The New York State Office of Mental Health (OMH) is seeking proposals for the Specialization of Children’s Community Residences (CCRs) to support transition-age youth (16-21 years old) who have or are at risk of child welfare involvement. The initiative aims to enhance the capacity of CCRs to provide specialized rehabilitative services to youth transitioning from child-serving systems to adult systems of care. The grant supports CCR programs in New York State with funding to strengthen staffing, training, and service delivery, ensuring youth receive the support necessary to achieve independence and self-sufficiency.

The program’s purpose is to provide therapeutic, short-term residential care for youth experiencing serious emotional disturbances due to a mental health diagnosis. CCRs offer 24/7 supervision, care coordination, skill-building, and behavior support, equipping youth with the skills needed to transition successfully to less restrictive settings. This initiative will fund additional staffing, specialized training, services, and direct recipient support to enhance CCRs’ ability to serve transition-age youth, particularly those with co-occurring autism spectrum disorder (ASD) or intellectual disabilities.

OMH will award up to $275,000 per CCR program in each OMH region, with funding dedicated to specialized staffing positions, enhanced training, and direct service provision. CCRs that receive funding will be expected to implement a structured plan for serving youth with or at risk of child welfare involvement, ensuring they have access to rehabilitative services tailored to their needs. Programs may choose to specialize further by serving youth with co-occurring mental health and developmental disabilities, requiring additional training and staffing considerations.

Eligible applicants must be not-for-profit agencies with 501(c)(3) status that operate an OMH-licensed CCR serving youth aged 16 and older. The application process requires online submission through the New York State Statewide Financial System (SFS), and prequalification is mandatory for not-for-profit applicants. Agencies must submit a comprehensive proposal including a narrative detailing program enhancements, a budget, and a financial assessment. The deadline for proposals is April 3, 2025, at 2:00 PM EST.

Applications will be evaluated based on criteria including the proposed specialization model, program implementation strategies, utilization review, reporting, quality improvement measures, and commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. Proposals will be scored on a 100-point scale, with separate evaluations for technical and financial components. Awards are expected to be announced by May 5, 2025, with contracts anticipated to begin on January 1, 2026.

This funding opportunity presents a significant investment in improving residential treatment options for transition-age youth in New York State. By enhancing CCRs' capacity to provide targeted support, OMH aims to improve long-term outcomes for youth aging out of child-serving systems and facilitate their successful transition to adulthood.