Evidence-Based Practices - Children and Youth Mental Health RFP Grant

The Ethel and James Flinn Foundation is dedicated to enhancing mental health treatment for children and youth in southeast Michigan. With 1 in 5 youths facing serious mental health challenges, the Foundation funds evidence-based projects ranging from $50,000 to $75,000 annually to improve access to care. By implementing best practices in behavioral health, the Foundation aims to address the significant gaps in treatment and support, fostering better outcomes for young individuals and their families.

Ethel and James Flinn Foundation
Peggy Flinn passed away in 1994. Jim Flinn, Jr., who was diagnosed with schizophrenia in his early 20’s, led a remarkable life until his passing away in 2007 at the age of 91. The Foundation is committed to improving the scope, quality and delivery of mental health treatment in Michigan. The Foundation’s geographic focus is primarily southeast Michigan, defined as the counties of Wayne, Oakland, Macomb and Washtenaw.
Children’s Mental Health
Why are we advancing evidence-based practices and programs for children and young people
According to the National Institute on Mental Health (NIMH), 1 in 5 children ages 13 to 18 have, or will have, a serious mental illness with nearly half beginning by age 14 and 75% by age 24. However, many children and young people with mental health and substance use conditions do not receive the treatment they need. In Metro Detroit, the scope of the problem is drastically increased by factors such as a lack of access to appropriate mental health resources, unaffordable costs, and a generally under-informed population regarding mental health, especially concerning children.
To maximize our impact in improving the lives of children, adolescents, and young adults, we are committed to funding projects and initiatives that directly address mental health in our communities.
The Foundation will primarily focus on implementing best practice programs supported by evidence. These Evidence-Based Practices are based on scientific principles and have demonstrated some level of efficacy.
The Foundation awards two-year grants ranging from $50,000 to $75,000 per year to governmental agencies and non-profit organizations that provide behavioral health care and services in southeast Michigan (Wayne, Macomb, Oakland or Washtenaw) to implement and evaluate practices and programs that improve both the delivery of behavioral health services and treatment outcomes for children, adolescent and young adults 21 years and under.
Some Examples
Best practice screening, assessment and mental health treatment models in primary care and school based clinicsBest practice psychotherapy and psychosocial treatment programs including, but not limited to: cognitive behavioral therapy, dialectical behavioral therapy, family psychoeducation, trauma informed care, etc.

Application Details

ELIGIBILITY AND AVAILABLE FUNDING
This RFP is open to local or state governmental agencies and non-profit orga-
nizations that provide mental health care and services for children and young
people (21 years old and younger) either exclusively or as a component of its
overall services. The organization should be located in southeast Michigan -
specifically Wayne, Oakland, Macomb, or Washtenaw County but the Founda-
tion may also consider programs and activities that benefit a major portion of
the State of Michigan.
The Foundation is requesting proposals to implement Children’s Mental
Health Evidence-Based Practices (EBPs) and has allocated approximate-
ly $500,000 for 2025. Two-year grant requests ranging from $50,000 to
$75,000 per year will be considered. The total two-year award will be deter-
mined during the grant decision process.
FUNDING PRIORITIES FOR 2025
According to the National Institute on Mental Health (NIMH), 1 in 5 children ages
13 to 18 have, or will have, a serious mental illness with nearly half beginning by
age 14 and 75% by age 24. However, many children and adolescents with men-
tal health and substance use disorders do not receive the treatment they need.

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS (RFP)
The purpose of this RFP is to advance access to effective prevention, screen-
ing, early identification and mental health treatment interventions for children
and youth 21 years old and younger.
The Foundation will primarily focus on implementing best practice programs
supported by evidence. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services
Administration (SAMHSA) offers a comprehensive listing of children’s mental
health evidence-based practices (EBPs) websites. These EBPs are based on
scientific principles and have demonstrated some level of efficacy. See
Attachment 1 for additional websites and resources.
The Foundation does not endorse a particular evidence-based practice or list
of such practices, but will prioritize the following proposals aimed at improv-
ing behavioral health service delivery by:

• Implementing infant mental Implementing developmental Implementing pediatric
• health models (zero to three) screening, assessment, and screening, assessment,
• targeted to at-risk parents mental health treatment diagnosis and behavioral
• models in early childhood health treatment models in
• settings for children (four to six) primary care and school-based
• clinic settings
• Implementing therapeutic Implementing diversion Implementing best practice
• interventions including, programs intended to divert peer support models to
• but not limited to cognitive children and youth with mental increase access to behavioral
• behavioral therapy, dialectical health disorders or co-occurring health services for children
• behavioral therapy, family mental health/substance abuse and young people
• psychoeducation, trauma disorders from the juvenile
• informed care, applied justice system into treatment
• behavior therapy, etc. and services
• 3

