UPDATE – 3/29/22: The RFA uploaded to the ZoomGrants link was incorrect at the time of the original posting and email announcement, but now has been updated. We apologize for any confusion.
UPDATE – 5/4/22: RFA deadlines were updated, with due date extended until May 12, 2022, at 2:30 p.m.
The King County Department of Community and Human Services’ (DCHS) Behavioral Health and Recovery Division (BHRD) is pleased to release this Request for Application (RFA) for the 2022-2023 Expanded Behavioral Health Services in Rural King County.
Up to $600,000 is available through ARPA funding to respond to community-identified needs for youth suicide prevention training and peer behavioral health services in rural, unincorporated King County. The ability to expend the awarded amount beyond 2023 is subject to approval by King County Council and is not guaranteed.
Due
UPDATE 5/4/2022: DUE DATE EXTENDED UNTIL MAY 12, 2022, AT 2:30 P.M. PACIFIC TIME.
Original due date: May 3, 2022, by 2:30 p.m. Pacific Time. View the full RFA and apply at: https://kingcounty.zoomgrants.com/gprop.asp?donorid=2209&limited=3986
This RFA responds to community-identified need to increase access and utilization of youth suicide prevention training and peer services in all six Community Service Areas (CSAs) in rural, unincorporated King County.
Objective / Scope of Work
DCHS seeks to fund the following two strategies to assist youth and their families who need help with behavioral health challenges and are seeking to build connections, systems of support, and belonging:
- Specialized Youth Suicide Prevention Training, which may include:
- Youth suicide prevention training.
- Youth suicide prevention outreach.
- Youth suicide prevention engagement.
- Rural Peer Services, which may include:
- Peer-driven outreach and engagement activities that take into consideration the unique needs of rural residents.
- Peer supportive services that build community around peers and family members living in rural areas of King County.
- Peer-lead support groups in rural areas.
Funding
Up to $600,000 is available through ARPA funding to support the work described in this RFA. The program period is anticipated to be July 1, 2022 – December 31, 2023.
The strategy and community identified services/activities to be funded are:
- Specialized Youth Suicide Prevention Training: $300,000 for an eighteen (18) month project, one award available.
- Rural Peer Services: $300,000 for an eighteen (18) month project, one award available.
Community engagement process
In advance of this funding allocation, DCHS/BHRD conducted a community engagement process which included: a rural-focused community needs survey that received over 700 unique responses, six (6) listening sessions which included Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC) communities, a literature review of national best and/or promising practices, and an analysis of service utilization of publicly funded behavioral health services. Over the course of this process, DCHS/BHRD heard directly from peers and family members, people in recovery, rural behavioral health service providers, and other key rural partners.
The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated interpersonal risk factors for suicide due to the prolonged pandemic, quarantines, physical distancing, family separation, isolation, lack of school access, and overall fear of becoming infected and infecting loved ones. This has led to an increase of onset or exacerbation of behavioral health symptoms, while access to mental healthcare has become more challenging during the pandemic
Eligibility
Organizations eligible for funding include CBOs, healthcare, behavioral health and social service providers, and community coalitions that are for profit or not-for-profit organizations, Indian tribal government and Indian tribal organizations, schools, and public agencies that are embedded in, or serving communities specifically located in one of the six eligible CSAs and adjoining cities in rural King County.
Eligible CSAs include:
- Bear Creek/Sammamish
- Snoqualmie Valley/Northeast King County
- Four Creeks/Tiger Mountain
- Greater Maple Valley/Cedar River
- Southeast King County
- Vashon/Maury Islands
Adjoining cities and towns are also eligible but must serve the rural areas within their neighboring CSA. These include Skykomish, Duvall, Carnation, Snoqualmie, North Bend, Covington, Maple Valley, Black Diamond, and Enumclaw.
Timeline
| RFA Release | March 15, 2022 |
| Pre-Applications Conference A virtual information session to discuss questions related to this RFA. | May 13, 2022, 10:00 a.m. – 11 a.m. |
| Final day to submit questions via email | April 20, 2022 |
| Applications due | May 12, 2022 by 2:30 p.m. |
| Responses reviewed | May 13, 2022 through May 30, 2022 |
| Notification of selected and non-selected Applicant(s) | June, 2022 |
| Anticipated program/contract start date | July, 2022 |
Questions
Please submit questions in writing to DCHSContracts@kingcounty.gov on or before April 20, 2022.
Submit an application
View the full RFA at: https://kingcounty.zoomgrants.com/gprop.asp?donorid=2209&limited=3986.
Submit your application via email at DCHSContracts@kingcounty.gov no later than 2:30 pm on May 3, 2022.
Pre-applications conference:
RFA orientation conference is scheduled for May 13, 2022, at 2:00 p.m.
Join by Zoom:
https://kingcounty.zoom.us/j/81384923993
Passcode: 353160
Join by phone:
253-215-8782
Passcode: 353160
