HRSA-24-016 OIFSP.pdf

Notice of Funding Opportunity

Application due May 6, 2024

Bureau of Health Workforce Division of Nursing and Public Health

Opioid-Impacted Family Support Program Opportunity number: HRSA-24-016

Contents Before you begin 3

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 4

Basic information 5

Eligibility 6

Program description 8

Step 2: Get Ready to Apply 16

Get registered 17

Find the application package 17

Application writing help 17

Step 3: Write Your Application 18

Application contents & format 19

Step 4: Learn About Review & Award 33

Application review 34

Award notices 42

Step 5: Submit Your Application 43

Application submission & deadlines 44

Application checklist 46

Learn What Happens After Award 48

Post-award requirements & administration 49

Contacts & Support 52

Appendix: Instructions to complete BHW program specific data form 54

Endnotes 55

Contents 2

Before you begin If you believe you are a good candidate for this funding opportunity, secure your SAM.gov and Grants.gov registrations now. If you are already registered, make sure your registration is active and up-to-date.

SAM.gov registration (this can take several weeks) You must have an active account with SAM.gov. This includes having a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI).

See Step 2: Get Ready to Apply

Grants.gov registration (this can take several days) You must have an active Grants.gov registration. Doing so requires a Login.gov registration as well.

See Step 2: Get Ready to Apply

Apply by May 6, 2024 Applications are due by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on May 6, 2024.

Before you begin 3 https://sam.gov/ https://grants.gov/

Jump to a step

1. Review 2. Get ready 3. Prepare 4. Learn 5. Submit 6. Award Contacts

Step 1:

Review the Opportunity

In this step

Basic information 5

Eligibility 6

Program description 8

Basic information Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA)

Bureau of Health Workforce

Division of Nursing and Public Health

Support families, especially children whose parents or guardians are impacted by opioid use disorders, by increasing skills and knowledge of behavioral health specialists

Have questions?

Go to Contacts & Support.

Key facts

Opportunity Name:

Opioid-Impacted Family Support Program

Opportunity Number:

HRSA-24-016

Federal Assistance Listing Number:

93.732

Statutory Authority:

42 U.S.C. § 294e–1(a)(4) (Section 756(a)(4) of the Public Health Service (PHS) Act

Key dates

Application deadline:

May 6, 2024

NOFO issue date:

March 7, 2024

Expected award date:

by September 1, 2024

Expected start date:

September 1, 2024

Summary This program addresses the need to support training programs that increase the skills and knowledge of peer support specialists and other behavioral health-related paraprofessionals who are prepared to provide support services to families, especially children, whose parents or guardians are impacted by opioid use disorders (OUD) and other substance use disorders (SUD). A focus is placed on supporting children who have experienced trauma or are at risk for mental health disorders.

Funding detail Application Type: New, Competing Continuations

Expected total available funding: $16,800,000

Expected number of awards: Approximately 28 grants

Funding range per award: Up to $600,000

We plan to fund awards in four 12-month budget periods for a total 4-year period of performance of September 1, 2024, to August 31, 2028.

To help you find what you need, this NOFO uses internal links. In Adobe Reader, you can go back to where you were by pressing Alt + Left Arrow on your keyboard.

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 5

Eligibility Who can apply

Eligible applicants We will only accept applications from state-licensed mental health nonprofit or state-licensed mental health for-profit organizations. These organizations include, but are not limited to, entities licensed or certified by an authorized political subdivision or instrumentality of a state to provide training in behavioral health. These may include academic institutions, including universities, community colleges and technical schools, which must be accredited by a nationally recognized accrediting agency, as specified by the U.S. Department of Education.

Domestic community-based organizations, public entities, tribes, and tribal organizations may apply for these funds, if otherwise eligible.

Individuals are not eligible to apply.

Only these types of domestic organizations (see note) may apply:

Institutions of higher education

• Public and private institutions of higher education, technical schools, and health professions schools/programs

Nonprofit entities

• Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) IRS status

• Nonprofits with an IRS status other than 501(c)(3)

Private for-profit entities

• For-profit organizations

• Small businesses

Public entities

• State governments, including the District of Columbia, domestic territories, and freely associated states

• County governments

• City or township governments

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 6

• Special district governments

• Independent school districts

Tribes & tribal organizations

• Native American tribal governments

• Native American tribal organizations

“Domestic” means the 50 states, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Northern Mariana Islands, American Samoa, Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and the Republic of Palau.

Other eligibility criteria In addition to providing proof of eligibility (Attachment 1), your training program must be accredited by a nationally recognized accrediting agency, as specified by the U.S.

Department of Education, or must be approved by a state or tribal government to provide a behavioral health-related paraprofessional certificate training program. You must provide a copy of your active accreditation or active approval from state government as Attachment 6.

We will not consider any application that fails to submit Attachment 6.

Applicants must maintain their accreditation or state approval status throughout the performance period and notify us of any change in status.

Trainee eligibility To receive support under this program, a trainee must be one of the following:

• A U.S. citizen or non-citizen national.

