantees have found ways to reframe these setbacks into storylines of resilience.

  • Leadership changes that slowed momentum also brought new opportunities for fresh perspectives and renewed commitment.
  • Hiring struggles became stories of persistence, where teams found creative ways to restructure roles and responsibilities and keep services going until the right team member joined.
  • Workflow barriers (like referral processes or EHR “urgent” flags) sparked collaboration across departments and led to more effective solutions than originally imagined.

These aren’t just problems solved; they’re chapters in a story that demonstrate adaptability, problem-solving, and dedication to client care.

Reframing Challenges for Stakeholders

How a challenge is presented matters. Instead of simply reporting obstacles, grantees can frame them as part of a broader narrative of resilience.

For example, the challenge of “we had difficulty hiring for a key clinical position” can be reframed as: “Although filling a behavioral health provider role was challenging, our team adjusted by cross-training existing staff and strengthening partnerships with local providers. These efforts ensured services continued for our community while we worked to secure the right person to join our team.”

This framing does two important things:

  • It shows honesty and transparency about the challenge.
  • It highlights the proactive steps the team took to move forward.

Funders and Tribal leaders understand that challenges will happen. What stands out to them is evidence of resilience: how programs respond and adapt to keep moving toward their goals.

Resilience as a Strength

Resilience doesn’t happen in isolation. Teams draw on peer learning, TA sessions, and community partnerships to navigate challenges together. At convenings and group T/TA sessions, grantees often realize they’re not alone; others have faced similar issues and found creative solutions. By sharing these stories with one another, grantees build a collective strength that reinforces the message: resilience is not just an individual trait, but a community resource.

Conclusion

Challenges are inevitable, but they don’t define a program—your response does. By reframing obstacles as growth opportunities, grantees can share stories that are both honest and inspiring. Resilience shows your community, funders, and leadership that your team is moving forward with strength and purpose, making real life stories of persistence.

References

National Council for Mental Wellbeing. (2019). How to Tell Your Story: A Toolkit for Behavioral Health Advocates. https://www.thenationalcouncil.org

Native Americans in Philanthropy. (2020). Centering Indigenous Voices Through Storytelling. https://nativephilanthropy.org

NIHB. (2023). Behavioral Health Integration Stories of Impact. National Indian Health Board.