Family-Centered Approach to Substance Use Disorders
Overview
The Division of Care and Treatment Services is seeking applications for funding for a substance use disorder treatment provider to establish a program that will use a family-centered approach to meet the needs of pregnant women and mothers with dependent children up to age 5.
The goal of the funding authorized under Wis. Stat. § 46.86(1) is to address substance use disorders among the population of focus to prevent children from going into out-of-home care.
The program established with this funding should implement a family-centered approach that is in line with the National Center on Substance Abuse and Child Welfare or other evidence-based guidance. A family-centered approach to substance use disorder treatment provides a comprehensive array of clinical treatment and related support services that meet the needs of each member of the client’s identified family unit.
The in-person services provided in a community-based residential, in-home, or outpatient setting must be certified under Wis. Admin. ch. DHS 75 and meet the requirements in 45 CFR 96.124(e).
Services may include, but are not limited to, case management that arranges for: primary medical and prenatal care, pediatric care, childcare, vocational assistance, housing assistance, substance use disorder services, therapeutic services for women and their children, parenting programs, and transportation to assure women and children have access to these services.
Follow-up aftercare services to each woman and her children for at least two years after the date on which the woman has left the program are required.
Eligible applicants
Applicant must be a:
- County public agency in Wisconsin
- Nonprofit organization providing services to people in Wisconsin
Applicant(s) must also be:
- Certified under Wis. Admin. Code ch. DHS 75
- A Medicaid-enrolled provider approved for Medicaid reimbursement per 45 CFR 96.137
Agencies awarded a contract under the 2022 Family-Centered Treatment funding opportunity (GFO #SA2022FCT) are not eligible for an award unless the agency proposes to establish a new program.
Eligibility requirements are mandatory as of the date the applicant applies.
Application deadline
November 24, 2026, at 11:59 p.m.
Estimated number of awards
1
Estimated award amount(s)
$125,000 per year
Total funding available
$627,500
Anticipated 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
Substance Use Prevention, Treatment, and Recovery Services Block Grant
Written questions due
November 10, 2026, at 11:59 p.m.
Submit written questions about this funding opportunity to DHSDCTSBPTRFundingOpportunities@dhs.wisconsin.gov with the subject line Family-Centered Approach to Substance Use Disorders.
Answers posted
November 16, 2026 (estimated)
Award/denial notification timeline
January 1, 2027 (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 an eight-page narrative response maximum. Any information after the page limit will not be read, reviewed, nor scored for this funding opportunity.
The additional documents do not count toward the narrative response page limit.
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.
- Section 1: Program design, 30 points
- Section 2: Capacity, 15 points
- Section 3: Sustainability, 10 points
- Section 4: Experience and knowledge, 20 points
- Section 5: Grant priorities, 20 points
- Priority one: 5 points
- Priority two: 5 points
- Priority three: 5 points
- Priority four: 5 points
- Section 6: Required documents, 5 points
Narrative response
The narrative response describes how you will address the purpose of this funding opportunity. The narrative response must:
- 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: 30
Provide the following information:
- Identify the region or community to be served by this program.
- State the gaps in services in the identified region.
- Describe how this program will address the identified gaps and improve access to substance use disorder services.
- Discuss how needs will be met for uninsured and underinsured program participants.
Explain how the program requirements will be met.
- Provide the level of care, and gender-responsive substance use disorder services for pregnant and parenting women with dependent children that this program will provide.
- Describe plans to implement a family-centered approach that is in line with National Center on Substance Abuse and Child Welfare or other evidence-based guidance.
- Describe the care coordination and collaboration with services that address the needs of women, and their dependent children, that meet the requirements of 45 CFR 96.124(e).
- Discuss how this program will engage family members and provide or arrange for parenting education, fatherhood involvement programs, family strengthening services, or comparable services in the identified region.
- Describe the aftercare, continuing care, or follow-up services that will be made available to each woman and her children for at least two years after the date on which the woman has left the program.
Maximum points available for this section: 15
The capacity to do the work and meet the program requirements is different from the experience doing the work.
Describe capacity to implement the program design.
- List new or existing staff positions that will work under this grant and the anticipated full-time equivalents for each position.
- If hiring new positions, describe the recruitment process and the anticipated timeline.
- Describe how the agency will ensure the program continues if there is turnover in staff.
- Describe other resources/partnerships and their role in ensuring success of this program.
If subcontractor(s) will be used to perform activities to achieve program goals, describe:
- The extent of the relationship.
- How the subcontractor(s) capacity relates to the overall ability to implement this program.
- Roles, responsibilities, and expectations of the subcontractor(s).
- Experience managing and monitoring subcontractor(s).
Maximum points available for this section: 10
Describe how your agency will sustain these efforts after the conclusion of this funding opportunity.
- Provide the agency’s plans for continuation of services for program participants once the contract term has been completed or if grant funds are no longer available.
- Describe other funding sources used to keep your agency financially viable.
Maximum points available for this section: 20
Describe your experience with, and/or knowledge similar to, this program:
- Providing services, conducting activities, and/or fulfilling requirements.
- Building relationships with and/or working with the population(s) of focus or similar population(s).
- Collecting and using data or other information to determine if efforts had an impact.
- Hiring and supervising staff with specialized knowledge or licensure.
If you will be using subcontractor(s) to perform activities to achieve program goals, describe their experience with, and/or knowledge similar to, this program:
- Providing services, conducting activities, and/or fulfilling requirements.
- Building relationships with and/or working with the population(s) of focus or similar population(s).
- Collecting and using data or other information to determine if efforts had an impact.
- Hiring and supervising staff with specialized knowledge or licensure.
Maximum points available for this section: 20
There are defined priorities for the five-year term of this funding opportunity.
- Year one objectives may be dedicated to hiring staff, training, developing, and implementing the new program.
- Years two-four objectives should focus on stabilization and sustainability of the program.
- Year 5 objectives should focus on preparing the program to be fully sustainable prior to the final contract cycle of December 31, 2031.
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.
- Timelines: When you anticipate starting and finishing each activity.
- Measurable impact: Describe how you will 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.).
Priority one
Maximum points available for priority one: 5 points
Establish, implement, and sustain a substance use disorder treatment program that utilizes a family-centered approach.
Priority two
Maximum points available for priority two: 5 points
Provide gender-responsive, evidence-based substance use disorder services to pregnant and parenting women.
Priority three
Maximum points available for priority three: 5 points
Provide care coordination that arranges for parent education, vocational assistance, housing assistance, and supportive services for women and their children up to age 5.
Priority four
Maximum points available for priority four: 5 points
Provide follow-up aftercare services to each woman and her children for at least two years after the date on which a woman has left the program.
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
- Line-Item Budget (Form F-01601-C) outlining the costs for the first year
- DHS 75 certification documentation
- Medicaid enrollment number (MA ID)
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. Performance reporting is required no later than 30 days past the mid-point of the contract period, and no later than 30 days past the contract end date.
- Expense reporting forms submitted monthly in a format approved by DHS.
- Program Participation System reporting submitted no later than 30 days past mid-point of the contract period, and no later than 30 days past the contract end date.
Application submission
Applications are due by 11:59 p.m. November 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 Family-Centered Approach to Substance Use Disorders.