• An individual lawfully admitted for permanent residence to the U.S.

• A qualified alien under section 431(b) of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996, Pub. L. 104-193, as amended.

Additionally:

• Level I pre-service trainees must be enrolled full-time or part-time in the school or program receiving the grant award in order to receive tuition and stipend support.

• Level II in-service trainees must have completed Level I pre-service training.

Cost sharing This program has no cost-sharing requirement.

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 7

Program description Purpose This program’s purpose is to support training programs that enhance and expand paraprofessionals’[1] knowledge and expertise, and to increase the number of peer support specialists and other behavioral health-related paraprofessionals who work on integrated, interprofessional teams in providing services to families impacted by OUD and other SUD.

A special focus is on supporting children and adolescents in high need and high demand areas who have experienced trauma and are at risk for mental health disorders.

Background The National Center for Drug Abuse Statistics reported that since 2020, there have been 700,000 drug overdose deaths in the US, and 50 percent of people 12 years and older have used illicit drugs at least once. Drug use is highest among persons between the ages of 18-25 at 39 percent, compared to persons aged 26-29 at 34 percent.

Additionally, 70 percent of users who try an illegal drug before age 13 develop a substance abuse disorder within the next 7 years, compared to 27 percent of those who try an illegal drug after age 17. 47 percent of young people use an illegal drug by the time they graduate from high school.[2]

Among parental substance use disorders, opioid use disorders are increasingly common. Children and adolescents who grow up in households with opioid misuse and OUDs may experience a myriad of adverse consequences, including: increased risk of mental health problems and drug use; accidental opioid poisoning; increased risk of developing a substance use disorder; and family dissolution that results from parents’ incarceration, foster care placement, or loss of parent to an opioid overdose.[3] Family-based interventions, such as family counseling, can also be effective by helping family members understand how they can be a positive influence on recovery.[4]

Access to treatment for behavioral health conditions relies, in part, on the supply of available providers.[5] Concerns about shortages of behavioral health providers are longstanding. The increase in demand for behavioral health, mental health, and substance use disorder services in the United States is well-documented.[6] The health and economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic have intensified concerns about the increasing numbers of people affected by behavioral health conditions that require treatment.[7]

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 8

Behavioral health-related paraprofessionals are critical to the recovery process for people with substance use disorders. Peer support workers have been especially successful at supporting the recovery of others with similar conditions. In a 2020 report, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) projected the U.S. would need over 1.1 million peer support workers, with 70 percent focusing on mental health and 30 percent on substance use disorder to address rising behavioral health needs.[8]

Through shared understanding, respect, and mutual empowerment, peer support workers help people become and stay engaged in the recovery process and reduce the likelihood of relapse. Peer support services and behavioral health related paraprofessional services can extend the reach of treatment beyond the clinical setting into the everyday environment of those seeking a successful, sustained recovery process.[9]

Studies have shown that providing didactic and experiential training opportunities in underserved communities can influence providers to practice in those communities, and educating and engaging students who are from rural and underserved communities can increase the chances that they will practice in those areas.[10]

Program definitions To better understand this NOFO, go to the dictionary of key program-related terms at Health Workforce Glossary. In addition, NOFO-specific definitions can be found in the following Program-Specific Definitions section.

Behavioral health: The scientific study of the emotions, behaviors, and biology relating to a person’s mental well-being, their ability to function in everyday life, and their concept of self. Behavioral health includes promoting emotional health, preventing mental illnesses and substance-use disorders, and treatments and services for mental and substance-use disorders.

Adolescent: Adolescence begins with the onset of physiologically normal puberty and ends when an adult identity and behavior are accepted. This period of development corresponds roughly to the period between the ages of 10 and 19 years.

Certificate: A process by which an agency or organization validates, based upon predetermined standards, an individual paraprofessional’s qualifications and knowledge for program completion or practice. Once trainees complete the didactic and experiential training and receive a certificate, they are known as Level I pre-service program completers.

Children: People under 18 years old.

Family member: A family member is considered someone who serves as a caregiver to children. This may include biological family (including parents with SUDs) or

1. Review 2. Get ready 3. Prepare 4. Learn 5. Submit 6. Award Contacts

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 9 https://bhw.hrsa.gov/grants/resourcecenter/glossary temporarily and permanently court-appointed people (e.g., a foster parent, group home staff, mother, father, aunt, uncle, cousin).

High-need and high-demand areas: Sites located within a Mental Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs) with a score of 16 or above, or counties that have a drug overdose death rate, as calculated by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, higher than the national average of 32.4 per 100,000 population in 202114.

Interprofessional team: Teamwork by which different health care professionals, with diverse knowledge, skills, and talents, collaborate to achieve a common goal.

Liaison: A person that assists with communication or cooperation between groups of people. For this NOFO, the liaison will assist with communication, and data collection, sharing, and coordination between the HRSA award recipient and the apprenticeship program.

