Overview

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and the Bringing Recovery Supports to Scale Technical Assistance Center Strategy (BRSS TACS) initiative are pleased to announce the Capacity Building Opportunity, an intensive technical assistance (TA) opportunity for peer-run organizations (PROs), recovery community organizations (RCOs), and family-run organizations.  This intensive TA will be provided between April - September 2017.

Participation will be determined through a review conducted by SAMHSA representatives to identify intensive TA needs that are not addressed by any other source, a balance of mental health and substance use disorder recovery organizations, as well as geographic diversity across the Public Health Service Public Health Regions.
Below is information about the purpose of this TA, eligibility requirements, instructions on how to apply and the online application, which includes both demographic and narrative questions.  We estimate it will take you 1-2 hours to complete the application.

You must answer all required questions at the same time to have a complete application. You may also obtain a PDF copy of the Capacity Building Opportunity instructions and the application.  We recommend that you compose answers to narrative questions offline, then copy and paste your answers here.

Final answers must be submitted online, through this Survey Monkey application, by March 3, 2017.

Please contact BRSS TACS with any questions at 781-247-1711 or BRSSTACSCapacityBuilding@center4si.com.
Benefits

This opportunity will offer access to national experts and support to help expand your organization’s knowledge, expertise, sustainability, and capacity to carry out its mission.  It also provides opportunities to connect with and learn from other PRO/RCO/family-run organizations facing similar challenges.  The intensive TA will support the implementation and sustainment of activities to engage peer leaders from mental health and substance use communities and assist in the achievement of state implementation plans to expand recovery support efforts.

Purpose

The BRSS TACS Capacity Building Opportunity will offer sustained, individualized consultation, training, and peer-to-peer support for up to 25 PROs/RCOs over the course of a 6-month period.  National experts may offer virtual and on-site training and technical assistance, learning communities, webinars, products, and guidance on specific topics of interest to organizations that are committed to developing their own capacity in one of five areas:

  1. Partnering With State Systems to Advance Recovery: TA will assist PROs/RCOs to better partner with state, territorial, or tribal behavioral health systems to advance recovery and integrate peers. 
  2. Advancing the Peer and Family Support Workforce: TA will support PROs/RCOs as they continue to build and support the peer and family support workforce.
  3. Building Capacity to Support Peer and Family Services: TA will assist PROs/RCOs to build their organizational capacity to enhance their ability to provide peer and family support services to assist people in recovery reach their self-identified goals for wellness, housing, educational/employment, and social connection.
  4. Sustaining Recovery in Educational Settings: TA will support PROs/RCOs to develop and sustain recovery programs in educational settings.
  5. Supporting Re-entry: TA will support PROs/RCOs to address re-entry challenges experienced by individuals in or seeking recovery who are transitioning from criminal justice or institutional settings to life in the community.

Question Title

Summary of TA Opportunities

Summary of TA Opportunities
Process

This BRSS TACS intensive TA opportunity is a voluntary process.  TA delivery will consist of activities designed to reach agreed-upon goals and outcomes relevant to the shared goals of BRSS TACS and the recipient (i.e., increasing peer-delivered services).  TA delivery and participation will include monthly teleconferences and may also include virtual or on-site support as necessary.  TA will be structured around sustained, ongoing relationships between the BRSS TACS TA team and selected PROs/RCOs.

BRSS TACS will work with the TA recipient to create a customized TA package, which may include some combination of the following elements:
  • webinars
  • staff trainings/professional development
  • virtual or on-site meetings
  • support for data collection, validation, and reporting
  • assistance in the development and revision of written processes and policies
  • tools and templates
  • resources
  • learning communities
For example, an on-site training may be followed by monthly webinars or learning community participation, phone support, and resources provided as needed.
Roles and Responsibilities

The primary BRSS TACS TA task lead assigned to each individual category will
  • negotiate and formalize activities between the BRSS TACS TA team and PRO/RCO/family-run organization participants to achieve agreed-upon outcomes;
  • co-create a TA plan that is specific to the needs of participants and results in measurable outcomes; and
  • provide support as detailed in the TA plan through virtual or on-site assistance, phone calls, web conferences, and e-mails.
The roles and responsibilities of participants will vary based on each organization’s customized TA plan, but at a minimum each participant will
  • participate in co-creating a tailored TA plan;
  • submit a signed letter of commitment to participate in the TA process;
  • ensure leadership support from any PRO/RCO/family-run organization involved in the TA;
  • designate a single point of contact to facilitate communication with the TA provider;
  • demonstrate willingness, readiness, and commitment to addressing the area of need and commitment to the organizational change process;
  • provide staff to collaborate in creating the TA plan and implementing the activities; and
  • provide the staff and resources necessary to support the TA engagement and to assess organizational progress toward agreed-upon outcomes on a regular basis.
Questions?

Please send all questions to BRSSTACSCapacityBuilding@center4si.com
 
 33% of survey complete.

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