Program purpose
The Division of Care and Treatment Services is seeking applications for funding to develop and operate peer-run respite programs in Wisconsin. Peer-run respites provide short-term, voluntary, recovery-oriented residential support and warmline services. These programs are operated by people with lived experience with mental health, substance use, or co-occurring recovery to prevent crises, reduce hospitalization, and connect individuals with community resources.
Program requirements
The following are required for this funding opportunity:
Facility requirements
- Operate in a home-like residential setting.
- Provide between three and six private guest rooms.
- Maintain a safe, clean, and welcoming environment.
- Provide adequate common space for peer support activities.
- Meet Americans with Disabilities Act accessibility standards.
Staffing requirements
- Ensure peer staff are present whenever guests are in the peer-run respite.
- Ensure staffing capacity to provide warmline services.
- Have staff in supervisory roles who are peer professionals.
- Train staff in the following areas:
- Recovery principles
- Trauma-informed care
- Cultural responsiveness
- Ethics and boundaries
- Strengths-based support approaches
- Crisis recognition and response
- Health and safety procedures for residential settings
Operations requirements
- Open 24 hours per day, seven days per week, 365 days per year.
- Be peer-run and consumer directed.
- Provide warmline services for individuals seeking peer support over the phone or connection to community resources.
- Offer short-term stays generally between one and five days.
- Be accessible to guests who are self-referred and seeking respite voluntarily.
- Conduct a brief pre-stay interview to determine if the respite is appropriate support for the individual and how the stay aligns with the individual’s recovery needs.
- Provide free services for warmline callers and guests with mental health, substance use, or co-occurring challenges; must not exclude individuals based solely on having either mental health or substance use challenges.
- Establish collaborative relationships with community partners. Partnerships should reflect the applicant’s service model and community context and may include:
- Crisis services
- Mental health providers
- Substance use disorder providers
- Emergency responders and other crisis response partners
- Peer-run organization
Recovery-oriented service requirements
- Individual peer recovery support
- Group peer recovery support
- Wellness and recovery activities
- Warmline peer support services
- Opportunities for guests to connect with community resources
Programs must not provide clinical services or medication management. Guests must manage their own medications.
Programs must serve individuals from multiple counties. DCTS may prioritize applications that expand access to peer-run respite services in underserved geographic areas.
Eligible applicants
Incorporated, peer-run nonprofit organizations with 51% of the agency’s board of directors identifying as peers with lived experience with mental health, substance use, or co-occurring challenges.
Applicants must submit an attestation identifying peer board members signed by the peer board members.
Eligibility requirements are mandatory as of the date the applicant applies.
Application deadline
July 3, 2026, at 11:59 p.m.
Estimated number of awards
3
Estimated award amount(s)
$441,666 per awardee per year
Total funding available
$1,325,000 per year
$6,625,000 for the length of the funding opportunityAnticipated length of funding opportunity
5 years
Anticipated contract dates
January 1, 2027 – December 31, 2027
January 1, 2028 – December 31, 2028
January 1, 2029 – December 31, 2029
January 1, 2030 – December 31, 2030
January 1, 2031 – December 31, 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
State General Purpose Revenue
Written questions due
June 5, 2026, at 11:59 p.m.
Submit written questions about this funding opportunity to DHSDCTSBPTRFundingOpportunities@dhs.wisconsin.gov with the subject line Peer-Run Respites.
Answers posted
June 12, 2026 (estimated)
Award/denial notification timeline
August 17, 2026 (estimated)
Award statement
Award(s) will be made to the responsive and responsible applicant(s) that:
- Attains the highest scored application.
- Best meets the needs of the population of focus.
- Best meets the needs of the people within the state, as determined by DHS.
Application requirements
Applications must include responses to the statements in the narrative response section.
There is a 12-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: 8
- Priority two: 8
- Priority three: 7
- Priority four: 7
- Documents: 5
Narrative response
The narrative response describes how you will address the purpose of this funding opportunity. The narrative response must:
- Be 12 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 program purpose and requirements will be met by:
Addressing the needs of the population(s) of focus.
Applying the applicant's approach or philosophy toward the issue(s) this funding opportunity seeks to address.
Explaining the proposed peer-run respite model and philosophy.
Promoting recovery-oriented peer recovery support.
Addressing warmline and guest access and any barriers, including transportation, where relevant.
Planning for services and activities available to warmline callers and guests.
Creating a welcoming and safe environment.
Serving warmline callers and guests from multiple surrounding counties.
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.
Applicants must describe their capacity to implement the program design, including:
- New or existing staff positions that will work under this grant and the anticipated number of hours per week for each position.
