Crisis Program Enhancement Grants

The Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS), through its Division of Care and Treatment Services (DCTS), is offering funding to counties or regions of counties within the state of Wisconsin under the Crisis Program Enhancement grant. This funding opportunity is established under Wis. Stat. § 46.536 and is specifically aimed at improving behavioral health crisis response services in rural areas and enhancing collaborations with law enforcement entities. DHS emphasizes that eligible applicants must be certified under Wis. Admin. Code ch. DHS 34, Subchapter III, or be county-run crisis programs serving rural populations, even if not yet certified. Nonprofit health systems are not eligible to apply for this funding. The purpose of this grant is to support counties in creating or improving crisis programs to serve individuals experiencing behavioral health emergencies, particularly in rural and underserved regions. The grant also aims to foster collaboration between behavioral health responders and law enforcement in order to ensure timely, effective, and appropriate responses during crisis events. Grant activities can include enhancements to mobile outreach services, community-based programs that reduce reliance on inpatient psychiatric care, and co-response models involving law enforcement. DHS encourages applications that incorporate best practices in crisis intervention and support people in acute crisis without defaulting to hospitalization or punitive responses. A total of $250,000 in funding is available for the current cycle, and DHS expects to make awards to approximately two to five applicants. Each applicant may receive up to $100,000. There is a mandatory 25% matching requirement which may be fulfilled through cash, in-kind contributions, or a combination of both, and must be available at the start of the contract. However, in-kind contributions must be directly related to the grant program and cannot include unrelated events or staff time from outside agencies unless specifically working within the grant-funded scope. The grant period runs from March 1, 2026, to February 28, 2027, with no renewal option. DHS requires applicants to demonstrate how their program will sustain its operations beyond the one-year contract. Applications are evaluated based on a scoring rubric that includes sections such as Program Design (40 points), Goals and Objectives (30 points), Organizational Experience and Capacity (20 points), Work Plan (5 points), and Budget (5 points). A strong application will clearly outline proposed services, the population to be served, collaboration with other agencies, sustainability plans, and strategies for collecting and reporting outcomes. Required attachments include a completed application narrative (up to 10 pages), an organizational chart, a detailed work plan (Form F-21276), and a budget (Form F-01601E). The budget must follow guidelines for allowable costs and not be used for disallowed activities such as treatment involving marijuana. Interested applicants must submit all required materials via email to [email protected] no later than 11:59 p.m. on January 20, 2026. Late submissions will not be accepted. Questions about the funding opportunity were due by December 23, 2025, with DHS responses published by January 6, 2026. Award notifications are expected by February 19, 2026. All program activities must begin on or after March 1, 2026. Applicants must comply with all submission and formatting requirements as detailed in the opportunity guidelines, including font size, spacing, and file formats. The grant is non-renewable and one-time, but DHS highlights the importance of sustainability planning, including leveraging Medicaid reimbursement for certified services. In the spirit of collaborative crisis response, applications that involve multiple counties or target underserved populations not currently served by DHS 34 certified programs are prioritized. Through this opportunity, DHS aims to expand the infrastructure and capacity of rural crisis systems and foster meaningful partnerships with law enforcement to improve outcomes for individuals in behavioral health emergencies.

Emphasize sustainability, DHS 34 compliance, and clear outcome tracking.