Request for Proposals:
Fostering Trauma-Responsive Practices in Minnesota

The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) Children and Youth with Special Health Needs (CYSHN) is seeking proposals from qualified applicant organizations for a grant program focused on building trauma-responsive and healing-centered practices in health settings that serve children, adolescents, and their support systems.

The Request for Proposals document provides funding details and application requirements: Fostering Trauma-Responsive Practices RFP (PDF)

Background Information

The Fostering Trauma-Responsive Practices grant program empowers community-based partners to identify the needs around trauma-responsive care in these settings and lead the development, delivery, evaluation, and sustainability of solutions. Grantees will create tools, resources, and projects that use evidence-based, emerging, and promising practices to build the confidence, competence, and capacity of health professionals. These efforts will focus on providing trauma-responsive, resilience-oriented, and culturally responsive care, with particular attention to mental health conditions or illnesses often overlooked in traditional trainings. The program also recognizes the importance of addressing not only the needs of children, adolescents, and their support systems, but also the secondary and vicarious trauma experienced by health professionals serving these populations.

Eligible Applicants

Eligible applicants can include community-based nonprofit and for-profit organizations; government entities or Tribal Governments; clinics and hospitals; community health or public health organizations; quality improvement organizations; professional provider associations; and institutes of higher education. Desired skills and experience of applicant include:  

• Community Engagement and Partnership Development: Experience working with community-based partners to identify needs and co-develop trauma-responsive solutions. Ability to foster collaborative relationships and build trust with children, adolescents, and families.  
• Expertise in Trauma-Responsive and Mental Health Practices: Subject matter expertise in trauma-informed and trauma-responsive care, mental health treatment, and change management.  
• Training and Facilitation: Ability to develop and deliver effective, culturally relevant training and resources to build trauma-responsive practices within health settings.  
• Evaluation and Reporting: Skills in measuring the impact of projects and providing, clear, concise reports on outcomes.  
• Adaptability: Ability to adjust strategies based on community needs and feedback.   

RFP and Application Materials

The Request for Proposals document provides information on the grant program and application requirements: Fostering Trauma-Responsive Practices RFP (PDF). Applications must be submitted electronically by 12:00PM (CST) on November 25, 2024, through the grant interface portal, Foundant.

The appendices of the Request for Proposals document include application materials that will be submitted via Foundant. Visit the Foundant webpage GLM Applicant Tutorial – Foundant Technologies for a tutorial on how to apply.

• New Users: Please email Jessica Mattson at Jessica.mattson@state.mn.us to be added as a user to your organization’s account. Do not attempt to create a new account.
• Existing Users: Please enter your credentials and log in. If you forgot your password, please use the “Forgot your Password?” link, to the left on the logon screen, to reset your password.
• Not Sure? If you think that you or someone at your organization has already registered in the system, do not create a new account. Please contact Jessica Mattson at Jessica.mattson@state.mn.us for assistance.

Once in the system, click on the “apply” button located on the upper tool bar on the home page. You will be redirected to a list of open applications in the system; select the “Fostering Trauma-Responsive Practices in Pediatric Health Settings” application.

Foundant Account Setup

If you’re unsure whether you or someone at your organization already has an account, please do not create a new account. Instead, contact Jessica Mattson at Jessica.mattson@state.mn.us for assistance.

Existing users

If you already have a Foundant account, log in with your credentials. If you need help with your password, click “Forgot your Password?” on the login screen to reset it.  

New users: Individuals without an organizational affiliation

If you are an individual applying without an organization, you will need to create both a new organizational account and user account for yourself. Start by navigating to the Foundant login page and selecting “Create New Account.” You can enter 00-0000000 as your EIN/Tax ID when creating a new account.  

New users: Organizational accounts

If your organization does not already have an account, please create a new account for the organization by navigating to the Foundant login page and selecting “Create New Account.”

If your organization already has an account and you need access, please email Jessica Mattson at Jessica.mattson@state.mn.us to be added as a user under the organization’s existing  profile. Do not create a new account.  

Starting Your Application

Once logged in, click the “Apply” button on the upper toolbar on the home page. You will be directed to a list of open applications; select  “Fostering Trauma-Responsive Practices in Pediatric Health Settings” to begin your application. 

Optional templates:

• Form C: Work Plan Template (Word)
• Form D: Budget Justification and Summary Template (Excel)

Required Supplemental Documents:

• Conflict of interest form
• Due diligence form (not-for-profit applicants only)

Important Dates

Funding

Funding will be allocated through a competitive process. Please note that eligible expenditures can only be incurred once the grant agreement is fully executed, and the grant has reached its effective date.

Questions and Answers

All questions regarding this RFP must be submitted by email to Alyssa Greene at health.cyshn@state.mn.us. All answers will be posted within five business days.

Please submit questions no later than 12:00 p.m. Central Standard Time (CST) on November 13, 2024. To ensure all applicants have access to the same information, questions received after this date will not be answered or posted to the website. All questions and answers will be posted on November 20, 2024.

Question: As an “individual” not affiliated with any state/government entity or any professional business or organization, am I eligible to apply for this grant as long as I meet the eligibility criteria and/or requirements for this project?

Answer: Yes. According to the Request for Proposals document, Section 1.4: Eligible Applicants (page 4), “Eligible applicants can include community-based nonprofit and for-profit organizations; government entities or Tribal Governments; clinics and hospitals; community health or public health organizations; quality improvement organizations; professional provider associations; individuals; and institutes of higher education.” This means individuals are welcome to apply. Please review the list of desired skills and narrative requirements carefully to ensure you can demonstrate the skills and capacity needed to successfully complete the project.

