The ARPA Summer Mental Health Supports Grant Program

The ARPA Summer Mental Health Supports Grant Program is sponsored by Connecticut State Department of Education. Enables school districts, summer camps, and community-based organizations to hire mental health professionals for summer support.

ARPA - Summer Mental Health Supports Grant – 2 Year Grant RFP #843 # Connecticut State Department of Education # Bureau of Health, Nutrition, and Family Services # ARPA - Summer Mental Health Supports Grant Program – 2 Year Grant # Request for Proposal # 843 # June 30 , 2024 – June 30 , 202 6 # Grants must be in “LEA Superintendent / Authorized Rep resentative Approved ” # status in eGMS by 4:00 P. M.

Purpose: To support the delivery of mental health services for students when school is not in session by Connecticut local and regional school districts , operators of youth camps and other Pursuant to Section 85 of Public Act No. 23-167 . # The grant application must be completed on -line in eGMS. # https://connecticut.

egrantsmanagement. com # No paper or email applications will be accepted. Applicants that do not have an eGMS account should contact April Swain at April.

Swain@ct. gov , for assistance with obtaining a n account. ARPA - Summer Mental Health Supports Grant – 2 Year Grant RFP #843 # Charlene M.

Russell -Tucker # Commissioner of Education An Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer The Connecticut State Department of Education is committed to a policy of equal opportunity/affirmative action for all qualified persons.

The Connecticut Department of Education does not discriminate in any employment practice, education program, or educat ional activity on the basis of: race; color; religious creed; age; sex; pregnancy; sexual orientation; workplace hazards to reproductive systems; gender identity or expression; marital status; national origin; ancestry; retaliation for previously opposed discrimination or coercion; intellectual disability; genetic information; learning disability; physical disability (including, but not limited to, blindness); mental disability (past/present history thereof); military or veteran status; status as a victim o f domestic violence; or criminal record in state employment, unless there is a bona fide occupational qualification excluding persons in any of the aforementioned protected classes.

Inquiries regarding the Connecticut State Department of Education’s nondis crimination policies should be directed to: Attorney Louis Todisco, Connecticut State Department of Education, by mail (450 Columbus Boulevard, Suite 605, Hartford, CT 06103 -1841; or by telephone 860 -713 -6594; or by email louis. todisco@ct. gov).

The Connecticut State Department of Education is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer. ARPA - Summer Mental Health Supports Grant – 2 Year Grant RFP #843 II. Eligible Applicants and Grant Requirements 4 III.

Grant Award Options 5 IV. Eligible Activities and Spending 5 V. Program Requirements 5 VI.

Data Monitoring and Program Implementation 6 VII I. Selection and Notification 8 X. Other Application Requirements 9 XI.

Resources to Support Student Mental Health 10 Appendix A: Scoring Rubric for Summer Mental Health Supports Grant, 11 Appendix B: Standard Statement of Assurances for Grant Programs 14 Appendix C: Affirmative Action Certification Form 19 Appendix D: ARPA – Agreement with Subrecipient 203 | P a g e Purpose and General Information The impact of the global COVID -19 pandemic continues to be felt by our school -aged children across the state .

According to The Health of Teens in Connecticut , Results from the Connecticut School Health Survey 1“1 in 3 students felt sad or hopeless for 2 weeks or more . Only 1 out of 4 students get the help they need whe n feeling this way.

” The Evaluation of the State of Connecticut Summer Enrichment Grants 2, conducted January 31, 2022, by the Connecticut COVID -19 Education Research Collaborative , stated that “a primary challenge across all sites was not having enough social work staff to attend to children’s mental health needs as they arose or give in -depth training for youth counselors on how to handle mental health concerns.

” The Connecticut General Assembly recognized the need for mental health supports during the summer months and passe d Public Act No. 23 -167 (PA 2 3-167 ) to address this concern for children and families. PA 23 -167 provided $8 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds to support local and regional school districts and su mmer programs.

In spring 2023, the ARPA Summer Mental Health Grant was launched, offering 49 three - year grants ranging from $13,932 to $135,000. These grants aimed to provide direct mental health supports for students, facilitate professional development for staff, and enhance mental health programming for summer camps.

