NYAPRS Note: The purpose of the BRSS TACS Policy Academy Awards is to assist State, Territory, and Tribal Government substance use disorder and mental health agencies in designing and implementing strategic policies, practices, financing mechanisms, and infrastructure improvements to promote the implementation of recovery-oriented supports, services, and systems within the context of the Affordable Care Act. In particular, the 2013 BRSS TACS Policy Academy Awards focus on assisting States, Territories, and Tribal Governments to incorporate peer-support staff and services within efforts to expand insurance coverage (e.g., Medicaid, CHIP, private insurance, etc.).
This request for applications (RFA) invites States, Territories, and Tribal Governments to develop an application and apply for participation in a virtual BRSS TACS Policy Academy and to receive a subcontract award from the Center for Social Innovation in the amount of up to $50,000. With the implementation of the Affordable Care Act in 2014, the subcontract award will support concrete health reform actions to promote recovery-oriented supports, including peers as reimbursable providers, peer support as a reimbursable service code, and/or peers as allowable staff on existing service codes. The team’s BRSS TACS Action Plan, which will be developed during the virtual Policy Academy and onsite technical assistance visits, will include concrete steps to include peer staff and peer-support services such as developing utilization, cost, and workforce need projections, as well as addressing other regulatory barriers. Eight (8) BRSS TACS Policy Academy Awards will be awarded in 2013.
Dear State Behavioral Health Authority or Tribal Leader:
Please find a letter, located here, announcing the opportunity to apply to participate in the 2013 Bringing Recovery Supports to Scale Technical Assistance Center Strategy (BRSS TACS) Policy Academy and to receive a contract subaward under SAMHSA’s BRSS TACS initiative.
The purpose of the BRSS TACS Policy Academy and contract subaward is to assist State, Territory, and Tribal Governments in creating BRSS TACS action plans to promote the implementation of recovery-oriented supports, services, and systems within the context of the Affordable Care Act. All necessary information to apply for an award is included in the Request for Applications (RFA) located here. We hope you will consider submitting an application and participating in two upcoming webinars.
An informational webinar for the BRSS TACS Policy Academy Award will be held on Thursday, January 31, 2013 from 3:00-4:00pm EST. During this webinar, SAMHSA staff and BRSS TACS team members will explain the BRSS TACS virtual Policy Academy and the subcontract awards and the expectations for applicants. To register, click here.
In addition, a webinar titled,”Learning from Experience: Lessons from the BRSS TACS Awardees”, will be offered on Thursday, January 24th, from 1:00-2:30pm EST. This webinar will present accomplishments, challenges, and lessons learned from the 2012 subcontract awardees of the three programs offered. Representatives of the organizations funded under the BRSS TACS Policy Academy Awards, BRSS TACS State Peer Awards for Health Care Reform Education, and BRSS TACS Peer-Run Organization/Recovery Community Organization Awards will present on their successful projects. One State office and two peer-run/recovery community organizations will be represented. Click here to register.
Questions about the RFA must be submitted to Rebecca Stouff, by electronic mail to rstouff@center4si.com, or by U.S. mail to Rebecca Stouff, Center for Social Innovation, 200 Reservoir Street, Suite 202, Needham, MA 02494.
Questions about BRSS TACS may be directed to the SAMHSA Project Officer, Catherine Nugent, at cathy.nugent@samhsa.hhs.gov or 240-276-1577.
Thank you for your efforts to promote the health and well being of the citizens of your State.
Sincerely,
-pdv
Paolo del Vecchio, M.S.W.
Director
Center for Mental Health Services
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
1 Choke Cherry Road
Rockville, MD 20857