Service Priorities 3.1.1 Organizations interested in applying to receive funds from Somerset County must provide a program or service impacting one or more of these four prioritized areas of support: • Prevention and Self-Sufficiency: Services focused on assisting individuals and families in becoming and/or remaining independent and stable, and providing tools, skills, strategies, and resources to individuals and families. • Crisis Intervention and Diversion: Services provided to individuals and families in crisis to overcome immediate problems and reduce or prevent the need for more restrictive and expensive higher-level services and emergency mental health services. • Long-term Support: Services that focus on assisting individuals who have continuing, long-term support needs to remain healthy, safe, and independent in the community. • Improved Quality of Human Services: Services and opportunities provided to individuals, organizations, and communities that enhance the quality, accessibility, accountability, and coordination of services provided by community organizations. For agencies applying for funding to deliver services in Somerset County, considerations will only be made for New Jersey providers, appropriately licensed and certified to provide said scope of services. Services are provided ethically and consider a resident’s confidentiality, history, needs and selfdetermination. Services meet a need within the community for various populations and can be provided in-person, or remotely via telehealth or phone call, as appropriate. Reimbursable telehealth service allowance is contingent upon regulation and insurance changes from the state and federal level. Agencies will be notified if/when guidance changes. A five point scoring preference will be given to programs that pair Case Management - Supportive nonclinical wraparound services aimed at developing and meeting goals based on the specific whole person needs of the client - with the provision of services funded under this contract. 3.1.2 Basic Services Basic services are those services that address the most essential needs of residents, which are typically defined as food security, shelter, legal support, education across the lifespan, and healthcare. Lacking these needs can negatively impact health, safety, quality of life, and ability to make appropriate decisions. Such community services work to close the gap between these needs while also providing dignity, choice, and support. Proposals should address how the program/service will impact one or more of the four areas of support prioritized above. The following are intended as examples of funded services; the list is not meant to be all inclusive. 14 i. Housing/shelter: Providing safe, and affordable emergency, temporary, permanent, and sober housing for youth, adults and/or families that provides opportunities to build life skills, responsibilities, and work on goals. ii. Food distribution: to provide access to food pantries, groceries, & distribution of prepared meals, as well as information on nutrition, making meals, health, and food budgeting. Any agency applying under the Food Insecurity category must be registered with the County-sponsored food distribution platform (e.g. Plentiful) and must actively participate in the Somerset County Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP) initiative, including the regular submission of required data. iii. Legal: to provide consultation, information, support, and representation on matter such as housing, domestic violence, healthcare, employment, public entitlements, and other civil matters where residents would not otherwise be able to afford competent counsel. 3.1.3 Behavioral Health Services Behavioral Health Services can include treatment and nonclinical services for the benefit of supporting a resident’s wellbeing through a whole person approach. Services can be co-occurring, to include traditional mental health and substance use treatment, or non-traditional co-occurring mental health and additional needs including disability and physical health conditions. Behavioral health services can be provided to individuals across the lifespan, groups, and/or families who would benefit from intervention or support with the goal of improved functioning and health outcomes. Services are strength-based to develop residents’ understanding of mental health and co-occurring disorders, strategies for treatment and recovery, coping skills, emotional regulation and management skills, and emotional support. To assist grant applicants for this service category, the County defines behavioral health services to be defined as: i. Mental Health and/or co-occurring counseling services: Includes levels of the services provided by a licensed mental health professional, such as individual, group, or family counseling, and assessment inclusive of emergency mental health services. ii. Psychiatrist/Advanced Practice Nurse Services: Includes any of the services provided by Board Certified prescribers, for psychiatric evaluation, and medication education, prescription, and monitoring. iii. Case Management: Supportive nonclinical wraparound services aimed at developing and meeting goals based on the specific whole person needs of the client. These can include addressing needs that are: occupational, organizational, financial, relational, legal, physical, educational, environmental, spiritual, etc. Services can be paired with mental health/co-occurring disorder and psychiatric services. iv. Mentoring: Supportive nonclinical services that provide role modeling, education and instruction, and skill development in a trusting relationship with the provider for the purpose of improved knowledge, ability, and self-esteem of the client
