Provider Communication Bulletin FY 1617 NM 09PATH Grant Request for Proposals (RFP)

Behavioral Healthcare Providers and Entities Operating in Mecklenburg CountyNetwork OperationsOctober 12, 2016

Cardinal Innovations Healthcare has issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) for behavioral health providers and entities operating in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, interested in obtaining a PATH grant.

Cardinal Innovations has accepted $355,000 in PATH Program funding from the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities and Substance Abuse Services. These funds will be used in Mecklenburg County to help connect adults with mental illness diagnoses and co-occurring substance use disorders to housing and community health services.

PATH Program funding has been provided to North Carolina by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). The funding for the Mecklenburg County PATH Program will support the following positions that will be managed by the selected community provider: one qualified mental health professional team leader, two qualified mental health professional case managers, two benefit specialists and one peer support specialist.

PATH requires a local match, which cannot include federal funds. The PATH provider must fulfill the federal matching funds requirement. The local match is met through non-federal contributions and may be in cash or in-kind. The In-kind match must support the PATH Program. Amounts provided by the Federal Government or services assisted or subsidized to any significant extent by the Federal Government, shall not be included when determining the amount of such non-federal contributions.

Additional information is included in the full RFP that is attached below along with the RFP application.

COMMUNICATION

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Request for Proposals (RFP) Announcement

TO: Behavioral Health Providers and Entities operating in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina

FROM: Cardinal Innovations Healthcare

DATE: October 12, 2016

RE: The NC Projects for Assistance in Transition from Homelessness Program (“PATH”)

Introduction of Cardinal Innovations Healthcare (Cardinal Innovations): Cardinal Innovations Healthcare is the country’s largest specialty health plan, serving 875,000 individuals throughout

North Carolina who are eligible for Medicaid or are uninsured with complex needs. Cardinal Innovations pioneered this

unique managed care model in North Carolina, which relies on strong community partnerships with providers and

stakeholders. Cardinal Innovations operates at-risk capitated health plans for individuals with complex needs with a

commitment that our members will receive the healthcare services they need to live fuller lives. With headquarters

located in Kannapolis, N.C., Cardinal Innovations also maintains a community presence with offices in Charlotte, Chapel

Hill, Kannapolis, Burlington, Henderson and Winston-Salem.

Cardinal Innovations is committed to ensuring the best possible outcomes for our members and their families. We do

this by selecting providers who believe in evidence-based practices and managing care at the local level. Our community

and member engagement teams ensure we have a strong presence in the communities we serve, which is underscored

by our care coordinators who are the front-line connection with members and families.

Background:

About 20 to 25 percent of the individuals who are homeless in the United States have some form of severe mental

illness, according to SAMHSA. Meanwhile, the overall percentage of Americans with severe mental illness is

approximately 6 percent. Mental illness was the third largest cause of homelessness for single adults, according to a

survey performed by the U.S. Conference of Mayors in 2008. The goal of the PATH Program is to reduce or eliminate

homelessness for individuals with a serious mental illness or co-occurring mental illness and substance use disorder who

are homeless or at risk of homelessness, with priority given to those who are living in places not meant for habitation

(anywhere outdoors) and Veterans. The PATH Program staff will be expected to provide the following services and/or

assistance: Outreach, Case Management, Screening, Habilitation/Rehabilitation, Community Mental Health, Substance

Use Treatment, Residential Support, Housing Moving Assistance, Housing Eligibility Determination, Security Deposits

and On-time Rent Eviction Prevention.

The point-in-time count for Mecklenburg County as of 2014 documented 2,014 homeless persons of which 860 were

adults with serious mental illness and substance use disorders. The NC PATH Program will provide assertive outreach,

case management, and other support and services to adults with serious mental illness or co-occurring substance use

disorders.

PATH Program Funding:

PATH Program funding has been provided to North Carolina by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services

Administration (SAMHSA). Cardinal Innovations has accepted $355,000.00 in PATH Program funding from the N.C.

Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities and

Substance Abuse Services. These funds will be used in Mecklenburg County to help connect adults with mental illness

diagnoses and co-occurring substance use disorders to housing and community health services. More particularly, the

funding for the Mecklenburg County PATH Program will support the following positions that will be managed by the

selected community provider:

One (1) full-time, qualified mental health professional team leader who has o experience working with individuals with serious mental illness and co-occurring disorders which

individuals have experienced street homelessness o supervisory and leadership skills

Two (2) full-time qualified mental health professionals who have o experience working with individuals with serious mental illness and co-occurring disorders, which

individuals have experienced street homelessness o knowledge of symptoms associated with individuals who have schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and/or

major depression One (1) full-time equivalent certified peer support specialist – (if not certified at the time of application, must

be certified within three months from hire date; position may be shared by no more than two staff)

Two (2) full-time benefit specialists using the SSI/SSDI Outreach, Access, Recovery (“SOAR”) model, preferably with knowledge in SSI/SSDI benefits to assist only individuals enrolled in PATH with obtaining SSI/SSDI benefits

The Team Leader, Case Managers (“QPs”) and Certified Peer Support Specialist must have the ability to provide

outreach to individuals in outside locations such as, wooded areas, homeless camps, downtown streets, abandoned

buildings, or under bridges. The staff must have the ability to recognize symptoms of mental illness and co-occurring

disorders in order to identify individuals meeting PATH eligibility. The staff must have the ability to approach and

engage individuals in a conversation to determine PATH eligibility.

The PATH Provider is responsible to fulfill the Federal matching funds requirement. The local Match is met through

non-federal contributions may be in cash or in-kind. The In-kind match must support the PATH Program. Amounts

provided by the Federal Government or services assisted or subsidized to any significant extent by the Federal

Government, shall not be included when determining the amount of such non-federal contributions. The in-kind

match may be met through donations specifically for the use of individuals enrolled in the PATH Program. The value of

the donations is calculated by the fair-market cost of the donated item and the calculated cost of agency’s donations

based on the percentage of the donation use by the PATH staff. These items include:

Clothing

Food

Items to assist the individual to move into an apartment such as, kitchen - pots, pans, dishes; bedroom - mattress, bedding; bathroom - towels

Office furniture - desk, chair

Supplies such as paper, cell phone cost,

Equipment such as a printer, copy machine, cell phones

Office space

PATH Program staff members are expected to receive the following training:

1. Training provided by the Division’s PATH team

Introduction to the PATH Program

Data Entry and Reporting

Housing PATH Recipients

2. SAMHSA PATH - Training Provided by the Homelessness Resource Center

PATH Street Outreach Video Series

3. Training Provided through PATH Funds, Local Match, or other funding source

Carolina Homeless Information Network (CHIN) training

Provider Identified Evidence-Based Practices training (Motivational Interviewing; Critical Time Intervention; Housing First; Crisis Intervention Training such as, Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST); Trauma Informed Care

Cultural and Linguistic Competency Training

The two full-time Benefit Specialist using the SSI/SSDI Outreach, Access, Recovery (SOAR) model shall receive training

through the NC Coalition to End Homelessness SOAR Program and meet the requirements to become a Certified SOAR

Case Worker within 3 months from the hire date. The Benefit Specialists shall participate in the SOAR Dialogue

conference calls and all other SOAR Program’s training, calls or other expectations of a Certified SOAR Case Worker.

The Certified Peer Support Specialist shall maintain their certification by meeting additional required certification

trainings, meetings or other as established by the NC Certified Peer Support Specialist Program.

PATH Staff are required to participate in all SAMHSA and Division sponsored meetings and training to include but not

limited to Division PATH Quarterly conference calls.

PATH Program Participant Eligibility Criteria: An individual enrolled into PATH services must meet the following criteria:

1. Experiencing homelessness (priority is given to those individuals that are literally homeless)

AND

2. Has a serious mental illness or co-occurring disorder

Adults over age 18 years with a serious mental illness or co-occurring disorders who are homeless or at-risk of

homelessness are eligible for PATH services. The following definitions describe the eligibility components:

Serious Mental Illness - An individual presumed to have a serious mental illness if he/she has a DSM-V

diagnosis of Schizophrenia, Schizoaffective Disorder, Major Depressions, Psychotic Disorders, Bipolar Disorders

and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder of such severity and duration as to result in functional impairment that

substantially interferes with or limits major life activities.

Co-occurring Serious Mental Illness and Substance Use Disorder - The definition for co-occurring serious

mental illness and substance use disorders used in this announcement generally refers to individuals who

have at least one serious mental disorder and a substance use disorder, where the mental disorder and

substance use disorder can be diagnosed independently of each other.

