In this update:
- Federal Opportunities
- HRSA Releases NOFO for Behavioral Health Workforce Education and Training Program for Paraprofessionals
- NYS and NYC Opportunities
- OMH Issues RFP for Critical Time Transition Programs for Children, Youth, and Families
Federal Opportunities
HRSA Releases NOFO for Behavioral Health Workforce Education and Training Program for Paraprofessionals
On January 15th, the Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA) released a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for the Behavioral Health Workforce Education and Training (BHWET) Program for Paraprofessionals. This program aims to increase the skills, knowledge, and capacity of students preparing to become mental health workers, peer support specialists, and other behavioral health paraprofessionals. A special focus will be placed on developing knowledge and understanding of children, adolescents, and transitional-age youth who have experienced trauma and are at risk for behavioral health disorders.
HRSA intends to provide $10.9 million in annual funding across 29 awardees (up to $350,000-$500,000 in annual funding per awardee) during the four-year contract period. Contracts are expected to begin on September 1st. Programs will be expected to:
- Provide a training program (pre-service training with option to provide in-service training), including didactic and experiential field training;
- Provide tuition and stipend support to trainees (must comprise at least 50% of the requested budget);
- Recruit individuals to serve high-need and high-demand areas;
- Improve trainees’ cultural competence to meet the needs of underserved communities;
- Establish or leverage partnerships with community-based organizations to provide experiential training, career development, and job placement following completion of training; and
- Enhance existing certificate training programs with curriculum development or other improvements.
Eligible applicants are state-licensed mental health non-profit or for-profit organizations that offer accredited or state-approved training programs related to mental health and substance use treatment. Such organizations may include behavioral health agencies, hospitals, academic institutions, technical schools, and community-based organizations.
The NOFO is available here. Applications are due on March 18th. Questions may be submitted to BHWETPara25@hrs.gov. There will be a technical assistance webinar on January 29th from 2pm-3:30pm, which may be accessed here.
NYS and NYC Opportunities
OMH Issues RFP for Critical Time Transition Programs for Children, Youth, and Families
On January 23rd, the New York State (NYS) Office of Mental Health (OMH) issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) for the development of up to four Critical Time Transition Programs (CTTP) for children, youth, and families. There will be up to one CTTP awarded in each of the following regions:
- Long Island (Nassau, Suffolk)
- New York City (Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens, Manhattan, Staten Island)
- Mohawk Valley (Fulton, Herkimer, Montgomery, Oneida, Otsego, Schoharie)
- Western New York (Allegany, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Erie, Niagara)
The CTTP includes care management provided by a Critical Time Intervention (CTI) team and an optional stay at a Transitional Residential Setting (TRS) for up to 120 days. The goal of the CTTP is to facilitate transitions to the community for youth who are boarding in hospital settings. The target population is children/youth (ages 11-18) with mental health conditions, including those with co-occurring substance use, medical conditions, or intellectual/developmental disabilities (I/DD).
Both capital funding for the development of the TRS and operational funding for the CTI team and TRS will be available to selected applicants. Capital funding may cover costs related to acquisition, construction, and/or rehabilitation of an existing structure. Contracts will last for five years, beginning October 1st.
Eligible applicants are not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organizations that have experience providing:
- Residential services to children/youth and their families; and
- Care management and/or behavioral health services to children/youth and their families.
Each CTTP will be required to have a working relationship with at least one local Article 28 hospital (e.g., inpatient psychiatry units, emergency department, and/or CPEP), as demonstrated by a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). However, the MOU will not be required at the time of application submission.
The RFP is available here. Applications are due on April 8th. There will be an optional Bidder’s Conference on February 11th at 11am, which may be accessed here. Questions may be submitted to Amanda Szczepkowski at OMHLocalProcurement@omh.ny.gov through February 19th with “CTTP for Children, Youth, and Families Inquiry” in the subject line.