Program purpose
The Division of Care and Treatment Services is seeking applications to support a statewide network of peer-led peer recovery centers for individuals living with a mental health or co-occurring substance use challenge. Peer recovery centers are community-based spaces where individuals support one another through shared lived experience.
This funding supports the operation and development of peer recovery support services. This includes increasing access to peer support and supporting pathways for individuals to explore, prepare for, and pursue roles within the peer support workforce, including those available under Wis. Admin. Code ch. DHS 72.
Program requirements
The following are required for this funding opportunity:
- Operate as a peer-led organization in which individuals with lived experience must hold leadership, decision-making, and service delivery roles.
- Provide community-based peer recovery support services in a welcoming and accessible environment.
- Deliver services grounded in peer support values, including mutuality, shared lived experience, respect, and self-determination.
- Use trauma-informed and culturally responsive approaches appropriate to the population served.
- Engage with the statewide peer recovery center network and use the Peer Leadership Technical Assistance Program to support program development and continuous improvement.
- Develop partnerships with behavioral health providers and community-based organizations to support access to services and employment opportunities.
- Support peer workforce pathways by offering opportunities to explore, prepare for, or pursue peer roles.
Eligible applicants
Applicants must be an incorporated peer-run nonprofit organization with experience providing peer support and working in the community with people with lived experience in mental health challenges or co-occurring substance use challenges.
Applicants must submit an attestation identifying peer board members.
Eligibility requirements are mandatory as of the date the applicant applies.
Application deadline
June 24, 2026, at 11:59 p.m.
Estimated number of awards
8
Estimated award amount(s)
$34,375 per awardee per year
Total funding available
$275,000 per year
$1,375,000 for the length of this funding opportunityAnticipated length of funding opportunity
5 years
Anticipated contract dates
October 1, 2026 – September 30, 2027
October 1, 2027 – September 30, 2028
October 1, 2028 – September 30, 2029
October 1, 2029 – September 30, 2030
October 1, 2030 – September 30, 2031Renewal of the contract each year will be based upon the awardee’s satisfactory performance, satisfactory completion of annual deliverables and grant expectations, audit findings, and the availability of funds.
Match requirement
None
Funding source
Community Mental Health Services Block Grant
Written questions due
June 1, 2026, at 11:59 p.m.
Submit written questions about this funding opportunity to DHSDCTSBPTRFundingOpportunities@dhs.wisconsin.gov with the subject line Peer Recovery Centers.
Answers posted
June 8, 2026 (estimated)
Award/denial notification timeline
July 29, 2026 (estimated)
Award statement
Award(s) will be made to the responsive and responsible applicant(s) that:
- Attains the highest scored application.
- Best aligns with the program purpose.
- Best meets the needs of the people within the state, as determined by DHS.
- Best incorporates the best practices and values of peer support.
Application requirements
Applications must include responses to the statements in the narrative response section.
There is an eight-page narrative response maximum. Any information after the page limit will not be read, reviewed, nor scored for this funding opportunity.
Application scoring rubric
Applications are read, reviewed, and scored by an evaluation team using the 100-point scale listed below. For sections with a higher point value, more detail in the response may be needed.
- Program design: 25
- Capacity: 20
- Experience and knowledge: 20
- Grant priorities: 30
- Priority one: 10
- Priority two: 10
- Priority three: 10
- Required documents: 5
Narrative response
The narrative response describes how you will address the purpose of this funding opportunity. The narrative response must:
- Be eight pages or less.
- Use a page size of 8.5” x 11.”
- Use a black font.
- Use a font size of at least 11-point.
Arial and Times New Roman are the recommended fonts for the narrative response.
The narrative response is a required component of your application. It must be organized into the following sections.
Maximum points available for this section: 25
Applicants must describe how the proposed peer recovery center will operate and how the program design will meet the program purpose and program requirements of this funding opportunity.
Applicants must:
- Describe how the program is peer-led, including how individuals with lived experience are involved in leadership and decision-making.
- Describe the services and activities that will be offered.
- Describe how the environment will be welcoming, accessible, and inclusive.
- Describe how the program will engage the local recovery community.
- Describe how services will be maintained, strengthened, or developed over time. This may include maintaining current services, improving existing activities, or introducing new approaches.
- Describe how individuals will be supported in exploring, preparing for, or pursuing peer support roles.
Maximum points available for this section: 20
The capacity to do the work and meet the program requirements is different from the experience doing the work. Capacity refers to the applicant’s current readiness to operate a peer recovery center and to build additional leadership, workforce development, and collaboration capacity over the five-year funding period. Applicants are not required to have full workforce preparation systems currently in place but should demonstrate a strong operational foundation and a plan to grow capacity over time.
Applicants must:
- Describe the staffing and/or volunteer structure.
- Describe the setting where services will be provided and how the environment supports peer-led recovery support services.
- Describe how day-to-day operations will be managed.
- Describe key partnerships or supports that contribute to program success.
- Describe how services will continue during staff or volunteer changes.
If subcontractor(s) will be used to perform activities to achieve program goals, describe their role.