Literally Homeless - An individual is considered homeless when his/her living situation is as follows:

o He/she lacks a fixed, regular and adequate nighttime residence, and

o He/she has a primary residence that is a supervised publicly or privately operated shelter designed to

provide temporary living accommodations, or

o He/she lives in a public or private place not designed for, or ordinarily used as, a regular sleeping

accommodation for human beings

Imminent Risk of Becoming Homeless - An individual is considered at imminent risk of becoming homeless

under the following conditions:

o An individual in a doubled up living arrangement where the individual's name is not on the lease, OR

o Living in a condemned building without a place to move, OR

o An individual who has received an eviction notice, with no place to go but the street or woods, OR

o An individual living in temporary or transitional housing that carries time limits, OR

o An individual who is being discharged from a health care, psychiatric, or criminal justice institution

without a place to live. Community Mental Health Treatment Services – supports and treatment

provided in the community in locations such as home, shelter, or street.

The following Diagnoses meet the definition of Serious Mental Illness:

• Schizophrenia • Other Psychotic Disorders • Major Depression • Bipolar Disorder • Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

PATH Reports and Documentation Requirements:

Reports

SAMHSA requires PATH funded programs to enter PATH data using the North Carolina Homeless Management

Information System (NC-HMIS). The PATH provider will purchase NC-HMIS license for all PATH staff except the Benefit

Specialists.

Program and financial reports are submitted quarterly to the Division and the PATH Annual Report is documented

using the PATH Data Exchange.

Enrollment

The primary focus of the PATH staff is providing outreach and engagement services with 90% of those enrolled in

PATH services meeting the definition of “literally homeless.”

PATH Annual Application:

SAMHSA requires each State to apply for PATH funds annually. The LME-MCO in collaboration with the PATH Provider

is required to apply for PATH funds for continuation of the PATH Program. The PATH Annual Application includes:

o Intended Use Plan o Budget o Budget Narrative o Local Match Narrative

Continued PATH funding is contingent upon the federal award the State receives for the PATH Program. The Division

reserves the right to adjust the PATH allocation to LME-MCOs due to decrease in the federal award; lack of successful

implementation of the PATH Program; or the PATH Provider’s inability to meet the PATH goals.

PATH Program RFP Application Timeline:

An agency/organization interested in applying for the PATH Grant shall submit application packet which includes the

following documents:

1. Two copies of the PATH Application Form (attached hereafter), one copy which fully identifies the

agency/organization, and one copy from which the agency/organization’s name has been fully redacted

2. PATH Budget

3. PATH Budget Narrative

4. PATH Match Narrative

5. Letters supporting the development of a PATH Program in the proposed city from :

a. Local Continuum of Care

b. Housing Provider that serves the target population

c. Community Partner providing services and supports to the target population

All applications must be typewritten on standard 8 1/2" x 11" paper, contain page numbers and otherwise comply

with this RFP format.

By no later than the close of business (5:00 PM, EST) on Wednesday, October 26, 2016, the application packet must

be emailed to Cardinal Innovations at:

networkmgt@cardinalinnovations.org

Subject: PATH Program RFP Administrator

RFP applications which are submitted on the deadline date but do not have an email time mark of 5 PM or earlier will not be accepted.

Cardinal Innovations will review all RFP applications and notify the successful agency of its decision by Friday,

November 4, 2016. All applicants must provide a phone number and email address so they can be contacted regarding

the final decision and any other pertinent information.

A mandatory conference with the successful agency will be held on Monday, November 7, 2016 from 12:00 PM until

2:00 PM at Cardinal Innovations’ Mecklenburg Office, located at 1100 S. Tryon Street, Suite 100 Charlotte, NC 28203.

In the event the successful agency fails to attend the conference or is subsequently deemed ineligible to participate by

Cardinal Innovations, such agency will not be eligible to continue its participation in the PATH Program. In that case, a

new agency will be selected from the existing pool of applicants.

Applications that fail to comply with the terms and conditions contained herein, in whole or in part, will not be

considered. Cardinal Innovations reserves the right not to consider any RFP application submitted hereunder, and

submission of an RFP application does not guarantee a contract will be executed or amended. If you have any

questions concerning this RFP, please direct them to: sharisse.johnson@cardinalinnovations.org.

