Office of Criminal Justice Request for Applications
Specialized Docket Subsidy Project
RFA #58 MHA-FY25-Criminal Justice Specialized Docket Subsidy Program
Funding Period: Ongoing until Funding is Exhausted
Request for Applications Posting Date: 07.02.24
Request for Application Due Date: Ongoing until Funding is Exhausted
Mike DeWine, Governor
LeeAnne Cornyn, Director
To: Ohio Specialized Dockets
From: Jennifer Roach, LISW-S
Chief, Bureau of Criminal Justice
Date: 7/2/2024
Re: Specialized Docket Subsidy Project Funding Opportunity Request for Applications (RFA) #58
Introduction
The Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (OhioMHAS) is pleased to announce that Specialized Docket Subsidy Project funds will be available to operational specialized dockets that are currently certified (initial or final) by the Supreme Court of Ohio and are not currently receiving funding from the Specialized Dockets Subsidy Project* or drug court grant funding from OhioMHAS. The funding will be available for the period of July 1, 2024, through June 30, 2025 (SFY 2025). Funds supporting this project are granted based on an estimate of state and federal funds for mental health and addiction services in Ohio. Should funding be reduced below the estimated level, the amount of funds approved for this project may be reduced or terminated per written notice to the applicant by OhioMHAS. Please note: These funds can be retroactively applied for allowable expenses incurred on or after July 1, 2024.
* Courts that operate specialized dockets currently receiving funding through this initiative may apply for funding if said courts are applying for a different specialized docket project that is not receiving these funds.
Eligibility
This opportunity is available to drug courts and other specialized docket programs provided:
The project targets participants with behavioral health disorders. Funding is restricted to substance use disorders and mental health disorders only.
The project is currently certified by the Supreme Court of Ohio.
The project must maintain current certification from the Supreme Court of Ohio throughout the funding period. By applying for these funds, the project agrees to timely submission of re-certification and/or judicial transference of certification documents. The project is required to submit re-certification documents to the
Supreme Court of Ohio’s Specialized Dockets Section six (6) months prior to its certification expiration date and
judicial transference, no later than three months after the new specialized docket judge is seated.
Funding
The source of funds is State General Revenue Funds, ALI #336425, Specialized Docket Support.
The funds for the awarded projects will be allocated to the Alcohol, Drug Addiction and Mental Health Services (ADAMHS) or Mental Health and Recovery Services (MHRS) Board which will, in turn, transfer the funds to the court. Awards will be determined by the sized of the specialized docket and will vary between $20,000 and $55,000 per year. Each project will identify the number of clients it will serve between July 1, 2024, through June 30, 2025.
Use of Funds
Each selected specialized docket may use its funds for any of the following:
Personnel costs
This includes salary, fringe benefits, and associated payroll taxes/PERS contributions for project staff. Project staff is defined as members of the specialized docket team as identified in the specialized docket’s application for certification from the Supreme Court of Ohio.
Behavioral health treatment for substance use disorders and mental health disorders
Please note: These funds cannot pay for domestic violence and sex offender assessment/treatment and driver intervention programs (DIPs).
Drug/alcohol testing
This can be used for payments to certified laboratories or for drug/alcohol testing supplies (i.e., instant tests. reagents, rubber gloves, etc.).
Medication assisted treatment (MAT) medications which are FDA approved
The most commonly used are Vivitrol©, Suboxone©, buprenorphine and methadone.
Recovery supports
This includes recovery housing, food, clothing, recovery coaching and transportation services.
Please note: A more detailed description for use of funds can be found on the “Allowable Expenses” document on OhioMHAS’s website: https://mha.ohio.gov/community-partners/criminal-justice/court-resources/specialized-dockets
Project Application and Required Documentation
The project application is on OhioMHAS’s website:https://mha.ohio.gov/supporting-providers/apply-for-funding/funding-opportunities
Each application must be completed in its entirety. The following are required:
A copy of current Supreme Court certification. This document must contain an expiration date.
Documentation of the number of clients the program proposes to serve.