Opioid Use Disorder (OUD): Opioid misuse leading to clinically significant impairment or distress occurring within a 12-month period.

Paraprofessional: Those working in the behavioral health-related field. This term refers to an individual who is not a mental or behavioral health service professional, but who works at the first stage of contact with individuals and families who are seeking mental or behavioral health services, including substance abuse prevention and treatment services. This job classification includes occupations such as mental health worker, peer support counselor, peer support specialist, community health worker, outreach worker, social services aide, mental health worker, substance abuse/ addictions worker, youth worker, promotor/a, recovery coach, recovery manager, recovery mentor, recovery support specialist, and recovery coach/guide.

Registered Apprenticeship Program: A Registered Apprenticeship Program (RAP) is a proven model of apprenticeship that has been validated by the U.S. Department of Labor or a State Apprenticeship Agency. Recipient organizations that are tribes or tribal organizations may request to use the Indian Health Service Community Health Aide Program model of apprenticeship. An apprenticeship is a proven approach for preparing workers for jobs while meeting the needs of business for a highly skilled workforce. It is an employer-driven, “learn-while-you-earn” model that combines on-the-job training, provided by the employer that hires the apprentice, with job-related instruction in curricula tied to the attainment of national skills standards.

Substance Use Disorder (SUD): A cluster of cognitive, behavioral, and physiological symptoms indicating that the individual continues using the substance despite significant substance related problems.

Support specialist: Staff responsible for providing a wide variety of services and support to the paraprofessional trainees to help them to maximize their quality of work. This staff plans, facilitates, provides care coordination, evaluation and advocacy

1. Review 2. Get ready 3. Prepare 4. Learn 5. Submit 6. Award Contacts

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 10 https://www.cdc.gov/drugoverdose/deaths/index.html https://www.cdc.gov/drugoverdose/deaths/index.html https://www.ihs.gov/ihm/circulars/2020/community-health-aide-program/ https://www.ihs.gov/ihm/circulars/2020/community-health-aide-program/ for options and services to meet an individual’s and family’s comprehensive health needs through communication and resources.

Program requirements and expectations You must address the following in your application and meet these expectations if you receive an award.

• Facilitate a Level I, pre-service training program consisting of didactic and experiential field training for pre-service training of paraprofessional child and adolescent mental or behavioral health workers. You can find a list of occupations in the Paraprofessional definition in the Program Definition section.

• Establish or enhance the paraprofessional certificate training program(s) through curriculum development or hands-on learning in the form of experiential field placements.

• Establish or leverage partnerships with community-based, non-traditional community organizations and tribal colleges that serve high need and high demand areas and populations. These may be for recruiting trainees or identifying opportunities for trainee site placement.

• Establish a Level II component that provides “on-the-job training” through a registered apprenticeship, so trainees gain career opportunities, earn stackable credits, and enhance their skills. For this program’s purposes, this Level II In- Service training is for at least 12 months for full-time trainees or an equivalent prorated period for part-time trainees. Establishing a Level II component is a requirement of this program. Recipients may partner with a registered site or develop their own.

• Create additional training positions by approximately 10 percent or more in year one and maintain that level each year over the four-year project period. For example, a program with a baseline of 10 trainees will increase the capacity to 11, thus training at least 11 trainees annually for the four-year project period.

• Provide required support funds to both Level I pre-service and Level II in-service trainees.

• Identify experienced preceptors and mentors to support trainees.

• Measure and manage program performance by reporting data on program outputs and outcomes. Recipients must demonstrate how they use that information regularly to meet the program’s goals.

• Participate in federally-designed evaluations to assess program effectiveness and efficiency upon request.

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 11

Level I and II training Level I, pre-service training is required and must consist of both didactic and experiential field training. These trainings can happen simultaneously or not at the same time. Once a trainee completes the didactic and experiential training and receives a certificate, these trained paraprofessionals are known as Level I, pre-service program completers.

Experiential training sites must participate in integrated, interprofessional team-based practices with a special focus on Level I pre-service training in a behavioral health-related field. You will identify these field sites and match trainees to those sites.

The training period for full-time trainees is up to 12 months. The training period for part-time trainees is up to 24 months.

A full-time trainee will receive support in the form of tuition, fees, and supplies (maximum $4,000), in addition to a fixed stipend of $6,000, to help cover cost of living expenses. You will determine how often the stipends will be disbursed. The fixed stipend amount is awarded to those trainees who fully complete Level I. Part-time trainees are allowed to receive a stipend prorated at one-half of the fixed amount per budget year for no more than twenty-four (24) consecutive months.

Trainees will sign a student commitment letter that describes their and your roles and responsibilities.

You will aim for at least 35 percent of those who complete the Level I pre-service program to enter a registered apprenticeship program, known as Level II, in-service training. You will serve as the conduit between the Level I step and the apprenticeship training program step.

Level II, in-service training consists of an apprenticeship with on-the-job training that happens after Level I training. This model combines on-the-job training with instruction, and emphasizes team-based practices, to attain skills that meet national standards. The model also involves progressive increases in an apprentice’s wages.

