Reentry Navigator Funding Opportunity

• Use reentry navigators to connect individuals being released from incarceration to overdose prevention services and link people to care (evidence-based treatment for SUD such as MOUD, CBT, contingency management).
• Ensure PWUD who are involved in the criminal legal system have access to overdose prevention and reversal tools, treatment options, and drug checking supplies.
• Establish referral networks in the community including housing, transportation, and medical care partners.
• Build referral pathways and warm handoffs between key systems and acute care settings.
• Provide trauma-responsive case management.
• Support people who use drugs to address barriers and connect them to resources.
• Develop, implement, and/or utilize a client data collection system.
• Participate in collaborative meetings with other DHS-funded navigators to build relationships, trouble-shoot challenges, brainstorm pivots, and celebrate successes.
• Collaborate with awarded applicant from the Harm Reduction Technical Assistance Centers.

A combination of quantitative and qualitative data will be required annually for federal evaluation purposes including number of navigators overall, number of referrals to services (for example, MOUD, behavioral health treatment (without MOUD), overdose prevention services), number of the overdose prevention service encounters and location of encounters, and number of naloxone doses distributed within zip codes. In addition, grantees will need to report on their work to expand the reach of overdose prevention services, overall program accomplishments, and other relevant metrics resulting from awarded funds. DHS will work with awarded agencies to collect and report required metrics.

In addition to program and reporting requirements, organizations receiving this award will be expected to work with DHS to:

• Create a specific statement of work with deliverables.
• Engage in regular coordination and communication with DHS partners to facilitate collaboration, assess resources, and eliminate repetition amongst navigators across the state.
• Document all encounters, referrals, outcomes, and other program indicators.
• Identify and provide reporting metrics for project evaluation.
• Modify program implementation as necessary.

Eligible applicants are city or county jails, 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). If the primary applicant is not a city or county jail, they must submit a letter of support/commitment from the city/county jail where the navigator will be providing services with their application. 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.

• This application is for an initial award period from May 1, 2026, 2026–August 31, 2026. Contracts will be awarded annually with the possibility of two 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 the first four months as well as one year of funding.
• Carryover of funds into a second year may be possible based on the availability of funds and grantee 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.
• Should additional funding become available, DHS reserves the right to use the results of this competitive application process to fund additional applicants that applied but were not selected.
• DHS will negotiate the terms of the award, including the award amount, with the selected applicant(s) 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 contracts resulting from this request for applications will be between DHS and the awarded applicant(s).
• 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. Quarterly reporting requirements will include a summary of expenditures, number of overdose prevention supplies distributed, types of referrals provided, and an account of program accomplishments or other relevant metrics resulting from awarded funds.

Funding Amount: Initial award amount for the four-month start-up period is up to $50,000. Up to $100,000 will be awarded annually for the remaining two project years.

Number of Awards: 3

Expected 12-month grant cycles

• Start-up period (FY26): May 1, 2026–August 31, 2026 (initial award)
• Year 1 (FY27): September 1, 2026–August 31, 2027 (contract renewal)
• Year 2 (FY28): September 1, 2027–August 31, 2028 (contract renewal)

Questions related to this RFA must be submitted in writing to dhsbhsfundingopportunities@dhs.wisconsin.gov. Questions are due March 24, 2026, and responses will be posted here.

Items noted with an “*” indicate that a response is mandatory.

• Organization name*
• Organization address*
• Name of person we can contact regarding this application*
• Email address of person we can contact regarding this application*
• Confirm email address of person we can contact regarding this application*
• Phone number of person we can contact regarding this application*
• Please enter your phone number in the following format 123-867-5309 or 123 867 5309.
• Provide the service area (for example, county, municipality, Tribe) where the applying agency intends to provide reentry navigator services.*

• Has your agency ever employed reentry navigators (or those who operate in a similar capacity under a different job title) in jails?*
  • If yes, describe the duties and responsibilities of prior navigators and their impact. (300 words)*
  • If no, describe your agency’s capacity to employ reentry navigators to link people involved in the criminal legal system to care and overdose prevention services. (300 words)*
• Describe any overdose prevention services your organization currently provides and your experience providing reentry services to people being released from incarceration back into the community. Include in your response how this proposal fits within your organization’s current programming and overall vision. (500 words)*
• Describe the system you have in place (or will create) to document client or participant interactions (type and amount of services received, referrals, etc.), particularly as it relates to meeting the reporting requirements listed in this RFA. This may include documentation through databases, case management systems, staff notes, and other relevant sources. (250 words)*
• Describe your experience collaborating with correctional facilities? If you are a correctional facility or jail, please describe your experience collaborating with community organizations, local health departments, or overdose prevention organizations. (300 words)*

