King County Department of Community and Human Services (DCHS) Behavioral Health and Recovery Division (BHRD) is pleased to announce a Request for Applications (RFA) for the Be Heard: BIPOC Voices about Mental Health & Wellness Community Listening Project. 

The primary goal is to help BHRD understand how to better serve individuals from BIPOC communities by gathering community feedback about behavioral health through listening sessions facilitated by and/or for BIPOC organizations. 

To review the opportunity and apply, please visit the Microsoft Teams link here. Applications are due April 17th, 2024, by 2 PM pacific time.  

An information session will be held virtually March 29th from 9 – 10AM. Access the session via the Zoom link: https://kingcounty.zoom.us/j/81327152141 (Meeting ID: 813 2715 2141, Passcode: 533630 )

Please let the RFA Lead: Tiffany Ngo, DCHScontracts@kingcounty.gov know if you need additional accommodations by Wednesday, March 27, 2024. 

About the RFA – Be Heard: BIPOC Voices about Mental Health & Wellness Community Listening Project 

Accessible and responsive behavioral health care (mental health, wellness, and substance use care) is an important need facing all of our communities.  

To better understand the diversity of needs and experiences, DCHS is seeking to fund up to 12 small Community-Based Organizations (CBOs) that provide mental health and/or wellness support within their community to participate in the Be Heard: Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC) Voices on Mental Health and Wellness Community Listening Project. 

Awarded organization will hold Community Conversations and Key Informant Interviews with members of the communities they serve. Organizations will share information collected from their communities with BHRD so their needs can be better understood and better integrated into behavioral health-related programing to inform meaningful partnership, communications, and services. 

Funding is made available from the MIDD Behavioral Health Fund. 

Goals of the Community Listening Project: 

  • Partner with small CBOs to learn the behavioral health needs and desires of BIPOC communities 
  • Share insights back to communities, decision makers, and King County staff to inform system changes and new programming 

When will the Community Listening Project happen? 

The project is scheduled to begin around June 1, 2024, and end by September 30, 2024. 

Is your organization a fit? Here’s who should apply: 

This RFA is open to small organizations, CBOs, grassroots coalitions that are non-profit organizations, Indian tribal government, and Indian tribal organizations that provide culturally and linguistically-focused mental health and wellness and/or substance use services to BIPOC communities in King County. See the full RFA for more details.  

Eligible Applications from organizations must meet the following minimum qualifications criteria to be considered for funding: 

  • Serve King County residents.  
  • Meet the definition of Small Organization as defined in Section II of the Glossary.  
  • Have at least three years of experience serving BIPOC communities.  
  • Have a health and/or wellness focus.  

Funding + Project Scope 

Applicants may request up to $9,999 to conduct the Community Listening Project activities in partnership and collaboration with King County as well as to cover eligible expenses.  

Project deliverables include: 

  • Engage at least 30 individuals through Community Conversation and/or Key Informant Interviews 
  • Submit collected qualitative information, notes and demographic data. 

View the full RFA for more details. 

RFP Timeline – Apply by April 17! 

Release Date  March 21, 2024  
Questions Due  April 10, 2024  
Final Day to initiate request for technical assistance  April 3, 2024  
Information Session  A virtual information session to discuss questions related to this RFA will be held on March 29 from 9 – 10am.  Please access the information session via the Zoom link:  https://kingcounty.zoom.us/j/81327152141 
Meeting ID: 813 2715 2141  
Passcode: 533630
The information session will be recorded and posted to the Microsoft Teams Form.  
Applications Due   April 17, 2024 at 2 PM Pacific Time  
Estimated Contract Period of Performance  June 1, 2024 through September 30, 2024  
Submitting an Application  Applications are hereby solicited and will be received via Microsoft Teams Form no later than the due date noted above.  
Link to Application    https://forms.office.com/g/J2ZeypRqag

Technical Assistance is Available at No Cost 

Grant Application Consulting is available at no cost for CBOs to develop applications. While GA is available to all, the main purpose is to eliminate linguistic, cultural, and other barriers that may prevent organizations from seeking government funding. DCHS’s GA Consultants offer a wide range of skills, areas of expertise, and language abilities. Use of this service is optional and will not impact funding determinations. Applicants can request assistance here.  

Questions? 

Please contact RFA Lead: Tiffany Ngo, DCHScontracts@kingcounty.gov 

For full RFA details and to apply, click here.