You must provide a fixed stipend of $7,500 per year for Level II in-service, full-time trainees during their apprenticeship for up to four (4) years. Part-time trainees will receive a fixed stipend of $3,750 per year, up to a maximum of four (4) years. You will determine full-time and part-time status.

You can develop your own registered apprenticeship program or establish a partnership with an existing registered apprenticeship program that has been registered with the Department of Labor or a State Apprenticeship Agency. Tribes or tribal organizations may request to use the Indian Health Service Community Health Aide Program model of apprenticeship.

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 12

The duration of a Level II in-service training will be for a minimum of 12 months and up to a maximum of four years. You will track the apprenticeship status of the apprentice.

Within 12 months of receiving the OIFSP award, you must submit a Memorandum of Understanding/Memorandum of Agreement with the registered apprenticeship site(s) that meet the criteria in Attachment 12.

If your entity is an already established apprenticeship site, you must submit official documentation (e.g., certificate of approved registration) from the Department of Labor in Attachment 12.

To become a Registered Apprenticeship program or partner with one, please refer to the Department of Labor’s apprenticeship toolkit.

Funding policies & limitations Policies

• This program depends on the appropriation of funds. If funds are appropriated for this purpose, we will move forward with the review and award process.

• Support beyond the first budget year will depend on:

◦ Appropriation of funds

◦ Satisfactory progress in meeting the project’s objectives

◦ A decision that continued funding is in the government’s best interest

Maintenance of effort Federal funds must add to any existing non-federal funds for your proposed activities. If you receive an award, you will have to spend at least as much as you spent in the last fiscal year before the award. This policy is required by 42 U.S.C. § 295n-2(b) (Section 799(b) of the Public Health Service (PHS) Act). We will enforce these statutory requirements through all available mechanisms. You must provide supporting documentation in your Attachments.

Student stipends Stipend regulations state:

• At least 50 percent of your total requested budget per year (direct and indirect costs) must be used only for trainee support (tuition/fees, supplies) and stipends for OIFSP trainees.

• All other costs must be budgeted out of the remaining 50 percent.

• Stipends are allowances for trainees/students in Level I and Level II to help with cost-of-living expenses. Stipends can be used at the discretion of the trainee/

1. Review 2. Get ready 3. Prepare 4. Learn 5. Submit 6. Award Contacts

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 13 https://www.doleta.gov/oa/employers/apprenticeship_toolkit.pdf student and are not provided as a condition of employment, or to be used for tuition, fees, or other trainee support costs.

• The stipend amounts that can be charged to the award are fixed.

• Providing stipends to trainees less than the amounts specified is unallowable but you may choose to provide higher stipend amounts (by including funds from other non-federal sources).

• Students receiving stipend support sign a student commitment letter committing the trainee to completing the experiential training (Attachment 8).

• For Level I, pre-service training (maximum $10,000 per student/trainee):

◦ You may request up to $4,000 per trainee to cover trainee support activities (i.e., tuition/fees, supplies).

◦ You must request a fixed amount of $6,000 for stipends for the 12-month period for each full-time trainee.

◦ No more than 12 consecutive months of stipend support is allowed per full-time OIFSP trainee.

◦ Part-time Level I trainee support is allowed for tuition/fees, supplies and a fixed stipend prorated at one-half of the fixed amount for no more than 24 consecutive months.

◦ Part-time students receive the same amount as full-time trainees, but over a longer period.

• For Level II in-service training:

◦ You must request to provide trainee support ($7,500) in the form of a stipend.

◦ Each full-time trainee must receive $7,500 per year and part-time trainees must receive $3,750, up to a maximum of four (4) years.

See Manage Your Grant for other information on costs and financial management.

1. Review 2. Get ready 3. Prepare 4. Learn 5. Submit 6. Award Contacts

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 14 https://www.hrsa.gov/grants/manage-your-grant

Table 1: Student stipends

Level Part-time/ Full-time

Fixed stipend

Trainee support (tuition/fees, supplies)

Max support (stipend + trainee support)

Max eligibility for support

Level I

Part-time $6,000 over 24 months

Up to $4,000 over 24 months

$10,000 over 24 months 24 months

Full-time $6,000 over 12 months

Up to $4,000 over 12 months

$10,000 over 12 months 12 months

Level

II

Part-time $3,750 per year

$0 $3,750 per year Up to 4 years

Full-time $7,500 per year

$0 $7,500 per year Up to 4 years

Note: amounts are per trainee. At least 50 percent of your total requested budget per year (direct and indirect costs) must be used only for Max Support to trainees.

Indirect costs Indirect costs are those incurred for a common or joint purpose across more than one project and that cannot be easily separated by project (like utilities for a building that supports multiple projects). Learn more at 45 CFR 75.414, Indirect Costs.

Indirect costs for training awards cannot exceed 8% of modified total direct costs. To understand what is included in modified total direct costs, see 45 CFR 75.2.