Question: Are applicants based outside of Minnesota eligible for grant funding?

Answer: Yes, applicants based outside of Minnesota are eligible to apply for grant funding as long as they can show that their project will impact health settings and/or providers within the state.  

Question: As an individual, not associated with an organization, do I email Jessica Mattson to be added as a user to submit my proposal on Foundant or just create a new account on my own?

Answer: Foundant has organization and user accounts. If you are applying as an individual (not affiliated with an organization) and have not yet set up an account in Foundant, you will create both an organization and user account for yourself.

To begin, navigate to the Foundant login page and click "Create New Account," then follow the prompts to complete the registration process. Please review Setting up an Account for Grant Applications (PDF) for further guidance.

Question: As an individual, not affiliated with a business or organization, what should I enter in lieu of a Federal Tax Identification Number on the proposal application?

Answer: If applying as an individual, you may leave the tax identification number fields blank on the proposal application (Form A) or can enter 00-0000000. If you are a new user in Foundant and are applying as an individual without an organizational affiliation, when you create a new account in Foundant, you can enter 00-0000000 as your EIN/Tax ID.

Question: What is meant by “particular attention to mental health conditions or illnesses often overlooked in traditional trainings?”

Answer: Traditional mental health trainings frequently focus on common conditions such as anxiety, depression, ADHD, or trauma diagnoses. However, “overlooked” mental health conditions refer to those that receive less training coverage, which may vary based on health setting and/or provider population. For instance, if your selected health setting and/or provider population lacks training on conditions like eating disorders, psychotic disorders, or specific personality disorders, addressing these topics could enhance understanding and competency in areas currently underserved.

Question: Can an applicant also serve as a sub-contractor on another applicant’s proposal?

Answer: Yes, an applicant may also serve as a subcontractor on another applicant’s proposal.

Question: What is meant by incorporating lived experience into the development process?

Answer: Incorporating lived experience means involving individuals – such as children, teens, and families – who have direct, personal experiences with mental illness, disability, inequity, or accessing mental health care in the development of the training, tools, or resources. This could involve gathering input, feedback, or perspectives from these individuals to inform and shape the content or approach, ensuring their voices and insights are actively included in the final product to enhance its relevance and impact. Question: Are fiscally sponsored entities allowed to apply?

Question: Are fiscally sponsored entities allowed to apply?

Answer: Yes, fiscally sponsored entities are eligible to apply. If your organization is using a fiscal agent (another organization or representative handling financial responsibilities on your behalf), please be sure to include the contact information for the fiscal agent on the applicant face sheet (Form A). 

Question: Are non-profits serving youth who have experienced trauma (e.g., supervised parenting and exchange centers) enough to meet criteria.

Answer: The focus of this grant is on developing trainings, tools, and resources geared specifically toward providers and professionals in health settings. We define "health settings" broadly to include primary and specialty care settings, emergency departments, school-based health centers, school nurses, local public health departments, and mental health clinics. While non-profits serving youth who have experienced trauma are vital, they would need to demonstrate how their work aligns with health settings as defined above to fully meet the criteria.

Question: Would playground fall prevention and safety apply under this grant?

Answer: No, playground fall prevention and safety initiatives do not fall within the scope of this grant. As these grants are partially funded by federal funds, there is a requirement to focus specifically on addressing mental health concerns in children and adolescents presenting in health settings.

Question: Can you clarify how the reimbursement process works for grant payments? For instance, if we choose to compensate participants for their time in a community listening session, would we need to cover those costs upfront and then request reimbursement?

Answer: MDH will reimburse grantees based on the submission of an itemized invoice for activities that have actually been completed. You would initially pay for expenses, such as participant compensation, from your organization’s funds. Then, submit an invoice to MDH for reimbursement. Invoices are due at least quarterly, but you may submit them more frequently if needed to manage cash flow.

Question: I'm an individual with a small business LLC that relates to the trauma-responsive practice being offered. Should I apply as an individual or as an organization?

Answer: We recommend that you apply as an organization, given that your LLC operates as a formal business entity.

Question: As an applicant, am I able to include myself within the budget (hourly rate) that is required to create and maintain the trauma-responsive tool for the project?

Answer: Yes, you may include your own hourly rate within the salary portion of the budget to account for your time in developing and maintaining the trauma-responsive tool as part of the project.

Question: Is this RFP intended specifically for applicants implementing a program in a clinical setting, or is it also open to those focusing on project design, including an implementation plan and evaluation framework, without direct implementation?

Answer: This grant is open to applicants focusing on designing trainings, tools, or resources. While some applicants may directly implement their project, others may focus on developing the product and creating an implementation and dissemination plan, with MDH potentially assisting in sharing the materials. Preference may be given to applicants who directly handle implementation, depending on the number of applications received, but direct implementation is not required.

Question: Would a project focused on creating and disseminating trauma-responsive materials for Children’s Therapeutic Services and Supports (CTSS) align with the goals of this grant?

Answer: The focus of this grant is to support the development of trainings, tools, and resources specifically geared toward providers and professionals in health settings. "Health settings" is broadly defined and includes environments such as primary and specialty care settings, emergency departments, school-based health centers, school nurses, local public health departments, and mental health clinics.

A project would align with the grant’s goals if the primary emphasis is on promoting trauma-responsive care by educating health providers about Children’s Therapeutic Services and Supports (CTSS). While CTSS providers can be a secondary audience, the materials should primarily aim to strengthen the capacity of professionals within health settings.

Question: The end date on the budget template is listed as September 30, 2025, but the end date on other documents is December 31, 2025. Which is the correct date?

Answer: The correct end date is December 31, 2025. We have updated the budget template to reflect this correction.