Peer to Peer Supported Transition Program

SOLICITATION OF INTEREST ONLY

The New York State Office of Mental Health (OMH) is providing one-time funding to OMH providers to expand timely access to intensive community-based services. Specifically, these resources are intended to support individuals in services and their family members or chosen supports in successfully transitioning to the community from their treatment setting utilizing a Peer-to-Peer Supported Transition program, in alignment with the design and intent of the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplement Appropriations Act. Specifically, the Mental Health Block Grant “is designed to provide comprehensive community mental health services”.

Peer to Peer Supported Transition Program to have the following goals:

The intent of this funding is the creation of a community first support program. Intended to assist individuals and their chosen support group/family in creating a time limited, successful, and sustainable transition from their treatment setting into their community of choice with a focus on wellness, sustained community inclusion and practical strategies to use in emerging crises. This program will have an emphasis on higher intensity services, coordinated hand-off to a lower level of care, family engagement, and provision in the home or community as appropriate. To address the present volume of need for individualized, intensive, community-based services and support, funds will assist with the following:

• Expansion of program operations or creation of program to serve a greater number of individuals statewide.
• Creation of formal mechanisms for connections/partnership to supports, activities, and services in the community promoting whole person wellness.
• Program will serve youth and adults with SMI/SED in various demographics including but not limited to: individuals discharged from a variety of treatment courts, correctional institutions, Veterans courts, hospitals, residential treatment, rehabilitation centers, adult homes, and psychiatric centers
• Efforts in marketing for hiring, onboarding, and retaining more qualified staff to train staff in agencies licensed, funded, or overseen by OMH
• Education: In-person and virtual, ongoing technical assistance and continuing education as support models emerge.
• Increased service capacity to eligible and appropriate referrals
• Decreased length of stay in programs/facilities and services waitlists
• Increased workforce to be able to support service access and service provision to eligible enrolled individuals
• Increased and sustained community inclusion for enrollees
• Increased awareness of community support, benefits support, educational and employment support in the community for enrollees and their families/chosen support group
• Focus on successful community integration/reintegration so connections with quality-of-life providers is encouraged
• Training culturally, linguistically, and geographically appropriate staff to provide services 

Eligible Applicants:

Eligible applicants for expansion funds are providers identified as operating one of the following:

• Programs licensed, funded, or overseen by OMH; or
• Training and technical assistance providers who can implement the program

 Deliverables:

OMH is committed to supporting efforts to achieve the underlying intent of the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplement Appropriations Act so individuals have access to needed intensive community-based services. This funding allotment is intended to achieve the following:

• Develop and provide relevant workbooks, marketing materials, web-based and/or in-person trainings, Train the Trainers and supports

• Develop Regional Learning Collaboratives or group networking opportunities for trainees, inclusive of those who are geographically isolated and in need of supports, with both web-based and in-person supports

• Training geographically, culturally, and linguistically appropriate staff that work with individuals with SMI/SED and their families/chosen support groups inclusive of rural areas of the state
• Data collection to ensure integrity of the program shall be reported quarterly to OMH, including (but not limited to): number of individuals trained, counties they serve and/or agencies they are employed in, and other certifications/credentials they may hold.

 Program should have a commitment to racial equity and addressing disparities.

Please send your indication of interest via email to Carol Swiderski at carol.swiderski@omh.ny.gov by September 17, 2021 at 4:00 PM.

 Please note this is solely a Solicitation of Interest and does not guarantee an award or contract.