Suicide Prevention

Maximum points available for this section: 20

Describe how the program purpose and requirements will be met.

• Address the needs of the population of focus: adults with SMI.
• Explain your approach or philosophy toward:
  • “Suicide care,” which refers to a systematic, evidence-based approach in clinical settings to identify, assess, treat, and support people who are experiencing suicidal thoughts and/or actions.
  • Reaching health and behavioral health care systems and assessing their needs.
  • Building capacity through implementation of quality improvement measures.
  • Providing training, technical assistance, and on-demand learning opportunities.
• Explain how the program will be accessible throughout the state.

Maximum points available for this section: 20

The capacity to do the work and meet the program requirements is different from the experience doing the work.

Describe capacity to implement the program design.

• New or existing staff positions that will work under this grant and the anticipated number of hours per week for each position.
• Recruitment process and the anticipated timeline if hiring new positions.
• Continuation of the program if there is turnover in staff.
• Resources or partnerships and their role in ensuring success of this program.

If subcontractor(s) will be used to perform activities to achieve program goals, describe:

• The extent of the relationship.
• How the subcontractor(s) capacity relates to the overall ability to implement this program.
• Roles, responsibilities, and expectations of the subcontractor(s).
• Experience managing and monitoring subcontractor(s).

Maximum points available for this section: 20

Describe experience with, and/or knowledge similar to, this program.

• Providing services, conducting activities, and/or fulfilling requirements.
• Building relationships with and/or working with health care systems, as well as with adults with SMI or similar populations.
• Collecting and using data or other information to determine if efforts had an impact.
• Hiring and supervising staff with specialized knowledge.

If you will be using subcontractor(s) to perform activities to achieve program goals, describe their experience with, and/or knowledge similar to, this program:

• Providing services, conducting activities, and/or fulfilling requirements.
• Building relationships with and/or working with the population(s) of focus or similar population(s).
• Collecting and using data or other information to determine if efforts had an impact.
• Hiring and supervising staff with specialized knowledge.

Describe the relevant training and professional development staff and/or subcontracted staff will receive over the anticipated total funding period.

Maximum points available for this section: 30

For each priority, describe the:

• Objectives: Measurable and time-bound efforts to achieve the priority.
• Activities: Specific steps you will take to meet the objectives.
• Timelines: When you anticipate starting and finishing each activity.
• Measurable impact: Describe how you will measure or demonstrate a desirable outcome is being achieved for the priority (for example, data source(s) or measurements that will be used, surveys of clients, etc.).

Priority one

Maximum points available for priority one: 20

Increase capacity of health and behavioral health care systems through quality improvement of clinical suicide care, including by providing training, technical assistance, and resources on evidence-based and best practices.

Priority two

Maximum points available for priority two: 10

Create a set of recommendations for suicide care in Wisconsin-based clinical settings by August 2029.

• Explain your process for developing and promoting the recommendations.
• Include how you will get input and guidance from others, including those with clinical expertise, as well as people with suicide-centered lived experience (attempt and loss).

Maximum points available for this section: 10

Applications must also include the following documents:

• IRS Form W-9 (PDF).
• DCTS Summary Line item Budget: Condensed, F-01601C (Excel). This is a provisional budget for application purposes. A more detailed budget will be required of the awardee.
• Letters of commitment (required from each project partner with an active role in the program). Do not include letters of support; they will not be considered.

The additional documents do not count toward the narrative response page limit.

Question 1: Can residential youth-serving organizations apply as the lead agency, or must applicants be clinical health systems?

Answer 1: Eligibility requirements are outlined in the “Eligible applicants” section of the funding opportunity. Applicants are not required to be clinical health systems. A youth-serving organization that meets the eligibility requirements could apply as the lead agency. Please note, however, the population of focus for this funding is adults with serious mental illness, as stated in the “Overview” section of the funding opportunity.

Question 2: Is there a limit on the percentage of funds that can be allocated to subcontracted partners or consultants? Additionally, can existing contracted providers, such as mentoring or therapy providers, be included as funded program partners?

Answer 2: There is no limit on the percentage of funds that can be allocated to subcontracted partners or consultants.

Existing contractors can be included as funded program partners with funds being used to expand the existing activities.