State or local governments and federally recognized Indian tribes can charge their negotiated rate or use their state cost allocation plans. To calculate indirect costs, we do not consider state universities or hospitals as government agencies.

Program income Program income is money earned as a result of your award-supported project activities. You will have to use those funds to add to approved project activities. For-profit organizations cannot earn profit from the federal award. See 45 CFR 75.216(b).

Find more about program income at 45 CFR 75.307.

1. Review 2. Get ready 3. Prepare 4. Learn 5. Submit 6. Award Contacts

Step 1: Review the Opportunity 15 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-45/section-75.414 https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-45/part-75#p-75.2(Modified%20Total%20Direct%20Cost) https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-45/part-75/section-75.216#p-75.216(b) https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-45/subtitle-A/subchapter-A/part-75/subpart-D/subject-group-ECFR911e5e1a30bfbcb/section-75.307

Step 2:

Get Ready to Apply

In this step

Get registered 17

Find the application package 17

Application writing help 17

Get registered SAM.gov You must have an active account with SAM.gov. This includes having a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI). SAM.gov registration can take several weeks. Begin that process today.

To register, go to SAM.gov Entity Registration and click Get Started. From the same page, you can also click on the Entity Registration Checklist for the information you will need to register.

Grants.gov You must also have an active account with Grants.gov. You can see step-by-step instructions at the Grants.gov Quick Start Guide for Applicants.

Need Help? See Contacts & Support.

Find the application package The application package has all the forms you need to apply. You can find it online. Go to Grants Search at Grants.gov and search for opportunity number HRSA-24-016.

After you select the opportunity, we recommend that you click the Subscribe button to get updates.

Application writing help Visit HHS Tips for Preparing Grant Proposals.

Visit HRSA’s How to Prepare Your Application page for more guidance.

Join the webinar We will hold a pre-application technical assistance (TA) webinar. The webinar will provide an overview of pertinent information in the NOFO and an opportunity for applicants to ask questions. Visit the HRSA Bureau of Health Workforce’s open opportunities website to learn more about the resources available for this funding opportunity.

1. Review 2. Get ready 3. Prepare 4. Learn 5. Submit 6. Award Contacts

Step 2: Get Ready to Apply 17 https://sam.gov/content/entity-registration https://grants.gov/applicants/applicant-registration http://www.grants.gov/quick-start-guide/applicants https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/search-grants.html https://www.hhs.gov/grants-contracts/grants/get-ready-for-grants-management/tips-for-preparing-grant-proposals/index.html https://www.hrsa.gov/grants/apply-for-a-grant/prepare-your-application https://bhw.hrsa.gov/fundingopportunities/default.aspx https://bhw.hrsa.gov/fundingopportunities/default.aspx

Step 3:

Write Your Application

In this step

Application contents & format 19

Application contents & format Applications include 5 main components. This section includes guidance on each.

There is a 55-page limit for the overall application.

Submit your information in English and express budget figures using U.S. dollars.

Make sure you include each of these:

Components Submission Format Included in the page limit?

Project abstract Use the Project Abstract Summary form. No

Project narrative Use the Project Narrative Attachment form. Yes

Budget narrative Use the Budget Narrative Attachment form. Yes

Attachments Insert each in the Other Attachments form. Yes, unless otherwise marked

Standard forms Upload using each required form. No

See the application checklist for a full list of all application requirements. See form instructions for more detail on completing each form.

Required format You must format your narratives and attachments using our required formats for fonts, size, margins, etc. See the formatting guidelines in section 4.2 of the Application Guide.

Project abstract Complete the information in the Project Abstract Summary Form. Include a short description of your proposed project. Include the needs you plan to address, the proposed services, and the population groups you plan to serve. For more information, see section 4.1.ix of the Application Guide.

Project narrative In this section, you will describe all aspects of your project.

Use the following section headers and order.

Project activities must comply with the nondiscrimination requirements described in Section VI.

1. Review 2. Get ready 3. Prepare 4. Learn 5. Submit 6. Award Contacts

Step 3: Write Your Application 19 https://www.hrsa.gov/sites/default/files/hrsa/grants/sf-424-rr-app-guide.pdf

Introduction and purpose See merit review criterion 1: Purpose & need

Briefly describe the purpose of your project.

Include the efforts you will make to address the non-academic barriers to trainees’ access to education and success in your program. These barriers might include physical health, psychological health, physical environment, social environment, and economic stability. Trainees include students and program participants.

Propose an actionable framework that targets learning disparities and expands learning opportunities to support diversity, equity, and inclusion. This framework may include recruitment of students from rural and underserved areas.

Purpose & need See merit review criterion 1: Purpose & need

• Briefly describe the behavioral health workforce needs of the local community, including the Level I pre-service and Level II in-service training sites’ patient populations

• Describe the services that paraprofessional trainees will provide to address these needs.

• You must complete the BHW Program Specific Data Form located in the Appendix and include it in Attachment 9.

