Employment and Independence for People with Disabilities Grant Opportunities

NC DHHS Notice of Funding Availability
Pre-Employment Transition Services (NOFA 1062)

 

NC DHHS Notice of Funding Availability
Impartial Hearing Officer Notice of Funding Availability Report Form (NOFA 1056)

 

NC DHHS Notice of Funding Availability

DHHS Division/Office issuing this notice: Division of Employment and Independence for People with Disabilities
Date of this notice: December 15th, 2022
Working Title of the funding program: Individual Placement and Supports Supported Employment

Purpose: To provide Individual Placement and Support (IPS) services to Division consumers with Severe Mental Illness (SMI) or Severe and Persistent Mental Illness (SPMI) in order to achieve and sustain gainful employment.  This service is provided primarily by Employment Support Professionals (ESPs) and Employment Peer Mentors (EPMs) who are trained in national research standards that support the vocational needs of individuals and promote community connections and employment success. 

Description: Individual Placement and Support (IPS) is an evidenced-based approach to person-centered, behavioral health services with a focus on employment that provides assistance in choosing, acquiring and maintaining competitive paid employment in the community for consumers 18 years or older with a severe mental illness (SMI) and severe and persistent mental illness (SPMI) for whom employment has not been achieved or employment has been interrupted or intermittent. Components of the fidelity model include the career profile, job development/job placement, job support, peer support, behavioral health intervention, and follow along supports. 

IPS services is a sequential funding service requiring multiple funding resources. The Contractor shall have available funding resources for IPS services from alternate sources, including the Local Management Entity/Managed Care Organization (LME/MCO), local and county governments, and/or grant funding from a federal agency, such as the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). Throughout the term of this contract the Contractor shall have a fully executed contract or grant with an alternate funding source.

Funding Availability: $6,000,000

Eligibility: The agency or organization shall meet the following criteria in order to apply to be a Division approved IPS SE Contractor:

  • Any public, for profit, or nonprofit organization that has a current contract to provide IPS SE with LME/MCO, county or city government, or a federal grant; AND HAVE
  • Fulfilled the requirements of the Rules for Mental Health, Substance Abuse and Developmental Disabilities, found in 10A NCAC 27G, and provide a current copy of the license if Contractor is a behavioral health organization.

How to Apply: Contractors that are currently under contract with the Division of Employment and Independence for People with Disabilities (the Division) to provide IPS services are NOT required to send a complete Application for Community Partnership (IPS SE). However, such organizations must submit a Renewal application for Community Partnership (IPS SE) by the deadline indicated in order to have an executed contract in the next renewal cycle effective November 1, 2023. 

Applications, subject to the conditions made a part of hereof, will be received until 5:00 p.m., April 1st, 2023 for furnishing services described herein.

Deadline for Submission: Applications will be received until 5:00 p.m., April 1st, 2023. Applications received by the deadline above will be in consideration for a November 1, 2023 award.  Applications received after 5:00 p.m., April 1st, 2023 will be considered for a future award date. Applications will be considered on an ongoing basis.

How to Obtain Further Information: Direct all inquiries concerning this ACP to: Program Specialist for Behavioral Health at dvr.ips.se.rfa@dhhs.nc.gov.

Additional Information is available: Request for Applications for Community Partnership (ACP) IPS SE #1002
 

NCDHHS Notice of Funding Availability

DHHS Division/Office issuing this notice: Division of Employment and Independence for People with Disabilities
Date of this notice: December 15th, 2022
Working Title of the funding program: Comprehensive Employment Support Services for Persons with Brain Injuries

Purpose: The purpose of this Request for Applications for Community Rehabilitation Partnership (RACRP) is to solicit contractors to provide brain injury support services to eligible Division consumers that have been diagnosed with significant brain injuries and whose injuries impact their ability to pursue successful employment goals. The NC Division of Employment and Independence for People with Disabilities (the Division) has funded brain injury support services through various vendors and formats since the early 1990’s.

