Afghan Refugee Health Program

The New York State Office of Mental Health (OMH) has announced the Afghan Refugee Health Program, a statewide initiative designed to promote health literacy, coordinate culturally informed mental health services, and facilitate wellness group activities for Afghan nationals recently resettled in New York. This program responds to the significant mental health challenges faced by Afghan arrivals who have experienced war, displacement, and resettlement trauma. OMH seeks to ensure that Afghan refugees and parolees can access individualized, linguistically appropriate, and trauma-informed mental health care through community-based organizations that understand their culture and unique needs. Through this competitive Request for Proposals (RFP), OMH will provide ten awards of $200,000 each, distributed across five regional zones—New York City, Long Island, Hudson River, Central New York, and Western New York. Funding supports outreach, engagement, mental health coordination, and wellness education in the languages most commonly spoken by Afghan arrivals, including Dari, Pashto, Farsi, and Arabic. The initiative emphasizes collaboration with Local Governmental Units (LGUs) and Directors of Community Services, who oversee community mental hygiene systems across counties. Awardees will be required to maintain accurate records, submit data on outcomes, and coordinate with OMH for performance monitoring and reporting. Eligible applicants are not-for-profit organizations with 501(c)(3) incorporation that are prequalified through the Statewide Financial System (SFS). Proposals must be submitted electronically through the SFS portal; mailed or hand-delivered submissions will not be accepted. Applicants must complete registration, prequalification, and all required uploads as outlined in the SFS Attachment Guide. Questions about the RFP must be directed in writing to the Issuing Officer, Jeremy Rossello, at OMHLocalProcurement@omh.ny.gov by November 5, 2025. Responses will be posted publicly by November 19, 2025. The application timeline includes an RFP release on October 16, 2025; proposal submissions due by December 17, 2025, at 2:00 PM Eastern Time; anticipated award notifications on January 22, 2026; and contract start dates of April 1, 2026. Contracts must be fully expended by September 30, 2026, and no extensions are permitted. Evaluation will be based on a 100-point rubric assessing population need, organizational capacity, implementation plan, performance management, diversity and inclusion, and financial feasibility. Proposals must receive at least 70 points to be considered for funding. OMH will prioritize proposals demonstrating a strong understanding of Afghan community needs, robust collaboration with local mental health systems, and the ability to deliver culturally competent services. Awardees must adhere to New York State policies on minority- and women-owned business participation, service-disabled veteran business inclusion, equal opportunity employment, sexual harassment prevention, and gender-based violence certification. This program offers a one-time, time-limited funding opportunity designed to strengthen community mental health responses for Afghan refugees across New York State, ensuring equitable access to recovery-focused, linguistically appropriate support for those rebuilding their lives after resettlement.

Begin SFS prequalification early; follow naming conventions and attachment limits carefully.