Mental and Behavioral Health Services for Young Children and Caregivers

The William Penn Foundation's "Accessing Mental and Behavioral Health Services for Young Children and Caregivers" grant opportunity aims to address longstanding disparities in service access and quality for young families in Philadelphia. The initiative is a part of WPF’s broader Children and Families program, which supports the development and well-being of children aged 0 to 8. By 2028, the Foundation intends to make at least 10 strategic investments in mental and behavioral health (MBH) services to help guide future funding decisions. The RFP is the result of extensive stakeholder engagement and prioritizes scalable, high-impact interventions that can measurably improve MBH access. The Foundation recognizes mental and behavioral health as essential to a child's social, emotional, and psychological development. Early interventions can prevent long-term issues, particularly for children affected by adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), such as poverty, neglect, or trauma. These risk factors are particularly prevalent in Philadelphia, where 85% of zip codes are above the national average in terms of mental health need. WPF emphasizes that effective MBH access must account for geographic, linguistic, cultural, and economic barriers, especially in high-risk neighborhoods. Funding is available for a wide range of activities over a three-year grant period. Eligible activities include increasing the number of licensed providers for children on Medicaid, expanding culturally and linguistically competent MBH professionals in community settings, extending services into under-resourced neighborhoods (especially Philadelphia's 10 highest-risk zip codes), MBH-related policy advocacy, care coordination, screenings, assessments, and training for child and family-serving professionals. Pilot programs and untested interventions will not be funded. Projects must already have a demonstrated record of effectiveness. Eligibility is limited to 501(c)(3) public charities or those using a fiscal sponsor. Government agencies are also eligible. Projects must be implemented within Philadelphia and exclusively benefit families residing in the city. Existing grantees working on this objective may not seek additional funds for the same work. Strong preference is given to proposals aligned with Philadelphia's most underserved areas and communities that have faced historical discrimination. A minimum of $1 million will be reserved for organizations with annual operating budgets under $5 million or those led by individuals from historically excluded communities. The Foundation has allocated a total of $7.5 million for this RFP, with individual project awards capped at $1 million over three years (excluding overhead, which is calculated separately). Budgets must be comprehensive, including all anticipated expenses such as staffing, materials, community engagement, and partner or consultant fees. Funding may cover up to three months of planning and all aspects of implementation. However, total WPF funding should not exceed 25% of an applicant’s annual operating budget, barring exceptional cases. Applications are due by 5:00 PM ET on October 23, 2025, and must be submitted via the WPF Grants Portal. After initial review, selected applicants will be invited to participate in site visits between November 10 and December 10, 2025. Final decisions will be made by the WPF Board on February 6, 2026, and project work may begin on or after February 9, 2026. A webinar for interested applicants will be held on September 16, 2025, at 3:00 PM ET. Funded organizations will join a Learning Community to collaborate, share best practices, and contribute to the advancement of regional MBH services for young children and their caregivers. For questions, contact Kellie Brown at [kbrown@williampennfoundation.org](mailto:kbrown@williampennfoundation.org).

Focus on clearly identifying the population served, showing evidence of impact, and aligning services with culturally competent, proven interventions. Avoid pilot or untested approaches.