Overview
As part of its Behavioral Health Workforce Initiative, the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) established the Oregon Behavioral Health Workforce Bonus and Housing Stipend Program.
This program offers funding for behavioral health organizations to provide incentives to recruit and retain a diverse behavioral health workforce:
- Sign-on bonuses,
- Retention bonuses, and
- Housing stipends for behavioral health workers.
If awarded funds from this program, organizations must use these funds to employ or contract with behavioral health care workers who:
- Have associate's, bachelor's, master's, or doctoral degrees or other behavioral health certification credentials, and
- Provide direct behavioral health care to underserved communities.
Who Is Eligible?
Only the following organizations may apply. OHA will
not accept applications from individual/private practice providers.
- Urban Indian Health Programs
- Tribal Behavioral Health Programs
- Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics
- Residential Treatment Facilities
- Private non-profit behavioral health care organizations that serve adults or youth, at least 50% of whom are uninsured, enrolled in the state medical assistance program (Medicaid), or enrolled in Medicare
- Private profit behavioral health care organizations that:
- Serve adults or youth, at least 50% of whom are uninsured, enrolled in the state medical assistance program (Medicaid), or enrolled in Medicare, and
- Employ 25 or less full time equivalent (FTE) direct behavioral health care workers.
Read the full Request for Application (RFA) and Grant Terms
How to Apply
Applicants must submit
a completed application by 3 p.m. Dec. 7, 2022, Pacific TIme. In the application, an authorized representative of the applicant must attest that:
- They are authorized to apply for funds on behalf of the applicant and to bind the applicant to the terms and conditions in
Exhibit A of the RFA.
- The applicant has reviewed
the RFA in its entirety and is eligible based on the requirements of the RFA.
- The applicant has reviewed, understands, acknowledges and agrees to comply the grant.
- Without limitation, the applicant understands and acknowledges that upon receipt of a notice of award from OHA, the applicant will be be bound by
the terms and conditions of the grant.
- All information provided to OHA in their application is true and correct, and the applicant agrees to notify OHA immediately in writing if they become aware that any information in the application is inaccurate or incomplete.
The application requires a narrative that explains how the organization will develop and set in motion a plan to use sign-on bonuses, retention bonuses, and housing stipends to:
- Increase staff diversity and cultural responsiveness,
- Increase the utilization of behavioral health peers and traditional health workers within an organization's care model, and
- Expedite filling open positions.