You may contact staff at the Foundation to Andrea M. Cole
discuss eligibility and questions regarding this President and CEO
RFP. However, a discussion is discretionary acole@flinnfoundation.org
SUBMISSION
All applications must be submitted through the Foundation’s online applica-
The Foundation’s
grantmaking priorities are outlined in detail and a tutorial is available to help
walk you through the application process.
REQUIREMENTS
When preparing your proposal application, please respond in clear and plain
language that accurately describes your project and intended outcomes
without too many buzzwords, jargon, or citations. To help you prepare for the
on-line grantmaking application process, we have outlined the following ele-
ments that should be included in your proposal information section:

• Mission, Accomplishments and Organizational Capacity:
• • Provide a brief history of the organization and/or department, current

mission and goals and description of services. Include description of
services for at risk children and youth.

• Describe your organization’s capacity and resources to implement

the evidence-based practice or program and the specific activities.

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS (RFP)
Purpose/Need/Population Served:

• • Provide a clear description of the program and rationale/need for

services. Include data that supports the need including disparities
and barriers that exist in target community.

• Identify the age range of your target population, geographical area,

the current and projected number of individuals to be served directly
by the services and the at-risk nature of the population.

• Identify the Evidence-Based Practice (EBP) to be implemented and

cite one specific source of credible research that designates the
practice as evidence-based.

• Describe how this program will improve access to care, delivery of

services and mental health treatment outcomes for the population
served.
Activities and Outcomes:

• • Provide a description of how the organization plans to implement
• the program and incorporate the EBP into your core services.
• • Describe the services and activities to be provided and the specific
• measurable results and outcomes that you wish to achieve during
• the grant period.
• Collaboration:
• • Identify collaborative/multi-sector partners and stakeholders and
• their roles and responsibilities.
• 5

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS (RFP)
Evaluation/Impact:

• • Explain how the outcomes of the program will be measured and reported.
• Sustainability:
• • Describe how the proposed project/activities will be sustained after

the end of the grant term and integrated into your core services. If the
services can be supported through billable services, or other reve-
nues, include information on how and when these funding streams will
be utilized to achieve sustainability.
Attachments: The following three reports are required along with the
application:

• • Executive Summary (Click here to download the template - see di-

rections on Page 10 to help you with planning). The executive summa-
ry is limited to two pages. This summary will be presented to the Board
of Trustees as your impact statement so make sure it is a clear, concise
and compelling overview of the need you are addressing, project
goals, activities and outcomes expected from the program.

• Budget/Actual Expenditure Report (Click here to download the tem-

plate - see example on Page 9 to help you with planning).

• Current financial audit conducted by an independent certified public

accountant (within last two calendar/fiscal years).

GRANT DECISION PROCESS
The Board of Trustees will review all proposals and make final approvals. The
funding decisions will be based on the following considerations:

• • The degree to which the proposal addresses priority areas as defined in
• this RFP
• • Ability to significantly improve the quality, scope, or delivery of mental
• health services
• • Ability to reduce inequities and disparities in access to care and treatment
• • Ability to develop cross-system approaches to strengthen delivery of
• care and services
• • Ability to sustain program and services beyond grant term
• REPORTING
• All organizations who receive a grant will be required to sign a Grant Award
• Agreement Letter notifying the Foundation of their ability to comply with all

reporting requirements. Grant funds are dispensed in December, 2025 and
the grant term for all funded projects begins January 1, 2026.
APPLY
Please apply online at www.flinnfoundation.org/apply. The Executive Sum-
mary and Budget/Actual Expenditure Report templates are available at the
bottom of the webpage.

Note: Click here to download the formatted Executive
Summary Template or use the following format when submitting
attachment:

• Word document (No Pdfs, Letterhead, Logo, or Footer)
• Page Limit: Two
• Margins: Top, Bottom, Left and Right: 1.0”
• Font: Times Roman
• Font Size: 12
• Line Spacing: Single
• Letter Style: Block
• Text Align: Justify
• Header: Organization Name (Capital Letters, Centered and Bold)
• 10