Suicide Prevention Grant Program

The Wisconsin Department of Health Services, through its Division of Care and Treatment Services, is offering a funding opportunity to support statewide suicide prevention programming. This initiative is funded through the federal Community Mental Health Services Block Grant and is designed to strengthen health and behavioral health care systems by improving the quality of clinical suicide care. The program focuses specifically on adults with serious mental illness, defined under federal law as individuals aged 18 and older who have experienced a diagnosable mental, behavioral, or emotional disorder within the past year that substantially interferes with major life activities. The primary purpose of this funding is to build system-wide capacity for suicide prevention through quality improvement initiatives in clinical settings. The selected awardee will be responsible for delivering training, technical assistance, and resources to providers across Wisconsin. The emphasis is on implementing a systems-based approach to continuous quality improvement aligned with evidence-based frameworks such as the Zero Suicide model. Importantly, funds cannot be used for direct service provision or for internal quality improvement within the applicant’s own organization, reinforcing the expectation that the awardee operates as a statewide capacity-building entity. The funding opportunity anticipates awarding one grant, with an annual award amount of 225000 dollars over a five-year period, totaling up to 1125000 dollars. The performance period is structured in annual contract increments beginning October 1, 2026, and ending September 30, 2031, contingent upon satisfactory performance, completion of deliverables, and continued funding availability. There is no cost-sharing or matching requirement associated with this opportunity. Eligible applicants include federally recognized Tribal nations that share boundaries with Wisconsin, nonprofit organizations providing services to people in Wisconsin, and public agencies within the state. Eligibility must be met at the time of application submission. The program is explicitly statewide in scope, requiring the selected applicant to serve the entire state rather than a localized region. Applications must be submitted via email and include a narrative response limited to 10 pages. The narrative must address program design, organizational capacity, experience and knowledge, and alignment with grant priorities. Applications are evaluated using a 100-point scoring rubric, with weighted categories including program design, capacity, experience, and priority alignment. Additional required documents must also be submitted as part of the application package. The application process includes an opportunity for written questions, with a deadline of May 1, 2026, and responses expected by May 15, 2026. The final application deadline is June 5, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. Award notifications are anticipated around July 20, 2026. Applicants must submit materials electronically to the designated DHS email address and adhere strictly to formatting and submission requirements.

Align proposal closely with scoring rubric emphasizing program design and grant priorities; ensure compliance with formatting and page limits