Maximum points available for this section: 20
In this section, applicants must describe relevant experience and knowledge that demonstrate readiness to operate a peer recovery center and support the gradual expansion of leadership, workforce development, and collaboration activities.
Responses should demonstrate experience providing peer recovery support services and an understanding of how services, partnerships, and workforce pathways may grow over time.
Applicants must describe relevant experience and knowledge:
- Providing peer support or similar services.
- Working with the population of focus.
- Building community partnerships.
- Supporting recovery or peer-led activities.
- Supporting leadership development or helping individuals explore peer roles.
If subcontractor(s) will be used, describe the subcontractor’s relevant experience and knowledge related to providing peer support services or similar programs.
Maximum points available for this section: 30
For each priority, describe the:
- Objectives: Measurable and time-bound efforts to achieve the priority.
- Activities: Specific steps you will take to meet the objectives.
- Timeline: When you anticipate starting and finishing each activity.
- Measurable impact: How will you measure or demonstrate a desirable outcome is being achieved for the priority (for example, data source(s) or measurements that will be used, surveys of clientele, etc.).
Applicants must develop a plan that aligns with the priorities outlined in this section. The priorities represent key outcomes peer recovery centers will work toward during the five-year grant period.
Required response structure:
- For each priority, applicants must select one objective.
- For each selected objective, applicants must provide two activities.
- Each activity must include a timeline and measurable impact.
Priority one
Maximum points available for priority one: 10
Peer recovery centers will increase access to and participation in peer-led recovery support services by providing a welcoming, inclusive, and community-based environment.
Objectives (select one)
- The peer recovery center will provide a consistent schedule of peer-led services that are facilitated or guided by individuals with lived experience.
- The peer recovery center will implement outreach and engagement strategies that increase participation in peer-led services among the local recovery community.
- The peer recovery center will create and maintain a welcoming, inclusive environment that reflects peer support values and supports accessibility for participants.
- The peer recovery center will use participant input to adapt services and ensure activities remain relevant and responsive to community needs.
- The peer recovery center will collaborate with community partners to increase awareness of and access to peer recovery support services.
Priority two
Maximum points available for priority two: 10
Peer recovery centers will develop and implement opportunities for individuals to explore, prepare for, and pursue peer support roles through skill-building, volunteer, or employment pathways.
Objectives (select one)
- The peer recovery center will provide opportunities for individuals to learn about peer support roles through peer-led discussions, activities or informational sessions.
- The peer recovery center will offer opportunities for individuals to develop and practice skills relevant to peer support through volunteer roles, mentorship, or group activities.
- The peer recovery center will connect individuals to peer support training, certification, or employment opportunities through partnerships or referrals.
- The peer recovery center will provide opportunities for individuals to take on peer leadership or facilitation roles within the peer recovery center to build confidence and applied experience.
- The peer recovery center will support individuals in identifying and pursuing goals related to peer support involvement or employment.
Priority three
Maximum points available for priority three: 10
Peer recovery centers will build and strengthen partnerships with behavioral health providers and community-based organizations to improve access to employment opportunities, recovery supports, and services.
Objectives (select one)
- The peer recovery center will implement coordinated referral processes with partner organizations to support access to employment opportunities, recovery supports, and services.
- The peer recovery center will collaborate with partners to create or support opportunities for individuals to explore, prepare for, or access peer support roles or employment.
- The peer recovery center will provide information, education or engagement opportunities to partners to increase understanding of peer recovery support services and workforce pathways.
- The peer recovery center will participate in community-based meetings, events, or collaborative efforts to improve coordination of services and increase access to recovery supports, services, and employment opportunities.
- The peer recovery center will engage partners in ongoing collaboration efforts to address barriers to accessing recovery support, services, or employment opportunities.
Maximum points available for this section: 5
The following documents must be submitted with the narrative response:
- IRS Form W-9.
- DCTS Summary Line item Budget: Condensed, F-01601C (Excel), outlining the costs for the first year.
- Peer board member attestation verifying that at least 51% of the organization’s governing board members identify as peers.
Each board member identified as a peer must sign an attestation confirming they:
- Serve as a member of the organization’s governing board, and
- Identify as a peer with lived experience related to mental health and/or substance use recovery. No medical diagnosis nor personal disclosure is required.
- The attestation must include:
- The total number of board members.
- The number of board members who identify as peers.
- The name and role of each peer board member.
- The signature and date for each peer board member.
The required documents do not count toward the eight-page narrative response page limit.
Reporting requirements
Recipients of this funding are required to follow all reporting requirements defined by DHS, including:
- Performance reporting completed with due dates that will be set in writing by DHS.
- Expense reporting forms submitted monthly in a format approved by DHS.
Application submission
Applications are due by 11:59 p.m. June 24, 2026.
Applications must include the narrative response and the additional documents outlined in the application requirements section.
By submitting an application, the applicant acknowledges the Grant Funding Opportunities: Definitions and Legal Requirements are part of this funding opportunity.
Submit applications to DHSDCTSBPTRFundingOpportunities@dhs.wisconsin.gov with the subject line Peer Recovery Centers.