A second -round of grant funding aims to expand this initiative to additional districts and summer camp programs through the ARPA – Summer Mental Health Supports Grant – 2 Year Grant beginning in fiscal yea r (FY ) 2025 and continuing into FY 2026. With approximately $3,355,950 remaining from the original $8 million allocation, roughly 40 more grants will be provided across the state.

Eligible entities may apply for grant s between $10,000 and $50,000 for the first fiscal year for the purpose of hiring mental health staff, providing professional development to current staff, contracting with mental health support agencies, or developing program s focused on mental health for the summer months when school is out of session .

This grant will be awarded each year, for t wo consecutive fiscal years, FY 202 5 and FY 202 6. Successful awardees will receive 100% of their awarded amount in FY 2025 and 70% of the awarded amount in FY 202 6. Applicants wishing to submit an application must apply for the grant through the eGMS system, beginning April 30 , 202 4.

The number of grants awarded will depend on the number of applicants , the quality of the proposal s, and the amount of the funds available. Section 85 of Public Act No. 23 -167 directs the Connecticut State Department of Education (CSDE ) to establish grant programs to assist Connecticut local and regional school districts and operators of youth camps and other summer programs for the delivery of mental health services for students.

Note: The CSDE reserve s the right to modify awards if there are state or federal statutory changes t hat affect the fiscal years for which funds may be utilized or expend ed . Proposals submitted in response to this request for proposal ( RFP ) will be scored and awar ds made in accordance with the rubric included herein.

> 1The Health of Teens in Connecticut, Results from the Connecticut Health Survey > 2Evaluation of the State of Connecticut Summer Enrichment Grant Final Reports ARPA -Summer Mental Health Supports Grant –2Year Grant RFP #843 II.

Eligible Applicants and Grant Requirements Local or regional boards of education , charter schools , regional education service centers (RESC) , community -based organizations (CBO) and other summer programs may apply for these grants. Recipients of the FY 2023 ARPA Summer Mental Health Support Grant awarded through RFP # 843 are not eligible for this grant . Applicants must submit a plan for the expenditure of grant funds which must 1.

Narrative describing the needs of the applica nt . 2. Applicants UEI Number .

3. A project description . 5.

An anticipated project timeline. 6. Description of the targeted population and how this project meets their needs that were a result of the effects of COVID -19.

7. An entity risk assessment . 8.

Describe evidence -based interventions. 9. Describe the equity efforts.

10. Describe the project’s community engagement. 11.

Describing connections between schools and community -based supports. 12. Describe the scope of work and type of services that will be support ed by the grant.

13. Estimated number of students receiving direct services through this grant funding. 14.

Provide the current number of mental health professionals working with your district 15. Expenditure plan for grant funds for the duration of the grant. 16.

Identify in -kind and/or matching contributions not derived by state or federal funds. 17. Provide a narrative for how the position(s), contracted services, professional development and/or programing will be sustained in year three, when the funding will be decreased and how the applicant will sustain the position (s) or project beyond the 18.

Provide the number of additional mental health professionals to be hired through this All applications submitted become the property of the CSDE and become part of the public domain. The CSDE reserves the right to make necessary policy and programmatic changes after proposals are submitted and to negotiate awards with potential recipients.

In determining if a n agency shall be granted funds, the Commissioner of Education shall give priority to programs serving : • disproportionately impacted populations ; • low -income households or populations ; and • towns with a population of less than 13,000 residents.

ARPA - Summer Mental Health Supports Grant – 2 Year Grant RFP #843 Please Note: The APRA -Summer Mental Health Supports – 2 Year Grant Program is funded through the federal ARPA and appropriated by the Connecticut General Assembly .

The Period of Performance, in accordance with Public Act No. 23 -167 will be June 30, 2024 to June 30, 2026 Technical Assistance and Management All q uestions regarding this RFP may be directed to James Mandracchia at James. Mandracchia@ct. gov .

