OBHPP to Issue A New Grant Opportunity

The Massachusetts Department of Mental Health's Office of Behavioral Health Promotion & Prevention (OBHPP) is preparing to issue a grant opportunity for community-based organizations across the Commonwealth. The grant program aims to support organizations in developing, implementing, and evaluating programs that address seven key social impact objectives, including reducing loneliness, supporting caregiver wellbeing, promoting mental health, and reducing violence. Eligible applicants must be Massachusetts-based community organizations with demonstrated experience in behavioral health promotion, data collection, and health equity initiatives. The Request for Application (RFA) will be issued in the fall of 2025, with a planned webinar in September 2025 to provide additional details, which will be posted on COMMBUYS. Grant recipients will be required to collaborate with OBHPP on developing program logic models, creating comprehensive evaluation plans, and submitting regular reports.

The grant opportunity has a preference for organizations with multi-lingual implementation capabilities, intersectoral collaborations, and partnerships that can strengthen organizational capacity. Specific emphasis will be placed on initiatives aligned with the Advancing Health Equity in Massachusetts (AHEM) initiative, with priority given to organizations working in historically underserved communities. The grant program is anticipated to run for approximately 10 years, with approximately $3 million available annually for multiple awards. Organizations will be evaluated based on their ability to address health equity, demonstrate innovative approaches to behavioral health promotion, and show potential for sustainable community impact. While specific set-aside designations are not explicitly detailed, the emphasis on health equity and community-focused organizations suggests a focus on supporting diverse and historically marginalized community organizations.