Youth Safe Spaces (Round 2)

The New York State Office of Mental Health (OMH) has launched the second round of its Youth Safe Spaces initiative, responding directly to youth-identified needs for culturally relevant, supportive environments that promote mental wellness outside of clinical settings. This program is a direct outcome of the 2023 Youth Mental Health Listening Tour led by Governor Hochul, where young people across the state voiced concerns about inadequate peer connections, insufficient community resources, and the lack of inclusive, empathetic spaces. Targeting youth and young adults between ages 12 to 24, this initiative intends to address these gaps by creating both standalone youth-led programs and expanding existing trusted community hubs such as libraries, youth recovery clubhouses, and recreational centers. The program structure is informed by principles of positive youth development, recovery orientation, civic engagement, and equity, with a strong emphasis on peer leadership and non-clinical mental health support. OMH plans to fund four programs through this RFP: two under Option 1 (creating new safe spaces) and two under Option 2 (enhancing existing youth spaces). Option 1 awards are capped at $500,000 annually, requiring the establishment of entirely new physical youth-safe environments, serving at least 500 unduplicated youth annually. Option 2 awards offer $250,000 annually to augment existing infrastructure, reaching a minimum of 250 youth each year. Both options mandate essential components including access to Wi-Fi, food, transportation, mental wellness support, community partnerships, and peer-led initiatives. Programs must operate at least 25 hours per week across multiple days, with accessible hours during school breaks and holidays. All applicants must provide clear plans for youth governance, including a Peer Advisory Board, and commit to OMH-aligned training and learning communities. Eligibility is limited to 501(c)(3) not-for-profit agencies operating in New York State. Organizations are not required to be licensed OMH providers. However, applicants must be prequalified in the Statewide Financial System (SFS) and registered as vendors. Further restrictions apply based on zip code eligibility: programs cannot be located in areas that already have OMH Youth Safe Spaces or OASAS Youth Recovery Clubhouses. Applicants must carefully review the zip code exclusion list provided in the RFP. Proposals must clearly indicate whether they are pursuing Option 1 or Option 2 funding, and all applicants are required to notify their county's Local Governmental Unit (LGU) of their intent to apply. Proposals must be submitted electronically via the Statewide Financial System (SFS). Required components include an operating budget (Appendix B), a completed proposal narrative, and uploaded documents in specified formats (PDF for narratives, Excel for budgets). Optional bidder’s conference materials and recorded webinars are available on the OMH website. Applicants must strictly adhere to file type and naming conventions, and are encouraged to submit well in advance of the deadline to account for system restrictions. Prequalification and vendor registration should be initiated early, as reviews by the state may take up to 10 business days. Applications are evaluated on a 100-point scale. Key factors include the program's alignment with youth needs and OMH’s strategic goals, staffing plans, training frameworks, community engagement, DEI commitments, and financial sustainability. A minimum score of 75 is required for consideration. Awards are prioritized geographically to ensure distribution across underserved counties and Economic Development Regions (EDRs). The term of each awarded contract is five years, beginning July 1, 2026. Quarterly funding disbursements support both program delivery and reasonable start-up costs, including renovations and technology acquisition. The proposal submission window opened on December 11, 2025. The revised proposal deadline is now March 3, 2026, at 2:00 PM EST. Final awards are anticipated by April 2, 2026, with contracts beginning on July 1, 2026. This program is recurring. Based on this pattern and the announcement cadence from the first round, the next expected application cycle would open in December 2026. OMH will provide all technical assistance to awarded providers, monitor implementation via periodic reporting and site visits, and require adherence to evaluation protocols including client data submission and quality assurance reviews. All awards are subject to final approval by the NYS Attorney General and the Office of the State Comptroller.

Submit early due to strict SFS rules; use only required formats; ensure zip code eligibility before applying