The CSDE reserves the right to monitor program progress at least annually, including examination and approval of all reports and data collection. The estimated funding available statewide for the ARPA - Summer Mental Health Support s – 2 Year Grant for FY 202 5 is $1,973, 500 and $1,381,450 for FY 2026 . The minimu m grant award per applicant for FY 2025 is $10,000 , with a maximum award of $50,000 .

This amount will be awarded as 100% in the first year of the grant , FY 202 5, The CSDE shall pay the grant to each grant recipient in each FY ending June 30, 202 5, and 202 6 on a reimbursement basis . No encumbrances or expenditures may be incurred Funding for each year is subject to state budget appropriations.

Grantees will be required to submit an End -of -Year Report (EYR) for year 1 and a budget for year 2 prior to receiving year two funding. The second year of funding is also contingent upon ad equate progress toward program goals and use of funds in the first year. IV.

Eligible Activities and Spending A. Eligible Spending Cate gories 1. Personal service s – salaries .

2. Personal service s – employee benefits . 3.

Purchased professional development and in -service training. 4. Professional education services – proposed mental health service workers can be contracted with outside agencies or individuals.

5. Supplies – specifically required for supporting mental health services. B.

Ineligible Spending Categories 1. Grant funds cannot be used to purchase office or computer equipment that does not directly support mental health supports . 2.

Funds cannot be used to purchase motor vehicles, facilities, or to support new Management Control of the Program The grantee has complete management responsibility for this grant. While the CSDE staff may be consulted for their expertise, they will not be directly involved in the selection of personnel.

ARPA - Summer Mental Health Supports Grant – 2 Year Grant RFP #843 The CSDE reserves the right to make awards under this program without discussion with the applicants. Therefore, applications should represent the best effort from both a technical and cost standpoint.

Other r equired document ation to be completed in eGMS : • Standard Statement of Assurances for Grant Programs (See Appendix B) • Affirmative Action Certification Form (See Appendix C) VI. Data Monitoring and Program Implementation Grant recipients will be required to submit the following performance ind icators on a n 1.

National Center for Education Statistics School ID or District ID for all school s partici pating in the program or representative of the participating students . 2. Demographic dat a of students participating in the program, disaggregated by the following categories: race, ethnicity, gender, and household income .

3. Data on the utilization rates of the grant, including the number of students served and the hours of service provided using the grant funds awarded under the 4. A narrative d escription of the outcomes and overall impact on the students and In addition to the data listed above , applicants will need to submit annual expenditure Applications must include budget details and budget narratives.

This information must be entered into eGMS in the Budget Details section . Budget narratives must include descriptions of the proposed project including the time commitment for all grant funded staff and the scope and activities of all grants funded work . Grant recipients shall file expenditure reports with the Commissioner of Education in eGMS .

A grant recipient shall only expend grant funds received in accordance with the plan submitted, and a grant recipient may not us e such grant funds received through this grant for the purpose of any operating expenses that existed prior to receipt of such grant.

Grant recipients shall forfeit to the Department of Education any unexpended amounts at the close of the fiscal year in which the grant was awarded, and refund any amounts not expended in accordance with the plan for which such grant application was approved . Provide a detailed description of the proposed use of funds for each Budget Detail . Wherever applicable, cite local policy and/or contractual basis for amounts requested.

1. “The salary amount is projected at the first step of the s chool counselor salary range established in the local education agency's collective bargaining agreement. ” ARPA - Summer Mental Health Supports Grant – 2 Year Grant RFP #843 2.

“Line 322 represents the contracted services of a mental health provider who will be paid x dollars per day for y days. ” Please respond to this task with as much detail as possible in order to avoid requests for more information, which may delay the granting process. This list is a description of the object codes in the budget.

The list is provided to help applicants in designing budget s for the program. Not all budget codes are eligible for this grant program as described in this RFP. 100 Personal Services - Salaries .

Amounts paid to both permanent and temporary grantee employees, including personnel substituting for those in permanent positions. This includes gross salary for personal services rendered while on the 200 Personal Services - Employee Benefits . Amounts paid by the grantee on behalf of the employees whose salaries are reported in line 100.

