Funding Opportunities – October 29, 2024

November 5, 2024

In this update: 

  • Federal Opportunities
    • HRSA Releases NOFO for Behavioral Health Workforce Education and Training Program for Professionals
  • NYS and NYC Opportunities
    • DOH Issues RFA for Healthcare Education and Life-Skills Program
    • OMH Issues RFP for Forensic Assertive Community Treatment Teams

Federal Opportunities

HRSA Releases NOFO for Behavioral Health Workforce Education and Training Program for Professionals
On October 22nd, the Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA) released a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for the Behavioral Health Workforce Education and Training (BHWET) Program for Professionals. This program aims to increase the supply of behavioral health professionals and improve the distribution of a well-trained behavioral health workforce, with a specific focus on increasing access to behavioral health services for children, adolescents, and young adults. HRSA intends to provide $59.6 million in annual funding across 101 awardees (up to $600,000 in annual funding per awardee) during the four-year contract period. Contracts are expected to begin on July 1, 2025. Programs will be expected to: 

  • Provide stipend support to students (which will comprise 50% of the total requested budget);
  • Enhance didactic and experiential training activities that focus on behavioral health integration into primary care, school settings, and other sub-specialty care;
  • Create or enhance current evidence-based interprofessional training programs for supervisors supporting trainees;
  • Incorporate technology integration by providing options for distance learning and telehealth services and by increasing digital health literacy; and
  • Establish relationships with community-based partners to assist students with job placement after graduation.  

Eligible applicants include institutions of higher education, not-for-profit organizations, community-based organizations and clinical settings, and hospitals. Applicants must have accredited education, training, or residency programs in behavioral health fields, such as psychiatry, psychology, psychiatric nursing, behavioral pediatrics, social work, substance use disorder prevention and treatment, marriage and family therapy, and occupational therapy.

The NOFO is available here. Applications are due on January 21, 2025. Program and eligibility questions may be submitted to Miryam Gerdine at BHWETPro25@hrsa.gov. Financial and budget questions may be submitted to Nandini Nassar at nassar@hrsa.gov.

NYS and NYC Opportunities

DOH Issues RFA for Healthcare Education and Life-Skills Program
On October 22nd, the New York State (NYS) Department of Health (DOH) issued a Request for Applications (RFA) for the Healthcare Education and Life-Skills Program. This program aims to increase the number of students and trainees pursuing careers in healthcare by offering wraparound services and support, such as life-skills training, academic advising, tutoring, and coverage of tuition/educational expenses or personal expenses (i.e., childcare). Applicants may subcontract up to 25% of program activities.

DOH will provide approximately $19.5 million in total annual funding during the five-year program period. Individual awards will range from $250,000 to $1 million annually. There will be at least two awards in each of the 10 Empire State Development regions. Applicants may cover a wide spectrum of student/trainee levels and healthcare disciplines and should consider recruiting participants from marginalized and/or underrepresented communities.

Eligible applications are not-for-profit organizations that support students or trainees pursuing careers in health care. Examples of such organizations include, but are not limited to: 

  • Community-based organizations;
  • Educational institutions;
  • General hospitals and health care facilities;
  • Healthcare worker unions;
  • Joint labor-management training funds and committees;
  • Regional health networks;
  • Trade associations; and
  • Workforce Investment Organizations (WIOs).

Applicants may only submit one application for consideration. Contracts are expected to begin on January 1, 2026.

The RFA is available here. Applications are due on December 20th. Questions may be submitted to Carrie Roseamelia at HELP.Services.Grant@health.ny.gov through November 12th with “RFA#20529, Healthcare Education and Life-skills Program” in the subject line and a reference to the RFA section and paragraph to which the question refers in the body of the email. Answers to questions will be posted on December 3rd.

OMH Issues RFP for Forensic Assertive Community Treatment Teams 
On October 23rd, the NYS Office of Mental Health (OMH) issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) to establish seven Forensic Assertive Community Treatment (FACT) teams statewide. These teams will serve justice-involved individuals with serious mental illness (SMI) who have not been successfully engaged by traditional mental health services. The new FACT teams will provide traditional ACT services, in addition to specialized services that reduce risk factors associated with arrest, recidivism, and recurring involvement with the criminal justice system. Other enhancements to the model to address the needs of justice-involved individuals include staff and peers with criminal justice expertise/experience, specialized training for staff, and dedicated slots for individuals being released from prison.

Eligible applicants are not-for-profit 501(c)(3) agencies with experience providing mental health services to individuals with SMI. To qualify for FACT services, individuals must meet eligibility criteria for ACT services and have current involvement in the criminal justice system (e.g., incarcerated and pending release, subject to community supervision). Each FACT team will have a low staff-to-client ratio and be composed of interdisciplinary professionals in psychiatry, nursing, social work, and peer support.

FACT teams will be funded through Medicaid and net deficit funding, as outlined in the RFP for upstate and downstate 48/68 slot teams. OMH will also provide $100,000 in start-up funding and $350,000 in transition/ramp-up funding at the beginning of the contract. Contracts will last for five years, beginning on July 1, 2025. Downstate awards will include one 68-capacity team in Nassau County and one 68-capacity team in Westchester County.

The RFP is available here. Applications are due by December 18th. Questions may be submitted to Jerry Witkop at OMHLocalProcurement@omh.ny.gov with “RFP Adult Forensic ACT” in the subject line through November 13th. Answers to questions will be posted on November 26th.