RFA# 15-6337 Educational Stipend Program - Masters of Social Work

The California Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development (OSHPD) is issuing a Request for Application (RFA) for the Educational Stipend Program - Masters of Social Work. The program aims to establish and manage a graduate-level educational stipend program to support students pursuing a Masters of Social Work (MSW) degree who commit to working in California's Public Mental Health System (PMHS). Key objectives include ensuring stipend recipients receive clinical supervision, developing a curriculum aligned with the values and principles of the Mental Health Services Act, tracking and reporting on program outcomes, monitoring recipients' employment to ensure completion of service obligations, and collecting funds if recipients fail to meet their obligations. Eligible applicants must be organizations or entities that desire to enter into a Grant Agreement to administer the program. Applicants must submit their applications by January 23, 2016. OSHPD will prioritize geographic distribution of stipend recipients across the state, including in counties with historical lack of representation in past programs. OSHPD has up to $7.3 million in funding available over Fiscal Years 2016-17 through 2020-21 for this RFA, with each stipend not to exceed $18,500. Stipend costs must make up at least 72.5% of the total agreement amount, while administrative and coordination costs are capped at 27.5% combined.

This RFA is open to all eligible organizations, and does not include any set-aside designations or restrictions on the types of organizations that can respond. The RFA does not mention any incumbent vendors or current contractors, nor does it require integration with any existing infrastructure or technology. OSHPD intends to award one or more grants through this RFA, with a total available funding amount of up to $7.3 million.