These amounts are not included in the gross salary but are in addition to that amount. Such payments are fringe benefit payments and, while not paid directly to employees, nevertheless are part of the cost of personal services.

Included are the employer’s cost of group insurance, social security contributio n, retirement contribution, tuition reimbursement, unemployment compensation and workmen’s compensation 300 Purchased Professional and Technical Services . Services which, by their nature, can be performed only by persons or firms with specialized skills and knowledge.

While a product may or may not result from the transaction, the primary reason for the purchase is the service provided. Included are the serv ices of architects, engineers, auditors, dentists, medical doctors, lawyers, consultants, teachers, accountants, etc. 500 Other Purchased Services.

Amounts paid for services rendered by organizations or personnel not on the payroll of the grantee (separate from Professional and Technical Services or Property Services). While a product may or may not result from the transaction, the primary reason f or the purchase is the service provided. 600 Supplies.

Amounts paid for items that are consumed, worn out, or deteriorated through use, or items that lose their identity through fabrication or incorporation into different or more complex units or substances. ARPA - Summer Mental Health Supports Grant – 2 Year Grant RFP #843 VIII.

Selection and Notification Review Process and Criteria The CSDE will convene a panel to review and score all completed applications received by the due date and ti me . Grant awards will be negotiated and accepted with modifications, if necessary, in time for final award notification via the eGMS system.

Each application will be rated according to the criteria in the scoring rubric which can be found in the Resource s section of the The CSDE will notify applicants in writing of the acceptance or rejection of submitted proposals. If a proposal is selected for funding, the Division of School Health, Nutrition, and Family Services will initiate a grant award notification .

The level of funding and effective dates of the projects will be set forth in the notification of the grant award. All grant awards are subject to availability of funds. Grants are not final until award notifications are executed.

Applicants must complete a narrative to address each of the components listed below: 1. Introduction and Rationale: Provide a rationale to describe the need for this funding. Please include what other federal or state funding the applicant is currently using to fund mental health supports .

Include what funding federal COVID relief funds the applicant has received for mental health supports . Priority will be given to applicants with limited access to funding to support mental health services. 2.

Provide the applicant ’s UEI number. 3. Provide a project description which includes details of the project ’s purpose, the desired outcomes from the project, and how the outcomes will be measured , along with any current data towards the desired 4.

Provide the project details , an overview of the main project activities , primary delivery mechanism , and external partners, if applicable. Include a link to the project website , if available. 5.

Describe your anticipated timeline for this project. Include projected 6. Describe the target population and how the proposed project or positions will successfully address the needs of the target population.

Please include demographics and economic information of the community being served. 7. Provide the current overall town population for the town to be served .

(If the proposal will serve multiple towns, provide the average population of all towns to be served with the grant funding. ) 8. Provide information on the fi scal stability of the applicant organization using the Office of Policy and Management ’s (OPM) Ris k Assessment included in the eGMS application .

ARPA - Summer Mental Health Supports Grant – 2 Year Grant RFP #843 9. Describe how this project is supported through evidence -based practices and interventions. This may include citations or links to at least one resea rch study with an experimental design that shows positive finding for 10.

Describe how this project is promoting equitable outcomes. 11. Describe how the project will incorpora te community engagement .

12. Describ e connections between schools and community -based supports that are in place or will be established to support the mental health of students 13. Describe the scope of work and type of services that will be support ed by the grant funding, including personnel, contracted services, professional development and/or programing.

14. Provide the number of students or campers to be served through this grant 15. Provide the current number of mental health professionals working with your school district or agency .

Please p rovide the number of mental health professionals and their title s. B. Expenditures & Sustainability 1.

Provide a budget and detailed budget narrative that describes use of grant funds for the duration of the grant period , as well as funds from other a. Costs in relation to the number of students to be served and to the anticipated results and benefits . 2.

Provide a description of how the services will be sustained in year t wo , when the funding will be decreased to 70 percent . Indicate how the applicant will sustain the services beyond the grant . 3.

