mental and behavioral health services – Oct 23

Posted by William Penn Foundation on September 23, 2025

William Penn Foundation issues RFP for access to mental and behavioral health services

The William Penn Foundation (WPF) in Philadelphia has issued a request for proposals for accessing mental and behavioral health services for young children and caregivers.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) refers to mental and behavioral health as our “emotional, psychological, and social well-being.” It affects how we think, feel, and act. Some mental health disorders such as depression, anxiety, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can begin in early childhood. Mental health services for caregivers and their children during early childhood can help support strong parent/child relationships, promote positive parenting practices, and help children learn to manage symptoms that may present barriers in social and educational settings. Children in Philadelphia who reside in communities that are heavily impacted by poverty often endure a high rate of adverse-childhood experiences (ACEs)—abuse, neglect, or household challenges— that can have negative, lasting effects on health and well-being. According to the 2017 Place Matters report by the Philadelphia Department of Behavioral Health and Intellectual disAbility Services (DBHIDS), mental health risk index scores for 85 percent of Philadelphia ZIP codes were above the national average for need.

The foundation seeks to support efforts that increase access to mental and behavioral health services for caregivers and young children in Philadelphia. Funding will be limited to projects that will positively impact families with young children, ages 0-8, who have traditionally faced barriers to service for reasons including, but not limited to, limited income, insufficient availability of treatment, inaccessible treatment sites, cultural and/or linguistic barriers, immigration status, and limited awareness of existing services.

Proposals for funding through this RFP must include activities that do at least one of the following: 1) increase the number of licensed MBH providers serving young children who participate in Medicaid; 2) increase the number of culturally and linguistically competent professionals serving in community-based settings; 3) expand the reach of existing comprehensive MBH services for young children in geographic areas of the city with the greatest need. Priority will be given to proposals that address service needs in Philadelphia’s top 10 “high risk” ZIP codes, according to the Risk Index published in the 2017 DBHIDS Place Matters report: 19120, 19121, 19122, 19124, 19132, 19133, 19134, 19139, 19140, 19142; 4) advocate for policies that increase access to MBH services for families with young children (prenatal to age 8); 5) provide MBH care coordination, a system used by child and family serving professionals for efficient, cross-programmatic communication regarding MBH service; 6) provide screening and assessment for MBH services for families with young children (birth to age 8) or those who are pregnant; and 7) offer training for children and family serving professionals that establishes or strengthens access to direct MBH services.

The foundation requests proposals for up to three years of funding. After reviewing proposals, WPF will conduct site visits and gather additional information from a limited number of organizations.

WPF has $7.5 million available to advance this objective through this RFP. The grant amount requested should be commensurate with the contribution that the project will make to the overall objective. The maximum amount of funding that organizations may request for project expenses is $1 million over three years. At least $1 million of the total amount awarded under this RFP will be reserved for grants to organizations that have budgets under $5 million per year and/or are led by individuals who are members of groups with a history of discrimination or exclusion.

To be eligible, applicants must be recognized by the Internal Revenue Service as 501(c)(3) public charities or operate under a public charity fiduciary. Public charities include community-based organizations, schools and educational institutions, and other types of public-serving groups. Government entities are also eligible to apply. Proposed projects must occur in Philadelphia and serve families who are residents of Philadelphia.

For complete program guidelines and application instructions, see the William Penn Foundation website.

Deadline: October 23, 2025 at 3:00 p.m. ET