Published April 15, 2020 (Updated April 30, 2020)
The Department of Public Health and Human Services (the Department, DPHHS), Addictive and Mental Disorders Division (AMDD), recently awarded funding to nine counties through the County and Tribal Matching Grant to support county level behavioral health crisis systems. This did not expend the appropriation for this project; however, the Department is not rereleasing the County and Tribal Matching Grant Request for Proposal (RFP) at this time because we believe it is too great a burden to ask you to respond to a RFP during the COVID-19 crisis. Instead, the Department is seeking to disperse funding to the 47 counties not originally funded through the County and Tribal Matching Grant to help meet the behavioral health crisis needs caused and exacerbated by COVID-19. The Department anticipates additional funding through a SAMHSA grant that was just submitted and upon award receipt by the State, the nine counties currently funded through the County and Tribal Matching Grant will receive additional funding for COVID-19.
The Department has developed a simplified application process to support the expedient dispersal of funds. The application includes a “checklist” of items that stakeholders have identified as pressing needs within their communities. The items constitute fundamental components of a behavioral health crisis system, all of which are increasingly strained due to COVID-19. The Department believes there is no single solution to behavioral health crisis needs and encourages counties to choose the items that meet their communities’ unique realities and resources. Counties are encouraged to work with their health departments, local behavioral health and social service providers, Local Advisory Councils, and Service Area Authorities to identify where funding may be needed most. Funding can be used to meet emergent needs, while furthering the development of community-based behavioral health crisis services. AMDD will offer ongoing support to counties as needed. Support can include individual or regional calls, technical assistance, resource guides, tip sheets, and webinars.
AMDD will hold three informational calls. The calls are not a requirement for funding, but an opportunity for the Department to answer questions you may have related to the application, use of funding, etc. The call-in information was sent via email on April 15th.
- Call 1: Tuesday April 21st at 3:00 p.m.
- Call 2: Thursday April 23rd at 10:00 a.m.
- Call 3: Monday April 27th at 1:00 p.m.
Attached you will find the application form for the funding. Up to $40,000 is available for each county. Counties are welcome to ask for a portion of or all the available funding and may partner with regional neighbors to combine funding.
If you have interest in receiving County and Tribal Matching Grant funds, we would appreciate a completed application be turned in no later than April 30th May 7th. Counties may elect to have AMDD facilitate funding through a task order with the County Health Department, rather than a contract with the county government. Completed applications can be sent to:
The Addictive and Mental Disorders Division
Attn: Bobbi Perkins
100 N Park Ave. Suite 300
Helena, MT 59601
They can be mailed directly to the AMDD or emailed to the AMDD at hhsamddgeneralinfo@mt.gov.
If you have any questions about this funding opportunity, please reach out to Bobbi Perkins, Prevention Bureau Chief, at 406-444-6981 or by email at bperkins@mt.gov.