Provide the number of additional mental health professionals FTEs to be supported through this grant. (For example: 1. 0 FTE or 0.

5 FTE, etc.) X. Other Application Requirements A. Obligations of Grantees All bidders are hereby notified that the grant to be awarded is subject to contract compliance requirements as set forth in Section 4a -60 and 60a of the Connecticut General Statues (C.

G. S) and Sections 46a -68j -23 et seq . of the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies.

Furthermore, the grantee must submit periodic reports of its employment and sub - contracting practices in such form, in such manner , and in such time as may be prescribed by the Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities ( CHRO). B.

Freedom of Information Act All of the information contained in a proposal submitted in response to this RFP is subject to the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act ( FOIA ) Sections 1 - 200 et seq. of the C . G.

S. The FOIA declares that except as provided by federal law or state statute, records maintained or kept on file by any public agency (as defined in the statute) are public records and every person has the right to inspect such records and receive a copy of such records. ARPA - Summer Mental Health Supports Grant – 2 Year Grant RFP #843 C.

ARPA Required Documentation All ARPA Grants Applications are required to provide the following required • ARPA - Agreement with Subrecipient (see Appendix D) Non -LEA applicants must also provide the following documentation. • ARPA Assessment - 3 years tax returns or Status Letter (Letter of Good • ARPA Assessment - Audited Financial Statements (last 3 years) • ARPA Assessment - Certificate of Legal Existence XI.

Resources to Support Student Mental Health • Aperture Education Connecticut • CDC : Adolescence and School Health • CDPH: The Connecticut School Health Survey • Evaluation of the State of Connecticut Summer Enrichment Grants Final Report • Social Emotional Learning Hub, CSDE ARPA - Summer Mental Health Supports Grant – 2 Year Grant RFP #843 Scoring Rubric for ARPA - Summer Mental Health Supports – 2 Year Grant Exemplary Adequate Marginal Inadequate 1.

Introduction and Rationale: Provided a rationale to describe the need for this funding. Include d what other federal or state funding the applicant is currently using to fund mental health supports. Include what funding federal COVID relief funds the applicant has received for mental health supports.

Priority will be given to applicants with limited access to funding to support 2. Provide d the application UEI 3. Provided a project description which include d details of the project’s purpose, the desired outcomes from the project, and how the outcomes will be measured, along with any current data towards 4.

Provided the project details, an overview of the main project activities, primary delivery mechanism, and external partners, if applicable. Include d a link to the project website, if available. 5.

Described your anticipated timeline for this project. Include d projected 6. Described the target population and how the proposed project or positions will successfully address the needs of the target population.

Include d demographics and economic information of the 7. Provided the current overall town population. (Applicants can average the town population if they serve 50,0000 ARPA - Summer Mental Health Supports Grant – 2 Year Grant RFP #843 8.

Provided information on the financial stability of your organization through OPM Risk 9. Described how this project is supported through evidence -based practices and interventions. This may have include d citations or links to at least one research study with an experimental design that shows positive finding for the intendent 10.

Described how this project is promoting equitable outcomes. 3 2 1 0 11. Described how the project will 12.

Described connections between schools and community -based supports that are in place or will be established to support the mental health of students or campers . 13. Described the scope of work and type of services that will be support 14.

Provided an estimated number of students receiving direct services through this grant funding. 15. Provide d the current number of mental health professionals working with your district or agency.

Exemplary Adequate Marginal Inadequate 1. Provided a budget and detailed budget narrative that describes use of grant funds for the duration of the grant period, as well as funds from other sources, including: a. costs are reasonable in relation to the number of students to be served and to the anticipated b.

pro posed personnel are appropriate for the needs stated 3 2 1 0 2. Provided a narrative describing how the position/s or program will be sustained in year t wo , when the funding will be decreased to 70 percent and how the applicant will 3 2 1 0ARPA - Summer Mental Health Supports Grant – 2 Year Grant RFP #843 sustain the position beyond the grant 3.

Provide the number of additional mental health professionals FTEs to be supported through this grant. (For example: 1. 0 FTE or 0.

