Rural Behavioral Health Workforce Centers – Northern Border Region

Background
This notice announces the opportunity to apply for funding under the Rural Behavioral Health Workforce Centers – Northern Border Region (“RBHWCs”). The RBHWCs are a part of the Rural Communities Opioid Response Program, a multi-year HRSA initiative with the goal of reducing morbidity and mortality resulting from substance use disorder (SUD), including opioid use disorder (OUD), in high risk rural communities. The RBHWCs will advance RCORP’s overall goal by improving behavioral health care services in rural areas through educating and training health professionals and community members to care for individuals with behavioral health disorders, including SUD.

This program supports HRSA’s collaboration with the Northern Border Regional Commission (NBRC) to provide career and workforce training activities within the four-state NBRC region, in order to assist individuals with behavioral health needs, particularly SUD.

Grant Details
The RBHWCs will utilize a multi-sectoral, collaborative approach to enhance behavioral health care delivery within eligible rural NBRC counties and census tracts by developing and implementing training and mentorship programs focused on building the skills and capacity of rural health care providers, paraprofessionals, non-clinical staff, and community members to care for individuals with behavioral health care needs.

The program aims to achieve five objectives: Form and sustain a multi-sectoral strategic network of key behavioral health and community services partners; Assess resources, needs, and opportunities in the target rural service area; Develop and implement training and mentorship programs that address identified gaps in the skills and capacity of rural health care providers; Develop and implement training and mentorship programs that address health equity and stigma as it relates to behavioral health; Ensure that trainings and mentorship programs are available, accessible, and well-known throughout the entire target rural service area.

Eligibility Requirements
Eligible applicants include all domestic public or private, non-profit or for-profit entities physically located in New York, New Hampshire, Vermont, or Maine. Applicants must have demonstrated experience serving eligible rural counties and census tracts in the Northern Border Regional Commission (NBRC) service region.

All planned activities supported by this program must exclusively target HRSA-designated rural counties and rural census tracts within the NBRC service area.

Period of Performance
The period of performance is from September 1, 2021 through August 30, 2024 (3 years). Funding beyond the first year is subject to the availability of appropriated funds for the program in subsequent fiscal years.

Grant Value
$1,500,000 is available annually to fund four recipients. Applicants may apply for a ceiling amount of up to $375,000 total cost per year.

Place of Performance
Services and resources supported by this funding must be available throughout the entire target rural service area. However, it is acceptable to more actively focus on communities with disproportionate levels of need within the target rural service area.