RFA: Start-Up Costs for School-Based Mental Health Satellite Clinics

August 16, 2023

On August 3rd, the New York State Office of Mental Health (OMH) released a Request for Applications (RFA) to support recently implemented or newly created school-based Mental Health clinic satellites that promote direct and timely access for students and their families to needed mental health treatment and coordinated care.

Each awarded satellite will receive $25,000 in start-up funding and, if established in a high-needs district, an additional $20,000 in funding, for a total of $45,000. For the purpose of this RFA, OMH has identified high-needs districts as having at least 50% of the student population classified as economically disadvantaged. OMH plans to make as many as 332 awards, totaling $8.3 million. The awarded contracts will be for two years, beginning January 1, 2024.

Eligible applicants are current OMH-licensed Mental Health Outpatient Treatment and Rehabilitative Services (MHOTRS) providers serving children/adolescents and who meet one of the following criteria: 

  • Aims to create a new school-based mental health satellite location(s) in the 2023-2024 school year;
  • Has already submitted a Prior Approval Review (PAR) to operate a satellite location; or
  • Has been issued an operating certificate for a new satellite location(s) which opened in the 2022-2023 school year or is projected to start in the 2023-2024 school year.


Applicants can submit one application for each new satellite location that will be newly opened or recently implemented. Upon approval of the application, providers that have not already submitted a PAR will be required to submit an EZ PAR for approval by OMH. To expedite processes, eligible applicants may opt to begin the PAR process concurrent to the application review. All applicants are required to secure a Letter of Support from the school where the satellite(s) will be located.

SPG’s summary of this funding opportunity is available here. The full RFA is available here. Applications are due by October 5th. Questions may be emailed to Carol Swiderski at OMHLocalProcurement@omh.ny.gov with the subject line “School Based MH Clinic RFA” by August 22nd.