5 FTE, etc.) Standard Statement of Assurances for Grant Programs Connecticut State Department of Education The Applicant hereby assures the Connecticut State Department of Education that: A. The applicant has the necessary legal authority to apply for and receive the proposed B.

The filing of this application has been authorized by the applicant's governing body, and the undersigned official has been duly authorized to file this application for and on behalf of said applicant, and otherwise to act as the authorized representative of the applicant in connection with this application. C.

The activities and services for which assistance is sought under this grant will be administered by or under the supervision and control of the applicant. D. The project will be operated in compliance with all applicable state and federal laws and in compliance with regulations and other policies and administrative directives of the State Board of Education and the Connecticut State Department of Education.

E. Grant funds shall not be used to supplant funds normally budgeted by the agency. F.

Fiscal control and accounting procedures will be used to ensure proper disbursement of G. The applicant will submit a final project report (within 60 days of the project completion) and such other reports, as specified, to the Connecticut State Department of Education, including information relating to the project records and access thereto as the Connecticut State Department of Education may find necessary. H.

The Connecticut State Department of Education reserves the exclusive right to use and grant the right to use and/or publish any part or parts of any summary, abstract, reports, publications, records and materials resulting from this project and this grant. I.

If the project achieves the specified objectives, every reasonable effort will be made to continue the project and/or implement the results after the termination of state/federal funding. ARPA - Summer Mental Health Supports Grant – 2 Year Grant RFP #843 J.

The applicant will protect and save harmless the State Board of Education from financial loss and expense, including legal fees and costs, if any, arising out of any breach of the duties, in whole or part, described in the application for the grant. K. At the conclusion of each grant period, the applicant will provide for an independent audit report acceptable to the grantor in accordance with Sections 7 -394a and 7 -396a of the C.

G. S. , and the applicant shall return to the Connecticut State Department of Education any moneys not expended in accordance with the approved program/operation budget as determined by the audit.

1) For purposes of this Section, the following terms are defined as follows: a. “Commission” means the Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities; b. “Contract” and “contract” means this grant; c.

“Contractor” and “contractor” means the applicant and any successors or d.

“Gender identity or expression” means a person’s gender -related identity, appearance or behavior, whether or not that gender -related identity, appearance or behavior is different from that traditionally associated with the person’s physiology or assigned s ex at birth, which gender -related identity can be shown by providing evidence including, but not limited to, medical history, care or treatment of the gender -related identity, consistent and uniform assertion of the gender -related identity or any other evi dence that the gender - related identity is sincerely held, part of a person’s core identity or not being asserted for an improper purpose.

e. “good faith” means that degree of diligence which a reasonable person would exercise in the performance of legal duties and obligations; f.

“good faith efforts” shall include, but not be limited to, those reasonable initial efforts necessary to comply with statutory or regulatory requirements and additional or substituted efforts when it is determined that such initial efforts will not be suff icient to comply with such requirements; g. “marital status” means being single, married as recognized by the State of Connecticut, widowed, separated or divorced; h.

“mental disability” means one or more mental disorders, as defined in the most recent edition of the American Psychiatric Association’s "Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders", or a record of or regarding a person as having one or more such disorders; i.

“minority business enterprise” means any small contractor or supplier of materials fifty -one percent or more of the capital stock, if any, or assets of which is owned by a person or persons: (1) who are active in the daily affairs of the enterprise, (2) who have the power to direct the management and policies of the enterprise, and (3) who are members of a minority, as such term is defined in subsection (a) of C. G. S.

§ 32 -9n; and j.

“public works contract” means any agreement between any individual, firm or corporation and the State or any political subdivision of the State other than a municipality for construction, rehabilitation, conversion, extension, demolition or repair of a pub lic building, highway or other changes or ARPA - Summer Mental Health Supports Grant – 2 Year Grant RFP #843 improvements in real property, or which is financed in whole or in part by the State, including, but not limited to, matching expenditures, grants, loans, 2) For purposes of this Section, the terms “Contract” and “contract” do not include a contract where each contractor is (a) a political subdivision of the state, including, but not limited to, a municipality, unless the