Grant Opportunity Announcement: Peer-Mentoring Mental Health and IDD Dual Diagnosis

To fund two grantees, each up to $200,000 per year for four years (up to $800,000 total per grantee), to develop a peer mentoring program—one for adults with dual IDD and mental health diagnoses and one for parents/caregivers of dually diagnosed family members. Applicants may apply to either opportunity, or may apply to both. If applying to both opportunities, applicants must submit separate applications for the individual peer mentoring and family member peer mentoring program.

Important Dates

It is vitally important to understand how to provide supports and services to those who are dually diagnosed with developmental disabilities and mental health challenges. The prevalence of people with a dual diagnosis is estimated between 30% to 40%. Young adults aged 18-25 years had the highest prevalence of a mental health diagnosis (30.6%) compared to adults aged 26-49 years (25.3%). The percentage of young adults,18-25 years old, with a mental health diagnosis who received mental health services (42.1%) was lower than adults, 26-49 years old, with a mental health diagnosis (46.6%).

Based on discussions, CDD workgroup members suggested a model similar to the National Alliance Mental Illness (NAMI) peer-to-peer program. Peer supports and services have long been recognized as an approach for supporting people with a mental health diagnosis without IDD to self-manage mental health-related needs.

Research also suggests that peer mentoring can support skill-development for people with IDD through psychoeducation, an evidence-based approach, that teaches people about mental health symptoms and coping strategies. Peer mentors who have life experiences with a mental health diagnosis can help reduce feelings of stigma through structured mentorship.

Approach:

The CDD would like the prospective grantee(s) to develop a peer mentoring project that will link people with dual diagnosis in one-to-one supportive relationships—one program will be focused on adults with IDD, and one program focused on family members of people with dual-diagnoses. A single grantee may apply for both, but they will need to submit two separate applications--one for each of the intended target populations.

The mental health profile of individuals selected for this model would be low to median risk. Mentors will receive training in psychoeducation, therapeutic skills, confidentiality, mandated reporting, and other topics as determined appropriate by the applicant. Each applicant must establish a protocol for response if a mentee expresses threat of harm to self or other(s), or if the mentor believes there is a threat of harm to self or other(s). Applicants must propose a program that will be overseen and administered by a licensed psychologist, psychiatrist, or other licensed mental health service provider.

It is vital that mentors understand verbal and nonverbal ways of engaging to establish an environment that is conducive to building trust and rapport. Each mentoring program will be semi-structured to support mentors to provide meaningful support, while allowing for some free-form mentoring.

The CDD is seeking two peer mentoring models: (1) for people with IDD (18 and older) who are dually diagnosed and (2) for parent/caregivers (18 and older) of dually diagnosed individuals. This two-tiered approach will help guide the participants in learning how to self-monitor and manage their moods to reduce mental health symptoms and teach the caregivers how to support those in their care to practice healthy coping and symptom management.

Mentoring sessions would consist of several cohorts that engage in weekly sessions. Applicants have the discretion to determine the additional details of the program structure. CDD requires all grants establish a grant advisory council, with representation of people with dual diagnoses and family members/caregivers, to help determine the precise structure and duration of the program.

The peer mentoring project will include:

• 4 to 8 peer mentoring cohorts.
• 16 weekly sessions with mentors and mentees
• A script or outline that will guide the mentors in various activities during mentoring sessions.
• Psychoeducation training, including coping strategies and other content based on mentee need.
• Mentor training consisting of but not limited to psychoeducation, therapeutic skills, confidentiality, and mandated reporting.
• Psychoeducation for mentees in the form of short videos and worksheets curated by their respective mentors.
• Weekly support to mentors by selected advisors and program oversight staff.
• Program overseen by a licensed clinician.
• Monthly structured social events with mentors/mentees.
• Mentor training by a licensed mental health professional consisting of but not limited to psychoeducation, therapeutic skills, confidentiality, and mandated reporting.
• Mentor training (by a licensed mental health professional) protocol for response if a mentee expresses threat of harm to self or other(s), or if the mentor believes there is a threat of harm to self or other(s).

Expected Key Deliverables:

• An advisory committee comprised of experts in the field and experts by experience to guide the development, content, implementation, and evaluation of the peer mentoring project.
• 4 to 8 peer mentoring cohorts.
• 16 weekly sessions between mentors and mentees.
• A script or outline that will guide the mentors in various activities during mentoring sessions.
• Mentor training consisting of but not limited to psychoeducation, therapeutic skills, confidentiality, mandated reporting and a protocol for response if a mentee expresses threat of harm to self or other(s), or if the mentor believes there is a threat of harm to self or other(s).
• Short videos and worksheets for mentee use.
• Weekly support to mentors by selected advisors and program oversight staff.
• Monthly structured social events with mentors/mentees.
• Program supervision by a licensed psychologist, psychiatrist, or other mental health professional.
• An evaluation of the resource and its impacts on program participants, the DD field, and cross-systems stakeholders.
• A sustainability plan for how the project will be maintained and updated beyond the term of the grant.

Desired Project Outcomes:

The intended outcomes of this grant opportunity include:

• Mentees with IDD will increase self-efficacy skills for managing their moods.
• Mentees with IDD will increase use of coping strategies for emotional regulation.
• Parent mentees will enhance their ability to support family members who are dually diagnosed.
• Parent mentees will increase their knowledge of mental health symptoms and coping strategies.
• Parent mentees will improve their own self-care.
• People with dual diagnoses will gain increased leadership and advocacy skills.

Eligible organizations:

• Nonprofit organizations (note: the lead applicant cannot be a for-profit organization; however, for-profit organizations may serve as subcontractors to the lead applicant)
• Public or private institutions, such as universities, colleges, or hospitals
• Disability-service organizations
• Community-based organizations
• Tribal organizations
• Consortia, groups, or partnerships among organizations
• Prequalification is required for all not-for-profit organizations seeking grant funding from New York State. Please see Section 3.2 of RFP for additional Prequalification information.
• The program must be under the supervision of a licensed psychologist, psychiatrist, or other licensed mental health professional. If the applicant does not have a licensed psychologist, psychiatrist, or other licensed mental health professional on staff, they must have a letter of commitment from such an individual agreeing to fully supervise the mentoring programs.

Organizations whose staff were involved in the development of this project or Request for Proposal (RFP) are not eligible to directly apply or be included as a sub-contractor for another applicant.

How to Apply

Instructions on how to apply for this opportunity can be found in the Peer-Mentoring Mental Health and IDD Dual Diagnosis RFP, which is also located in the Opportunity Documents section below.

Designated Agency Contact:

CDD has assigned a Program Planner as the Designated Contact / Issuing Officer for this project. The Program Planner or a designee shall be the sole point of contact regarding the RFP from the date of issuance of the RFP until the issuance of the Notice of Award letter. To avoid being deemed non-responsive, an applicant is restricted from contacting any other personnel of the CDD regarding the RFP. Certain findings of non-responsibility can result in rejection for a contract award.