Contingency Management (CM) Pilot​

The Kentucky Department for Behavioral Health, Developmental and Intellectual Disabilities (DBHDID), through its Kentucky Overdose Response Effort (KORE), has released a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for pilot grants to implement Contingency Management (CM) programs across the state. Up to 10 nonprofit or quasi-government agencies with at least two years of experience treating opioid use disorder (OUD) or stimulant use disorder (StimUD) may be awarded $50,000 each for a 12-month project beginning March 1, 2026. These pilots aim to enhance treatment engagement, medication adherence, and long-term recovery outcomes by using evidence-based positive reinforcement strategies. Contingency Management is a proven behavioral approach involving tangible incentives such as gift cards or vouchers to encourage specific recovery-oriented behaviors, including session attendance, medication adherence, and abstinence. Participating agencies must implement CM using either a prize-based or voucher-based model, follow fidelity standards, and comply with the 2025 SAMHSA Advisory guidelines. Training and technical assistance will be provided to ensure consistent and effective implementation, with lessons learned from these pilot efforts informing a future statewide CM training model. Applications must be submitted by 5:00 PM ET on December 5, 2025, as a single PDF to kore@ky.gov. Required components include a cover letter, a six-page project narrative (covering organizational profile, service design, implementation, and data collection), and five attachments: a budget worksheet, attestations for MOUD access and CM safeguards, two letters of commitment, and IRS nonprofit status documentation. Applications will be evaluated by a review panel based on a detailed scoring rubric, with up to 80 total points across four categories. Agencies must also complete CM training prior to launch, begin service delivery within 30 days of contract receipt, and participate in monthly communities of practice. Required reporting includes bi-annual progress updates, monthly client demographic summaries, and performance tracking via the SAMHSA Unified Performance Reporting Tool. Grant funds cannot be used to supplant existing funding, build structures, pay for billable staff time, or cover prohibited items like promotional merchandise or non-evidence-based services. Incentives must be non-cash, meaningful, and compliant with federal restrictions. Additional safeguards cover secure incentive tracking, documentation in clinical records, and fidelity monitoring. A virtual Q&A session will be held on November 13, 2025, at 9:00 AM ET. For more information, applicants may contact Sandra Haddix, Treatment Implementation Specialist, at sandra.haddix@ky.gov.

Ensure alignment with the 2025 SAMHSA Advisory and clearly demonstrate implementation fidelity and data tracking procedures.