Youth Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) Team

The New York State Office of Mental Health (OMH) has released the Youth Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) Team Request for Proposals (RFP MH253004) to expand evidence-based, community-based mental health treatment for children and youth with Serious Emotional Disturbance (SED) across Central and Western New York. OMH’s mission is to promote mental wellness and recovery through comprehensive care, and this initiative represents a key investment in addressing the high-level service needs of children and families requiring intensive support in their home and community environments. The program will establish one new Youth ACT team to strengthen the children’s behavioral health continuum of care by providing individualized, coordinated, and flexible treatment options designed to prevent unnecessary institutionalization. The Youth ACT model delivers intensive clinical and rehabilitative services for youth up to age 21 who are at risk of entering or returning from inpatient or residential placements, or who have not adequately responded to traditional outpatient care. Using a multi-disciplinary team approach, Youth ACT integrates clinical staff, psychiatric prescribers, and family and youth peer advocates to deliver holistic, family-driven, and youth-guided services. Interventions are designed to improve functioning in areas such as family relationships, education, self-direction, and social integration, while supporting family stability and resilience. Teams operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week, providing rapid response and crisis intervention services directly in homes and community settings. Funding through this RFP supports one Youth ACT team in either Central or Western New York, with defined team sizes of 28 or 36 slots based on the county served. Teams will be licensed under Part 508 of the New York Codes, Rules and Regulations and must adhere to fidelity standards in program delivery. Eligible applicants are nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations with experience providing mental health services to children or youth with SED. Proposals will be evaluated on population understanding, program design, implementation plan, agency capacity, quality improvement, equity commitment, and financial assessment, with a total of 100 possible points. Applicants must also comply with requirements related to Minority and Women-Owned Business Enterprises (MWBE), Equal Opportunity Employment, and the Sexual Harassment and Gender-Based Violence prevention certifications. The proposal process requires online submission through the New York State Statewide Financial System (SFS). All not-for-profit agencies must be prequalified prior to submission and must submit required attachments—including a budget template, proposal narrative, provider contact form, and proof of notification to Local Governmental Units (LGUs). No paper or email submissions will be accepted. The RFP was released on October 16, 2025; written questions are due by November 4, 2025; responses will be posted November 25, 2025; and full proposals are due by December 16, 2025, at 2:00 PM Eastern Time. Anticipated award notification is scheduled for January 20, 2026, with contracts expected to begin July 1, 2026. The available funding includes a $450,000 startup allocation in a separate fixed-term contract, plus ongoing operational support through a mix of Medicaid reimbursement and annual state net deficit funding of approximately $362,301–$452,137 per team, plus $27,217 in service dollars. The contract term is five years, subject to renewal and state appropriations. Proposals will be reviewed competitively, and one award will be made to the highest-scoring applicant. OMH reserves the right to reassign or terminate contracts in cases of noncompliance or failure to meet performance benchmarks. This program offers a vital opportunity for experienced child mental health providers to expand access to intensive, family-centered care for youth with SED and to strengthen New York’s behavioral health infrastructure statewide.

Applicants should begin SFS submission at least 5 business days before deadline and submit 48 hours early to avoid disqualification; ensure prequalification is complete.