Limited Licensed Master of Social Work Supervision Stipend Program

The Limited Licensed Master of Social Work Supervision Stipend Program is a competitive grant opportunity administered by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services through its Policy Planning and Access bureau. The program is funded under the broader Rural Health Transformation Program, which is supported by federal funding from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services through the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. This initiative is part of a coordinated effort to strengthen rural health systems by expanding workforce capacity, improving access to care, and advancing innovative service delivery models across Michigan. The primary purpose of this grant program is to increase the availability and quality of supervision for Limited Licensed Master Social Workers by providing stipends to fully licensed Master Social Workers who offer that supervision. By incentivizing experienced licensed professionals to take on supervisory roles, the program aims to address a key workforce bottleneck in rural behavioral health systems. It supports the development of regional infrastructure that enables supervision capacity to grow, thereby facilitating licensure progression and strengthening the pipeline of qualified social workers serving rural communities. Funding under this opportunity totals 2500000 dollars, with an estimated 10 awards ranging from a minimum of 100000 dollars to a maximum of 1000000 dollars per award. The grant period is defined as October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027. Funds are intended to support program implementation activities including supervision stipends, training and professional development, and administrative systems required to manage and monitor the supervision program. Certain expenses are explicitly prohibited, including construction, lobbying, unrelated incentives, and costs reimbursed by other funding sources. The program also requires that funded activities align with broader Rural Health Transformation goals and avoid duplication with existing initiatives. Eligibility for this opportunity is broad and includes nonprofit organizations with 501c3 status, public and private entities, local health departments, federally recognized tribes and Indian Health Clinic programs, and universities. Applicants must demonstrate the capacity to implement a structured supervision program, including processes for selecting supervisors, distributing stipends, and tracking outcomes. They are also required to operate within eligible geographic areas, defined as rural or partially rural counties in Michigan, excluding several specified counties. Applicants must comply with programmatic requirements such as supporting supervisor training, ensuring a minimum level of supervision hours, and tracking a five year service commitment for participants. The application process is conducted electronically through the EGrAMS system. Applicants must first complete agency registration and submit a project director request by July 30, 2026. A pre application conference is scheduled for July 15, 2026 to provide technical guidance on the submission process. Final applications must be submitted by August 4, 2026 at 3:00 PM Eastern Time. Applications must include a complete proposal narrative, work plan, budget, and supporting documentation as outlined in the grant funding opportunity. Incomplete or late submissions will be disqualified. Applications are evaluated through a competitive scoring process with a maximum of 100 points, and a minimum score of 80 required for funding consideration. Evaluation criteria include program implementation, organizational experience, staff qualifications, work plan quality, and budget justification. Successful applicants will be required to participate in performance monitoring, submit quarterly reports, and comply with all grant agreement requirements. Awards are expected to be approved by September 18, 2026, with formal agreements executed through the EGrAMS system.

Ensure strong alignment with rural workforce needs, provide clear supervision program structure, include measurable outcomes and detailed budget justification, and address evaluation criteria scoring requirements