Approach See merit review criterion 2: Response

• Include a plan to recruit and train behavioral health-related paraprofessional trainees

• Describe how you will prepare them to work on integrated teams to provide services to children and adolescents who have experienced trauma and are at risk for mental health disorders.

• Explain how you will develop and deliver experiential and didactic coursework to develop interprofessional team competency.

• Describe and implement a disbursement plan for both Level I pre-service training and for Level II in-service training support.

• Include the disbursement schedule of that support and be consistent and clear with your institution’s policies and procedures. The difference between Level I pre-service disbursement and Level II in-service disbursement should be clear.

Step 3: Write Your Application 20

• Discuss how you will identify registered apprenticeship sites or create new registered apprenticeship sites and place trainees in those sites.

• Discuss how you will identify preceptors or mentors to support trainees.

• Explain how you will provide “on-the-job training” through a registered apprenticeship program.

• Explain your strategies to improve trainee cultural competency to address the needs of underserved communities and increase the use of culturally and linguistically appropriate services.

◦ Training for this is based on the National Standards for Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Services (CLAS) in Health and Health Care Standards.

High-level work plan See merit review criteria 2: Response

• Describe how you’ll achieve each objective during the performance period.

• Provide a timeline that includes each activity and identifies who is responsible for each.

◦ As needed, identify how key stakeholders will help plan, design, and carry out all activities.

• Include the extent to which these stakeholders address the needs of the populations and communities served.

• Identify the number, by occupation, of full-time and part-time OIFSP trainees you expect to train in each year of the performance period.

• Identify, by occupation, where you intend to conduct community-based paraprofessional training.

• Identify how you intend to deliver the proposed training.

• Describe how you intend to support graduates in securing employment in underserved and rural communities.

• You will also include a more detailed work plan in your Standardized Work Plan (SWP). See other required forms.

Resolving challenges See merit review criterion 2: Response

• Describe plans to address challenges related to recruitment, retention, education, training, job placement, and career development of OIFSP trainees in rural and underserved areas.

Step 3: Write Your Application 21

• Discuss challenges identifying and collaborating with experiential and apprenticeship sites with the focus on OUD and other SUD.

• Describe potential challenges with recruitment of trainees at all levels.

• Explain approaches that you’ll use to resolve these challenges.

Evaluation & technical support capacity See merit review criteria 3: Impact & 4: Resources & capabilities

• Describe your organizational profile, budget, partners, key staffs’ experience, skills, and knowledge, key processes, and expected outcomes of the funded activities.

• Describe the systems and processes that you’ll use to track performance outcomes.

• Describe how you’ll collect and manage data (for example, assigned skilled staff, data management software) in a way that allows for accurate and timely reporting of those outcomes.

• Document the procedure for data collection, management, storage, and reporting for individuals participating in the program.

• Describe the process to track trainees after program completion for up to 1 year.

• Describe your plan for evaluating the program, managing program performance, and using data to continuously improve program quality.

◦ Document how you will monitor ongoing processes and progress towards meeting your project goals.

◦ Include descriptions of the inputs (for example, organizational profile, collaborative partners, key personnel, budget, and other resources).

◦ Include key processes, variables to be measured, and your expectations of the funded activities.

◦ Evaluations must adhere to HHS Evaluation Policy and evaluation standards and best practices described in OMB Memorandum M-20-12.

• Describe current experience, skills, and knowledge of your staff.

◦ Include materials published and previous evaluation work.

• Describe potential obstacles for evaluating performance and meeting our performance measurement requirements, and your plan to address those obstacles.

• Indicate how well you will be able to disseminate and replicate the results, and the extent to which project results may be national in scope.

See Reporting for more information.

1. Review 2. Get ready 3. Prepare 4. Learn 5. Submit 6. Award Contacts

Step 3: Write Your Application 22 https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.whitehouse.gov%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2020%2F03%2FM-20-12.pdf&data=05%7C01%7CSLevant%40hrsa.gov%7C4da63050dfbf4d87051308db18eb40c0%7C14b77578977342d58507251ca2dc2b06%7C0%7C0%7C638131170900241838%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=JN8M4caEcCscyj3As0acTWMkdTnvuPa2P6Pg0ANItf0%3D&reserved=0

Sustainability See merit review criteria 3: Impact

• Propose a plan for sustainability after the period of federal funding ends. You’re expected to sustain the effective elements of your projects.

• Describe how you will highlight key elements of your projects, e.g., training methods or strategies.

• Describe how you will obtain future sources of potential funding.

• Provide a timetable for becoming self-sufficient.

• Discuss challenges you are likely to encounter in sustaining the program, and approaches you will use to resolve them.

Organizational information See merit review criterion 4: Resources & capabilities

Briefly describe your mission, structure, and the scope of your current activities.

Explain how they support your ability to carry out the program requirements. Include a project organization chart.

• Discuss how you’ll follow the approved plan, account for federal funds, and record all costs to avoid audit findings.