Description: In 2015, Division implemented one holistic model that must be followed by all providers under contract with the Division. The Brain Injury Support Services model, otherwise known as BISS, is an outcome-based milestone format service array. The BISS service model is comprehensive in that it serves the consumer from the beginning assessment phase through job placement, closure and extended follow along supports. It is unique in that it incorporates a therapeutic cognitive rehabilitative component that assists the individual toward their goal of successful adjustment to their functional limitations.

Funding Availability: $2,000,000

Eligibility: The agency or organization shall meet the following criteria in order to apply to be a Division approved BISS Contractor:  

  • Minimum 3 years of experience in the provision of services to consumers with significant brain injuries and how such services are comparable to the Division’s Brain Injury Support Services model. 
  • Documentation of accreditation certificate, outcome report, and quality improvement plan. If not accredited, attach your plan for accreditation. 
  • Documentation of qualified staff as outlined in Section III, Eligible Applicants Qualification, or the intent to hire such staff that must be an employee of the organization when brain injury support services begin.  
  • A thorough proposed programmatic description of the organizational capabilities for the delivery of brain injury support services as outlined in Section IV, Scope of Services. 
  • A detailed description of the organization’s experience in providing employment services similar to the Brain Injury Support Services model. 

How to Apply: Contractors that are currently under contract with the NC Division of Employment and Independence for People with Disabilities (the Division) to provide BISS are NOT required to send a complete a New Application for Community Rehabilitation Partnership BISS #1003. However, such organizations must submit a Renewal Application for Community Rehabilitation Partnership BISS #1003 by the deadline indicated in order to have an executed contract in the next renewal cycle effective November 1, 2023.

Deadline for Submission: Applications, subject to the conditions made a part of hereof, will be received until 5:00 p.m., April 1, 2023 for furnishing services described herein. Applications received by the deadline above will be in consideration for a November 1, 2023 award. Applications received after 5:00 p.m., April 1, 2023 will be considered for a future award date. Applications will be considered on an ongoing basis.

How to Obtain Further Information: Direct all inquiries concerning this RACRP to: dvr.vrbraininjuryservicesrfa@dhhs.nc.gov

Additional Information is available: Request for Applications for Community Rehabilitation Partnership (RACRP) BISS #1003
 

NCDHHS Notice of Funding Availability

DHHS Division/Office issuing this notice: Division of Employment and Independence for People with Disabilities
Date of this notice: April 1, 2021
Program Name: Community Rehabilitation Programs

Purpose: According to the 2018 American Community Survey and US Census, approximately 74% of North Carolinians with disabilities of working age are unemployed or underemployed. In State Fiscal Year 2019-2020 the North Carolina Division of Employment and Independence for People with Disabilities (EIPD), (the Division) served about 38,997 Division eligible consumers with disabilities who were seeking competitive employment.  

The goal of these service contracts is to provide assessment and training along with appropriate supports for Division consumers with disabilities to reach successful competitive integrated employment. The Community Rehabilitation Program (CRP) will provide community based services needed to obtain and maintain competitive integrated employment. 

CRPs are integral partners in the network of services designed to provide people with disabilities equal opportunity in achieving their highest level of economic and social independence. Service models include: 

Supported Employment (SE) 

  • Supported Employment 
  • Project Search™

Work Adjustment Services (WA)

Description: The objective of this Application for Community Rehabilitation Partnership (RACRP) is to identify CRPs that can provide quality services in the areas of supported employment and work adjustment services. These services are designed to develop competitive integrated employment opportunities for individuals with significant disabilities.

Supported Employment (SE): Activities include job development/placement and intensive job coaching support to foster greater success and independence on the job. Initial activity may include community based supplemental evaluation to determine required supports and vocational direction. Long term vocational support is a required element of supported employment and is not funded by the Division. The vendor is responsible for the provision of long term vocational supports regardless of the funding source.

Project SEARCH™:  A fidelity model in which activities include transition training and placement services for students with disabilities who have significant intellectual or developmental disabilities. Services are provided in the context of a local, multi-agency collaborative team.