• Provide a high-level overview of your overall project plan, how you will identify individuals and refer them to the reentry navigator program within the jail, your plans to continue engagement post-release, the anticipated number of individuals to be served through this project, and the intended project impacts. Include in your response the number of navigators you plan to employ to meet your proposed goals. (500 words)*
• Describe how your project will use reentry navigators to provide linkages to care for people being released from jail, including evidence-based substance use disorder treatment, community resources, social services, health services, overdose prevention tools, and care for PWUD involved in the justice system. (400 words)*
• Specify which jails, and/or community partners you intend to collaborate with for this project (including name, geographical area, and any past collaboration experiences with the organization). (200 words)*
• How will you coordinate with jail medical staff to initiate or continue MOUD? (300 words)*
• How will you ensure services are trauma-informed and culturally responsive? (250 words)*

We anticipate awarding up to $50,000 for the first four-month start-up period (May 1, 2026 – Aug 31, 2026) and $100,000 annually for this work beginning September 1, 2026. In Section A, please fill out the provisional budget the four-month initial start-up period for each anticipated line item below (up to $50,000). Include justifications for each expense type.

In Budget Section B, please fill out an estimated budget for the first full year of funding (Sept. 2026 – Aug. 2027). Include anticipated expenses under each line item and justifications for each expense. DPH will negotiate the final budgets for each contract period upon award with selected agencies.

Make sure this amount includes funding needed for the work itself, subcontracts with partner agencies, as well as associated administrative costs, including accounting services, and agency operating costs. For each line item, include a brief justification for the amounts you entered. This should include how you arrived at the total dollar amount requested for the expense. Example: Personnel: $10,000; Personnel Justification: Personnel is calculated based on a 0.20 FTE Program Coordinator at $24.04/hour = $10,000.

Budget section A: Four-month start-up provisional budget*
$________Personnel
$________Fringe
$________Operations
$________Supplies
$________Travel
$________Contractual Services
$________Other
$________Indirect

• Personnel justification: Describe your personnel expenses for this project. If none, mark N/A.*
• Fringe justification: Describe your fringe expenses. If none, mark N/A.*
• Operations justification: Describe your operational costs (internet, phone, and other administrative expenses) for this project If none, mark N/A.*
• Supplies justification: Describe your supply costs for this project. If none, mark N/A.*
• Contractual services justification: Describe any contractual partners you will fund (training provider, school district, and any partnerships requiring a contract) for this project If none, mark N/A.*
• Other justification: Describe any other costs associated with this project. If none, mark N/A.*
• Indirect cost justification: Describe your indirect cost rate (if applicable) for this project. If none, mark N/A.*

Budget section B: Annual provisional budget*
$________Personnel
$________Fringe
$________Operations
$________Supplies
$________Travel
$________Contractual Services
$________Other
$________Indirect

• Personnel justification: Describe your personnel expenses for this project. If none, mark N/A.*
• Fringe justification: Describe your fringe expenses. If none, mark N/A.*
• Operations justification: Describe your operational costs (internet, phone, and other administrative expenses) for this project If none, mark N/A.*
• Supplies justification: Describe your supply costs for this project. If none, mark N/A.*
• Contractual services justification: Describe any contractual partners you will fund (training provider, school district, and any partnerships requiring a contract) for this project If none, mark N/A.*
• Other justification: Describe any other costs associated with this project. If none, mark N/A.*
• Indirect cost justification: Describe your indirect cost rate (if applicable) for this project. If none, mark N/A.*

Letters of support from project partners are encouraged but not required. Letter(s) of commitment from the city and/or county jail(s) where navigator(s) will be engaged in providing services are required if the primary applicant is not itself a city or county jail.

We encourage all applicants to combine letters of support and commitment into one PDF for upload. You may upload up to five files. If you experience any difficulties uploading letters of support, please contact Lataysha James at dhsbhsfundingopportunities@dhs.wisconsin.gov.