• Describe tools and strategies for ongoing staff training, outreach, collaborations, communication, and information sharing/dissemination with efforts to involve communities.

• Describe the organizations you will partner with to fulfill the program goals and meet the training objectives. Include key agreements and letters of support in Attachment 3.

• Include a staffing plan and job descriptions for key faculty and staff in Attachment 4.

• Include biographical sketches for key staff using the Research & Related Senior/ Key Person Profile form. See other required forms. There can only be one Project Director (PD). The PD must be employed by the awarded applicant organization.

The PD is encouraged to dedicate approximately 20 percent of his/her time (may be in-kind or funded) to grant activities.

Step 3: Write Your Application 23

Budget & budget narrative See merit review criterion 5: Support requested

The budget should follow the instructions in Section 4.1.iv Budget of the R&R Application Guide and any specific instructions listed in this section. Your budget should show a well-organized plan.

Reminder: The total project or program costs are all allowable (direct and indirect) costs used for the HRSA activity or project. This includes costs charged to the award and non-federal funds used to satisfy a matching or cost-sharing requirement (which may include MOE, if applicable

The budget narrative supports the information you provide in Standard Form 424-A.

See other required forms. The merit review committee reviews both.

It includes added detail and justifies the costs you ask for. As you develop your budget, consider:

• If the costs are reasonable and consistent with your project’s purpose and activities.

• The restrictions on spending funds. See funding limitations.

To create your budget narrative, see detailed instructions in section 4.1.v of the Application Guide.

Student/trainee support costs You must include the following student/trainee support costs:

• Tuition, fees, health insurance, stipends, travel, and other costs. Separate these costs from others so we can identify them easily.

• Number of students/trainees.

• Include a sub-total entitled “Total Student/Trainee Support Costs” with the summary of these costs.

Consultant services Identify each consultant, the services they will perform, the total number of days, travel costs, and the total estimated costs.

1. Review 2. Get ready 3. Prepare 4. Learn 5. Submit 6. Award Contacts

Step 3: Write Your Application 24 https://www.hrsa.gov/sites/default/files/hrsa/grants/research-related-application-guide.pdf#page=52 https://www.hrsa.gov/sites/default/files/hrsa/grants/research-related-application-guide.pdf#page=52 https://www.hrsa.gov/sites/default/files/hrsa/grants/sf424-application-guide.pdf#page=31

Attachments Place your PDF attachments in order in the Other Attachments form.

Attachment 1: Proof of eligibility (required) Counts toward page limit.

Provide documentation that your organization meets the eligibility requirements as described in the Eligible Applicant section in the Summary and on page 7.

If your organization is a nonprofit, you need to attach proof. We will accept any of the following:

• A copy of a current tax exemption certificate from the IRS.

• A letter from your state’s tax department, attorney general, or another state official saying that your group is a nonprofit and that none of your net earnings go to private shareholders or others.

• A certified copy of your certificate of incorporation. This document must show that your group is a nonprofit.

• Any of the above for a parent organization. Also include a statement signed by an official of the parent group that your organization is a nonprofit affiliate.

Attachment 2: Project organizational chart (required) Counts toward page limit.

Provide a one-page diagram that shows the full project’s organizational structure.

Include all aspects, not just the applicant organization.

Attachment 3: Staffing plan & job descriptions (required) Counts toward page limit.

See Section 4.1.vi of the Application Guide.

Include a staffing plan that shows the staff positions that will support the project, and key information about each. Justify your staffing choices, including education and experience qualifications and your reasons for the amount of time you request for each staff position.

For key personnel, attach a one-page job description. It must include the role, responsibilities, and qualifications.

1. Review 2. Get ready 3. Prepare 4. Learn 5. Submit 6. Award Contacts

Step 3: Write Your Application 25

Attachment 4: Letters of agreement & memoranda of understanding (required) Counts toward page limit.

Provide any documents that describe working relationships between your organization and others you refer to in the proposal. Documents that confirm actual or pending contracts or agreements should clearly describe the roles of the contractors and any deliverable. Make sure you sign and date any letters of agreement.

Attachment 5: Maintenance of effort documentation (required) Counts toward page limit.

You will include non-federal funds that support proposed activities. These include cash, in-kind, and other contributions. Do not include any federal funds. See maintenance of effort requirement.

Use the following sample format to provide the maintenance of effort documentation.

FY Before Application:Actual Non- Federal Expenditures

First FY of Award: Estimated Non- Federal Expenditures

Attachment 6: Documentation of accreditation of the certificate training program (required) Does not count in the page limit.

Entities must be accredited by a nationally recognized accrediting agency, as specified by the U.S. Department of Education, or must be approved by the state or tribal government to provide a behavioral health-related paraprofessional certificate training program.

Training programs must be recognized by the state government(s) within the proposed geographic coverage of the training program. Provide documentation in the form of a letter on state government letterhead. For example, the certificate training program may be part of a career pathway with stackable credentials that leads to the attainment of the knowledge and skills required at different stages of a career. Prerequisites for certificate training programs for paraprofessionals must be at least a high school diploma or GED, and the certificate must lead to an associate and/or bachelor’s degree in the future, as applicable.