Work Adjustment Services (WA)

  • Community Based Work Adjustment Training: Includes activities to improve and increase productivity, attendance, punctuality, ability to work with others, work tolerance, and ability to work under supervision. This service is provided only in integrated work settings offering three broad occupational categories of work.  Only approved providers as of March 1, 2021 are eligible for consideration of continued provision of community based work adjustment training. 
  • Job Development/Placement: Assistance with securing competitive integrated employment that is consistent with the goals of the consumer. 
  • Job Coaching: One on one, short term job support with the consumer to ensure successful employment.

Funding Availability: $26,000,000

Eligibility: All current and previous awardees must be in good standing with the Division. Applicants are public and private for-profit or non-profit CRPs. Applicants shall be accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF), the Council on Accreditation (COA) or the Council on Quality and Leadership (CQL). In all models, in lieu of current accreditation or pending approval for accreditation at the time of application, a vendor shall provide evidence of training regarding accreditation before approval as a vendor, or evidence of training regarding accreditation is required within one year of vendor application with accreditation rendered within three years. A copy of the accreditation shall be submitted to the Division. All vendors must have a criminal background policy to provide services. Each CRP shall comply with the accessibility and nondiscrimination standards set forth in federal and state law. The Division may deny funding to and refuse to contract with any CRP which fails to comply with such provisions.

In addition to the above requirements, ONE of the following two conditions must be true: 

  • The CRP shall have a minimum of three years of experience as a service provider in the area of service delivery for which they are seeking approval, or
  • Key staff providing direct consumer services for the CRP (such as the coordinator of the program) must have a minimum of three years of experience providing services in the area for which the CRP is applying to become an approved vendor.

Once the community rehabilitation program is an approved vendor they shall maintain accreditation in the areas that they are providing service for the Division. A copy of the current accreditation must be submitted to the Division.

Eligibility for Project SEARCH™: In addition to eligibility noted above, evidence must be provided that indicates the CRP is part of a local, multi-agency collaborative team in which a team member has been licensed or is in the process of being licensed to adhere to Project SEARCH™ model fidelity.

How to Apply:

I. For new Agencies that are not currently considered a Division Approved CRP, please refer to the Community Rehabilitation Services webpage on the Division’s public website to obtain more information to initiate the application process. All prospective CRP providers are required to contact a Regional CRP Specialist before beginning the process of becoming an approved CRP vendor by the Division.

Below are steps in the new application process:

1. Review North Carolina’s Community Rehabilitation Program Standards at the following address: “Community Rehabilitation Program Standards”. 
2. Contact a Regional CRP Specialist to discuss the need for services in your area. 
3. New CRP applicants must complete the Application for Community Rehabilitation Partnership. 
4. Submit your application and supporting documentation to the CRP application email: dvr.CRPRACRP@dhhs.nc.gov
5. You will be contacted within 30 days for further information regarding the status of your application.
6. Final approval will be determined only after a completed new application packet is received, a satisfactory site review has been conducted for new CRPs, and funds have been identified for contractual agreement.

II. Division Approved CRPs that have a current contract are encouraged to contact the Regional CRP Specialist for any questions regarding the renewal application process. 

1. Review North Carolina’s Community Rehabilitation Program Standards at the following address: “Community Rehabilitation Program Standards”. 
2. If you have any questions about the renewal application, contact a Regional CRP Specialist in your area. 
3. Current CRP providers must complete the Renewal Application for Community Rehabilitation Partnership. 
4. Submit your application and supporting documentation to the application email: dvr.CRPRACRP@dhhs.nc.gov
5. You will be contacted within 30 days for further information regarding the status of your application. 
6. Final approval will be determined only after a completed renewal application packet is received and funds have been identified for contractual agreement.

Deadline for Submission: Applications received by 5:00 pm May 30, 2021 will be in consideration for a November 1, 2021 award. Applications received after 5:00 pm May 30, 2021 will be considered for a future award date. Applications will be considered on an ongoing basis. 

How to Obtain Further Information