The North Carolina Farmworker Health Program (NCFHP) is excited to announce our Request for Applications (RFA) to help community organizations increase access to behavioral health services for migrant and seasonal farmworkers and their families in North Carolina.
The North Carolina Farmworker Health Program (NCFHP) is anticipating the receipt of federal funds to increase access to primary and preventive health care services for migrant and seasonal farmworkers and their families in North Carolina. NCFHP grant awards are meant to supplement existing resources in communities and reduce barriers to care so that farmworkers and their family members have access to comprehensive and continuous health care services. NCFHP supports the development of sustainable services for farmworkers by encouraging local partnerships and collaborations to facilitate the inclusion of farmworkers in services that are available for the general community. NCFHP is seeking applicants to deliver behavioral health services to farmworkers and provide subject matter expertise to support program planning and clinical quality improvement efforts.
NCFHP Behavioral Health Model:
As opposed to a free-standing health center, NCFHP works with eight service delivery sites to provide care throughout the state with a focus on geographical areas with high densities of farmworkers. Due to farmworkers’ numerous barriers to accessing health care, NCFHP has a strong focus on the valuable role of outreach workers: bilingual and bicultural professionals trained to assess needs, facilitate access to services and provide case management when needed. Outreach workers identify behavioral health needs among farmworkers and facilitate referrals to clinical services as appropriate. Farmworkers receive behavioral health care directly at our service delivery sites and through referrals to external partners.
NCFHP is expanding our behavioral health programming through a partnership with the University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG). The UNCG Strong Minds, Strong Communities program will certify and support outreach workers to strengthen their role with assessing and responding to behavioral health needs.
Funding Focus:
Culturally and linguistically appropriate behavioral health services at NCFHP service delivery sites are insufficient to respond to the current demand. NCFHP is seeking applicants to provide behavioral health services, including mental health and substance use disorder services, for migrant and seasonal farmworkers in collaboration with our eight service delivery sites. Applicants may request funds to pay a percentage of a provider’s time or receive a reimbursement per encounter. Providers must be credentialed and privileged to deliver behavioral health services.
In addition to providing direct behavioral health services to farmworkers, NCFHP is looking for applicants with capacity to provide collaborative support to NCFHP service delivery sites to optimize care for patients. This support would include coordinating and facilitating a training on topics related to farmworkers’ behavioral health needs. The selected applicant will also participate in monthly care team meetings with NCFHP service delivery site staff which may involve:
- Recommendations for enhanced screening to identify behavioral health needs for farmworkers
- Case-based review of complex patients
- Providing guidance for anticipated care management, including recommendations for referral opportunities to help connect patients to primary care or psychiatry for medication therapies
- Recommendations for any culturally relevant behavioral health education that may be delivered to patients following the direct service encounter to enhance continuity of care
- Discussion of trends in farmworker patient behavioral health needs
- Troubleshooting challenges that may arise related to access and delivery of services that affect patient and encounter goals
Lastly the selected applicant will support NCFHP’s broader behavioral health program development. The applicant’s contribution would include providing subject matter expertise to inform NCFHP’s behavioral health program planning and Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) efforts, in close collaboration with the NCFHP Operations and Behavioral Health Specialist. This is a dynamic opportunity for a collaborative applicant to join NCFHP in improving behavioral health care for farmworkers.
Funding Preferences:
Preference will be given to applicants based on the criteria listed below.
- Demonstrates the ability to provide, at a minimum, mental health services with a strong preference for applicants who can provide comprehensive behavioral health services, including substance use disorder services; services can be provided in-person or virtually and must be delivered in collaboration with NCFHP service delivery sites
- Demonstrates capacity to provide behavioral health services at times that are accessible to farmworkers, including evening and/or weekend hours; direct service availability of at least 12 weekend or evening hours per week is preferred
- Demonstrates the ability to provide quality behavioral health services that are patient-centered and linguistically and culturally appropriate for North Carolina’s farmworker population
- Demonstrates a plan to utilize patient feedback to evaluate patient satisfaction and quality of delivered services
- Demonstrates a plan to utilize service delivery sites’ feedback to improve delivery of services
- Demonstrates the ability to foster strong partnerships with NCFHP service delivery sites
- Demonstrates the ability to provide collaborative support to NCFHP service delivery sites to optimize care for patients
- Demonstrates capacity to extend training and educational development to NCFHP delivery sites
- Demonstrates the ability to meet NCFHP requirements and expectations outlined in the application and assurances
- Demonstrates capacity to deliver comprehensive therapy modalities to better meet the unique needs and preferences of the farmworker patient
- Agencies with a provider group that is committed to providing linguistically and culturally appropriate behavioral health care services
Proposed Project Period/Contract Term:
The project period will be a minimum of one year: April 1, 2025, to March 31, 2026. Strong proposals may be approved for a project period of up to three years: April 1, 2025, through March 31, 2028.
For multi-year projects, funding beyond the first year is subject to the availability of federal funds for the NC Farmworker Health Program in subsequent fiscal years and satisfactory recipient performance. The initial contract will be for the first year only: April 1, 2025, to March 31, 2026. A Project Status Report and budget will be required for years two and three for continued funding in the three-year period.
Applicants awarded a one-year project period will be required to submit a full application for continued services in year two that will be reviewed by NCFHP staff and governing board for approval.
Funding Availability:
Awards will depend on the availability of funds.
Eligible Applicants:
- Free and charitable clinics
- Health departments
- Hospitals
- Rural health centers
- Federally qualified health centers (FQHCs) [When proposed services do not duplicate services supported directly by HRSA]
- Non-profit community-based organizations
Application Checklist:
All applicants must submit the following to be considered for funding.
Deadline to receive applications:
January 13, 2025
Finalized application materials should be submitted via this online form.
Technical Assistance Webinar:
December 13, 2024, from 3-4pm
Advanced registration is required. Click here to register.
Important Documents
NCFHP Behavioral Health Services RFA 2025-2028
NCFHP Budget Template 25-26 Behavioral Health Services
Behavioral Health Assurances 25-26
Behavioral Health Services Narrative 25-28
For questions about the grant application, please contact Kate Furgurson.
For questions specific to behavioral health services, please contact Rosa Miranda.
For questions about the budget, please contact Patrick Lahiff.
For credentialing and privileging or clinical CQI questions please contact Dr. Modjulie Moore.
Grant Assurances:
As a recipient of HRSA’s health center funding, NCFHP must abide by HRSA’s Health Center Program requirements, some of which are also expected of NCFHP grantees. As a program within the Office of Rural Health, NCFHP grantees must also abide by associated state requirements and expectations.
All applicants must abide by the Farmworker Health Grant Assurances included with the funding application.
Budget Guidance:
Applicants are required to use the NCFHP Budget Template for 2025-2026 available on our website and should complete all tabs. Additional information about the budget and budget limitations can be found in the budget guidance tab of the budget templates for all tracks.