In this update:
- NYS and NYC Opportunities
- NYC DOHMH Issues Concept Report for Connect Article 31 Demonstration Program
- OASAS Announces $4.95 Million in Funding for Street Outreach in the Bronx and Manhattan
NYS and NYC Opportunities
NYC DOHMH Issues Concept Report for Connect Article 31 Demonstration Program
The New York City (NYC) Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) has issued a Concept Report outlining its intent to continue the Connect Demonstration Project. In 2022, DOHMH launched the Connect Demonstration Project in partnership with nine Article 31 outpatient mental health clinics that serve communities with elevated risk factors. DOHMH will issue an RFP in the fall to continue the program and anticipates awarding contracts to support seven Connect programs. The goals and outcomes of the project include:
- Identifying and addressing services gaps through a community needs assessment;
- Improving service connection for individuals in crisis, including individuals returning to their communities from incarceration; and
- Addressing and/or preventing mental health crises and engaging individuals reluctant to connect to traditional, on-site clinic services through the provision of off-site or community-based services.
Eligible applicants will be organizations with a current OMH-licensed Article 31 clinic (i.e., MHOTRS clinic) that serves adults. Clinic sites that are Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics (CCBHCs) or that also operate Personalized Recovery Oriented Services (PROS) onsite are not eligible. Programs must have the capacity to intake new clients within one hour of a client walking into the clinic or seeking telehealth services.
DOHMH will provide service dollar or wraparound funds to meet the emergency needs of those enrolled, such as groceries, essential clothing, insurance co-payments, or transportation. It is anticipated the annual value of all contracts will be $11,170,625. Contracts will last for nine years, starting on July 1, 2026.
The Concept Report is available here. Comments may be submitted to RFP@health.nyc.govwith “Connect Concept Paper Comments” in the subject line through June 2nd at 5pm.
OASAS Announces $4.95 Million in Funding for Street Outreach in the Bronx and Manhattan
On May 30th, the NYS Office of Addiction Services and Supports (OASAS) issued a Request for Applications (RFA) for mobile street outreach services in the Bronx and Manhattan. Providers will target individuals who actively use drugs and who are not engaged in harm reduction or treatment services, face chronic barriers to care, or live far from traditional brick-and-mortar harm reduction services. Providers will be expected to provide harm reduction services and referrals/linkage to care, conduct referrals and linkages to care, and maintain partnerships with community organizations such as hospitals, crisis stabilization centers, and community mental health centers.
OASAS will award up to $4.95 million in total funding across five contracts through this RFA. Each individual award will be up to $460,000 annually for a two-year period. There will be three awards in Manhattan and two in the Bronx. Additionally, one-time start-up funding of up to $70,000 is available for awardees who have not previously received funding for vehicle(s) under past OASAS initiatives. Awardees that are ineligible for this supplemental start-up funding may still use up to $70,000 of their annual award to purchase vehicle(s) as needed for the project.
Eligible applicants include not-for-profit agencies that have a physical address in the borough in which the applicant intends to deliver street outreach. Applicants must also have at least one of the following programs operating within the same borough:
- Syringe Service Programs (SSP) – Tier 1 or 2
- NYS Department of Health Drug User Health Hubs
- OASAS State Aid-Funded Recovery Community Centers
- Operational Street Outreach and Engagement Programs (OSF 23006 or SUPP 1010)
Organizations that received an award under RFA No. 24031 Street Outreach for Manhattan or the Bronx are not eligible to apply in that same borough under this RFA.
The RFA is available here. Applications are due on July 11th. Questions may be submitted to grants@oasas.ny.gov with the subject line “RFA STEW – 25005” through June 16th. Answers to questions will be posted on June 23rd.