Step 3: Write Your Application 26

Attachment 7: Experiential training site documentation (required) Counts toward page limit.

Provide a description of the experiential training sites including the site’s name and address.

Attachment 8: Student commitment letter (required) Counts toward page limit.

Provide a copy of a student commitment letter template. At a minimum the student commitment letter must include:

• Stipend Disbursement Plan outlining amount of stipend support, frequency of disbursement, and length of time receiving support.

• Experiential training requirements/expectations (e.g., number of hours, length of time)

• Required data reporting including but not limited to demographics and one year post completion employment status.

Attachment 9: BHW program specific data form (required) Does not count in the page limit.

The BHW Program Specific Data Form is found in the Appendix. The BHW Program Specific Data Form can be found in the Related Documents tab on Grants.gov.

Download and complete the form, and upload as Attachment 9.

BHW is committed to ensuring that there is a pipeline of qualified, diverse healthcare providers in rural and underserved areas. The BHW Program Specific Form collects data on students, trainees or program participants in entities applying for BHW health workforce training program grant awards.

Student enrollment and retention data provide BHW with critical information related to an applicant’s commitment to diversifying the workforce and proposed program objectives. BHW is requiring applicants to provide specific data about (1) enrollment;

(2) graduation/completion; (3) where graduates practice; and (4) faculty tenure (when applicable) for 3 previous consecutive program years. This data is used to help applicants develop and refine their outreach and will also be used to track programmatic impacts.

Step 3: Write Your Application 27

Program specific information (preceding Section A):

• All applicants must complete the first 5 questions preceding Section A on the BHW Program Specific Form.

Program specific data (Section A, and Sections C through G2b):

• Applicants with new programs, meaning less than 1 year old, only need to complete the first five questions (i.e., “Select Academic Year” through “How many years of data to report?”) and do not need to provide data for Section A or Sections C through G2b.

• New programs require you to provide a detailed synopsis of your plan to recruit and retain trainees and participants from rural and underserved areas, including your target numbers and rationale.

• Existing programs, meaning older than 1 year, must submit program data for all academic years for which data is available.

◦ For example, if the applicant program is two years old, the applicant must submit data for the past two academic years in Section A and Sections C through G2b.

◦ If the applicant program is five years old, the applicant must submit data for all three years requested on the form.

◦ Applicants with programs over three years old do not need to submit a synopsis.

Optional Program specific data (Section B, and subsections G3 through G4d):

• Applicants have the option to complete these sections. These sections will not be used in the Merit Review.

The Merit Review Committee will use this data to aid them in assessing the feasibility of the proposed project including the number of the trainees/program participants proposed for recruitment and the applicant’s commitment to or demonstrated success in expanding the health workforce. For applicants that are new academic institutions or health workforce training programs, the Merit Review Committee must evaluate the applicant’s proposed plan to recruit and retain trainees/program participants based upon the information provided by the applicant in the Program Narrative. It is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure adequate information is provided for the Merit Review Committee to make that determination.

Step 3: Write Your Application 28

Attachment 10: Letters of support (as applicable) Counts toward page limit.

Provide a letter of support for each organization or department involved in your proposed project. Letters of support must be dated and specifically indicate a commitment to the project such as in-kind services, dollars, staff, space, equipment, etc.

Attachment 11: Funding preference or priority documentation (as applicable) Counts toward page limit.

To receive a funding priority or funding preference, include a statement that you are eligible for the funding priority or the funding preference, identify the funding priority or preference, and include documentation of this qualification. For example, the applicant may wish to submit the training curriculum showing emphasis on role of family and lived experiences or include supporting evidence in the Abstract.

See selection process for information about how these apply.

Attachment 12: Apprenticeship training site documentation (as applicable) Counts toward page limit.

Provide a description of the apprenticeship training sites your entity is partnering with.

The description should include the name of the site and site address.

Within 12 months of receiving the OIFSP award, you must submit a Memorandum of Understanding/Memorandum of Agreement with the registered apprenticeship site(s) that meet the criteria, if not already provided in your application.

If your entity is an already established apprenticeship site, you must submit official documentation (e.g., certificate of approved registration) from the Department of Labor.

Attachments 13-15: Other relevant documents Counts toward page limit.

Include any other documents that are relevant to the application.

Step 3: Write Your Application 29

Other required forms You will need to complete some standard forms. Upload the following standard forms listed at Grants.gov. You can find them in the NOFO application package or review them and any available instructions at Grants.gov Forms.

Forms Submission Requirement

SF-424 R&R (Application for Federal Assistance)

With application

Research and Related Budget Form With application

R&R Subaward Budget Attachment(s) Form With application

Standardized Work Plan Form With application

Research & Related Senior/Key Person Profile form

With application

Disclosure of…