Harm Reduction Technical Assistance Center Funding Application

Summary
This memo outlines a request for applications (RFA) from community-based, non-profit, or local government organizations with experience providing technical assistance and referrals to care and harm reduction services. The selected organization will be tasked with establishing a Harm Reduction Technical Assistance Center (HRTAC) to provide training and technical assistance to individuals and organizations who provide harm reduction services for people who use drugs. Eligible organizations could include, but are not limited to, community-based organizations (CBO) such as syringe service programs (SSPs), non-profit organizations, and health or human service departments. Applications in response to this RFA must be submitted online using this application survey. The deadline to apply for this funding opportunity is 11:59 p.m. on July 1, 2024. Questions related to this RFA must be submitted in writing to lataysha.james@dhs.wisconsin.gov and may be submitted through June 26, 2024. This funding announcement, a courtesy copy of the application, glossary and acronyms, and the question/answer document can be found on the DHS website.

Do not include personally identifiable information (PII) or protected health information (PHI) in your responses.

Background 
Between 2020 and 2022, the number of opioid-related deaths in Wisconsin increased by 18.7 percent, despite the fact that Wisconsin is creating projects and interventions focused on reducing overdoses, opioid harm, and overdose deaths. One of the ways the WI Department of Health Services (DHS) seeks to reduce opioid-related deaths and overdoses is by establishing a statewide harm reduction technical assistance infrastructure. The aim of this project is to increase the awareness, access, and availability of care and services for persons who use drugs (PWUD). This program intends to reduce negative consequences associated with drug use and improve the overall health of PWUD by supporting best practices for harm reduction, treatment, and recovery. In order to achieve these goals, the HRTAC will connect people to overdose prevention and reversal tools, treatment options, and drug checking equipment, while also providing training for individuals and organizations who work with PWUD. This project will require selected applicants to collect and track data specific to their program in order to ensure the effectiveness of the project. 

Funding opportunity
The WI DHS, Division of Public Health HRTAC project is a focused intervention that will help provide support to harm reduction organizations who connect PWUD with harm reduction resources such as information regarding syringe service programs, access to Narcan® and/or naloxone, as well as educational materials encouraging safer use. This project will require the awarded organization to partner with, and provide support to, existing harm reduction organizations, local health departments, and coalitions to increase access to harm reduction services and support programming to reduce overdose. In consultation with agencies who provide direct services to PWUD, the HRTAC will be expected to support tailored community response by raising awareness, disseminating information, providing resources, and implementing trainings and educational programs. This project will require the selected applicant to track the number of partnerships developed and initiated, the number of sites onboarded, the number of counties in which the center has established or provided services, the type of services individuals have been referred to, the types of educational material developed, and the number and subject of any trainings provided to organizations.

This opportunity is funded through the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Overdose Data to Action for States (OD2A-S) program. 

Intended program outcomes:

Short-term Outcomes

• Increased access to harm reduction education and services, including increased distribution of naloxone
• Increased availability of and decreased barriers to care/services, especially for those disproportionately affected by overdose and those previously underserved by overdose prevention programs and the healthcare system
• Increased collaboration, coordination, and communication among partners
• Increased awareness of the drug overdose epidemic, harm reduction efforts, and evidence-based approaches

Intermediate Outcomes

• Expanded utilization of evidence-based approaches to prevent and respond to overdoses
• Increased equitable delivery and improved access to care/ services
• Reduced health disparities related to access to and receipt of care
• Expanded use of data to inform the implementation and improvement of prevention and response efforts, especially for groups disproportionately affected by overdose

Long-term Outcomes

• Improved health equity
• Increased uptake of evidence-based treatment and retention with long-term recovery supports, with a primary focus on opioid and stimulant use disorders
• Decreased fatal and nonfatal drug overdoses
• Decreased stigma related to substance use and overdose

Program requirements

• Connect harm reduction programs to resources and experts that can help programs serve their communities
• Distribute toolkits or other educational materials to harm reduction programs in Wisconsin
• Plan and develop trainings based on identified harm reduction program provider needs
• Participate in quarterly collaborative meetings with DHS in order to build relationships, trouble-shoot challenges, brainstorm pivots, and celebrate successes
• Support PWUD to address barriers and provide connections to resources
• Track both qualitative and quantitative data in order to evaluate the reach of program efforts such as the number of organizations or individuals served
• Convene a statewide harm reduction community of practice

Reporting Requirements
A combination of quantitative and qualitative data will be required annually for federal evaluation purposes including: number and types of referrals provided; types and number of trainings provided; types of educational materials distributed; location where services/materials were provided; one-on-one technical assistance provided; amount and type of engagement with agencies or individuals providing harm reduction services; description of health equity efforts and work done to expand access to materials and/or resources; overall program accomplishments; and other relevant metrics resulting from awarded funds.

• Create a specific statement of work with deliverables
• Engage in regular coordination and communication with partners in order to facilitate collaboration, assess resources, and eliminate service gaps
• Document, track and report on all trainings, referrals, toolkits, and educational resources/materials distributed
• Identify and provide reporting metrics for project evaluation
• Modify program implementation as necessary

Eligibility
Eligible applicants are syringe service providers, community-based organizations, non-profit organizations, and/or municipal, county, or Tribal agencies (including, but not limited to health and human services, and social services). Eligible organizations will practice inclusion and may not discriminate on the basis of race, ethnicity, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, age, disability, or national origin in their staffing policies, use of volunteers, or provision of services.

Funding terms and conditions 

• This application is for an initial award period from September 1, 2024–August 31, 2025. Contracts will be awarded annually with the possibility of three contract renewals based on the availability of funds, and the ability of the grantee to meet all contractual objectives.
• Applicants should plan and budget for one year of funding. 
• Carryover of funds into a second year may be possible based on the availability of funds and vendor performance. 
• DHS reserves the right to increase or decrease award levels and scope of individual contracts during the contract period, and/or reconfigure the program model at any time during the funding cycle based on the conditions noted above or a lack of adequate performance on the part of the grantee.
• DHS will negotiate the terms of the award, including the award amount, with the selected applicant prior to entering into a contract. 
• If contract negotiations cannot be concluded successfully with a recommended applicant, DHS may terminate contract negotiations with that applicant. 
• The contract resulting from this request for applications will be between DHS and the awarded applicant. 
• Grantees using subcontractors will be responsible for ensuring subcontractors abide by all terms and conditions of the grant. 
• There is no match requirement for this grant. 
• The selected applicant must follow all reporting requirements as defined by DHS. 

Funding Amount: Up to $250,000 annually

Number of Awards: 1

Expected 12-month grant period
Year 1 (FY25): September 1, 2024–August 31, 2025 (initial award) 
Year 2 (FY26): September 1, 2025–August 31, 2026 (contract renewal) 
Year 3 (FY27): September 1, 2026–August 31, 2027 (contract renewal)
Year 4 (FY28): September 1, 2027–August 31, 2028 (contract renewal)