Applicant projects which have been operational for one year or more are required to provide the number of clients served during the past twelve months. The acceptable documentation is a letter.
signed and dated by the specialized docket judge stating the number of clients served over the past twelve months.
Applicant projects that have been operational for less than one year are required to provide documentation of how many clients it will serve during the SFY 2025 project year. The acceptable documentation is a letter signed and dated by the specialized docket judge stating:
The date the specialized docket became operational.
The number of participants it admitted into the specialized docket to date.
The number of clients it anticipates serving during the SFY 2025 project year.
The one-page project application must contain all the following:
The full name of the applicant court (not the name of the project).
The type of specialized docket (i.e., family drug court, adult mental health court).
The full address of the court, including zip code.
The court’s contact person’s name, title, email address and telephone number and extension (if
applicable).
The number of clients to be served during the period. This number must be consistent with the required documentation.
When the project became operational (month and year).
The name and title of applicant who completed the form.
The attestation must include the name, title, and signature of the authorized agent.
Please note: All applications will be screened to ensure that these requirements are included. Only those applications that are submitted in their entirety and contain all the required information and documentation will be considered. Applicants that submit incomplete information will be notified by email and informed of the deficiency(ies) and asked to submit the requested information/documentation.
Required Reports
Each awarded project must submit mid-year and year-end outcome and expenditure reports to OhioMHAS by the stated deadlines. OhioMHAS will inform the awarded projects of the mechanism to be used for reporting.
SFY 2025
1st period: 7/1/24 through 12/31/24 – Report due to OhioMHAS by 1/31/2025 2nd period: 1/1/25 through 6/30/25 – Report due to OhioMHAS by 7/31/2025
Report data elements:
Number of clients carried over from the previous period.
Number of clients admitted into the project during the reporting period.
Total number of clients discharged (successfully, unsuccessfully, neutrally) during the reporting period.
Number of clients successfully discharged from the project during the reporting period.
Number of clients who were re-arrested for a new criminal charge that was committed while in the program.
Of the clients who were rearrested for a new criminal charge that was committed while in the program, the number of clients who were sentenced to DRC/DYS a result of that new crime.
Number of children reunified with parent(s) - family drug courts only.
Amount of OhioMHAS funds spent on personnel (salary and benefits for specialized dockets staff).
Amount of OhioMHAS funds spent on addiction and mental health treatment services.
Amount of OhioMHAS funds spent on drug/alcohol testing (payments to certified labs and instant tests).
Amount of funds spent on medication assisted treatment (MAT) medications.
Amount of funds spent on recovery supports.
Spending Parameters and Restrictions
Pursuant to O.R.C. 5119.36(B), behavioral health services must be delivered by agencies/entities certified by OhioMHAS to provide substance use disorders and/or mental health disorders treatment services. The use of funds to pay for services by private practitioners or agencies/entities that do not have certification from OhioMHAS is prohibited. Funds spent on participants are not allowable until the participant has been admitted into the project and cannot be used after the participant is discharged. Awarded funds can only be used for the project identified in the application.
All funds awarded during SFY 2025 must be expended by June 30, 2025. Projects will not be permitted to carry over unspent funds from one state fiscal year to the next. Because the allowable expenses are numerous and diverse, it is expected that all funds will be expended.
Application Submission and Due Date
All applications and accompanying documentation must be submitted via email at:Specialized.docket@mha.ohio.gov
This solicitation will remain open until such time as all available funds have been awarded.
Questions and Answers
All prospective applicants must submit their questions in writing to Specialized.docket@mha.ohio.gov by no later than 11/6/2024. Questions and answers will be posted on OhioMHAS’s website at: https://mha.ohio.gov/Schools-and-Communities/Funding-Opportunities
Recommended Steps
Review this announcement with the specialized docket judge and any other personnel as determined by your court.
Secure the required documentation that supports the number of clients your specialized docket will serve in SFY 2025.
Complete and sign the one-page application. Scan the application and supporting documentation, and email to Specialized.docket@mha.ohio.gov .
