Department of Health, Department of Health Facilities, and Department of Human Services

​The West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources (DHHR), Bureau for Behavioral Health and Health Facilities (BBHHF) today announced four requests for applications for the expansion of behavioral health services across the state. The funding will support recommendations of the Governor’s Advisory Council on Substance Abuse (GACSA).

Proposals for funding are being accepted to expand services for peer coaching, intensive case management, substance use and school mental health.

“Our state is making progress thanks to the direction of Gov. Tomblin, a true champion in the fight against substance abuse and awareness of mental illness,” said DHHR Cabinet Secretary Karen L. Bowling. “This funding will further enable us to provide West Virginians of all ages with the support they need to be successful in their families and communities.”

The Bureau is accepting applications for peer recovery coaches, people who help remove personal and environmental obstacles to recovery and link newly recovering individuals to the recovering community. Recovery coaches also serve as navigators and mentor in the management of personal and family recovery. The available funding should not exceed $750,000. Proposals should be submitted by March 4, 2016.

The Bureau is also soliciting applications from licensed behavioral health agencies with direct children’s service experience to act as local coordinating agencies for the development and delivery of a high fidelity wraparound model with supporting services, for youth who meet eligibility criteria. The coordinating agencies and the care coordinators are expected to provide planning, coordination and facilitation of an individualized service plan. Applicants who demonstrate superior knowledge, proficiency and fiscal efficiency in the administration of a high fidelity wraparound approach will be eligible for the start-up funding. The available funding should not exceed $2,000,000. The application deadline is March 11, 2016.

Funding for substance use service development, including peer-operated recovery facility, peer-operated recovery home, short-term residential services, and residential services for pregnant and post-partum women, is also available. The available funding should not exceed $1,000,000. Eligible applicants, public or private organizations with a valid West Virginia Business License and/or units of local government, should apply by March 11, 2016.

BBHHF also is expanding behavioral health services to children and their families statewide through the Expanded School Mental Health (ESMH) model, which recognizes the critical link between social and emotional well-being and academic success. Funding for ESMH is limited to schools that do not currently have a Bureau ESMH implementation grant. The available funding should not exceed $1,300,000. The deadline to apply is March 18, 2016.

“With the team work of DHHR and GACSA, and BBHHF’s plan to expand our services, I have no doubt that we will continue to improve not only the behavioral health of our residents, but their overall quality of life,” said Bowling.

For details regarding each of these opportunities and instructions for application, visit http://www.dhhr.wv.gov/bhhf/AFA/Pages/default.aspx.