Immigrants and Refugees Advocacy – Statewide Organization

The Commission is issuing an RFP to contract a Statewide Organization to lead advocacy, training, education, and outreach for Immigrant and Refugee Populations. This organization will partner with seven local groups to amplify local voices and advocate for Immigrant and Refugee communities statewide.

The overarching goals and objectives are to: 1. Advocate at the state level to address statewide issues that contribute to negative mental health and/or substance use disorder outcomes for members of this Population. 2. Leverage and support existing state and local programs relating to language access, Community Defined Evidence Based Practices (CDEPs), culturally responsive services, and workforce development, providing the seven Local Organization Contractors with connections to those resources. 3. Work with Commission staff to organize convenings between the Local Organization Contractors to gain insight into current needs and elevate findings to the state level, using these opportunities to collaborate and strategize ways to best advocate for the needs of the Population. 4. Share policy recommendations with state leaders, policymakers, behavioral health providers, community leaders, and government entities on behalf of the Local Organization Contractors. 5. Educate the Local Organization Contractors about the Behavioral Health Services Act (BHSA) (Proposition 1, Chapter 790, Statutes of 2023, Senate Bill 326) impact on Immigrant and Refugee needs in terms of behavioral health access, as well as engage in outreach to gather feedback and advocate for the needs of underserved populations in the county BHSA Community Planning Process. Contractor Responsibilities:The Contractor will lead state-level advocacy and policy engagement to address the needs of Immigrant and Refugee Populations, organizing and supporting seven Local Organization Contractors across California. The Contractor’s duties include: Support for Local Contractors:Assist local organizations—based in San Jose, Westminster, Oakland, San Bernardino, Sacramento, San Diego/Los Angeles—in developing advocacy strategies and promoting inclusion in the Behavioral Health Services Act (BHSA) Community Planning Process. State-Level Advocacy:Use local findings and organizational expertise to:Educate state policymakers about immigrant and refugee behavioral health needs.Advance evidence-based statewide legislation and policies.Promote or expand programs related to language access, culturally responsive care, and workforce development.Support immigrant and refugee participation in policy and public advocacy events. Convenings:Facilitate biannual meetings (at least one in-person/year) with local contractors and the Commission to collaborate, report progress, set priorities, and share resources and best practices. BHSA Technical Assistance:Help local organizations engage in county-level BHSA planning, monitor immigrant and refugee inclusion, analyze county expenditure reports, and provide feedback to inform state-level BHSA implementation. Data Collection and Use:Standardize and synthesize data from local organizations to identify trends, inform policy recommendations, highlight regional or demographic differences, and contribute to final reporting and ongoing improvement. Overall, the Contractor will ensure ongoing collaboration, technical support, and communication between local organizations and state efforts to improve behavioral health outcomes for Immigrant and Refugee communities.