Youth and Family Peer Advocate Workforce Expansion

The New York State Office of Mental Health (OMH) has released a Request for Proposals (RFP) to support the expansion of the Youth and Family Peer Advocate workforce through the “Youth and Family Peer Advocate Workforce Expansion Grants: Ensuring Access to Diverse and Inclusive Peer Support.” This funding opportunity is intended to strengthen the mental health system in New York State by investing in not-for-profit community-based organizations—referred to as Peer Support Champion Organizations (PSCOs)—that provide or facilitate family and/or youth peer support services. The goal is to build a more diverse, inclusive, and culturally competent peer advocate workforce by leveraging partnerships between PSCOs and grassroots organizations embedded in disenfranchised and underserved communities. OMH has long recognized the importance of Youth and Family Peer Advocates in its system of care. Youth Peer Advocates are credentialed individuals aged 18–30 with lived experience of emotional, behavioral, or co-occurring challenges, while Family Peer Advocates are caregivers who have navigated child-serving systems on behalf of their children with mental health or related needs. These professionals support others through advocacy, direct services, and guidance informed by their personal journeys. The integration of these peer roles in treatment planning and service delivery—especially in High Fidelity Wraparound models introduced in 2017—has demonstrated measurable improvements in engagement and outcomes for children and families. Despite this progress, there remains a shortage of credentialed peer advocates, particularly those who reflect the diversity of New York's communities. The program allocates $2.75 million in one-time funding, to be distributed as 10 grants of $275,000 each, across New York State’s five regions: Central (2 grants), Western (2), Hudson River (2), NYC (3), and Long Island (1). Grant recipients will be required to subcontract with a minimum of two and up to six grassroots organizations per region. These grassroots partners are expected to provide community education, outreach, and support for individuals interested in becoming peer advocates. Specific attention will be given to recruiting from racially, ethnically, linguistically, and culturally marginalized groups, including immigrants, refugees, LGBTQIA+ individuals, and people with disabilities. The funds may be used for outreach, professional development support, infrastructure for credentialing (e.g., space, technology), and managing a structured peer incentive program. A unique feature of the program is its stipend structure for individuals pursuing the credentialing pathway. Eligible participants can receive up to $2,250 in stipends: $250 upon completing Level 1 of the credentialing program, $500 upon obtaining provisional certification, and $1,500 as a bonus upon employment under that certification. PSCOs will oversee the administration of these stipends, employment linkage, and progress tracking. They will also support grassroots partners in delivering culturally competent outreach and education. Quarterly reporting and workplan updates are mandatory, and all activities must be completed within one to three years. While all funding is disbursed in year one, contracts may be extended up to three years for deliverable completion. Proposals are due by January 14, 2025, at 2:00 PM EST. A Letter of Intent to Bid is due November 14, 2024, and questions regarding the RFP must be submitted by November 21, 2024. Answers will be published by December 11, 2024. OMH anticipates announcing awards on February 18, 2025, with contract periods beginning July 1, 2025. Eligibility is limited to New York-based 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organizations that are either funded by OMH or operate OMH-licensed or designated programs delivering credentialed peer support services. Applicants must be prequalified in the Statewide Financial System (SFS) prior to submission. Evaluation criteria include agency qualifications, program implementation plan, population experience, diversity and equity strategies, reporting and quality improvement plans, and financial assessments. The contact for this RFP is Jeremy Rossello, Contract Management Specialist at OMH. Proposals must be submitted online through SFS, and applicants are strongly encouraged to begin the registration and prequalification process early to avoid disqualification due to processing delays.