Rural BH Modernization (CCBHC) Infrastructure & Sustainability Grant

The Rural Health Transformation (RHT) Initiative is a statewide effort focused on strengthening rural healthcare systems and improving access to quality care across South Dakota. Through strategic investments, innovative care models, and cross-agency collaboration, RHT is designed to build a more resilient, connected, and sustainable rural health system for communities across the state.
The South Dakota Department of Social Services, Division of Behavioral Health via the Department of Health is requesting applications to support transformational behavioral health system improvements, including development, expansion, or sustainability planning for the Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic (CCBHC) model of care. Eligible applicants for this RFA are limited to the organizations that applied for and were selected to participate in the 2026 CCBHC Planning Grant Cohort.
Applicants should describe how their proposed activities and investments will support the organization's efforts to meet SAMHSA's CCBHC criteria across direct service provision, care coordination, and infrastructure. They should also explain how their work will improve access, service quality, integration, workforce capacity, and readiness for Medicaid-aligned financing - with particular attention to rural communities. Funds may be requested to support activities across any or all core CCBHC service areas. Applicants must demonstrate the ability to make timely progress, spend funds within required periods, and sustain services beyond the award period.
The RHT Scope of Work Domains supported through this RFA include: • Provider Capacity Building: Activities that enable providers to meet CCBHC standards (e.g., same‑day access, case management, peer support, integrated screening). • Crisis Services Expansion: Establishment or enhancement of mobile crisis teams and/or crisis stabilization services; activities ensuring access to 24/7/365 crisis care across the proposed CCBHC service area. • IT Infrastructure Development: Upgrades required to meet CCBHC data and outcome reporting standards, including real‑time monitoring, streamlined payment processes, and interoperability between the provider's EHR and the required state reporting systems. • Workforce Development: Recruitment and retention strategies; training programs for licensed professionals and paraprofessionals (e.g., peer support specialists, community health workers, care coordinators).
All proposed activities must support advancement toward full CCBHC certification readiness through any one or combination of the following goals: • Strengthen the nine (9) core CCBHC services as outlined in the most recent version of the South Dakota CCBHC Certification Manual1. • Improve timely access to behavioral health and substance use disorder services. • Expand integrated care capacity (e.g., collaboration with primary care, justice partners, K‑12 and higher education, crisis systems). • Build workforce infrastructure and clinical capacity to deliver high‑quality, sustainable services. • Increase rural and frontier access to behavioral health services and strengthen sustainability, with particular attention to underserved communities. • Data‑driven quality improvement and outcome reporting aligned with RHT and CCBHC metrics.
These grants are funded through RHT supported by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and are in support of the Behavioral Health initiatives described in the RHT project narrative. There will be multiple awards granted. There is no match requirement.
Applicants may email inquiries concerning this RFA to obtain clarification of requirements up until the Application Submission date. Inquiries must be emailed to Kirsten Blachford at Kirsten.Blachford@state.sd.us with the subject line "RFA # 26-08RHT-016". Questions and responses will be made available to all cohort members. In addition, inquiries may be asked during established cohort meetings. Independent email or phone conversations regarding this RFA outside of these two avenues are not permitted.
Applicants may not rely on any other statements, either of a written or oral nature, that alter any specification or other term or condition of this RFA. Applicants will be notified in the same manner as indicated above regarding any modifications to this RFA.