RFA_MHSSA_002

The Commission will award grants to county mental health or behavioral health departments to fund partnerships between county mental health departments and local education entities. Grants awarded shall be used to provide support services that include suicide prevention, drop-out prevention, placement assistance, continuum-of-care for students in need of ongoing services, and outreach to high-risk youth.   

INTENT TO APPLY Applicants who want to participate in the solicitation shall submit a completed Attachment 2 - Intent to Apply, see due date specified on Table IV-1, Key Action Dates. The purpose of the Intent to Apply is to ensure all interested parties to the solicitation receive communications during the procurement process. The Intent to Apply shall be emailed to the Procurement Official identified in section VIII.C. Only those Applicants who submit an Intent to Apply will be eligible to apply for this Grant. Correspondence to an Applicant regarding this solicitation will only be given to the Applicant’s designated contact person. It shall be the Applicant’s responsibility to immediately notify the Procurement Official identified in section VIII.C, in writing, regarding any revision to the contact person information. The Commission shall not be responsible for bid correspondence not received by the Applicant, if the Applicant fails to notify the Commission, in writing, about any change pertaining to the designated contact person. ALLOWABLE COSTS The Budget Act of 2021 stated that these funds are to support partnerships between counties and schools pursuant to the Mental Health Student Services Act. The MHSSA which provides the following guidance on allowable costs: Personnel and/or peer support. Contractor, technical assistance, and other support. Program costs include, but are not limited to training, technology (e.g., telehealth), facilities improvements, and transportation. Facilities/Capital Outlay. Refer to Appendix 1 – Federal and State Guidance, for federal guidance on these type of expenditures. Funds may also be used to facilitate linkages and access to ongoing and sustained services, including: a.     Services provided on school campuses, b.     Suicide prevention services, c.      Drop-out prevention services, d.     Outreach to high-risk youth and young adults, including, but not limited to, foster youth, youth who identify as LGBTQ+, and youth who have been expelled or suspended from school. e.     Placement assistance and development of a service plan that can be sustained over time for students in need of ongoing services. Funds may also be used to provide other prevention, early intervention, and direct services, including, but not limited to, hiring qualified mental health personnel, professional development for school staff on trauma-informed and evidence-based mental health practices, and other strategies that respond to the mental health needs of children and youth, as determined by the Commission. Grant funds may be used to supplement, but not supplant existing financial and resource commitments of the county, city, or multi-county mental health or behavioral health departments, or a consortium of those entities, or educational entities that receive a grant. Grant funds cannot be transferred to any other program account for specific purposes other than the stated purpose of this grant. All expenditures must only support the program funded by the grant.