The Office of Behavioral Health will soon post a Request for Application (RFA) for a new grant program made possible through SB 21-137 which provided $2 million to address the need described in SB 19-222 for “improved access to a high-quality behavioral health system that serves individuals regardless of payer type or acuity level and that has a full continuum of behavioral health treatment services." The RFA will seek applications for grants to community-based organizations for the expansion or improvement of local or regional behavioral health disorder treatment programs and/or address workforce challenges. OBH will host a Pre-Bidders Conference on March 21, 2-3 p.m., during which OBH staff will be available to answer questions.
Register for Pre-Bidders Conference
Background: In response to Senate Bill, 19-222 (SB 19-222) Colorado Department of Human Services (CDHS) and Health Care Policy and Financing (HCPF) designed a Comprehensive Safety Net Model and Framework that identifies a continuum of behavioral health services that all communities must have access to in each region of the state. This document outlines the key goals and steps required to close the gaps in the current delivery system and ensure that individuals with the most difficult-to-treat mental health disorders receive services. (Senate Bill 19-222 Plan)
The Comprehensive Safety Net Model and Framework is organized along a continuum to address the need described in the legislation for SB 19-222 for “improved access to a high-quality behavioral health system that serves individuals regardless of payer type or acuity level and that has a full continuum of behavioral health treatment services”. The model is designed with the acknowledgment that an individual’s need for treatment is based both on acuity (how severe are a client’s symptoms) and complexity (how a client’s behavioral health needs intersect with medical and social needs).
In June 2021, Governor Jared Polis signed Senate Bill 21-137 which created a grant program that appropriated $2,000,000 to the Office of Behavioral Health (OBH) to provide grants to community-based organizations for the expansion or improvement of local or regional behavioral health disorder treatment programs and/or address workforce challenges.
Allowable Uses of Funding: This RFA seeks to provide grants for the expansion or improvement of local or regional behavioral health disorder treatment and recovery programs in alignment with SB 19-222 and expand safety net services for enhanced outpatient and/or comprehensive behavioral health services that meet the behavioral needs in a community.
SB 19-222 requires that the continuum of safety net services is community-based, client and family-centered, and the approach is specifically designed to engage complex and higher need adults and youth with severe mental health and/or substance use conditions. Adults and youth with higher behavioral health needs are often at risk for poor outcomes including increased emergency room or hospital admissions, jail bookings, child welfare involvement, and school suspension/expulsion. Clients with increased treatment needs are often involved with multiple systems and have co-occurring treatment needs including physical health; developmental challenges; child welfare involvement and/or involvement in criminal and juvenile justice systems.