Behavioral Health Grant Program

In 2023, the Williams County Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) is pleased to make $635,000 available in one-time grants for the purposes of adding, enhancing, and increasing behavioral health services in Williams County. The program was established in 2021.

Applications open: February 1, 2023 | Application deadline: 5 pm on March 15, 2023 | Award date: April 18, 2023

Eligibility

One application is permitted per behavioral health service provider or organization. The application may contain several types of expenses and the total amount requested in any application may not exceed $200,000. Expenses can be incurred over a multi-year period, subject to approval by the BOCC and as stated in awardee’s written agreement with Williams County, and subject to the maximum annual request of $200,000.

Funding requests for the purchase or lease of building office space, purchase of vehicles, and/or purchase and/or licensing of software or technology require a 20% match. Match can be provided by Applicant or a third-party.  Additionally, Applicant must meet the following criteria:

• Must be a North Dakota-licensed behavioral health provider, an organization that provides behavioral health services conducted by one or more ND-licensed behavioral health providers, or a behavioral health provider or organization that plans to offer behavioral health services in 2023 by one or more ND-licensed behavioral health providers
• If an entity required by law to be registered with the North Dakota Secretary of State’s Office to conduct business in the State of North Dakota, then the entity must be duly registered and be in good standing at the time an application is submitted and remain in good standing throughout the term of the grant and any reporting period
• If a property owner in Williams County, must be current on real property taxes incurred in Williams County and must be in compliance with applicable Williams County Zoning Ordinance and Subdivision Regulations, and amendments thereto
• Must be requesting grant funds for costs that have not yet been incurred as of the date the grant is awarded
• Must serve, or plan to serve, clients who reside in Williams County
• Must be able to enter into a written agreement with Williams County, subject to terms and conditions acceptable to Williams County, to receive and expend the funds
• Must complete application in its entirety to be eligible for consideration.
• Ability to accept electronic transfers is preferred
• Applicants that have been previously awarded a Williams County Behavioral Health Grant are eligible to re-apply in 2023, provided that the Applicant’s previous or current award is in good standing and the application is not for an expense that has been previously funded.

Grant Award Details

Any grant of money must be for a public purpose. A public purpose has as its objective the promotion of the public health, safety, morals, general welfare, security, prosperity, and contentment of all inhabitants and residents within Williams County, or other purpose determined by the Board to be a public purpose.

Below is a list of acceptable and unacceptable uses for the grant funds; some types of expenses carry a match requirement. Any category not specifically listed under acceptable uses, unless specifically listed as an unacceptable use, may still be eligible for a grant award, but the proposed use must be for a public purpose and the decision to include the category will be at the discretion of the BOCC. In addition, whether a particular expense falls within a certain category of acceptable uses or unacceptable uses will be at the sole discretion of Williams County.

Categories of Acceptable Uses of Grant Funds – No matching funds required

• Compensation for staff that helps to add, increase, or enhance behavioral health services provided to adolescents and/or adults in Williams County
• Compensation for an intern specializing in a behavioral health field (such as social work, addiction counseling, marriage and family therapy, mental health therapy, psychology, or psychiatry); interns currently employed are not eligible
• Compensation for non-insurance billable positions related to providing behavioral health services including, but not limited to, intern supervision, group therapy, or nurses
• Gap funding to onboard a new behavioral health provider prior to insurance being formally accepted and processed
• Registration or conference fees or tuition for behavioral health providers to attend, in person or virtually, behavioral health-related training or continuing education that will enable the behavioral health provider or organization to add, increase, or enhance behavioral health services
• Purchase and/or distribution written, virtual, or in-person educational programs or materials related to behavioral health or behavioral health services, including, but not limited to, programs and materials pertaining to stigma, suicide prevention, anger management, or addiction
• Recruitment and retention incentives for new or current behavioral health providers
• Case management personnel or services related to behavioral health
• Hardship assistance for clients who are unable to pay; applicant must outline the criteria in which a client would be eligible if this type of funding is requested

Categories of Acceptable Uses of Grant Funds – 20% matching funds required

• Purchase or licensing of software or technology to add, increase, or enhance telemedicine, mobile, or in-office services
• Equipment directly related to delivering behavioral health services in Williams County and to individuals who are inhabitants or residents of Williams County
• Purchase or lease of building office space in Williams County for providing behavioral health services
• Purchase of vehicle(s) to be utilized for mobile behavioral health services

Categories of Unacceptable Uses of Grant Funds

• Expenses related to providing behavioral health services outside of Williams County and to individuals who are not inhabitants or residents of Williams County
• Expenses related to behavioral health services that the behavioral health provider or organization is already incurring or has already incurred prior to submission of application
• Office furniture, supplies, or appliances
• Office décor or interior design
• Equipment that is not directly related to delivering behavioral health services in Williams County and to individuals who are inhabitants or residents of Williams County
• Fuel, vehicle repairs, vehicle maintenance
• Landscaping
• Utility costs, including, but not limited to, internet, telephone, heat, electricity, ventilation, air conditioning, water, garbage disposal, sewer, vector, and cable
• Cell phones and cell phone charges and plans
• Travel costs such as flights, hotels, fuel, meals, per diem, rental cars, other transportation costs, and incidentals that are associated with training or continuing education
• Debt payments or interest buydown
• Payment of insurance, taxes, or fees, unless specifically included as a part of an acceptable use
• Any expense determined by Williams County as not being an Acceptable Use
• Expenses that have already been incurred prior to submission of application

Distribution of Grant Funds to Awardees

• Unless otherwise agreed upon by Williams County, any grant funds not disbursed to awardee by December 31, 2023, for expenses that were expected to be, or actually, incurred in 2023, will be redistributed by the BOCC for behavioral health grants or for distribution or disposition for any other public purpose of Williams County.
• Extensions may be requested by the awardee to be presented to the BOCC for consideration; any extensions approved by the BOCC will be documented as a written amendment to the original agreement between Williams County and the awardee.
• Grant funds will be disbursed as expenses are incurred with the exception of awards to be used for construction, purchase or lease of building office space, or personnel compensation. For any other type of expense, funds will only be disbursed to the awardee upon delivery of an itemized invoice for expenses and written proof of payment (e.g., copy of check or receipt) to Williams County.
• Grant funds to be used for construction, purchase or lease of building office space, or personnel compensation may be paid out prior to the expense being incurred; the timeframe will be specifically defined in the written agreement between the awardee and Williams County.
• Grant funds will be disbursed by Williams County in the same manner as vendors are paid.

Accountability and Demonstrated Impact

Within 6 months and 12 months of receipt of funds, the awardee must provide an Impact Statement to the BOCC explaining the impact the funds have had on the awardee’s ability to add, increase, or enhance behavioral health services in Williams County. The format for the Impact Statement will be provided by Williams County. Awardee must be compliant with the Impact Statement schedule, and criteria set forth above in submitting an application, to remain in good standing with the grant award and receive, or continue to receive, reimbursement for expenses. All awardees will be required to complete an annual review for the duration of their funding and reporting period.

Taxes

It is the responsibility of each awardee to determine the impact of the grant awards on their finances and tax status. Williams County will provide a 1099 at the end of each year.