Mental Health Safety Net Grant Program

The Mental Health Safety Net Grant Program is administered by the Minnesota Department of Health to support community-based mental health providers serving uninsured youth. Authorized under Minnesota Statute 145.929, the program is designed to offset the financial burden associated with delivering mental health services to individuals under the age of 21 who lack health insurance coverage and come from low-income households. The funding is appropriated annually by the Minnesota Legislature and distributed according to a statutory formula, ensuring proportional allocation based on service volume. This structure prioritizes equitable distribution of funds among eligible providers based on demonstrated need and service delivery. The primary purpose of this grant is to defray costs incurred by eligible providers offering free or reduced-cost mental health services to uninsured youth. Eligible expenditures include salaries, fringe benefits, supplies, travel, training, equipment, capital improvements, and contracted services. However, certain costs are explicitly prohibited, including lobbying, indirect expenses, debt-related costs, and fundraising activities. Funds are distributed as reimbursements, requiring grantees to submit documentation and align expenditures with approved budgets and work plans. Eligibility is restricted to specific types of provider organizations. These include Community Mental Health Centers or Clinics designated under Minnesota Statute section 245.62 and nonprofit Community Mental Health Clinics recognized as Essential Community Providers under section 62Q.19. Additionally, applicants must demonstrate that they provide free or reduced-cost care to uninsured youth under age 21 with family incomes below 275 percent of federal poverty guidelines. Organizations currently receiving Dental or Hospital Safety Net Grants are not eligible to receive this funding concurrently. The application process includes a mandatory Letter of Intent phase followed by a full application submission. The Letter of Intent requires basic organizational information, a description of services, and documentation of the number of uninsured youth served within a specified reporting period. Applicants must also submit supporting documentation, including a qualifying data attestation form, proof of reduced-cost care offerings, and provider designation status. After initial submissions, eligible organizations are notified of their calculated funding allocation before submitting a detailed work plan and budget. Evaluation and funding decisions are based on a statutory formula rather than a competitive scoring system. The Minnesota Department of Health calculates each applicant’s award proportionally based on the number of uninsured youth served relative to the total served by all applicants. Each award is subject to minimum and maximum thresholds, ensuring that no provider receives less than two percent or more than thirty percent of the total appropriation. Award decisions are final and not subject to appeal. The timeline for this grant cycle begins with the application opening on July 13, 2026. The Letter of Intent is due by August 27, 2026, followed by the full application deadline on October 23, 2026. Applicants are notified of funding distribution estimates by late September 2026. The grant performance period runs from January 1, 2027 through December 31, 2027, with semi-annual reporting requirements and a final report due in January 2028. An informational webinar is held early in the process to guide applicants, and all submissions must be completed through the ORHPC Online Grants Portal. For additional support, applicants can contact the Minnesota Department of Health via email or phone. Communication is restricted to formal inquiry channels to ensure fairness in the evaluation process. The program emphasizes compliance with state requirements, including reporting, nondiscrimination, and financial accountability, making it a structured and formula-driven funding opportunity for qualifying mental health providers.