Specifications include, but are not limited to: This Request for Application (RFA) details the grant parameters and requirements for Round 5: Early Intervention Programs and Practices. Based on input from DHCS’ Think Tank[footnoteRef:2] and Workgroup[footnoteRef:3] discussions Round 5 will aim to scale early intervention programs and practices that provide mental health and wellness services to children, youth, parents, and caregivers in California. These programs will be equipped to meet the needs of youth, including mental and behavioral health needs, housing, education and employment support, and linkage to other services. [2: Think Tanks Overview and Members] [3: Workgroup Member List] DHCS, or its designee, will contract with eligible recipients to support training, capacity building, implementation, and expansion of early intervention programs and practices across various settings (e.g., schools, community-based organizations, primary care, etc.), as applicable. Broadly, these funds are intended to expand and create culturally relevant and responsive services for children and youth where they participate in the development and design of the program. Specifically, this grant funding round aims to: Create and expand early intervention programs and practices that reduce stigma, embrace mental wellness, increase community connection and provide access to culturally responsive services. Provide a safe space for children and youth to find community, support, and advice. Increase early intervention so children and youth with or at high risk for BH conditions can access services before conditions escalate and require higher level care. Reduce health disparities by improving equitable access to services for parents, caregivers, and children in California that are culturally and linguistically responsive to the needs of the populations of focus. Reduce utilization of higher acuity setting through early intervention. This procurement will award up to a total of $80 million in grants, to scale early intervention programs and practices to provide children and youth access to mental health services throughout California. For Round 5, the following EBPs and/or CDEPs will be scaled through competitive grant awards: Coordinated Specialty Care (CSC) for First Episode of Psychosis (Appendix 1), Other early intervention programs and practices, which include but are not limited to: Blues Program Culturally Informed and Flexible Family-Based Treatment for Adolescents (CIFFTA) Familias Unidas Residential Student Assistance Program (RSAP) Resourceful Adolescent Program-Adolescent (RAP-A) Youth Mobile Crisis Response See Appendix 2: Examples – Early Intervention Program for information on each program. DHCS recognizes that the short-listed evidence-based practices may not have been developed or normalized on populations of focus and that additional EBPs and CDEPs practices may be relevant to this grant round. As such, additional early intervention programs that are designed with, by, and for youth may be considered eligible for grant funding with the submission of supplementary material demonstrating how the program or practice aligns with the objectives of this RFA. Practices and programs that are appropriate and/or can be adapted for focus populations (see 1.B. for Equity Driven Approach) will be prioritized.
