We are excited to share that the Best Starts for Kids Centering Diverse Healers for Youth Well-Being Request for Proposals (RFP) is now open! This funding opportunity closes on Friday, October 18 at 5PM, please submit your application by then.
Click here to view the full funding opportunity details and apply.
About this opportunity:
Health and well-being are influenced by the places where people live, learn, work, and play. Youth mental health challenges have become a growing concern, disproportionately impacting Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC), and Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans, and Queer (LGBTQ+) youth. The lack of diversity within the workforce is a significant barrier to accessing quality services for these youth. Our goal is to center diverse communities in entering, accessing support and resources, and increasing representation within the broader youth mental health and healing fields. Read more on King County’s investments in the mental health and well-being workforce.
This RFP seeks to fund creative ideas and approaches that support diverse youth mental health providers, healers, and wellness supporters connected to LGBTQIA and BIPOC communities and support retention of diverse providers, healers, and general supporters of youth mental health within the field.
Eligibility:
This RFP is open to nonprofit organizations, community-based organizations, faith-based organizations, tribes and tribal organizations, for-profit entities, and public or governmental agencies. Eligible applicants must be providing services related to mental health, healing, or wellness, with a focus on serving communities within King County. Small nonprofits and community-based organizations are encouraged to submit proposals.
Attend our information session:
We strongly encourage anyone interested in applying to attend our information session to learn more:
- Thursday, September 12, 2024, 2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m., Pacific Time
- Thursday, October 3, 2024, 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m., Pacific Time
Learn more about this funding opportunity and access meeting details for the information session within the full RFP document.
Funding available:
We have budgeted up to $300,000 per award from December 2024 – 2027 for this project. We anticipate funding up to 5 organizations for the 3-year award period.
Timeline:
| RFP Issued | September 6, 2024 |
| Information Session | September 12, 2024, 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm October 3, 2024, 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm |
| Final day to initiate request for technical assistance | October 16, 2024 |
| Final day to Submit Questions | October 16, 2024 |
| RFP Application Due | October 18, 2024 by 5:00 pm |
| Applications Reviewed | October 21 – November 4, 2024 |
| Notification of Selected and Non-Selected Applicants | November 2024 |
| Contract Anticipated Start Date | December, 2024 |
Do you have any questions?
If you have any questions about this funding opportunity, you can submit a question before Wednesday, October 16, 2024 to Phil Thompson at PhiThompson@kingcounty.gov.
Would you like support? Access Best Starts technical assistance!
Free application support is available for organizations interested in applying for this Best Starts funding opportunity! Best Starts partnered consultants can support by: helping to determine appropriate fit between your work and this funding opportunity, providing guidance on how best to answer application questions, supporting your application development (including editing and reviewing), and supporting you in explaining your qualifications in the most clear and concise way.
If you are interested in partnering with a technical assistance consultant, learn more here.
1. Check out our funding calendar
This calendar shares upcoming funding opportunities staggered throughout the year. Subscribe to our blog and newsletter to the right of the calendar to receive notices whenever we post a new funding opportunity.
2. Watch our latest recorded info sessions
If you were unable to make it to the info session for an open funding opportunity, check out the recordings and slideshows.