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NC Projects for Assistance in Transition from Homelessness (“PATH”) Program

RFP Application

Instructions: An agency/organization interested in applying for the PATH Grant shall submit application packet which

includes the following documents:

1. Two copies of the PATH Application Form, one copy which fully identifies the agency/organization, and one

copy from which the agency/organization’s name has been fully redacted 2. PATH Budget 3. PATH Budget Narrative 4. PATH Match Narrative 5. Letters supporting the development of a PATH Program in the proposed city from:

a. Local Continuum of Care b. Housing Provider that serves the target population c. Community Partner providing services and supports to the target population

All applications must be typewritten on standard 8 1/2" x 11" paper, contain page numbers and otherwise comply with this RFP format.

By no later than the close of business (5:00 PM, EST) on Wednesday, October 26, 2016, the application packet must be emailed to Cardinal Innovations at:

networkmgt@cardinalinnovations.org Subject: PATH Program RFP Administrator

RFP applications submitted after the deadline will not be accepted.

1. Organization/Agency Information:

Organization/Agency Name

Agency CEO/Director

Address

Name of Agency Contact Person

Telephone No. of Agency Contact Person

Email Address of Agency Contact Person

Agency CEO/Director Signature

1. Describe the agency’s mission and purpose.

2. Describe the agency’s current and past experience serving individuals who are literally homeless with

a serious mental illness or co-occurring disorders. Provide documentation to support record of serving

this population.

3. Describe the agency’s participation in the HUD Continuum of Care program, other local planning

activities and program coordination initiatives, such as coordinated entry and coordinated

assessment activities. If you are not currently working with the Continuum of Care (CoC), briefly

explain the approaches to be taken by the agency to collaborate with the local CoC.

4. Provide a brief description of partnerships and activities with local community organizations that

provide key services (i.e., outreach teams, primary health, mental health, substance abuse, housing,

employment, etc.) to PATH eligible clients, and describe coordination of activities and policies with

those organizations. List any Memorandum of Agreement in place.

5. Provide a description of partnerships the agency has with organization or agencies that provide

mental health and substance use treatment services to target population. Provide the name of the

organization/agency and describe the coordination of activities. List any Memorandum of

Agreements.

6. Provide a brief description of partnerships the agency has with organization or agencies providing: (1)

permanent and temporary housing and (2) housing support and services to target population.

Provide the name of these organizations/agencies and describe coordination of activities. List any

Memorandum of Agreement.

7. Describe how the agency will use PATH funds to meet the PATH goal to provide street outreach and

case management as priority services and maximize serving the most vulnerable adults who are

literally and chronically homeless.

8. Provide specific examples of how the agency maximizes use of PATH funds by leveraging use of other

available funds for PATH client services.

9. Describe the evidenced-based practices (EBP) the agency incorporates in the services the agency

provides and how the agency supports EBP. Describe and provide dates of the agency’s training

provided to staff for each EBP identified between January 2014 and November 2016. Provide the

agency’s identified EBP to be incorporated in the PATH service delivery and training plan for the PATH

staff.

10. SAMHSA requires PATH funded programs to enter PATH data using the North Carolina Homeless

Management Information System (NC-HMIS). Describe the agencies experience with NC-HMIS.

11. Describe the agency’s experience using the SSI/SSDI Outreach, Access, Recovery (SOAR) model.

Indicate the number of staff who are trained and utilize the model with the target population.

Describe the trained staff’s participation in the NC SOAR Program’s SOAR Case Worker Certification

and SOAR Dialogue conference calls.

12. Describe the demographics of the agency’s staff and how staff providing services to the target

population will be sensitive to age, gender, disability, lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender,

racial/ethnic, and differences of clients; and the extent to which staff receive periodic training in

cultural competence and health disparities. Describe experience with addressing health disparities

with the National Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Services (CLAS) standards:

https://www.thinkculturalhealth.hhs.gov/

13. Describe the demographics of the target population the agency has served in the past year.

14. Describe how individuals who are homeless and have serious mental illnesses, and family members

are involved at the organizational level in the planning, implementation, and evaluation services the

agency provides. Indicate whether individuals of the target population are employed as staff or

volunteers or serve on governing or formal advisory boards.

_______________________________________ _______________________ Name of CEO or Designee Attesting Title (Please Type/Print) _______________________________________ _______________________ Signature Date

Point of Contact Information: Mailing Address: Phone #(s): Email: