Now accepting applications to provide behavioral health services at youth reengagement sites in King County – due October 26

King County’s Department of Community and Human Services’ Employment and Education Resources’ (EER) Division is leading Best Starts for Kids’ strategy to help youth and young adults (ages 16- 24) who have had challenges successfully transition into adulthood. The request for proposals to provide appropriate and easily accessible behavioral health services to young people engaged in education services at one or more of King County’s Opportunity Youth Reengagement Centers is now available here.

See additional details, attachments, and download the RFP here. This links will take you to King County Solicitations. You may enter the site as a Guest or, if previously registered, by logging on with your User ID. Type “Best Starts for Kids” in the keywords search bar to locate the RFP.

What are Youth Reengagement Centers?

In an effort to address the education and employment needs of who have dropped out or been pushed out of the traditional K-12 system, King County is now home to approximately 20 reengagement programs focused on education and employment. These programs are operated by community based agencies, community colleges, municipal government (including King County’s Employment and Education Resources) and school districts. Reengagement Centers mainly offer instruction and basic case management as few programs have the resources or partnerships in place to offer regular onsite behavioral health services. This project will connect two systems – education/employment and behavioral health – in a way that will benefit young people and allow them to meet their needs in one location in a coordinated, flexible manner.

See additional details on Youth Reengagement Centers here.

Commitment to Equity

Equity and Social Justice is an integral part of the County’s work and foundational to the work of Best Starts for Kids. Our goal is to ensure that all people, regardless of who they are and where they live, have the opportunity to thrive, with full and equal access to opportunities, power, and resources.

For all Best Starts funded programs, we seek to support organizations that are reflective of and embedded in the communities they serve, and recognize and address the disparities and disproportionality that exist in our communities.

Eligibility

This announcement is -open to not-for-profit organizations, community-based organizations, tribes and tribal organizations, schools and school districts, and public or governmental agencies serving communities in King County. Small non-profits and community-based organizations are encouraged to submit proposals.

Available funding

A total of $800,000 is available for this investment. Services will be provided from January 1, 2018 to December 31, 2018. Successful applicants may receive contract extensions for up to two additional years (January 1, 2019-December 31, 2020) depending on resources available and the organization’s ability to meet contracted goals.

Because Education and Employment Resources’ goal is to embed dually credentialed behavioral health professionals into reengagement centers, agencies should request funding to cover at least one full-time staff and include the costs for clinical supervision and on-going training/continuing education.

Timeline

Key Activity	Deadline
RFP Issued	September 28
Information Session	Thursday, October 5 2:00 pm – 3:30 pm WorkSource Renton/YouthSource 500 SW 7th Street Renton, WA 98057
Questions Due From Applicants (via email)*	October 18
RFP Responses Due	October 26 by 2pm
Notice of Selected and Non-Selected Proposers	December 15
Contracts begin	January 1, 2018