The Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP) for Children and Adolescents is an initiative led by the New York State Office of Mental Health (OMH) to expand intensive outpatient services statewide. This program is designed to provide an alternative to inpatient hospitalization or reduce the length of hospital stays for children with Serious Emotional Disturbance (SED). The primary goal is to stabilize acute symptoms, teach coping skills, and create a discharge plan for reintegration into home, school, or community environments. The PHP also incorporates evidence-based interventions and family systems approaches while promoting continuity of care within mental health and related service systems.

Eligible applicants include agencies with at least one year of experience as an OMH-licensed provider for child/adolescent services and those in good standing with OMH. Applicants must propose to operate a new PHP, expand existing adult PHPs to serve children, or open new sites approved by OMH. The RFP does not accommodate increasing slots in existing children's PHPs. Agencies must also complete vendor registration and prequalification through the Statewide Financial System (SFS) before submission. Proposals are open to providers targeting five Economic Development Regions (EDRs) and three New York City boroughs identified as underserved areas. Each applicant can apply to serve multiple regions but must submit separate applications for each proposed site.

Programs funded under this initiative must provide comprehensive, evidence-based treatment, 24/7 crisis intervention services, and individualized care plans for eligible children aged 5 to 18. They should integrate family participation, educational collaboration with home school districts, and a transition strategy to community-based services. Providers must demonstrate their capacity to address underserved populations and comply with regulations for staff qualifications, program quality, and incident reporting. PHP staff must include clinical professionals skilled in family therapy, trauma-informed care, and other relevant disciplines.

The funding includes $115,000 in start-up funds per award for use over two years, with ongoing program costs reimbursed through Medicaid and commercial insurance. Start-up funds may cover staffing, program materials, minor refurbishments, and outreach activities but cannot be used for capital improvements or ongoing building costs. Providers must submit a detailed budget and narrative as part of their application to outline expenses and demonstrate fiscal responsibility.

Proposals will be evaluated based on factors such as the program's demonstrated need, implementation plan, organizational qualifications, quality improvement measures, and commitment to diversity and equity. A scoring system allocates up to 100 points, and proposals must achieve a minimum of 70 points to qualify for funding. Awards are distributed first to providers in targeted areas, with remaining funds allocated statewide based on proposal rankings.

The timeline for this RFP begins with the release of the RFP on November 19, 2024. Proposals are due by January 28, 2025, with awards announced by February 25, 2025, and contracts expected to start by July 1, 2025. All submissions must be made online via the SFS system, and applicants are encouraged to plan accordingly to meet deadlines. For further details, the designated issuing officer can be contacted at OMHLocalProcurement@omh.ny.gov.