Question 3: Does this funding allow programs that serve adolescents, or is the focus limited to adult populations?

Answer 3: The population of focus is adults with serious mental illness, as stated in the “Overview” section of the funding opportunity.

Question 4: Are direct prevention services, such as coping skills groups, emotional regulation training, and safety planning, considered allowable activities?

Answer 4: No, the provision of direct services is not an allowable activity.

Question 5: Are staff training and workforce development activities allowable uses of funds?

Answer 5: Yes, staff training and workforce development activities are allowable uses, though not for the purpose of providing direct services.

Question 6: Can funds be used to develop new curriculum or adapt existing suicide prevention programming?

Answer 6: Yes, funds can be used to develop new curriculum or adapt existing suicide prevention programming.

Question 7: Are individual or small-group services allowable, or is the focus strictly on systems-level work?

Answer 7: The provision of direct services is not an allowable activity. The focus is systems-level work.

Question 8: Our model is built around a proprietary neuro-acoustic wellness methodology — Quantum Linguistic Layering (QLL) — operating on two tracks: an emergency pattern interrupt protocol for acute crisis moments, and a preventive neuro-acoustic reprogramming system for long-term emotional resilience. We have conducted a pilot study using the SWEMWBS and PANAS validated instruments demonstrating measurable improvements in emotional wellbeing among a mixed adult population including participants with mental health challenges. We are also co-authors of Wisconsin Assembly Bill 886, establishing a state grant program for research-based alternatives in behavioral health treatment. Supporting scientific research substantiating the neurological and psychological basis of the QLL methodology is available upon request.

The RFP describes the program purpose as improving the quality of clinical care in health and behavioral health care systems, and references training, technical assistance, and on-demand learning opportunities as part of the approach. Would an applicant whose model functions as a structured training and capacity-building resource for health system staff — equipping clinical providers with supplemental, evidence-informed tools for supporting adults with SMI experiencing suicidal ideation — be considered within scope for this funding opportunity?

Specifically, we are asking whether the training and technical assistance component of this RFP could be fulfilled by an organization providing a non-clinical, audio-based emergency pattern interrupt protocol and preventive reprogramming content library, deployed as a workforce development and patient-support tool embedded within participating health systems.

Answer 8: No, the training and technical assistance component of this funding opportunity could not be fulfilled by an organization that plans to do so by providing health systems with a specific, proprietary model. The quality improvement element of this funding opportunity requires a broader scope of evidence-based and best practices. See “Priority one” of the funding opportunity.

Question 9: Is there a "sustaining component" required after the entire grant period has been completed?

Answer 9: No, there is not a required sustainability component.

Question 10: My organization has held this contract for the last 5 years. What, if anything, has changed in the objectives of the grant? We are familiar with the purpose of advancing clinical best practices to serve SMI/SED populations, but want to know if this new cycle comes with any new changes in priority or focus.

Answer 10: The funding opportunity from 2021 is available on the Wisconsin Public Notices website. See specifically section 3 “Requirements” in that document for comparison.

Question 11: As I was reviewing the format requirements for the Suicide Prevention grant, I noticed that it doesn't specify whether the "10-page narrative response" limit is referring to single or double-spaced pages. If you could clarify that for me, I'd appreciate it.

Answer 11: The page limit for the narrative response is 10 pages single-spaced.

Question 12: Is the budget we submit with our application for the first year of the award or for the whole 5-year award period?

Answer 12: The budget submitted with the application is for the first year of the award.

Question 13: Are indirects awarded or allowed?

Answer 13: Yes, applicants may use an indirect cost rate of up to 15%. For an indirect cost rate above 15%, a federally approved indirect cost rate letter will be required.

Question 14: What does “State-wide” mean in the context of this funding opportunity?

Answer 14: The programming developed with this funding must be easily accessible to health and behavioral health care systems throughout the entire state.

Question 15: Is there any specific primary applicant profile being sought?

Answer 15: No, there is not a specific primary applicant profile being sought.

Question 16: Is there a “project leader” or is it the institution as a whole?

Answer 16: We have interpreted this question as a question about staffing expectations for applicants. Applicants are not required to identify a project leader or principal investigator for this funding opportunity.