- The recruitment process and the anticipated timeline if hiring new positions.
- A plan to maintain 24/7 operations during staff vacancies, absences, or turnover, including how coverage will be ensured for respite and warmline services.
- The supervision structure for staff, including who will provide supervision, their role within the organization, and how supervision will support staff in delivering peer services.
- Resources or partnerships and their role in ensuring success of this program.
If subcontractor(s) will be used to perform activities to achieve program goals, describe:
- Extent of the relationship.
- How the subcontractor(s) capacity supports program implementation.
- Roles, responsibilities, and expectations of the subcontractor(s).
- Experience managing and monitoring subcontractor(s).
Maximum points available for this section: 20
Applicants must describe their experience and knowledge:
- Operating peer-run programs.
- Providing peer services, conducting activities, or fulfilling requirements.
- Providing warmline or phone-based peer support services.
- Hiring and supervising peer recovery support staff.
- Building relationships with or working with individuals with mental health, substance use, or co-occurring challenges.
- Developing partnerships with community providers.
- Collecting and using data or other information to determine if efforts had an impact.
If you use subcontractors, describe their experience and knowledge:
- Providing services, conducting activities, or fulfilling requirements.
- Building relationships with or working with the population(s) of focus or similar population(s).
- Collecting and using data or other information to assess program impact.
- Hiring and supervising staff with specialized knowledge or licensure.
Applicants must describe the relevant training and professional development staff and subcontracted staff (if applicable) will receive over the anticipated total funding period.
Maximum points available for this section: 30
For each priority, describe the:
- Objectives: Measurable and time-bound efforts to achieve priority
- Activities: Specific steps you will take to meet the objectives
- Timelines: When you anticipate starting and finishing each activity
- Measurable impact: How 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 that peer-run respites 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: 8
Provide recovery-oriented peer recovery support services that promote hope, wellness, and self-determination for warmline callers and guests.
Objectives (select one)
- Provide individual peer recovery support to warmline callers and guests during their stay.
- Facilitate peer-led discussions, recovery groups, or wellness activities.
- Support guests in identifying personal recovery or wellness goals.
- Promote mutual support, choice, and self-direction among warmline callers and guests.
- Connect warmline callers and guests to recovery supports and community resources.
Priority two
Maximum points available for priority two: 8
Provide a safe, welcoming, and accessible residential environment that supports recovery and stabilization.
Objectives (select one)
- Maintain a home-like and welcoming respite environment.
- Ensure adequate staffing coverage for warmline services and while guests are present.
- Implement trauma-informed and culturally responsive practices.
- Maintain clear guest policies and safety procedures.
- Ensure accessibility for individuals with disabilities.
Priority three
Maximum points available for priority three: 7
Establish and maintain partnerships that support access to the warmline and respite services and connect callers and guests to ongoing community support.
Objectives (select one)
- Develop referral relationships with crisis services.
- Collaborate with mental health and substance use disorder providers.
- Partner with peer support and recovery organizations.
- Coordinate with hospitals, emergency departments, and other community programs.
- Support warmline callers and guests in connecting to services and resources following their stay.
Priority four
Maximum points available for priority four: 7
Build organizational capacity to sustain and strengthen the peer-run respite program during and beyond the grant period.
Objectives (select one)
- Recruit, train, and retain peer staff.
- Strengthen peer leadership within the organization.
- Develop partnerships that support long-term program stability.
- Pursue additional funding or community resources to sustain services.
- Use warmline feedback, guest feedback, staff input, and program data to improve operations and services over time.
- Maintain staff continuity during turnover or vacancies.
Maximum points available for this section: 5
The following documents must be submitted with the narrative response. These documents do not count toward the narrative response page limit.
- IRS Form W-9.
- DCTS Summary Line Item Budget, F-01601 (Excel)outlining the costs for the first year.
- Position description for each position directly involved with this program.
- Peer board member attestation verifying that at least 51% of the organization’s governing board members identify as peers. Disclosure of a medical diagnosis or personal health information is not required.
- Each board member identified as a peer must sign and date an attestation confirming they:
- Serve as a member of the organization’s governing board.
- Identify as a peer with lived experience related to mental health, substance use or co-occurring recovery.
- 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.
- Each board member identified as a peer must sign and date an attestation confirming they:
Reporting requirements
Recipients of this funding are required to follow all reporting requirements defined by DHS, including:
- Performance reporting is completed quarterly by due dates set by DHS
- Expense reporting forms submitted monthly using a format approved by DHS.
Application submission
Applications are due by 11:59 p.m. July 3, 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-Run Respites.